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Time Flies When You’re Having Fun!

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It’s about four years since Mauricio Pochettino headed North from Southampton and became Tottenham’s Coach/Manager. Yes, really …. four years! Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun? MP followed in the footsteps of a procession of managers; none of them lasting very long at all. For Mr Levy, it must seem strange having the same manager in the dugout for so long.

With MP’s arrival, the expectations of our supporters increased. For too long we had been floating around the league in fifth or sixth position. We never looked like falling lower, but we never looked like climbing higher. We were stuck in a league of our own. To progress we needed to crack open the ‘six’ and attain a top four finish. We needed to escape the debatable benefits of the Europa League and join the big boys on the greatest stage of all, the Champions league. It didn’t help to see our neighbours enjoying life in the top four, season after season, and competing with the finest clubs in Europe. Let’s face it; we were frustrated and we were jealous.

The first expectation of supporters was to achieve CL football. It took a couple of years for that to happen. Another expectation was to finish above Arsenal. It took a couple of years for that to happen, too. The third expectation was to achieve better results against the top PL clubs. Given that the top six inter-club matches usually result in a home win or a draw, we seem to have achieved that as well. Better results mean a higher league placing. And, by achieving better results, we have climbed the table. Our last two campaigns saw us finish third and second. We are on track this season to finish third or second again …. but are in the envious position of being virtually assured of CL football next season even if we finish a lowly fourth.

The Tottenham brand of football, and the spectacle it provides, is respected both domestically and across Europe. Our profile, world-wide, has been raised to epic proportions. There are no clubs who will take Spurs lightly. We are a club to be feared for what we are capable of doing on the park. Our philosophy is the envy of most clubs and our style of play and training methods have been praised across the footballing spectrum.

And it’s all thanks to Mr Pochettino and the man who hired him.

The next expectation, which would be seen as a natural progression, is to win some silverware. I don’t think anyone who has watched Spurs play over the past three seasons would bet against that happening in the very near future. I read somewhere recently that it is a far greater achievement, and far more satisfying, to build a sustainable football club than it is to buy one. I have to agree with that. When we win silverware …. it will be well and truly deserved and the start of many more!

Most Spurs supporters understand the ‘project’ currently underway in the White (white as in, pure) side of North London and are loving it. It’s all about steady, but continual, progress. Okay, there are a few supporters who, apparently, failed to leave their childhood behind with the advancement of years and demand satisfaction NOW. It doesn’t take too much for them to spit the dummy. For them, patience is not a virtue … it’s a frustration! And if it prevents them from fully enjoying Tottenham’s ‘incredible journey’ …. that is their problem.

But, the reality is that four years ago, when Mr Pochettino first planted his feet on the hallowed turf of White Hart Lane, few could imagine the amazing changes that were about to happen, both on the park and off of it.

Yes, it seems like only yesterday since MP arrived and Tottenham embarked on, what could prove to be, one of the greatest periods in our history. And if ‘yesterday’ is anything to go by, I can’t wait for tomorrow! How about you?

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