The reason football fans survive the almost endless heartache (Spurs fans), anxiety (all fans), depression (Arsenal fans), humiliation (Manchester United fans) and hatred (Chelsea fans) is because of hope. That single, solitary glimmer of what might be; of what could be; of what one day may come to fruition.

That one day you might get to the Champions League. Again. That you might win the league. That you might win any kind of silverware that doesn’t come in canteens of 12 place settings from Argos.

Yet for most teams, the mass in the middle and lower end of Europe’s finest tables, aspirations are more humble. Survival. A league cup. Entry into the Europa League. The LD Vans Trophy. Relagation avoidance.

But fuck ’em. We’re not interested in those sorry bastards. We don’t care if Swansea go down and Stoke stay up, if West Brom survive 2 seasons or 4 before dropping back down, if Aston Villa finish 6th or 16th. They’re just there to make up numbers and prepare us for the main events. The glamour games, the big stuff. The Winners.

Man City play Liverpool this weekend and that is truly massive. If the Scousers win that’s the only way Man City won’t win the league. They still can but Chelsea and Liverpool will have a chance. Spurs can still win the title, but only if everyone else dies and has all their points taken away in a match-fixing scandal. (the dream scenario)

Sunderland are almost done. If Spurs can beat them 5-1 they must be compete rubbish. Everton visit them at the Stadium of Getting-Very-Dark-Now on Saturday and that too is a massive game. Because a victory for Martinez’ boys will put them above Arsenal, in 4th place. Champions League place. And if you end up 5th, as we know to our great and continued cost, you get double punishment. Not only you miss out on Europe’s top table but you get stuck in the Europa which distracts massively from next year’s quest for 4th place. As well we know. Though Spurs’ malaise is way deeper than just the pressure of Thursday night football.

With Barcelona crashing out of to Athletico Madrid on Wednesday questions are now being asked about the future for Europe’s reigning monarchs. Barca are ‘getting old’ and without some serious(ly talented) new blood to replace the Puyols and Xavis and Iniesta (who’s always looked about 55, even when he was 19) Bayern Munich have almost toppled the Catalan’s throne.

No mention in all this of West Ham. Who cares?

So we’re at the final fence. The last chapter. The 18th hole.

Some of us are still hoping. We just don’t know what we’re hoping for.

Happy friday

A xxxx