The Crow: Decline and Fall a history of two good neighbours
Published: 22 September, 2011
ARSENAL
THIS is the thing with Spurs – it’s always the thing with Spurs and bless them for it. The poor lads, they always feel a little off balance, a bit queasy, when the north London football see-saw flings them too high and Arsenal too low.
For fear of nose bleeds or some other less clichéd injury (you are never accused of having a perforated eardrum or gout or rickets if you are an unfancied team gatecrashing the higher rungs of a league table – always the nose bleeds), Tottenham instantly set about correcting the charts.
This week is a perfect example.
This week was meant to be ALL ABOUT TOTTENHAM.
They were fantastic against Liverpool, and Arsenal were awful against Blackburn.
Yet, even before the week was out, Spurs had conspired to kick the Carling Cup over the bar in a penalty shoot-out.
And we all know how much they love that competition.
Don’t say they don’t love it, they do love it – it’s the only thing they’ve won in the 20 years since Gary Lineker.
It’s almost as if when Roman Pavlyuchenko took his kick against Stoke, there was that nagging voice in the back of the head. “This isn’t right, Roman. You know it isn’t right. In your heart of hearts. Let’s not continue this.”
He missed and later all the Spurs players walked back into the dressing room and drew a sigh of relief when they saw the other scores.
Arsenal had won.
The queasy feeling had gone.
RICHARD OSLEY
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
I’VE tried not to laugh or scorn the afflictions of our south London neighbours.
However, it seems no matter what I do, I can’t get away from the sarcastic overtures of miscreant Arsenal supporters.
So, I figured this week, if you can’t beat them join them.
Arsenal are in decline and fans know it.
They’ve qualified for the Champions League but it wasn’t as easy this time was it?
Fans weren’t as confident or nearly as conceited, were they?
No Cesc Fabregas, he’s playing trophy-winning football with Barcelona now.
No defence, well none that don’t embarrassingly slide into hoardings or score in their own goal, and now, seemingly no bottle! Wenger? Bottle? Get it?
Don’t worry just keep playing like that and you’ll make most of the country happy.
Apparently Liverpool’s 4-0 beating at the Lane on Sunday was their worst trouncing to Spurs for 46 years.
Well, happy anniversary! The loss of Charlie Adam and Martin Skrtel to red cards, trust me, had very little to do with the outcome though I’m sure disillusioned Liverpool supporters will think it did.
Hey! Isn’t Adebayor doing well?
Lastly for those of you wondering what I did when Luka Modric scored his opening wonder goal? I did the jig but never sang his name.
Now, with all that said and done, if you don’t mind, I’m going to retire back to my peaceful place, until the next time a churl infuriates my slumber.
TONY DALLAS