For all the pining for Poch that still persists online, the inability to do the double over West Ham causes me greater concern than discovering that the Argentinian has a barbecue in his garden with ‘Mauricio Pochettino, he’s magic you know’ engraved on it. There’s an all too depressing psychological gag to be made about his BBQ being the biggest winner’s medal football has ever seen, but some might view at as cruel, and be offended. Best not. Pffft…
For non-Millennial fans, West Ham is every bit as big a rival as Arsenal (and it would be remiss of me not to recommend Anthony Clavane’s Does Your Rabbi Know You’re Here? for the umpteenth time, at this juncture) and so this is another great opportunity for José to win Tottenham hearts and minds.
West Ham United are in plenty of trouble, right now, make no mistake. Only goal difference keeps them from the drop zone, and their form is identical to that of Norwich City, who are doomed. Indeed, the entire bottom three look incapable of mounting so much as a child’s bicycle with stabilizers, let alone a last-ditch fight against relegation.
Winning is in Mourinho’s blood, despite his detractors having rebranded the 54-year-old as a dinosaur; he won in his last post with Manchester United -when they were in a rare old mess. Winning against West Ham tomorrow night is unlikely to change the world, but it will provide a good many Spurs fans with an enormous sense of well-being. It will reinforce my belief we have a bona fide Portugeezer on the firm.