More than just 5-1

I am delighted, really delighted after last night’s stunning win to book our place in the Carling Cup final and not for the obvious reasons either. Not the fact that we destroyed our rivals in a semi-final of a cup competition (‘run riot’ BBC, ‘spellbinding’ The Guardian and ‘incredible thrashing’ The Sun) nor that the crestfallen Arsenal players fought amongst themselves, which suggests that the match had been scripted, well, by me.

It wasn’t even that Arsene Wenger was his usual myopic arrogant self as he claimed that he had neither seen the fight between Adebayor and Bendtner (it’s in the picture above Arsene) nor that Tottenham deserved the win. First win against The Gunners in 8 years and 21 attempts? Not even that. Something a little more important than all of those things put together.

I am tired of the ‘big’ clubs’ patronising attitude towards our game. Wenger is deemed a genius for using the Carling Cup to blood future stars, yet to me it smacks of disrespect towards the people who managers love to say they care for the most – the fans. These fans pay a lot of money to see their team play yet are cheated out of seeing the top players. Can you imagine a theatre manager telling the audience that Sir Ian McKellern will not be performing in this afternoon’s matinee as he is being rested for Saturday night?! If Arsenal do not take this tournament seriously then they should be kicked out, fined or at least should charge fans the same amount it costs to see a reserve game rather than the full price.

Where are the authorities in all of this? Ridiculous question I know, as they sell the name of the competition and even kick off times to the highest bidder. Why are they not fining teams who disrespect these tournaments? Of course, it would be somewhat perverse for the FA to fine those who air disrespectful comments about their competition when they themselves took the holders, Manchester United, out of the 2000 edition to play in a subsequently disbanded tournament. But something needs to be done.

And the Carling Cup does serve a purpose. Have a cup run and the whole club is abuzz with excitement, in addition to the fact that the momentum usually carries the team up the league as well (Blackburn last year and Chelsea every year that Mourinho was in charge!)

So fair play to Blackburn’s Mark Hughes, Everton’s David Moyes and Tottenham’s Juande Ramos (yes, and even Jose) for fielding their proper teams in the Carling Cup (and the FA and UEFA Cups). To those who don’t see the point let me remind you that my team has a chance for glory on the 24th February and yours doesn’t!

Come on You Spurs!