Back To The… San Siro

No repeats of the last trip... apart from the good bits

And so it was foretold. The most difficult draw we could have got, and we got it.

                                                 

I’m excited by this, not least because it means we’ll turn up with the 100% right attitude. After the fanfare of qualification, I’m not sure that would have been the case with some of the lesser lights that, of course, ManUre and Cheatski got. As I’ve said from the beginning, we’re not here for the sideshow. Tottenham have been the hottest Champions League ticket in town, bringing a freshness and vibrancy to the usually dull group stages, and I can see us rolling on beyond the other Meelan. For all their riches in attack, their ageing backline will not fancy facing our Dual Fuelers flying in x-wing style into their faces. No fear, no need.

Blackpool for Sunday lunch then. The boy Bale is making the right noises, the usual ‘we won’t take them lightly’ lines trotted out for all to hear. I’m sure the Totters said something about being focused at Bolton as well, but it ended up looking like they’d jumped on a merry-go-round and been pushed onto the pitch, all stumbly and stuff. No repeat of that nonsense please. Blackpool are indeed not to be taken lightly, heard they’ve lost 2 in 8 in the PL. They like to attack and always likely to concede. They should be like a slightly more erratic version of us, but anything less than a very good performance and we could be in trouble.

In the plus column, Rafa and His Royal You-Tube-nes Kaboul are back in the frame. In the ‘boooooo’ column, Jenas is still out (yes, he’s a genuine miss these days, did you get the memo?) as is Billy Gasman . Wilson has also recovered so expect to see him as part of a 5 man midfield with JD up top. Through a lack of other options, that’s what I’d plump for.

Sad news on a big day for the club today, as Totters legend Ralph Coates has passed away aged just 64. I’d love to be able to give you a run down of the number of times I’ve seen him play, but unfortunately I cannot. Different generation. I do however remember him as the stand-out character of ‘The Glory Game’, with tales of his initial transfer from Burnley and settling his family in London, disappointed at not quite making the huge initial impact that he’d had at his former club. As we know, he went on to be a great servant for Tottenham Hotspur, playing 200-odd games and scoring the winning goal in the ’73 league cup final, but it was that very personal tale of family that really stuck with me. Rest In Peace, Ralph.