1) I started supporting Spurs and became a fan way back in 1960 as a 13 year old. Numerate posters can now work out my age (a bit harder than working out Keano's tally for last season). So in a sense I joined because in football terms Spurs were THE Club. That legacy in my opinion, over time has been like a millstone around our necks. Yes it was fantastic at the time and of course I don't regret it, but the high levels of achievement it set and the consequential expectations of us fans and the subsequent frustrations have led to us having a reputation for fickleness. We don't have the patience to allow players, managers and yes even the board time to stamp their mark on the club, before we are off calling for sackings and new signing etc.

As fans we should try to take a longer view. Success does not come overnight and before someone talks about the Stamford Bridge posers think about Leeds. Inflated with money, they made a charge for the top, the financial momentum wasn't enough and they crashed and burned with massive debts. Success - true sustainable success has to be built slowly. The foundations have to be there, a large fan base, a quality training ground, a modern highly trained back room staff, financial reserves, ambitious board, a capable and visionary managerial team and a well equipped stadium. We have most of these. I'm pleased WHL will be rebuilt, we will all be sorry to see the old girl pulled down, but in its place where its always been will come a brand new stadium - bigger and better, standing literally on the traditions of our great club. Finally building a team of world beaters ain't like building lego or for that matter like Championship Manager and those types of games! It is about moulding real players into a team which is comfortable with itself, which is blended like a fine whisky and not pulled off the shelf like a blue WKD!! That’s why we need patience and that’s why we have to give MJ and the squad time.

2) In the past these conversations and opinions were aired around a pub table where it was easy to tell some fans they were plonkers and be done with it. On message boards it is hard to shut up the numptys, and if we are not careful we will drown in the noise of the playground rather than think about a reasoned argument and opinion. Discussion of tactics and best positions of players has always gone on, but if message boards are to flourish, it should happen within the context of 1) above.

3) When posters talk about players, remember these young men are asked to play certain ways and in certain roles. Yes, a good manager will know their strengths and weaknesses and may tweak the teams shape to accommodate them, but many times that doesn't happen. Poor old Rebrov has been having a slating here recently as a 'worst buy'. This is the player who top scored in the Champions League the season before we bought. He was left in our team as a square peg in a round hole - and couldn't adapt - but he was a fine player none the less. Class is permanent. Rebrov wasn't a failure Hoddle was as it was his responsibility to get the most out of him and he failed. Do we respect players enough? I don't think we do. OK the rewards are phenomenal now days, but so is their commitment to get where they are and the toll on their bodies is a price they pay for it in later life. Although he is younger than me, I will bet I could beat Martin Chivers over 100 meters now (although he wasn't that fast in his prime lol). My point is we should be more charitable to the individual players, recognizing its not always their fault they are not playing to well. There could be other reasons for a below par performance.

I'm chuffed to bits with our progress under Martin Jol. Living where I do its hard now to watch our Spurs live (a couple of games per season is normally all I can manage) so I watch with fans from other teams on the big screen. They would give their eye teeth to have their team where we are now, it is a great time being a Spurs fan.

After so many false dawns, I truly believe we are on the edge of something great. Lets savour these moments - I for one have waited so long for this. Lets get behind Martin and the squad, and when we air our opinions lets do it united in our love for the club, confident of the direction we are going in, and temper our frustrations with the knowledge that patience and confidence will take us forward.

4th next season looking down on the Sc*m? Won't that be great!!

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