Before the match this weekend, I was convinced there was a possibility we could get a result somehow. Recent history against City has been a mix of getting comprehensively and heavily beaten and some memorable wins, but it was always an eventful fixture.
City is by far the superior side yet has dropped six points to the same mob who looked entirely devoid of ideas against well-organized but limited sides like Southampton and Wolves, and easily beaten by Crystal Palace and middling European opposition.
Compare Spurs’ record against City with the other top sides over the past 5 years-in three matches against Chelsea earlier this year the players simply obligingly turned up, guns cocked ready to shoot ourselves in our collective feet, and meekly surrendered.
Similarly, in nine FA Cup semi-finals since 1991 Tottenham has lost every single one; a record for any team in consecutive semi-final appearances without actually getting to the final.
That this comes in an era where many sides fail to take the competition seriously is the more damning.
To return to City and the concept of the bogey team; mentally is hugely important. Away at Chelsea and Anfield, the players are beaten in the tunnel.
Spurs have had some brilliant results against City-some undeserved, some fortunate- but nonetheless, the Etihad does not hold a special place of terror in the hearts of Spurs players across many eras in the way Stamford Bridge does.
While Levy is busy building buildings, we know he’s been guilty of the biggest crime in any business – he hasn’t kept the main thing the main thing. We know investment in the playing squad has been ongoing, but it’s been generally misguided at best, a series of bad multi-million-pound buys has seen money spaffed-up the proverbial wall, one after another.
For all Levy’s talk of ‘DNA’ one of the biggest challenges he has had and failed to address in 20 years is actually getting a team to walk the walk as he talks his real estate business.
Dare I say it the DNA that is unshakeable is that most awful of hereditary diseases, ‘Spursiness’.
Until the trophy drought ends, Spurs will be stuck in the same mental cycle. To quote a favourite film of mine, ‘losers always moan about doing their best. Winners go home and **** the prom queen’.
Keep it Tottenham.
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