Cruciformity

Something deep in me needs you to know that the team I go for in the English Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur - absolutely pantsed their rivals Arsenal. From all accounts it was a very special night. I would love to see the reply. For the moment, though, we’ll have to make do with this footage of an AMAZING goal by Danny Rose ON HIS DEBUT for Spurs. Well done, young man. And well done, Spurs.

After just writing about not seeking victory ‘according to the flesh’, I hope that it’s not hypocritical of me to shout out a big COME ON YOU SPURS! There have been 9 years of humiliation and embarrassment and scorn from the fans of our bitter North London rivals - Arsenal. Over time our home ground, White Heart Lane, was dubbed by Gunners fans as “3-point lane”. However, there was a different song being sung at the Lane last night as we put 5 goals past a strong Arsenal side! What’s more it sends us into the final of the Carling Cup against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium. I’ve watched some of the footage andat 4-1 the whole crowd is belting out: Que Sara, Sara; whatever will be will be; we’re going to WEMB-ER-LEE; Que Sara. Sara… and in the dying minute of the game, Malbranque slots in one last goal and the fans went mental and WHL practically starts melting because of the energy produced.

Admittedly is only the third rate Carling Cup, but a victory is a victory. And there is no sweeter smelling victory than against Arsenal. With Arsenal twelve places ahead of us in the Premiership, I’m sure this boasting will be short-lived so I thought I’d get in while I could. COYS!

On Thursday night at White Hart Lane Martin Jol was told just before the UEFA Cup match that it would be his last match as Coach at Spurs.

I suppose that for most of you this means even less than the tragic news that Paris Hilton cancelled recent plans to go to Rwanda (sorry to have to break that to you). For most Spurs fans this means devastation.

Here’s my slight over-representation of a football tragic’s feelings…

BMJ (Big Martin Jol) was a father-figure to Spurs fans who have endured some terrible football from their club over the last twenty years. When Jol stepped up to take on the big job, and when he brought us into 5th position in the League two years running and brought European football back to the Lane, he was quickly adopted as one of Tottenham’s favourite sons. It was only a couple of months ago that things looked so good. We injected 40 million pounds into getting new players! But… a string of bad luck and injuries to our back line has resulted in our 18th position on the ladder and the board’s lack of a scape-goat.

There have been tears, don’t worry about that. Lots of anger. But also the pledge of fans to never stop supporting the club. Admittedly, I’ve only ever really been keeping scores from websites and rarely seeing games on Fox. But BMJ was like the Godfather - the man you looked to when times got tough -  Spurs would have a few defeats, and the Dutchman would take it, say the hard truth, speak of his hopes and then shape the side into a ‘winning mentality’.

Martin made an emotion-packed statement following the game on the official website:

I can understand the position of the Club in light of the results. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. Tottenham Hotspur is a special Club and I want to thank the terrific staff and players. For me the fans were always amazing with their support so I would also like to say thank you – I shall never forget them.

The fans turned up to the game unaware of the message that the board had just stabbed into the square of Martin’s back. So one fan at the game writes of the event as it unfolded on the night:

The sound of beeping mobiles in the interval alerted us to the biggest drama of the night. News filtered around the stadium that Jol had agreed a severance package with Sevilla boss Juande Ramos stepping in to the breach.

Text ’severance’ then turned to text ’sacked’ and the crowd rose as one to voice their admiration for the affable Dutchman.

He wasn’t perfect, but he bagged us two top-five finishes in a row and a stirring Uefa Cup run last season that was halted by a shocking refereeing decision, ironically against Sevilla.

With the sound of ‘I love Martin Jol, Martin Jol loves me. I love Martin Jol, Martin Jol loves me’ ringing around the stadium, the big man waved goodbye to a once proud club.