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”.
Pochettino’s Prestige
Magic. The real trick to it is that they want you to look so closely that you don’t see how the trick is done Coming to the end of his fifth season at the helm at Tottenham Hotspur, “Mauricio Pochettino, he’s magic you know” still reverberates around the ground, whether it be Wembley or Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, even in his most tumultuous season at the club. Injuries, speculation on his future as Man Utd and Real Madrid changed their managers, the delayed opening of the new stadium that was supposed to be ready by September 2018 and no signings for […]
It’s Been Emotional
Lucas Moura's final goal was one of the most important in our clubs history. Steve P revisits the moment.
Typical Tottenham
The night is at its darkest just before the dawn. And the sun was setting on Tottenham’s European dream after only 35 minutes played. A flimsical Kieran Trippier was ousted out of possession by Donny van de Beek, the Dutchman feeding Tadic who in turn found Ziyech. The Moroccan wrapped his left foot sweetly around the ball and into the far corner of Hugo Lloris’ goal. Ajax were scintillating, soaring, sublime; Tottenham, downbeat and dejected, were now sinking into the depths of desolation. But even in this darkest half-hour one thing refused to be extinguished — belief. Mauricio Pochettino is […]
Oh what a night
Tottenham Hotspur have done the unthinkable – shattering European expectation to reach the biggest club football occasion on the planet, the Champions League final.This is a team ravaged by injuries to key personnel; the ‘Harry Kane team’ without Harry Kane; a squad that has had no investment in two consecutive windows and is low on confidence from recent domestic results. We just don’t know when we have been beaten this season in Europe. As Pochettino strongly stated, every player is a hero. They have given us a memory and experience that will live forever in the minds. They were lions […]
What Do We Do Now?
The dust has yet to really settle as Gavin Lewis looks back on one of the most glorious nights in our history.
Mauricio Pochettino and Mastering Manchester United’s Lost Art
José Mourinho was up to his usual tricks again. His underwhelming Manchester United were seventh in the table after 13 games and already 14 points behind league leaders Manchester City — and it was only November. Ahead of a trip to Southampton — a match they would go on to draw 2-2 — Mourinho’s deflection tactics were in full flow. “Can you buy Tottenham’s best players?” a weary Mourinho moaned. “No, because they don’t sell. A few years ago, who was Tottenham’s best player? Michael Carrick. And a few years later? Berbatov. Can we go there now and bring Harry […]