Had we been able to concentrate on it a little harder than we have over the last couple of months, we would probably have it sewn up by now.

The thing I hated most about any team mate was when the pressure was on, if he didn't make himself available for a pass.

To be honest, I thought he must have got himself a new tattoo

There was another subplot I noticed beginning to rear its head in a number of journalistic outlets.

This column doesn't do finger-pointing. But if it did, its finger wouldn't be pointing at Terry right now.

It was almost impossible to analyse. There were too many sub plots and intrigues.

Sage observers of the game will say, 'Don't forget that you can't leave Tottenham entirely out of the equation.' Yes, I can, though. I just did.

This is one time when familiarity will breed anything but contempt on both sides.

That is, surely, even by rugby's standards, thick. I mean, why bother to have a season at all?

Already it is almost impossible not to glance on towards the third of April. In all likelihood it will be the pivotal game of the season,

If that doesn't count as a 'demonstration of football', then what, in the name of sweet Garth Crooks, does?'

In times gone by I suspect he would have been the 'cult' player in the side with the fans, high praise indeed.

Actually, it didn't even have to be a handsome win. It could have been as ugly as the one against Burnley on Saturday.

Under the most stressful situations sometimes the only place where a footballer can feel free is out there on the pitch.