Down and Out
This isn’t going to make you feel better. In fact, if I were you, I wouldn’t be here at all.
We lost. Again. We lost again.
We lost a third two-legged cup tie that we started so promisingly. The worst part is that Seville were better. Sure we were filthed out of a goal, and probably the game, last week in Spain but there are no excuses for the home fixture. Seville were better.
Of course the match was over after the first 7 minutes and I sat there with my head spinning in disbelief that we had to score four of our own to win the tie but the visitors didn’t just sit back, they took possession, they held the ball and they played better than if they were at home. But you know all this.
Every player on the pitch wanted to win that game and I will not fault their efforts but there was one amongst them who put in the performance of their lives. There was one of them who deserved to be through; us.
I don’t ever remember a single chant going on for nearly 20 minutes in all my times at any football game. It must have been loud and clear pumped through surround sound, digital stereo for anyone with ITV to hear:
“Martin Jol’s Blue & White Army! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Martin Jol’s Blue & White Army! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!”
We cheered from before the first kick to beyond the very last. We lifted the team and we believed. We believed all the way to the final whistle.
“Four goals!” we sang while the Spurs waited for Seville to take the field at the beginning of the second half, really taking the piss with their time wasting tactics, “we only want four goals, we only want four goals, we only want four goals, four goals!”
There were times I swear I even saw the West Stand on their feet and clapping with ball nowhere near the goal.
“Martin Jol’s Blue & White Army!”
Danny the Drum’s arm must in be packed in ice right now. That’s the best work-out he’ll ever have.
We scored those two goals with our relentless passion but Tottenham couldn’t come up with the other two they had to score for themselves and another two chances they most definitely had.
But I say again, Seville were the better team. Alves, little shit that he is, is excellent and they were much more playable when he left the field. So why do Seville have to play like cheats from the start? Silverwear is just cold metal if won without honour but then you can’t put valiant effort in a trophy cabinet. Is this the “European Game” we’ve got to start playing, win by all methods and at all costs?
I couldn’t clap the team off the field as another cup run fell short at the last. It’s not enough. Why should I applaud another failure. I don’t begrudge the team but I don’t see why I should be content with another set of broken dreams.
So, the silver lining? Not today.
The Bagel.
April 13th, 2007 at 9:21 am
May i be the first to offer commiserations. I was lucky enough to listen to the game over the radio, and i couldn’t help but be lifted by your tremendous support. Loud, passionate, and determined. As The Bagel said, it just didn’t stop. You guys did yourselves proud.
April 13th, 2007 at 9:44 am
Yesterday we saw a great game. Spurs played with courage. I remained impressed by the canticles of the supports and the force that they transmitted to the players.
I took a beer with english supports in Seville, and everything was fantastic. We all know that the action of the police was incorrect.
I wish that the next match Tottemhan - Seville should be disputed in Champions League.
Good luck
April 13th, 2007 at 10:08 am
[...] Spurs fans take the glory Amidst a disappointing defeat at home to Sevilla in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals last night the Spurs fans were superb, says Beef Bagel. Every player on the pitch wanted to win that game and I will not fault their efforts but there was one amongst them who put in the performance of their lives. There was one of them who deserved to be through; us. [...]
April 13th, 2007 at 10:24 am
True Malbranque made a mistake but Kanoute’s goal was just pure class and left us with too much to do.
Josh is having a brithday BBQ tomorrow at London Fields. Are you about for a commiseration sausage in the sun Bagel?
April 13th, 2007 at 10:29 am
Reckon so.
Thank you for your comments Santi. It’s been a pleasure having you here. You have a fine side. Good luck in the cup and maybe see you next year.
The Bagel.
April 13th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Of course, it didn’t help that the south upper (where I was) was half empty when the game began because of a fire alarm which meant they stopped letting people in until about 15 minutes before kick off.
I’m with the bagel. Who gives a shit about another plucky performance when its too late. I’m a bit out of love with football today. Only temporary of course.
I’m late for work. Will try and come up with a more constructive moan later on…
April 13th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
The difficult thing for me is that we never even gave ourselves a chance. We were never in the game and I can’t handle that.
Losing is one thing, but to never really have the hope of a possible victory is agony.
As one miserable Manc once said:
“It was over, but it never really began. But in my heart it was so real”
There is only one way out of this hole. We have to beat the scum.
April 13th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Not only beat “the scum” but take their Champion’s league spot too! Then maybe Santi will get his wish - that the next Tottemhan vs Seville tie take place in The Champions League!
As a neutral, I’ve got to say that last night’s game would have made a great final.
BTW, the “Martin Jol’s Blue Army!†chant came through loud and clear on ITV - with lots of close ups on Danny the Drum.
April 13th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Just a small point… isn’t it ‘Martin Jol’s Blue and White Army’???
Gutted. Not the way to celebrate the start of my 4th decade…
April 13th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
And another thing - Martin Jol’s lilywhite army scans just as well, is specific to Tottenham cos its our other nickname, AND is more factually correct when we play in the European spurs strip. Which won’t be happening for at least another few months, I know… but thats what we SHOULD be singing. But its blue and white, as Ledley King points out.
April 13th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
With the way that started, 4 goals unanswered really was too much - I still think that we really could have them beaten, and my rage for some of the inexplicable decisions from that ‘ref’ will take time to subside…
That said, I do agree Bagel, Seville were superb at times, and clearly had the right game plan. Yet I do feel that we didn’t have the right plan, and not for the first time. I love BMJ, but sometimes he has done some things that make you wonder. Why Zokora for the little Yiddo??
Still, onwards and upwards, it’s ALL about the top 6/7, oh and jumping on the gooners….
April 13th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Oh, and to all of you there - you all did yourselves, and the club proud - it really, really did come through loud and clear on TV and radio.
Top skills one and all.
April 14th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
“Martin Jol’s Blue & White Army” does make a lot more sense and always has but it doesn’t scan. I’ve seen people write of “Martin Jol’s Yid Army” which it isn’t but would work nicely.
There is the the two part chant of “Martin Jol” & “Blue and White Army” which does work but I’m not convinced there’s space for for “and white” in the other, so factually incorrect as it may be, I stick with “blue”. Fascinating, eh.
The Bagel.
April 14th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Having had the thing stuck n my head for the last three hours, you know what? It does scan. Duly altered.
The Bagel.
April 17th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
But lilywhite scans as well. And we are the lilywhites! Surely we’re not embarrassed to be the lilywhites…?!
April 17th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
I like Lilywhites but it does smack of Lily-livered.
The Bagel.
May 4th, 2007 at 10:28 am
Sometimes i wonder about Malbranque, he did’nt even seem to try to clear it propaly.first game i saw him play was against Southend in the legue cup, he had a blinder of a match. does score some good goals though.