Us
Hola
Guess who's back, back again
Blogger’s back, tell a friend, guess who's back, guess who's back? Guess who's back, guess who's back? Guess who's back, guess who's back? Guess who's back?
Now this looks like a blog for me
So everybody just follow me (@Spooky23)
'Cause we need a little existential rant
'Cause it feels so empty without that
I said, this looks like a blog for me
So everybody just follow me
'Cause we need a little comedy
'Cause it feels so empty without me
Mix tape incoming…
The bread and butter
(H) 2-1 W Brighton
(A) 2-2 D Norwich
(A) 1-0 L Soton
(A) 1-1 D 'Boro (FA Cup)
(H) 1-0 L Liverpool
(H) 2-1 W 'Boro (FA Cup)
(A) 0-0 D Watford
(H) 2-1 W Norwich
If the above fixture list was on Tinder you’d swipe left on every single one. It’s been ugly, it’s been (dare I say) boring. Cohesion, discipline, ethos are jaded. Arguably what we are experiencing is what we’d have with any given coach at the helm, including Mauricio had he not been sacked. Theoretically.
Where the impatience festers is that the ‘serial winner and one of the most decorated managers in history’ was expected to provide more than a bog standard managerial bounce after we let our cuddly Argentine go.
Are we entitled, expecting an immediate upturn if not a fix?
I still firmly believe this season is just a bunch of games to trudge through to get to the summer and then next season. It's a mess, unavoidable, self-inflicted. A state of flux. Our spine needs rebuilding and there’s nothing we can do other than suffer the time between now and the future.
Identity will be reclaimed but this is Pochettino's broken team in the midst of a reboot that simply won't get past the blue screen of death until the operating system is reinstalled. Got to quarantine the virus* first.
*The Levy Worm.
j/k
Eriksen
I have no idea why Jose has persistently turned to Christian. Other than a brick in the face statement to Daniel Levy in terms of showcasing that we are reliant on a player that departed our club, psychologically and thus physically, months and months ago. I love him, don’t care what anyone says. CE has the product (I’m pretending he can beat the first man from a corner) and stats to back up just how crucial he was to our peak momentum. Yes, he isn’t elite and didn’t quite have that Steve Gerrard relentless spirit and arrogance (not comparing the skill set, only the mind set).
In many ways, Eriksen is more Tottenham than most Spurs players. Brilliant on his day but ultimately flawed when that last step needs conquering. That’s probably every Spurs player ever. He’ll enjoy Italy and the less frantic pace. It’s a sideways move in terms of his dream path (one he spoke about during his time at Ajax). There’s no Barcelona for the Dane. His legacy will be subject to debate. At one point he was touted (at an exaggerated) £120M and he looks gone at just under £17M. I’ll continue this directly below.
Levyed
Our chairman is getting some flak. As per usual. Owners tend to on the basis of, well, ownership. The buck stops with them right? The Eriksen transfer should have happened a year ago. Hindsight. But here’s my balance perspective on this and Levy that doesn’t include the usual over dramatic lust for murder.
Daniel is, based on where the club was and where it sits now, an absolute baller of a chairman. If you simply take into account the infrastructure of the club as a business (all clubs are EXACTLY this if you ignore the oligarchs that hacked Financial Fair Play), he’s turned us into a billion pound football entity.
Now Spurs still don’t truly have the world wide scope and revenue of the clubs that sit above us in wealth and we might not see our true form until the next phase of our evolution - which will happen when ENIC sell up. But if you’re expecting the next owners (they’ll be Americans) to be somehow in-tune with what the fans want, you’re blinding yourself with the same romantic notions of what football ought to be that I’ve often sang about on here. I can see the future. The first Premier League club to play half their home games in the USA.
Anyways, as good a business man that he is, we’ve failed with fuzzy focus and lopsided logic with the football side of things. That bit that us supporters care about. The bit that actually matters.
Levy isn’t purposely stagnating us. We need a sporting director. We need a true mantra with player acquisitions. We’ve tried and failed doing so in the past. But that doesn’t mean it won’t work in the present.
We didn’t sign anyone for two windows either. This was the trigger that fired the bullet that killed Pochettino. But was Poch the one holding the gun? Was this an unintentional sabotage from our gaffer, thanks to stubbornness and loyalty to his philosophy. But let’s not get side tracked. The point is, Levy thinks and believes he is doing the very best for the club (football wise) and trusts the man leading the squad. The synergy here is not perfect (and perfection is hardly a trait most find).
When we’ve needed the consolidation we’ve not followed up. We do spend money. We do sign very good players. But that step that Eriksen couldn’t make and the club keep tripping over needs that little bit of extra attention. Immediate attention. What Levy and the club need to do is, in that moment when we can all feel it and sense it and believe, is to follow up with that extra bit of something we need and do so with a statement so ballsy that everyone around us lose balance whilst we jump the step and reach the top. Obv, easy for me to say sat on the sofa naked, typing away, with the base of the laptop heating my thighs.
Spurs, genuinely, should have won the title in the past five seasons. The fact we burnt out means that Levy has to take responsibility for the disconnect between the business and the football and the necessary fusion required.
Of course, there’s another conversation to be had on the Jose appointment. A man clearly not a match for THFC, that might or might not work based on the past rather than looking to reach out for the future. But as noted in earlier blogs, the short term might led to a quick fix that might be the basis of the next long term project.
Okay. So, I’ve mustered up a quick fire round below as I could blog another 10k words but, well, let’s not waste bandwidth. And this laptop is also microwaving my balls. Luckily, I don’t want any more children.
Who are ya?
Aside from Bruno Fernandes, I have no idea of most of the alleged targeted players we have been treated to in this window by the copy and paste merchants and ITK (more like LOL, amirite?) community. We need a striker. Surely there’s someone in the Prem that could do a job for us, hit the ground running, that would be happy to fit in until Kane is back? I mean, it’s likely a massive upgrade for this player. It’s a better option than spending it on a La Liga nobody. But then I’m not a scout. I have no idea of the player from the Prem by the way. My point is, I’m underwhelmed and, well, this doesn’t help the pro-Levy fans and their argument.
Gedson? He’s a kid. Barely naughty. Defo not the messiah.
Harry Kaned
Injured again. Hoping, praying this isn’t a recurring plight every season (even though that’s how it’s shaping up to be). We’ve got on with things without him before and more than ever, players need to step up. But that’s a tricky ask when we don’t have anyone to do the stepping in the role that Kane owned. Leading, spearheading the attack. Maybe we should TRY Parrott?
Get it?
Getting my coat.
Thorn > Rose
So, Rose (I’m guessing) leaks a story to the papers (allegedly cause he don’t have form for that) suggesting there is unrest in the squad. Toby comes out and dismisses it with a jab to the gut of the snitch saying it’s simply bitterness. Harmonious.
So let’s focus instead on Tanganga. Looks like a potential baller.
Left back, right back
Serge is currently our best in form players. Honestly, what the f**k has happened to us? Ryan isn’t a fullback and should be encouraged to take on a defender (from a midfield wing role), every time, if anything to find a bit of that explosive form he is capable of and we need.
Goldie Looking Celso
Pure silk. What a player and he hasn’t even got started yet. If anything, build around him from now to the end of the season. Let him flourish. Let him and his final third teammates find common ground in terms of awareness and movement. Can we please make this permanent now? Or are we waiting for the last day of the transfer window to announce it to soothe over the lack of any other incoming talent?
Box fresh >
Southampton get more rest that we do in preparation for the FA Cup game. Excuses are in early lads.
Conclusion
Spurs, us, we’re like crazed doppelgangers that are out for revenge. Seeking bloody redemption to the ills we have suffered as though we are completely different to the past and present but still tethered to the experience.
Times good, be grateful, times bad be graceful.
DML future
I’ve been busy working out the logistics for this and aligning the production effort to a consistent timetable. Ain’t easy but once everything is in place, it will be. Mostly thanks to almost nine years of being part of the evolving Fighting Cock empire.
So here’s a preview of the current list of deliciousness I have planned…
New year, new Spooky. New decade, new DML. Join us on Patreon for exclusive regular rambles (podcasts, monologues), occasional blogs and even more occasional newsletters. There might be the odd bit of video thrown in as well.
It will grow and develop like a peak Pochettino side but without a Battle of the Bridge implosion. Why should you join this revolution? Because it's an evolution. DML has never been monetised so your contribution here (rewarded with the extra content) will mean additional content on DML.
If you're able to help, amazing, this means I can spend more and more time creating and giving you more engagement. If not, then, well, that makes you a certified gooner.
COYS yeah?
Exclusive articles and audio for Patreons:
The Secret Diary of Spooky
Reactive monologues
Exclusive access to 'DML podcast'
Patreon Suggestions - give me the topic, I'll give you the blog
Machiavellian Levy (collage satire)
Discord Diss Phone-In Show (Voice Channel group chat)
Private Patreon chat room (Telegram)
DML Secret Tin-Hat meet-ups
ITK. Maybe. Allegedly.
In terms of the content that will be published exclusively on Patreon, you have to be a Patron to access it and comment. Obviously. This might be the promised land we’ve been searching for all this time in terms of moderation too.
DML itself will still be the main focus and some Patreon content will be timed-exclusives. The reality is, first you get the Patreon then you get the paywall content then you get the DML sugar. Then everyone gets the DML sugar.
This is all still a work in progress. You’ll know when it’s launched.
Long term, I want to do this along with the Fighting Cock ventures. Doing so full time (something I thought I could do now) needs a little more time to cook. There’s no point rushing it. Time is precious and it needs money and investment because this is far more than simply writing a blog once every three weeks.
It will happen. I’ve been super quiet on here recently because of an opportunity that has presented itself that has me settled back into a 9-5 and earning a fair few quid to allow me the freedom to push ahead with DML once and for all. I’m in a happy place. Finally. But I need to be able to sustain all of it. Hence why Patreon is pivotal.
There’s a loyal core on here and Twitter and social media and yes, you’ve been getting everything for free all this time so why support the blog going forward? Why not? If you want to. After-all, I’ve been loyal to all of you. It will consolidate this place and your engagement.
Onwards.
COYS, up for the cup!
x
