It would appear that a great many who enter this site are not from America but from across the pond. Interested in seeing what we Americans and Canadians think of English football, they may be surprised to see that, I for one, don’t harbor a great deal of contempt for Spurs. I’ve never met a Spurs fan; that may have something to do with it. I’ve met all too many ManUtd “fans” and have grown to seriously dislike that club. But Spurs, they have never been much of a threat. So, what I say in this preview has little to do with contempt and more to do with reality. Spurs is a very bad club!
No organization on the pitch, little in the main office. No leadership on the pitch, none in the main office. Utter disappointment on the pitch, 15 years of producing disappointments in the office.
This season looked to be an exciting one for Spurs fans as the club spent a great deal of money and looked to have an serious offensive threat. Though Defoe has been fabulous, Keane and Postiga have done little. The midfield never strengthened and the defense has given up. As Mets fans have said for years, “there’s always next year.”
Spurs started the season poorly but were able to move things around and start inching their way up the table. That positive movement has all but been crushed as they have only 2 points out of the last 18 available. Spurs are winless in over a month and actually have as many losses as Leeds and Wolves. They sit just above the relegation zone and are poised to be prime Division One candidates.
Perhaps some of this has to do with David Pleat still being “caretaker” manager. He developed a spirit in the club when he first took over for Hoddle, who had no respect from players, fans, etc. The club began to win but the “caretaker” was never removed from his title. It always seemed that he wasn’t permanent and that soon another manager would be brought in. He has had to constantly defend himself from critics inside the club and he has gotten little positive feedback from anyone.
The players seem to have given up on him, expecting to learn a new system from some other manager. I believe the problems with Spurs are much like those at Leeds, where it starts from within and feeds on negativity until it effects the play on the pitch.
I have only seen one match with Spurs in the last few months. Fox Sports hasn’t shown them for some time but I can tell you what I saw in that one match. There was no spark, no leadership and no one was having any fun on this Spurs team. Subdued on the pitch and in the stands they were beaten handily. I don’t believe that this current Spurs club is a threat to the Gunners, but perhaps the derby mentality is what they need for that “spark.” Football is a crazy sport where all kinds of things can happen, especially in a derby atmosphere, but if the Spurs club of late shows up then chalk up three points.
ArseAm predicts: Though you can never discount “the Derby Factor,” Spurs just doesn’t have the defensive strength to hold back an Arsenal onslaught and right now the only man on the planet who can touch Henry is Barry Bonds. Spurs 0 - 3 Arsenal.
15 Responses to “Spurs Preview-AKA Bashing the scum”
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April 23rd, 2004 at 8:34 am
I second that prediction!
April 23rd, 2004 at 8:38 am
On your point about Spurs being just another below average side in the table, I have to join you. The inflammatory posts here have been chilling (conversely) in respect to the North London rivals, and have really given me a flavor of what a true Derby can be like. I’ve always been aware, but never privy until this year to the extent of the hatred when I joined up with AA. Which raises the question, “other than moving to North London and replacing Tottenham in the top flight after a series of shrewd dealings by Henry Norris, what makes the Arsenal/Spurs rivalry one of the most bitter in English football?”
And to your other point, it would seem to me an interesting paradigm shift in marketing rivalries of The Arsenal abroad, as we all know that the teams that have the most exciting and successful football stand the best chance of taking any money to be made here, will certainly go to ManU. Two countries, two disparate “enemies” and a division of supporters on this site, I suspect, as well.
All said and done…let’s wipe the pitch with them.
April 23rd, 2004 at 10:12 am
You dont want to meet a Spurs fan. They are shit as they come and I promised not to say anything before the game but down with Spurs.
A team full for A**** and Shit Simple. Here we come Totts, and have no where to hide. All happens on Chelsea/Newscatle with an Arsenal win hopefully and the rest will follow. Cant wait any more.
And to reply to your post as I said b4 is all about 2 different cultures. Most London”Uk” Gooners dont like the scums but in the states most fans dont care.
Is all good. We support the Arsenal.
April 23rd, 2004 at 10:29 am
Very Good post…
As a US supporter… I have always echoed the opinion that Spurtz are a useless team that I can’t muster much hatred for. They are just pathetic. But I do have mates in London… and they are extremely passionate in their hatred for the Totts… and consider the derby games with Spurs the biggest of the year.
I don’t see how Tottenham can beat us… but they might surprise a few people and put up a good battle and make it a competitive match…
April 23rd, 2004 at 11:02 am
I’d forgot to mention in my previous reply that, while I relish the thought of us beating Spurs as soundly as any, I wouldn’t mind Chelsea coming away with three points from Newcastle.
For one, I fear they’re in for some profound disappointment in the second leg of the CL semi, and do support them to get to the final. For a title rival, they’ve behaved with class and won their spot with sheer determination (not to mention taking advantage of a great deal of luck).
Secondly, although I don’t wish badly upon Newcastle, I have to feel for Raneiri. His blunder in the semi may spell curtains for him, and to lose the automatic qualification is just too many bad things to happen to a nice, and qualified, man.
Lastly, I would really like to see Arsenal clinch it at home against Birmingham. Nothing against Savage and the lads, but…well…I’LL BE THERE! First time! And I would love, obviously, to see our first team on the pitch.
What a glorious party that would be.
April 23rd, 2004 at 11:16 am
Put it simply, I hate Spurs, but I can’t share the outright passion that many fellow Arsenal fans have toward this team. I’ve never been to a North London derby game and being in the US, I’ve never ran into a Spurs fan here (I’ve met some of that pitiful lot in London). In the US, the majority of EPL fans support Man U. I feel I have a far deeper hatred of them than I do for Spurs. The different environment is what causes this, just like I would prefer Arsenal to win the Champions League more than the EPL, because outside of the UK, glory in Europe is what gets your club respect and recognition. Mind you I’m often arguing against twats, but despite all of Arsenal’s success this year there is still a sentiment we are just below teams like AC Milan and Real Madrid.
April 23rd, 2004 at 12:04 pm
Well… until we win the CL… we will always be considered below the teams that have won the title… ManU, AC Milan, Real… (ie, Europe’s giants)…
To me winning the league is the ultimate test, over the course of the season… the grind of games… and the Cups are just a different animal all together…
Obviously, the best team doesn’t always win the Cup… look at the final 4 of this years Champs League… nobody would argue that these are the best teams in the world…
April 23rd, 2004 at 1:30 pm
I think you’re being over generous to ManU to call them one of Europes Giants. Milan have won it 6 times, Real 9 times while Utd only have 2. They’re not in the same class. True that’s 2 more than Arsenal but I still don’t consider them to be amongst the European elite. After all Nottingham Forest also have 2 wins.
April 23rd, 2004 at 1:54 pm
Good point. Man United supporters must always remember that Liverpool are still the winningest club in England. Fowler pointed it out at the last Man City v Man U derby by showing the United supporters a four fingers and then two (European Cups won by Liverpool as compared to Man United.)
April 23rd, 2004 at 2:09 pm
As I’ve said in the past, I don’t care about Tottenham beyond the punchline to a few jokes. To me, Man Utd and Chelsea are our rivals. But go Arsenal nevertheless. Let’s see Henry hit 3 for his 3rd hat trick in as many games.
As far as Chelsea v. Newcastle….no way. I’d much rather see Toon win. We get the title, and Newcastle are even more the epitome of fighting tooth and nail for their place than Chelsea ever could be (no Russian gangster sugar daddy for one), and fully deserve a place in the Champions League next season. Go Magpies.
— Geoff
April 23rd, 2004 at 2:20 pm
nice posting. this is akin in the us to the subway series in NY, or the cross town classic in chicago. no love lost. i never had spurs fans as friends in the uk, i do here, as we expats stick kinda close, especially to play ball together. i hate them and would love for nothing more than see them squander any resolve they have and play nationwide footie against west ham and millwall next season. ode to joy.
one thingthat jumped out and bit me though in all of this……Henry and Barry Bonds!!?? please, that drug pumped wanker could not even be compared to any soccer player even on raw athletisism. i know arseam is arseam and ethnocentric ideals sometimes get in the way. but c’mon…baseball?
like they used to say about 23 MJ. he’s not from this planet, he just comes amongst us to practice…
April 23rd, 2004 at 3:36 pm
ive spent my life growing up with spuds as most of my mates at school were scum supporters.
there are times when our friendships are bitter rivalries but most of the time i just laugh at them, in fact ive never taken too much abuse from them,but i certainly have given it out
i once as a 12 year old got a kickin at the lane by some bastard who thought he was hard
he followed me and decided to kick me in the back,which was possibly the most pain ive ever felt
i was lucky i had some older mates who managed to scare him off and i was consoled by a spurs fan with a son about my age, he was a nice bloke
generally tho i know a spurs fan when i meet one
i cant describe it in words but i just know it when i meet one,same with west ham fans
so i grew up with a buch of scum but despite the friendly but often bitter banter with them i hate thre club more thn ever,maybe its pity these days
they are a sorry state of a club
43 years this month,13 for the cup
jokers all of them
i reckon we’ll win 2-0 on sunday but i must admit this is the most nervous i have been all year
even more then the manure or chelski games
it just shows how big this game
it shows the importance of our rivalry with the scum
i hope from reading this some of you who’ve never met a spurs supporter can understand
up the Arse!!!!!!!!
April 23rd, 2004 at 5:34 pm
Man United…. hate or love them… are the BIGGEST club in the world. To me that makes them a Giant in Europe. They’ve competed on a higher level in the CL in the last 10 years than we have by far… They are not Real Madrid or AC Milan in terms of history… but RECENT history has them amongst the world’s elite teams. We hope to get to that level in the next decade… and we are on that path.
April 23rd, 2004 at 8:57 pm
Can’t fault your reasoning about the Birmingham match but these are the scum s***s and their scum s**r supporters who would have us believe our season ended two weeks ago in abject failure. They celebrated our losing to other teams-because they never beat us anymore-SOD THE LOT. Hope we finish them off for good. Enjoy the Birmingham match-even if its just a 90-Minute Victory Party. Post pics of the Trophy Ceremony if you can! Enjoy it, mate!
April 25th, 2004 at 2:13 am
If Chelsea come away with 3 points, as you would like, how the fuck are we gonna win the league at Shite Fart Lane?