The Hoddle of Coffee: Tottenham Hotspur news and links for Wednesday, September 16

Hello, all!

If we’re taking a stroll down memory lane, may as well commit to it.

Ramble of the Day

I’m thinking about the year 2013, for no reason at all, obviously. I’m trying to remember what was popular, or relevant, then. I remember that it was Sir Alex Ferguson’s final year at Manchester United before retirement, and that his storied career ended with a wild 5-5 draw with, of all teams, West Bromwich Albion. I remember that was the year Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund for the Champions League final at Wembley. I remember the National Women’s Soccer League enjoyed its debut season, and that the Portland Thorns won the championship against the Western New York Flash.

I am reminded that the Best Picture winner from that year of films was Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, a worthy candidate. I am reminded that the top grossing film that year was Disney’s Frozen, and am glad that we are removed from a world where “Let It Go” is no longer easy to run into.

Apparently, “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz was the most popular song in the U.S. that year. I remember where I was the first time I heard it (school, where else?) and how my feelings about the song evolved from distaste to enjoyment for its unique form. It was the year Beyoncé performed at the Super Bowl, and definitely put on a show that was one of the best in the last decade (at least).

In 2013, the Jonas Brothers broke up but NSYNC reunited for seemingly a one time only event at the MTV Video Music Awards. Breaking Bad ended while the Sharknado series began. Ben Affleck was named Batman (that didn’t end well), and the first of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s children, North, was born. I had to experience the low of seeing a superior at my school do the Harlem Shake, and the high of making t-shirts to support Tahiti at the Confederations Cup.

I couldn’t tell you what inspired this trip down memory lane, though. It’s not like anyone’s feeling particularly nostalgic.

tl;dr: I’m just thinking about the year 2013, no reason.

Stay informed, read this: Benjamin Mock on the misogynistic culture of esports for Power Plays

Links of the Day

The Bundesliga will allow stadiums to open at 20% capacity, but without away fans and with certain targets to be met regarding coronavirus cases in each region.

Vitality agreed a three year sponsorship deal with the women’s FA Cup, the biggest in the tournament’s history.

Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang signed a new three year deal.

West Ham reportedly rejected a second bid, this time of £400m, to purchase the club from an American consortium.

Transfer updates: West Brom signed Branislav Ivanović on a free

David Squires covers the return of the Premier League in his latest cartoon.

A longe read: Suzanne Wrack on the new reputation the FAWSL is building as a home for the world’s top players for The Guardian