Thursday 25 March 2010

Spurs fans: Fourth place or FA Cup?

Wednesday was certainly a good day to be a Tottenham fan. Not only did Spurs put a poor first-half display behind them to come back and beat Fulham 3-1 in their FA Cup quarter-final replay, but their main rivals for securing the fourth and final Champions League spot all stumbled. Manchester City's 2-0 defeat to Everton - their first home defeat of the season - and Aston Villa's 1-1 draw with Sunderland leave Spurs two points clear of the pack with their fate in their own hands. For those who remember the climax of the 2005-06 season, that's a dangerous place for them to be.
On that occasion, Martin Jol had kept Spurs in fourth place as the business end of the season approached. However, after Arsenal had scraped a 1-1 draw with them, they leapt above Spurs on the final day thanks to a win over Wigan in the last ever match at Highbury, while their neighbours lost to West Ham.
Whether that capitulation was down to a genuine stomach bug sweeping through the squad, Arsene Wenger spiking the lasagne or just a good old-fashioned bottle job, the end of that season further augmented the inferiority complex among Spurs fans, who have become almost institutionalised by their second string status since the grip of the big four tightened.
Of all the hundreds of clubs to grace the Football League over the years, Spurs are undoubtedly one of the most successful ever. But, in these modern times, when we're led to believe that everything except the league or the European Cup is little more than a consolation prize, it's been a tough time for the White Hart Lane faithful.