I can be subject to accusations of occasional exaggeration. Which in turn could be described as hyperbole. Particularly when football is concerned. Because, quite frankly, every match is ‘the most important game of the seaon’, otherwise it’s not worth playing. Ok, that rules out England friendlies because they’re shit and no one cares about the result except the manager. And I have been known, on occasion, to describe a match as ‘the most important ever played anywhere in the entire known, and unknown, universe’.

Well today’s match at Sunderland has become just that. No more hyperbole, not a hint of exaggeration, THIS IS IT. The game to decide Spurs’ future. And for the purposes of this debate; ‘future’ starts in August. And may be once more, at the ‘top table’, sharing the glory with the elite of the game. Or it may be consigned to the ‘lower leagues’ of hoofers, hackers, butchers, bankrupts and has-beens, ‘down there’ in the Championship.

Because West Ham’s win on Friday elevated them. Not just in league position but in confidence, in belief in themselves, in the hope that it is within their own power to avoid relegation. Something our new manager needs to instil into my team of the dire, the depressed, the injured and those with ‘mental health issues’ which have prevented us achieving our goals this year. Prevented scoring our goals this year. In any meaningful way.

So we are, at the moment of writing this, in ‘the drop zone’. If the league ended today, we’d be relegated. Worse still, Arsenal would be crowned champions. So, fortunately on all counts, the season is not ending today. So we still have time, theoretically, to ‘pull ourselves out of the mire’. Arsenal still have time to ‘properly bottle it’, a process that started a few weeks ago and burst into new life yesterday as they lost at home to Bournemouth. Both of these events are now inextricably linked in the minds of all the fans of both clubs. ‘Compassion’ is low on the scale of feelings when football rivalry is concerned. Whereas gloating is high. Schadenfreude stays in top position. For some, it’s the only enjoyment we get.

So there may be future games, as there have been in the past, which have been ‘the most important game ever played anywhere in the universe’, but none will surpass today’s game at Sunderland. I want you to remember that.

GOD HELP US!!!! Sunday

A xxxx