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.
