I see that the WestHamAreMassive hashtag is trending on Twitter Their fans didn't like me adding the words "tax cheats" to it...
From those they’ve interviewed on TV and radio today, they all seem to be professional Cockneys, cor blimey guv’nor
If there was any justice in this world, Dick van Dyke would take the piss out of Lin Manuel Miranda's cock-uh-nah accent on a daily basis
There's no way they've had a 'better' season than you but your post did get me thinking and after mulling it over I have to say: I'd happily swap our season for theirs.
Funnily enough I can't answer that question with ease. Our most recent CL campaigns have been pathetic - literally there to make up the numbers (something you will no doubt resonate with). More than that, CL money doesn't appear to have helped us much in the market. Yes we're spending more but it's largely on overpriced crud as the truly great players have the pick of 3-4 other teams who can all easily outspend us. I'd miss potential glorious European nights under the lights against illustrious opposition, that's certainly something. Even when we got tanked by Barca, seeing Messi in the flesh on the Spurs pitch was worth the entrance fee alone. If I knew there'd be continuity and progress from finishing 4th financially and practically, I wouldn't swap the seasons. So last season (21/22) is a really good example. Finished 4th and it did sweet fa, in fact it set us up for a miserable season. Would I swap our season last year with Ham's this year? Definitely.
West Ham endured a largely awful season but finished it with a moment of brilliance. Arsenal enjoyed a very good season but bottled it at the final hurdle which left a bitter taste. Arsenal competitively had a significantly better season, that’s not really a debate. But if before the season started you were asked if you’d rather finish 2nd thus securing CL football but finishing with no silverware, or 14th and winning the baby European trophy which also secures a spot in Europe’s second tier competition, I think the vast majority of fans would pick the latter. 10 years from now Arsenal fans likely forget about this season, 50 years from now West Ham fans will still talk about this and pass the story on to generations.
I'm not so sure about this. I don't think you can look at these things in isolation. I think it depends on what happens over the next couple of seasons. When we blew top-4 in 2021/22, many thought we wouldn't get top-4 for a while because that was our best opportunity (especially in the manner that everything unfolded). Fast forward 8 months later, and we're top of the league with a sizeable gap ahead of Manchester City, cruising ahead of everyone else. Granted, we blew it at the business end of the season. Nevertheless, we showed that we didn't let bottling top-4 the previous season affect the following campaign (where many thought we'd finish 6th/7th/8th). If - and I am conscious it is a huge 'if' - we use the pain and lessons of this season as a springboard to go one better in the 2023/24 campaign, then I definitely wouldn't swap this season with West Ham's because it'd be part of our journey to something greater. From my own personal point of view, let's say we don't achieve anything special over the next couple of years (and maybe it's because we've won quite a few FA Cups in the last 9 years), I still wouldn't swap this season for West Ham's; even if they got something tangible and we didn't. I'd much prefer the season we've had to the season they've had in any capacity. Maybe my answer would be different if we'd gone a lengthy period without winning anything, but this is just how I see it currently.
I think it makes sense. I won’t remember Conte getting us top 4 but I will remember the Poch years and not just for the CL final, but because there was a great feeling around the club for most of his tenure. It felt good to be a Spurs fan in a way it hadn’t, consistently, for most of my life. It’s ultimately about trajectory. One off top 4 isn’t really remembered if you’re the kind of club that often gets European football of one kind or another. But if it’s a springboard for consistent good finishes in the league, challenges for trophies (even winning them god forbid) and just a good feeling around the club and a sense of purpose and direction, then it’s remembered. In the moment Conte’s top 4 finish felt like that but with hindsight it wasn’t.
Unfortunately for us, right now, we live in an era where Man City are vacuuming up the lion's share of domestic silverware and look set to break their duck in the Champions League. Their gulf-state funding has taken their success to new heights both on and off the pitch. With Newcastle, it is going to be the same eventually with their Saudi money. And then you have Chelsea sweeping up young talent across Europe and South America putting them all on massive wages and fat contracts. Additionally, there's also Manchester United who are in the midst of a takeover bid from the Qataris. So there are all these powerful clubs where financing and resourcing is no object. Then in Europe, you're not only having to deal with our own domestic competitors, but there's teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Napoli etc that you have to compete with. Trophies aren't a luxury either of our clubs are in a position to be demanding with the competition being so ruthless and fierce at the top. So you have to take the joys of the highs when they come and, if silverware does arrive, then great - savour those moments. Because the reality is, they will be fleeting and unsustainable in the long-term. That's why it's important to just enjoy the ride and not get too hung up on silverware, in my opinion. Loads of clubs can't win trophies. Find pleasure in the moments. Otherwise you'll never be satisfied.
If you look at what the clubs expectations were at the start of the season (not the fans), at the 3 clubs (AFC. THFC & WHU), then its clear that Arsenal and West Ham got closer to achieving there main objectives - Arsenal will play in next seasons ECL, and had a dart at the title, West Ham won a trophy and are back in Europe, those all definitely ticking boxes. Spurs missed all of theirs.
Nah, the teams who aspire to be successful don’t want to be in the Conference Pear League/Cup to begin with. You could extend this argument to Luton or Sheff Wed or Wrexham for example, because there’s no doubt their fans think they’ve had the time of their lives after the last few weeks.
That's a terribly arrogant statement Luke. that only a Utd, Chelsea or Liverpool fan would make. Even most City fans currently retain some humility due to their sustained success being a recent thing. The clubs you mention have all had fabulous seasons, winning promotion or a play off final is an amazing experience for clubs that in the main are starved of success (that equates to about 87 of the 92 teams in the top 4 divisions of our pyramid). West Hams achievement of winning 1 of the 4 trophies on offer to them at the start of the season should not be condemned because its 'only the conference league' I bet United fans celebrated their victory in the old Cup Winners Cup which was a similar competition back in the day. I expect Villa to be going for it next season too, and so they should. I know that there is a section of our fan base who would look down on the conference league too and its true that we might aspire to be in the better European competitions but I for 1 would celebrate a victory in any competition because football is about glory and the long suffering fans at clubs like Spurs, Villa, and West Ham cannot afford to be choosey.
Dumb statement, every team aspires to be successful. How some achieve or build towards that success are different and comparative. Winning a European trophy, whether it’s the 1st, 2nd or 3rd tier is a sweet achievement for almost every club. West Ham finished their season having achieved one of those European trophies and have gained qualification to the Europa League from it too. The only set of fans likely happier than them on the whole in England this season would be City.
Football should be about enjoying the moment and winning cups can be hugely enjoyable because it's a defined moment with a tangible target. Every game should be like that, because the target is to win but of course it's not. The season Spurs have just had, for example, was lacking in results but almost more importantly it was devoid of excitement. Were there any highlights? Beating City were the only ones I can remember. If we had won a trophy that moment would have been memorable and hopefully exciting but there would still have been hours spent watching boring negative football. I hope Ange can return exciting football back to Tottenham because that's why I started watching Spurs in the first place, so many years ago. If I was an Arsenal fan I would have enjoyed most of the season because they played exciting football the end bit would be disappointing but I would be full of hope for next season with a more experienced but still young team. West Ham have had a crowning moment in a disappointing season, has that made it all worthwhile? Probably but for sure it's a good way to end their season. It's easy to see the teams that have entertained their fans the most, Newcastle, Brighton, Brentford, and Forest for surviving. Villa for the turn around and Liverpool too for coming back towards the end. Who had the worst, obviously the relegated teams and Spurs one of the worst seasons I can remember. We have been battered mentally and some Spurs fans are sceptical of the new manager, as always I am one of the positive ones really hopefull Ange can bring back the feel good factor and make watching Spurs exciting again.
