FanPost

To all the newer Spurs fans who don't remember the pre-Redknapp days

So, here's the thing. I've noticed that after our mediocre start to the league season some folks on here seem to be having a crisis of faith, so to speak, and despairing of our chances of getting a top 4 or even top 6 finish. This post is by way of saying, in a long winded way, "Don't panic, because you've never had it so good".

So, to give some background and context: I am a Spurs fan. I've been a Spurs fan essentially ever since as a child I saw the then first division league table and saw the words "Tottenham Hotspur" standing out amongst a sea of Uniteds, Citys and Albions. The first year I can clearly recall following the team and their results was the 1986-87 season. In that season Spurs had a stellar midfield, including Waddle, Hoddle and Ardiles as well as a true predator up front in Clive Allen. We had Ray Clemence in goal and a club legend in Gary Mabbutt at the heart of the back four. At that time, Spurs had failed to win at Anfield in the league since the Titanic sank. They went there and took all 3 points. They romped through the early rounds of both cup competitions. Clive Allen would end the season with 49 goals in all competitions.

And what happened that season? Well, Spurs managed to Spurs things up (shamefully stealing a phrase from todays match thread there). Third place finish in the league, however that wasn't so bad because it was behind Liverpool at perhaps their eighties peak, and Everton who back in those days had money to spend on an actual squad (2 league titles in 3 seasons and only unable to win more in Europe due to Heysel). Losing in the League Cup semi finals to Woolwich after being 2-0 up on aggregate smarted a bit, however the real kicker was managing to lose the FA cup final to Coventry bloody City courtesy of a Gary Mabbutt own goal.

Now, despite not winning anything, that was pretty much as good as it got for Spurs for the next decade. Aside from the 1991 FA cup win the club were the definition of also-rans. The club hasn't been back to the FA cup final since that season, and thats despite reaching any number of semi finals against teams that we really should have beaten (step forward, Portsmouth, Everton, Newcastle United)

Things are different now. Under Daniel Levy the club accountants live in daily fear of being force choked if the budget doesnt balance, and yet we manage to bring in quality players at decent prices. I shudder to think how the club would be performing today if we had a first XI including the likes of Paulo Tramezzani, Moussa Saib, Nicola Berti, Andy Booth...the list goes on. When your biggest gripe is that Jermaine Jenas, a former England international it should be mentioned, is on the bench due to a couple of midfield injuries, then you really need to take a chill pill.

I personally still hold to the belief that Spurs can hit the top 4 this season because I think only one of our direct competitors has strengthened effectively. Even if it becomes a year of consolidation, that's fine with me, because short of a complete collapse this side is going to be steadily improved over the next year or two, and that means more glory nights are right around the corner.

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