View from the gallowgate
I HAVE never been a film buff, but my two favourite films are Monte Carlo Or Bust and The Great Race because they feature the late, great Terry Thomas.
One of his lines was “You’re an absolute shower” – with shower pronounced as Schar – when commenting on shoddy practice.
The reason I mention this was because it was an apt description of Spurs in this fixture last season. They were dreadful, particularly in the first half, and it was no exaggeration to say that some of their support probably beat me home. The chances of that happening again?
I failed a late fitness test on Saturday so followed from afar. However, what do you know, they where an absolute Schar again, with one of their defenders seemingly playing in dancing shoes.
A few weeks ago the chances of top six for us were slim. I’d even talked myself into a “maybe a season out of Europe would be a good thing in the long term” line of thinking, because after
50-plus years traipsing up there, pessimism is the default setting.
Now, however, I’m mentally playing ‘teams around us’ games. I even talked myself into thinking, ‘You know what 10 points catch up in seven or eight games is doable’.
At the risk of turning maudlin, the sight of those kids benefiting from the club and shirt sponsors’ wonderful gesture with those hi-tech shirts, enabling them to get a (literal) sense of occasion, was heart warming.
A little bit of dust in my eye slightly tainted it for me. Either way, hats off to all.
To end, can I mount a defence of the club’s season ticket rise, and suggest that supporters’ ire is misdirected? It should be aimed at the Premier League and their almost psychotic desire to keep us in the chasing pack.
Despite having enough funds to actually pay people to attend, and transported to SJP on golden unicorns, we have to prove ‘sustainability’.
The fact that sustainability also applies to people in the poorest part of the country trying to afford the tickets appears lost on them.
Maybe the club should send them one of those hi-tech shirts?