04Feb

It might just be Spurs’ year for the FA Cup

by Ross Gale

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“The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It is nothing of the kind. The game is about glory, it is about doing things in style and with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom.” Some strong and passionate words from a Tottenham captain, legend and two times FA cup winner, the late great Danny Blanchflower.

It may seem a strange juxtaposition to read the headline followed by this quote. However I believe they are tightly linked. Blanchflower’s poignant words actually serve as reason for why we could achieve FA Cup glory once more.

If you know Tottenham Hotspur, you know we have a great affinity for the world’s oldest domestic football cup competition. And you would also know that the club has a great history of entertaining the fans above all.

Spurs have surprised almost everybody this season with their supreme consistency and league position. The most enjoyable thing of all has been the manner in which they have attained it, through playing arguably the most entertaining and attacking football anywhere in the country.

Harry Redknapp and his trusted team have formulated a successful recipe, consisting of not only an offensive style of play but also a hugely effective one.

The very fabric of a knockout cup competition means opposition teams will be less likely to set up to defend, as a draw doesn’t earn you much more than a replay. This factor suits Spurs’ swashbuckling style further as teams will perhaps be more susceptible to it.

The Lilywhites only face a short journey in the fifth round to The Lamex Stadium and to Stevenage. The latest draw in the FA Cup was very kind to the Premier League sides, as they almost all avoided each other. The draw was possibly the kindest to Spurs but with it being away they by no means have an easy tie to come through.

As long as Redknapp’s team give them the appropriate respect, then Spurs’ greater quality should shine through.

The elimination of the Manchester clubs, the only two sides ahead of us in the league, is another added reason to be optimistic. The sides left that will be favourites with Tottenham are Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal. Although, I would argue all three would be more worried about us than maybe we would them if we were to face them.

When a side’s chances of winning any trophy are discussed one trait that is always questioned is experience. Recent previous Tottenham sides have perennially lacked this but things are changing. You may be surprised to learn that as many as eight players in the current squad have won at least one English domestic trophy.

Add in the European journey that this side went on last year with notable victories over Inter and AC Milan on the way and you realise experience is something we don’t necessarily lack.

Finally, you have to look no further than the collection of potential match winners we have on display all over the park. Such players who can score goals in an instant, Bale, van der Vaart, Modric, Defoe and Lennon to name a few.

Here’s hoping that Tottenham Hotspur not only taste FA Cup victory this season, but glory.

Posted by Tottenham fan Ross Gale

Follow Ross on Twitter @RossJGale

@RossJGale