That Spurs will drop out of the top four next season (they always finish above us I hear you cry). Obviously I'd make that prediction because I rightfully have nothing but disdain for that small time club, and I did predict this would happen to City this season (still might), further it's a ridiculous prediction because they're arguably the most professionally run club in the land right now, they're going from strength to strength, and have done nothing to suggest that anything but an upwards trajectory is in store for them.
But this stadium move, I really think it's going to hit them, it's Wembley next season, then new White Hart Lane the season after, I really think they'll struggle to adjust, especially next season. I seem to remember that the season Arsenal moved to the Emirates they were slow starters, dropping points in their first two games against lower league teams, and finishing in a rather meh fourth place (it hadn't become the norm at this point, right?), it took them a while to adapt to their stadium and they stumbled, and arguably have never recovered since. Now the competition was much less in 2006 (outside the top four anyway) , Spurs weren't there, and neither were City yet, I'd argue they'd have suffered worse if it was today, kinda like I'm hoping Spurs will.
Now, is this just selective memory by me to validate the delicious thought of Spurs fucking off? Probably, but let's look at something more recent and less subjective. Last season they played their home champions league games at Wembley, now Spurs hardly have pedigree in this tournament (Bales hat trick against Rafa I hear you cry) but by all accounts they were dreadful, losing two of their three home games and failing to qualify from a group they really should have been qualifying from. Simply they just didn't adjust to the stadium, be it because they failed to adapt to the larger playing surface, couldn't handle the reality that it was hilarious to think that they could ever sell out a stadium that large without a large number of them being tourists or fans of another club taking a rare opportunity to see a champions league game, or simply because they hadn't formed that connection or feeling of home with Wembley.
Now these problems will all exist next season, and will almost certainly be eccerbated, can you imagine trying to whip up any momentum in a 90,000 seater Wembley when it's less than half full against some middle table team? Its going to be dreary, depressing and will 100% effect the players. WHU is a shit hole, but it can be a noisy one, and no doubt that's helped them over the years, that'll be gone. Further, it's a fairly small pitch, Wembley is rather big, and as Spurs like playing a compact and hard working game, this will absolutely effect them.
These issues will still exist at the new stadium too, maybe not to such a major level, they'll have more luck filling 60k than they did 90k, and as the stadium is on the same land, it'll still feel a lot more like home for the fans, it'll be the same journey, the same pub and the same chippy, but it will be different and it'll still take some getting used to, and my hope is that they stumble next season at Wembley and then it gets compounded the season after with the new stadium nerves setting in and the anxiety of the poor season before, which will ultimately lead to the dream scenario we all crave, them fucking back off and joining Everton in mid table obscurity.
Oh to dream.
But this stadium move, I really think it's going to hit them, it's Wembley next season, then new White Hart Lane the season after, I really think they'll struggle to adjust, especially next season. I seem to remember that the season Arsenal moved to the Emirates they were slow starters, dropping points in their first two games against lower league teams, and finishing in a rather meh fourth place (it hadn't become the norm at this point, right?), it took them a while to adapt to their stadium and they stumbled, and arguably have never recovered since. Now the competition was much less in 2006 (outside the top four anyway) , Spurs weren't there, and neither were City yet, I'd argue they'd have suffered worse if it was today, kinda like I'm hoping Spurs will.
Now, is this just selective memory by me to validate the delicious thought of Spurs fucking off? Probably, but let's look at something more recent and less subjective. Last season they played their home champions league games at Wembley, now Spurs hardly have pedigree in this tournament (Bales hat trick against Rafa I hear you cry) but by all accounts they were dreadful, losing two of their three home games and failing to qualify from a group they really should have been qualifying from. Simply they just didn't adjust to the stadium, be it because they failed to adapt to the larger playing surface, couldn't handle the reality that it was hilarious to think that they could ever sell out a stadium that large without a large number of them being tourists or fans of another club taking a rare opportunity to see a champions league game, or simply because they hadn't formed that connection or feeling of home with Wembley.
Now these problems will all exist next season, and will almost certainly be eccerbated, can you imagine trying to whip up any momentum in a 90,000 seater Wembley when it's less than half full against some middle table team? Its going to be dreary, depressing and will 100% effect the players. WHU is a shit hole, but it can be a noisy one, and no doubt that's helped them over the years, that'll be gone. Further, it's a fairly small pitch, Wembley is rather big, and as Spurs like playing a compact and hard working game, this will absolutely effect them.
These issues will still exist at the new stadium too, maybe not to such a major level, they'll have more luck filling 60k than they did 90k, and as the stadium is on the same land, it'll still feel a lot more like home for the fans, it'll be the same journey, the same pub and the same chippy, but it will be different and it'll still take some getting used to, and my hope is that they stumble next season at Wembley and then it gets compounded the season after with the new stadium nerves setting in and the anxiety of the poor season before, which will ultimately lead to the dream scenario we all crave, them fucking back off and joining Everton in mid table obscurity.
Oh to dream.
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