The fall of Tottenham

My, what a wonderful time it is to be an Arsenal fan. As you watch the Gunners producing fine, free-flowing fantasy football, Tottenham are languishing in 18th in the league, with one win to their name. However, are Spurs' fans victims of their own high expectations?

Here's the scenario. Every year your Tottenham supporting friend will tell you the usual line: "Tottenham will definitely finish above Arsenal this year."

You're tired of it - I'm tired of it - we're used to it. Just what makes Tottenham fans so insecure about their team's chances that they have to compare their success to Arsenal's?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Arsenal are undefeated by Tottenham this millennium... fair enough, that's only 7 years, but that's over 16 games. And still the Spurs fans keep predicting their next "moral victory" over Arsenal.

So why exactly are Tottenham fans expectations so lofty? Perhaps because they were the first club in the 20th century to achieve the League and FA Cup Double in 1960/61. Perhaps it was because they won the UEFA Cup a couple of times. Yes, Tottenham have an impressive FA Cup record. But, with only two league championships to their name, Spurs have never been the "domestic goddess" of English football.

For me, one of the most ironic highlights of the season was watching pandemonium at White Hart Lane as Tottenham rescued a last minute equaliser in the 4-4 draw at home to Aston Villa. How can these fans be happy with such feats?

So, in comes Juande Ramos. Can he change the trend - can he make Tottenham the North London giant?

Tottenham have made a point in the last ten years of purchasing in young players, many are shipped off very quickly, some stay, but their youth policy probably has a 20 percent success ratio. It's time for Tottenham to really reconsider their youth policies. It's not working, and if it was working there would be no need to fork out £20m on Darren Bent... and that's another story!