LADS, it's Tottenham" was all Sir
The story speaks to both Ferguson's mastery of pre-match psychology and the long-running trope of the north Londoners being a soft touch; all style over substance; helpless when a superior side flexes its muscles.
Like the "Spursy" tag that has attached itself to the team more recently - and most accusations of sides "bottling it" or cracking under the pressure - it is a gross simplification, but that is also why it endures and is devilishly difficult to shake off.
Tonight the current Tottenham team have a chance to lend a lie to that characterisation when they host champions Manchester City in a fixture that will shape the climax to the
IN THE BOX SEAT Should Spurs conform to crude stereotype and lose, City will start the final day in the box seat to retain their title, knowing that they can lift the trophy for a record fourth year in succession if they sign off by beating
West Ham at home.
But any other result will hand the initiative to Arsenal, who would start Sunday top of the table and able to guarantee a first
City's trip to Tottenham has taken on the tag of unofficial title decider among some observers, so hard is to see
West Ham or Everton - neither with anything to gain or lose from their final match - proving to be a banana skin on the home straight.
And of course there is the twist that while any points for Spurs would improve their own hopes of qualifying for European competition, they would be an even bigger boost for their bitter rivals from down the
Arsenal striker
For all of their tarring with a reputation for melting in the crucible of high-stakes contests, however, Tottenham have actually performed better than City in matches against other teams in the top five this season.
Ange Postecoglou's men have taken eight points from those seven games so far - winning two, drawing two and losing three - and have scored twice or more on all but one occasion, a 2-1 home defeat by Aston Villa.
City, meanwhile, have the worst record against their peers among the top five, averaging just one point per game after winning only once, 4-1 at home to Villa last month, and being held to four draws.
For Spurs, it has been a disappointing end to a season which promised much, but if they upset the odds this evening it will chip away further at the notion that the white flags at Tottenham are more than just a reflection of team colours.
(c) 2024 City A.M., source