We’ve won the Europa Trophy, so thank you and goodbye, Ange.

 

We’ve won the Europa Trophy, so thank you and goodbye, Ange.

We’ve won the Europa League in what was a very poor season for us. Yes, it was a pitiable competition, but we won, which gives us an entrance into the world's toughest contest, the Champions League. And we got there by overstepping better-quality teams that were higher up the Premium League table than we were. Yes, we finished in 17^th position, just above the relegation zone. Did we deserve the trophy? Of course, we won the competition that gave us the key to unlock the golden box. All it now needs is for Levy to invest in the team, so that we have quality on and off the bench to challenge for top honours. Additionally, due to the poor season, we need a manager who can build that team, and it isn’t Ange.

The last time I wrote my blog, we still had the Europa Cup final to contend with, as well as matches against Palace, Villa, and Brighton in the league… We won the Europa League against a very poor United side, two competing failures. It was also the final where another record was broken: we were the lowest league-positioned teams to compete in this competition's history, beating the previous record held by West Ham and some European non-entity. That shows you the value of the Europa League competition…

… as for our last remaining league matches… all defeats; Palace beat us at home 2-0, Villa beat us away 2-0, and finally Brighton humiliated us 4-1 on the day we paraded the European trophy around the Tottenham stadium. Obviously, the team didn’t want to turn up for that game either.

We lost twenty league games out of 38, a Premier League record for us… and all Ange had to say was that season three would be even better? What!! Will we finish 16^th? He’s got to go. Daniel Levy loves sacking people, especially after we win or get to finals. Juande Ramos, after winning the League Cup in 2008, Pochettino took us to the UEFA Champions League final, but was then sacked. Mourinho took us to the League Cup final, but was sacked before he could lead the team out in that final. It doesn’t matter whether you are a serial winner or a failure; you will get the sack because Levy doesn’t back managers with money. You either achieve success on a pittance or you go. Investments will only go into building his empire, and one small part of that empire is a little thing called a football team.

But we are in the Champions League, and Fabio Paratici is returning to Tottenham after being suspended by UEFA. Will that make a difference…? Who knows, time will tell. I've heard through the grapevine that when Paratici returns, it will be his decision whether Ange stays or goes, taking some of the flak off Levy.

On a positive note, it was a great spectacle to be in the final, even though the match was with two very poor sides, with United only slightly ahead in the poor stakes.

After the game: we stayed for about an hour afterwards to watch the presentation and the players walking around the pitch, applauding us as we applauded them. I got my souvenir programme and two Cup final shirts with the final embossed on them (one for Janette).

We had arrived in Madrid on Tuesday, flew to Santander and then took a taxi to the stadium in Bilbao. Bilbao was nothing special, most of the shops were closed (probably because of the imaginary fear of English hooligans rampaging through the streets, looting, pillaging and raping their citizens). About five o’clock, we made our way to the stadium and were ready to queue up to get in. Our tickets were on our phones. Once inside, we made our way to our seats. No alcohol was available, just soft drinks and non-alcoholic beer… and of course the traditional hotdogs, sweets… usual crap…

After the game, we took a taxi back to the hotel, got three hours of sleep, and then headed to the airport. Finally arriving home at 6 pm. A couple of days later, Janette, Mel, and I made our way to the stadium to witness our brilliant victory over Brighton… only it wasn’t, or even a victory; it was just back to our losing ways in the league. But the fans were happy with our display of the trophy. I thought that if we won well, it might be reason enough for Ange to stay, but all it did was confirm that he should go and go quickly.

As for the Final itself…

We ended our 17-year wait for a trophy as Brennan Johnson's first-half goal was enough to beat a poor Manchester United in the Europa League final.

Our victory means Ange Postecoglou has fulfilled a promise to deliver silverware in his second season.

Postecoglou, before the game, said "he would never be a clown,” but it didn’t stop the media, non-Spurs supporters still laughing at our poor league and Cup performances, the FA Cup early knockout and our surrender to Liverpool in the League Cup semi-final second leg.

Hopefully, victory will not save Postecoglou from a Spurs exit in the coming weeks. Yet, he will leave as a hero after joining Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw by winning a European trophy.

We also joined the likes of Newcastle and Crystal Palace in making this a season of glory for clubs who rarely win trophies, and Tottenham, sadly, are now in that grouping (it never used to be that way until Levy took over). Nevertheless, we set to benefit from a £100m windfall after qualifying for next season's Champions League. We achieved a trophy and Champions League placement, while Arsenal only secured a second-place position for their efforts; the same goes for City, which ended up behind the Gooners (we laughed!!).

We were two of the lowest-placed teams ever to contest a European final. For the losers, there was no silver lining but more misery and debt added to their continued failings.

Our goal against United was scruffy, with some debate over whether Johnson got the last touch, and was totally in keeping with the tepid domestic seasons of two underperforming sides. Still, no one at Spurs will care about that.

On a night of clear tension and nerves, it was always likely to require a little bit of luck to claim victory.

Whichever way you look at it, good or bad… we got the trophy and will be in next season's Champions League. As for United, they will continue to struggle and try to escape that quagmire that is pulling them down to oblivion (hopefully!!!).

I must also mention Micky Van de Van's heroic display:  While we were leading 1-0, the United thought they had scored with a header from Rasmus Hojlund. But that was without counting on a spectacular save as Micky van de Van overhead kicked the ball heading towards an open goal mouth to safety. Two heroes on the night: Van de Van and Johnson, who will go down in Spurs history.

It isn’t over for us yet, loyal Tottenham supporters (it never is under Levy), as we wait to see what our director’s next move is. Whatever that is, it will go the same way all Levy’s football transactions go - down the sink for the sake of penny pitching for his other money-making projects.

What worries me is that he has won another trophy in 20-odd years of overseeing our football team; it might make him complacent and think, “We won another trophy with so little, maybe we can do it again? And I can save money.” God help us if he does!!!!!

Up the Spurs!

 

Glenn