Lincoln Joseph Steffens was a New York reporter who famously said of Soviet society: “I have seen the future, and it works.”
Pochettino’s comradely work ethic doesn’t work unless it is implemented by decent players.
So for the bazilyionth time, when we don’t play our best XI we become a meandering mess.
I’ve seen the future – and it irks.
Yes, there were odd reasons to be cheerful from both both games, but the cold truth is that none of them were worth sitting through the either game to witness.
Friendly apologists are lightening quick to remind us all that these games are not about the outcome, rather about fitness.
That argument is scuppered then and we didn’t look fit in either game. If anything, we looked dogged and irritated by the heat.
I appreciate fans want to make an emotional investment in players, I used to too, maybe 30 years ago. But in 2016, watching these kids who ‘look’ like footballers but are so far removed from the grim reality of the Premier League (dare I even mention the impending Champions League?) I just cannot see a single player being even close to making the transition.
Pamela appears to have developed a mental strength that certainly wasn’t there when the bambino arrived at The Lane.
Of Eriksen I despair. Captain for this one and he barely had the self assurance of a cabin boy.
The Premier League begins in a matter of weeks and I will say this. We do NOT have sufficient depth. The depth of which you speak is comprised of bit parts such as Chadli and Son.
Mindless chatter of ‘so and so’ coming through from the development squad is no more than mindless.
I’m also concerned about Janssen. Not because he looks poor – I’d say from these two friendlies that we learned absolutely nothing about him.
I worry as I can see Poch is still obsessed with one up front and it isn’t difficult to imagine Vinny coming on for Harry – when Harry’s hit a brick wall – and then the new guy ploughing the same furrows on his own and achieving naff all.
We were unceremoniously vomited out of the Europa League two seasons in a row, for not being good enough when confronted by a decent side.
Given that we’ve bought nobody of any great shakes, mumbling about kids like Carter Vickers and Edwards irritates me more than the Australian heat would.
I wish all these lads well, but anyone suggesting that they are in any way relevant to the first team, the Premier League and the Champions League seriously needs their head looking at.
To annoy you further, Arsenal fans on social media are not as indulgent toward their manager as many Spurs fans appear to be.
The bulk of Gooners acknowledge that finishing above us last term was done so by the skin of their teeth, and that they cannot rely upon everyone else being as poor as they were again. They want reinforcements and are become grouchier by the day with the lack of progressive transfer activity.
Make no mistake, Arsenal bumbling about is NOT an indicator that running a football club is difficult, rather that they too have a man at the helm who is too indecisive, and too lacking in confidence.
The middle way is the path to be followed by both coaches, but the excuses outweigh the activity of substance.
Right now, there is no logical reason to suggest Spurs will finish in the top four next season.
No amount of staring down the Hubble Space Telescope at the last two games can alter that.
