Are we on the road to greater things now?

Spurs/ Chelsea and Racism

Our game against Chelsea was appalling, in more ways than one. Our result was dismal, but what was more shocking was the racial abuse a black Chelsea player received. And when Spurs fans abuse Chelsea black players, they are also abusing our own black players. But not only black players who find it offensive, but all decent people, as well. There is no room for this sort of behaviour in this stadium, in fact, there is no excuse for it anywhere in society/ on this planet.

Spurs gave out three public warning, in fact, one was too many. When there was a hint of it, those that abused should have been immediately ejected, as a Chelsea supporter was for also doing the same thing to Son. They are not Tottenham supporters or even football supporters and should play no part in the human race.

The attention should be on our game, but instead, sadly, the subject of players being subjected to racist abuse will once again top the agenda, casting a cloud over the entire day. It was their player Rudiger, who was the target after he was floored by Son's raised boot which earned him a red card.

Our fans reacted angrily to Rudiger, who they felt over-reacted, even though he was clearly fouled. Nevertheless, that is no excuse for what followed. The Chelsea defender signalled to indicate what he had apparently been subjected to by sections of our supporters. The Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta immediately spoke to referee Taylor; the unsavoury episode concluded with a succession of warnings over the stadium loudspeaker. But as I said, one was too many. The Stewards and police should have dug in and eliminated the disease immediately. We shouldn’t give scum the oxygen of life to continue breathing.

To the match. The significance of this match was important to both managers. The subplot had been built around the meeting between managerial rookie Lampard, in his first season at Chelsea and only his second in management after a single campaign at Derby County, and Mourinho, the self-styled 'Special One'. Mourinho had shared such glories alongside the former England midfield man during his time at Stamford Bridge, where they won two Premier League titles together.

On the pitch at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, there was only one winner: Chelsea were sharp and incisive while we were ponderous and second-best in all areas. Why? Before the game, there was hope and positiveness in the air, but once the whistle went, we capitulated. It was probably one of the worst games this season. Some may say worse than against Brighton, some say not. But whatever way you look at it, it shouldn’t have been.

Mourinho seemed totally unprepared for Chelsea's three-man defensive system while the deployment of Dele Alli in a variety of positions in the first half hinted at our disarray. We did introduce Christian Eriksen for Eric Dier at half-time, to make amends, but Son's red card snuffed out slim hopes of a comeback. Now they have the bragging rights, at least until we face them again (on their ground).  Hopefully, we will get a victory there.

We seem to have gone back to Pochettino’s old ways. I said when Pochettino was the manager that I couldn’t see us finishing in the top four. With our defeat by Chelsea, we have slipped back. We need to pull ourselves together and quickly.

On top of all that this was Chelsea’s first visit to Tottenham’s new ground. What a bummer.

Now we’ve got Christmas ahead of our trip back home on Boxing day to face Brighton. The only thing to cheer me up, and many others, is to watch Santa, his elves and poor old Randolph… or is that Rudolph slide down our chimney (which we haven’t got), all for a mince pie, a glass of milk and some sexual perversion (which old fantasy men in white beards seem to enjoy… and for the sake of equality, I am sure some women enjoy fishing as well!).

Christmas 1958 Spurs played their last Christmas day match. Since then we’ve had to content ourselves with a fat old codger putting some innocent child on his knee for the parents to scream with joy (even though Joy might be a thoroughly lovely lady!). How things have changed in 62 years. Merry Christmas to Tottenham lads and lasses.

See you all on boxing day.