Tag: English Football

  • Yes, Another Tottenham Blog

    Technically, the season is over, and I should stop talking about Tottenham until the season starts up again in August, right?

    Before I do that, I wanted to share the strange feeling I had when my optimistic wishes came true. I think it’s called confirmed happiness. Going into Sunday, all Tottenham had to do was win or tie against Norwich, and lowly Norwich was at the very bottom of the table, already destined to be relegated. So, the bar wasn’t very high. But still, at the end of the season, crazy shit can happen, and great teams can lose in spectacular fashion.

    And that’s not what happened. Spurs won 0-5, with two goals from Kulusevski, one from Kane, and two from Son Heung-min, and that second goal from Son tied him with Mo Salah for the Golden Boot, the top goal scored in the Premier League. Most importantly, Tottenham finished in fourth place, which qualified them for the Champions League next season.

    Now, we all go into the offseason happy and excited for next season.

    Except I won’t. Though their manager, Conte, has a contract through the end of next season, he has not committed to returning in the Fall unless Spurs owners can all agree on Conte’s vision for the team. I am sure that means signing Kane, spending the money to bring in experienced players, and I just read a rumor that they might attempt to get Erikson from Bretford. (Personally, Tottenham was playing their best when Erikson was on the pitch a couple of seasons ago.) This is the moment that the owners can show if they are serious about winning trophies.

    Yet, the most amazing aspect of all of this, for me, is the fact I have started giving a shit about what happens to a team in the off season. I have never been like this. When the season ends with a team; I’m done. And I really don’t think about them again until training camp, or spring training or whatever. I have been that way with the Cubs, and Cowboys, and even when I was really in on the Stars – didn’t care about the off season. Whoever showed up at the first game of the season was the team I supported, and I didn’t care how they got there.

    Now, I want to know how all of these moves will play out, so I can figure out if I’m going to have a good next season or not.

    I think I’m becoming a full-blown supporter now. I might need to find the local Tottenham bar for next season.

    (Say, don’t forget to like this post, or share it, or leave a comment. I got bills to pay, you know.)

  • ODDS and ENDS: Farewell Dele Alli, Spring Time, and The Gym

    (Just some sketches of ideas.)

    This past week, during the transfer window in the Premier League, Tottenham made some moves – trading, loaning and acquiring players. In all the action, Dele Alli went to Everton. I know that Dele hasn’t been playing his best since he came back from injury, which meant his days were numbered, but still, I did feel bad to see him go. When I first started following Tottenham, it Fall 2015, it was Dele’s first season with the Spurs, so I felt like we came into the league together. (Yes, I know that makes no logical sense.) I hope he gets back to form, and does well at Everton.

    Well, it happened to me this morning when I was taking the kid to school. It was raining and 37 degrees, and soon the City is going to be iced over, and I said the words, “I can’t wait for Spring.” Sure, it’s freezing out, and I bet we’ll get a blizzard before the seasons is done, but I am now ready for it to warm up. If you aren’t sure, around July 4th is when I will start saying how excited I will be for Fall. And you know, I like this cycle. I like to know that at the moment I get feed up with a season, the change isn’t far away. I like the rhythm of it all. Even the rhythm of the complaining.

    I still haven’t gone to the gym yet. I have been paying on a membership for two months, still haven’t used it. Go Me!