The Fighting Cock by Martin Cloake
There are some great independent Spurs blogs and podcasts being produced at the moment and I always try to make my small contribution to raising their profile when I can. Lately I’ve been picking up on The Fighting Cock and the 1882 movement. I’ve followed a couple of the lads involved on Twitter and recognise some names from back in the day on the old TopSpurs message board, and there’s a real energy to what they are doing.
I’m going to sound as old as I feel when I’m listening to the podcast now but it’s really encouraging to hear what sounds like a new generation creating something and questioning the blandification of modern football. The Fighting Cock is above all passionate about Spurs, but there’s a recognition of the bigger picture that chimes with a growing feeling that’s coalescing around the Stand Against Modern Football initiative. Having come from a generation at Spurs that, despite our fanzine experience and efforts with various independent supporter initiatives, has not really made the impression we once thought we could, what’s most encouraging is the can-do spirit that pervades The Fighting Cock crew. They are a reminder of what football supporters are capable of, and of a spirit that is, in one of the great Steve Perryman’s favourite words, “proper”.
A Rotating Defence
Squad rotation is a concept that we’re going to have to get used to under Andre Villas-Boas, especially in the centre of defence. The old Redknapp plan of playing the same starting eleven the entire season is a thing of the past; instead, we should expect bigger roles for lesser known players, regular chances handed to members of the development squad and responsibility shifted from the shoulders of the few to the many. One selection ‘headache’ that has been heavily discussed of late is the question of who we think our best possible centre-back partnership is. In my opinion, it’s […]