As the FA Cup D-Day approaches for Tottenham and Mauricio Pochettino, I am reminded of the hoardings that hung around White Hart Lane and which are currently flashed around the centre advertisement pillars of Wembley, whenever Spurs play a league game. They display the words…
‘The Game Is About Glory’
Indeed it is. However, the only trouble of course is that glory and Tottenham Hotspur have long become strangers to one another, former lovers who haven’t shared a proper date since 1991. Since that year in Wembley and their eighth victory in the FA Cup, Spurs have virtually disappeared as a winning force. A veritable Lord Lucan of football.
Now it has to be said that Tottenham have had some pretty dreadful teams in the interim and some of the worst signings in PL history, although it would be remiss of me not recognise the gems that shone among the landfill that was Sergei Rebrov, Gregor Rasiak, John Scales, Helder Postiga and Kazuyuki Toda et al.
The list goes on with the tradition being carried on by the signing last year of the truly awful Moussa Sissoko. Fortunately we have the memories of Jurgen Klinsmann, Gazza, Luka Modric, Ardiles, Ricky Villa, and David Ginola et al to fend off these recurring nightmares.
Saturday’s a special day for the Spurs
On Saturday Spurs will go head-to-head with Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final. For United of course, winning semi-finals at Wembley is about as routine as a trip to Tescos, for Tottenham however FA Cup semi-finals have become a very dark place.
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In fact since the heady celebrations of 1991 Spurs have lost seven of them, the last being the 4-2 defeat to Chelsea. Domestically Spurs have continued to impress with their style of attacking football and their league wins over United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal all of which reinforce the argument that they are still an improving side. But their Champions League campaign was cut short by Juventus after Spurs became infected with the virus of complacency and although they are well placed for another Champions League berth for next season, the team is no closer to challenging for a league title, simply because three or four of the first eleven are simply not good enough.
Sissoko is obviously one of these, but I would also include the full backs of Ben Davis, and Trippier, who are not nearly as effective as the Danny Rose and Kyle Walker pairing. Fernando Llorente hasn’t pulled up any trees, Eric Dier hasn’t pushed on as we might have hoped and Dele Alli has lacked the week-in-week-out consistency that’s needed to win the game’s major honours. And while Davison Sanchez has impressed and looks a real find, the absence of Toby Alderweireld in the centre of defence has been noticeable. The club’s refusal to renew his contract on improved terms has, to my mind, been a huge and telling mistake.
But be in no doubt that come Saturday the focus will be not on Jose Mourinho but on Mauricio Pochettino, because the press and the media are demanding a trophy in return for the lavish praise they’ve heaped upon him, not to mention their patience. The fans of course are still on board.
They love him and no-doubt have sleepless nights about him being whisked away to another, more attractive partner this summer. If that’s the case then he should at least leave with one trophy in his back pocket because Spurs can have no excuses this year.
Next: Red Devils win comfortably at Bournemouth
They have beaten United comfortably on each of the last three home fixtures and will be favourites to make it four this weekend. They are at home and are basically a better team. Spurs should never have lost to Chelsea at Wembley earlier in the season and totally outplayed them three weeks ago in their own backyard for a famous victory.
The belief is there. The players are there, so too is the skill and determination and of course they have one of the brightest managers in world football. The only thing that stands between Tottenham now and a ninth FA Cup is their failure to turn up.