"They Haven't Won Anything Yet"

[dannythomas]

Was my first team. 1986 first game. A lot of similarities, been thinking a lot about them.

Half my family is from Coventry so the Fa Cup final in 87 was fairly seismic. Defined how I saw Spurs for many years: one of the big clubs that would typically underperform. We didn't have the money excuse then either

Even the 91 win we needed an own goal, wasn't impressive really. That was hardly our best team in years or anything, great as it was. The Arsenal semi is the folklore game, not the final

We certainly did have money issues in the late 80s. Irving Scholar was running the club into the ground and it was the main reason we sold Waddle in 1989 and Gascoigne a couple of years later.

 

[Spurger King]

You may choose to categorize it as our worst decade since WW2. I would categorize it as our best team since the early 60s. A young team that is going places. Streets ahead of Arsenal who will once again be the best team in North London for 1 season while we are at Wembley. That should make them feel better.

It's our most unsuccessful decade (potentially) since WW2 in terms of trophies. It's our most successful period in many years in terms of league and off-field progress, which is why judging the achievements of this era isn't so black and white.

One thing you can guarantee is that fans coming after us won't have the same respect for the current crop that we do if they don't win anything. I'm not alone in being a fan that has heard all about the late 80s team that could have won the league and Cup double...but didn't.

 

[TheHood]

I'm glad that media have finally started to talk about this, the pressure for this needs to be there and it hasn't been. We have had one wasted generation with Redknapp it would be a crime for this side to follow suit. And I really do wish the billionaire argument would stop being used to excuse this. Chelsea and City having billionaire benefactors has played zero part in our dismal showing in the UEFA cup. If resources have prevented us from domestic trophies then why is there no dismay at a club that is often the wealthiest in the UEFA consistently failing to get past the second round?

 

[guiltyparty]

We certainly did have money issues in the late 80s. Irving Scholar was running the club into the ground and it was the main reason we sold Waddle in 1989 and Gascoigne a couple of years later.

We didn't have financial issues in 1986. We were floated on the stock exchange in 83, the first club to do so and flush. That money bought Gazza. It was Scholar's subsequent mishandling of the funds in late 80s that led to issues in early 90s.

But my point was in 1986/87, we were one of the richest clubs in the league - different kind of rich admittedly - as well as the best to watch, and we didn't win anything.

Growing up in that, my first notion of Spurs, particularly as that final is so engrained on me, and the UEFA cup win and 81/82 FA cups (not to mention 60/61!) so repeatedly discussed in my childhood home, is a previously big big club who underachieves.

Took me a while to come to terms with the Sky apocalypse and us being a fairly big sized club overachieving.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

There is for me only one reason left that's the direct reason for why we haven't won a trophy lately. That is the bets on some disastrous transfer activity last summer, the summer before that and the summer before that. With a lower ratio of Sissokos, N's, Stamboulis and a higher ratio of Alderweirelds, Wanyamas, or heck even Sons, it is my honest onion that we would have won the league by now.

 

[Lighty64]

I'm glad that media have finally started to talk about this, the pressure for this needs to be there and it hasn't been. We have had one wasted generation with Redknapp it would be a crime for this side to follow suit. And I really do wish the billionaire argument would stop being used to excuse this. Chelsea and City having billionaire benefactors has played zero part in our dismal showing in the UEFA cup. If resources have prevented us from domestic trophies then why is there no dismay at a club that is often the wealthiest in the UEFA consistently failing to get past the second round?

Because the last 2 years when we have been knocked out, we have been in prime position to challenge for the league, not just a CL spot. With our squad size when we are in such a position we have to prioritise and the chance of winning the Premier is higher than the EL.

 

[SpartanSpur]

Because the last 2 years when we have been knocked out, we have been in prime position to challenge for the league, not just a CL spot. With our squad size when we are in such a position we have to prioritise and the chance of winning the Premier is higher than the EL.

Absolutely this, like I said above, no surprise English teams suddenly compete in Europa now it offers a back door to CL, and even less surprising it's teams spending most of the season out of the top 4.

Squad size is totally right too, no matter what Jose says he has a ridiculously strong second string that does help to go further in these competitions, League Cup and Europa prime examples. It's more of a reason why they competed on 4 fronts than any good work by Mourinho IMO, no matter what he tries to tell people. If we build our squad size next season hopefully we can benefit too.

Hopefully going forward we can compete more, over to Poch and Levy this summer now.

 

[eViL]

Much as I like Son put Gareth Bale in his place and our team would be pretty unstoppable..

I actually think Son will get 20+ goals next season, as long as he plays.

His confidence is growing and there's been games he was unstoppable this season already.

But you're right, Bale is different gravy.

 

[eViL]

Personally I don't think Davids was any more of a game changer for us than Wanyama .

The difference is that Davids was a true leader; a player that had won trophies and encouraged the team to fight, made decisions for the team on the pitch (remember JJ's freekick against United?)

Big Vic; great physical aggression but do you see him demanding more from the team around him when the chips are down?

 

[Lighty64]

I'm glad that media have finally started to talk about this, the pressure for this needs to be there and it hasn't been. We have had one wasted generation with Redknapp it would be a crime for this side to follow suit. And I really do wish the billionaire argument would stop being used to excuse this. Chelsea and City having billionaire benefactors has played zero part in our dismal showing in the UEFA cup. If resources have prevented us from domestic trophies then why is there no dismay at a club that is often the wealthiest in the UEFA consistently failing to get past the second round?

I should also pick you up on the billionaire owners, it has made a massive difference because had both teams not been bankrolled so heavily it would of had a massive effect. Chelsea where on the brink of bankruptcy and Man C just wasn't a force, this equals over the last 13years we have lost out 7 or 8 times playing EL football instead of CL so it's not an excuse it's effected us more than any team in the league

 

[stewartd]

Started watching us in the late fifties, and we had a great team from then until the mid sixties always challenging and winning trophies.
From then until two years ago a steady decline. Yes we won a few trophies and had some great wold class super stars which kept us interested but no team to compare to the sixties team until now. As Fergie used to say Its only spurs today.
Well since Poch has taken over no one says that about us anymore and I feel going into a game that we are at least a match and in most cases superior to any team we meet. its a wonderful feeling!
This tea, has given me more pleasure the any other since 1967 no we havent won anything YET but we will this is still a very young squad and can only improve we will be challenging for every competition we enter over the next five seasons and my hope is that I manage to see them win the league before I kick my clogs . Im sure i will.
COYS

 

[Led's Zeppelin]

Remember that interview with Matthew Syed on Sky when he explained in eloquent detail why Chelsea's success was filthy and tainted, and the Sky panel looked blankly at him, stuttered a few incoherent umm and errs, and eventually came back with "but they've won some trophies"?

We're in danger of behaving like the Sky knobs and falling into the same trap.

We will win trophies. But there's no embarrassment in anything we've achieved or failed to achieve so far with a brilliant, young and improving team.

 

[nicdic]

Remember that interview with Matthew Syed on Sky when he explained in eloquent detail why Chelsea's success was filthy and tainted, and the Sky panel looked blankly at him, stuttered a few incoherent umm and errs, and eventually came back with "but they've won some trophies"?

We're in danger of behaving like the Sky knobs and falling into the same trap.

We will win trophies. But there's no embarrassment in anything we've achieved or failed to achieve so far with a brilliant, young and improving team.

I thought about that interview watching Monday Night Football. They went on and on about it being the X title since Abramovich, and praising his input and how he transformed Chelsea etc.

Tragic.

 

[kmk]

They're all at it. Even Michael Vaughan (ex England cricket captain) who is a Sheffield Wednesday fan.

Not sure what his problem is with Spurs.

 

[guiltyparty]

They're all at it. Even Michael Vaughan (ex England cricket captain) who is a Sheffield Wednesday fan.

Not sure what his problem is with Spurs.

View attachment 30112

Utd is his second team I would guess. We seem to be the new Utd bogeyman what with their obsession with having had a better season than us.

Born in Manchester, used to be sponsored by the City of Manchester (I saw him by his car when I visited as a kid and it was written up the side) and is buds with Gary Neville from childhood.

Oh and he attended Fergie's memorial dinner and wet himself, by the sound of it:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ne-big-loyal-family-says-Michael-Vaughan.html

 

[stonecolddeanaustin]

Started watching us in the late fifties, and we had a great team from then until the mid sixties always challenging and winning trophies.
From then until two years ago a steady decline. Yes we won a few trophies and had some great wold class super stars which kept us interested but no team to compare to the sixties team until now. As Fergie used to say Its only spurs today.
Well since Poch has taken over no one says that about us anymore and I feel going into a game that we are at least a match and in most cases superior to any team we meet. its a wonderful feeling!
This tea, has given me more pleasure the any other since 1967 no we havent won anything YET but we will this is still a very young squad and can only improve we will be challenging for every competition we enter over the next five seasons and my hope is that I manage to see them win the league before I kick my clogs . Im sure i will.
COYS

Tetley's or something a bit more special from China?

 

[HildoSpur]

We have won the hatred of our rivals because we are better than them. So far I'm happy with that however we do need silverware.

 

[stonecolddeanaustin]

There are only 4 trophies to play for and you need a bit of a luck to win one of them. Arsenal have got to 3 FA cup finals in the last four years and have hardly had to beat anyone of note along the way (barring a completely flukey result against Man City in the recent semi final - compare that to the luck we had against Chelsea). Look at Man U's run to the Europa league final, it's been far easier than anything we've had before, getting knocked out by Dortmund, Fiorentina, etc. The only remotely decent side they faced was Celta Vigo and if they had a half decent striker Man U would've lost at Old Trafford.

So yes, being a good side gets you a large part of the way there but you need luck to get you over the line for a trophy (see Chelsea's lack of injuries this season). The longer we're a good side the more chances we'll have of getting our own luck and the trophy(ies) will come, evetually.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Our time is coming. All of the money bags clubs who spend squillions every summer are going to be in European competition next season. Playing field is levelled, and we are the measure.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

We certainly did have money issues in the late 80s. Irving Scholar was running the club into the ground and it was the main reason we sold Waddle in 1989 and Gascoigne a couple of years later.

We were the best and biggest payers in the late 80's along with being the club first to spend £2m+ for Gascoigne in 1988. Scholar's problem was his obsession with diversifying into areas that failed.. Hummel being one. Knitwear business being another. This along with probably over spending on Gazza, Lineker and Stewart pushed us to a financial melt down. I still don't believe the position when Sugar bought us was as dire as everyone makes out, as Midland bank was never going to liquidate a football institution.
Sugar is no mug and would never of sanctioned buying the club for the love of it. He saw a fantastic asset at a knock down price and then pounced along with El Tel. Sugar. He then had 10 or so years at the helm when the club limped through it's most turgid and dire times known to man!