THE DAN FITCH COLUMN
ONE THING DISTINGUISHES SPURS FROM ASTON VILLA IN TOP FOUR RACE
Dan Fitch, 27 Nov 2009
Dan Fitch from www.tottenhamblog.com compares the merits of Tottenham and Aston Villa and finds one subtle difference.
On the face of it, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are very similar clubs indeed.
Both can boast full, yet dusty, trophy cabinets and both are striving to recapture their former glories.
Column Continues Below...
Spurs and Villa have owners who are willing to fund these ambitions, without resorting to levels of Manchester City-and-Chelsea-like silliness.
To spend this money, they both have British managers who have reached the top the hard way, having learned their trade in the lower leagues.
Both squads are comprised of a number of English talents who are hopeful of making the World Cup this summer, as well as good foreign imports.
There is strength in depth at both clubs, but perhaps not quite enough for either to qualify for the Champions League this season.
Where I do see a difference is in the general attitude around the clubs.
At Tottenham, there is always some optimism. Even a few years ago, when really there wasn't much call to be optimistic, our fans would not accept that we couldn't recapture former glories.
It's a characteristic that Tottenham fans are mocked for. Supporters of other sides see us as being over-optimistic and liable to get over-excited at the smallest achievement.
To be fair, the club don't help in this regard when they peddle endless souvenirs to commemorate our every triumph (as anyone on their mailing list would know following the 9-1 demolition of Wigan).
What though is the alternative? To accept that we will never be in the top tier of English football again? To turn away from the closed shop, without even attempting to knock on the door?
We take stick for trying to buy players who are perceived to be above us, such as Rivaldo. Still, I didn't see anyone laughing when we signed Jurgen Klinsmann, which seemed equally improbable at the time.
No, at Tottenham Hotspur, we always have the chutzpah to believe that nothing is beyond us, even if the evidence suggests otherwise. We have a certain swagger and this offends other clubs who are at the same level as us, but are lacking in our self-belief/delusions of grandeur.
I don't see that swagger at Aston Villa, despite them having every ingredient needed to reach the top. This might be what they need to develop if they're to get to the next level.
To quote from South Pacific, and more latterly Captain Sensible: "You got to have a dream, if you don't have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true?"
DAVSPURS, November 27, 2009 at 10:58 pm There is nothing wrong with having ambitions and like you say Spurs fans are not lacking in this department .But the thing what i believe has made this league turn nastier is to many clubs are chasing two few places and somebody is going to lose out.What is worrying me is we don\'t have the stadium to compete in the Champions League but if we don\'t try to get into it we will lose our best players.Its hard to enjoy football any more and the banter between fans and some ex players is getting heated on radio stations. This tells me that there will have to be a European league and only teams that are solvent should be allowed to compete and all teams should have a ceiling of 100 millon to spend on players chris b, November 28, 2009 at 8:43 am what a load of bollocks which any self respecting spurs fan should be thouroughly embarrased about after reading.
What seperates spurs fans and the rest is the totally unjustified and completely arrogant lording that goes on amongst spurs fans over other fans which goes on. Often laughably. Thats why spurs are so hated outside of london Steve , November 28, 2009 at 9:33 am Not sure if this is true - most fans have there split with optimists and pessimists so pretty pointless discussion. Another view is that maybe you have to be more optimistic when you are the 2nd club in North London - things can only get better tinker, November 28, 2009 at 12:29 pm The difference is 3 points,ATM. Spurs being a London club have greater access to the media circus, Villa and the other teams in the \'pretenders group\' are not in the same position media wise, I would guess Spurs have more column inches than any other non top 4 club and the question why? has to asked. moocher, November 28, 2009 at 2:54 pm Good honest article. However, because Villa fans don\'t go shouting it from the rooftops does not mean we do not have high expectations. Spurs and Villa are similar clubs and which ever team ends above the other deserves it. But don\'t write us off because we dont shout........just quietly confident!!! KING HUSEYIN, November 28, 2009 at 4:09 pm The differance between spurs and and villa is that spurs are the princes and villa are the puapers who are punching way above their wieght , they still play dull second division football associated with drab midlanders who sound like they have a weasal stuck in their backsides while on the other hand spurs are a team created for kings with their dazzling ,sparkling football , a team from another galaxy destroying everthing in their path , in short villa are shit and spurs are great frank black, November 28, 2009 at 5:14 pm King Huseyin
Troll on. Suggest you keep a low profile after the game if the spuds lose
