It’s never pleasant. But sometimes, it is what’s needed (It would be a macabre story but relegation needs to happen for Tottenham, 12 March). Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, we (Aston Villa) regularly qualified for Europe. But after the departure of Martin O’Neill at the 11th hour – blame Randy Lerner – and the series of poor seasons that followed as a consequence, we suffered relegation from the Premier League in 2015/16. Gutted.
It proved both cathartic and regenerative. It’s the Joseph Campbell monomyth, the hero’s journey. Ask Luke Skywalker. Spurs are approaching the abyss. Their “helper/non-helper” Igor Tudor – aided by his abetters – is leading them ever further thus.
The only way back is through “transformation” in the Championship. It’s really not that bad. Easier to get tickets. You get to go to grounds you wouldn’t normally. Get to feel like world beaters again. And Spurs can loan out that spectacular stadium of theirs for all sorts of lucrative shenanigans in the meantime.
Richard Pitman
Ware, Hertfordshire
• The Barcelona fan turned up at the wrong St James’s Park (Barcelona fan ‘gutted’ at missing Newcastle game after going to wrong St James’ Park, 11 March) but spare a thought for Spurs fans who, week after week, are turning up at the right ground.
Toby Wood
Peterborough
