#this ‘real fan’ shite is grating but you have to realise this rivalry is not like pool/yanited or the pool derby or the manc derby or

[whitehartlane]

not asking anyone to understand the rivalry but please acknowledge it and our place in it at least. the north london rivalry is one of the fiercest in football because of the way it came about. we languished in midtable forever while they went on to win cups and the league unbeaten at our gaff. that was such a pivotal cultural moment for the rivalry and something that they’ve lorded over us for years. then they fell off and we managed to somehow rise to a consistent cl qualifying club that even contended for the title and the cl at some point, but crucially we won nothing during that run of good years. now seeing them once again rise to the top … it would be absolutely devastating if we gift wrapped them the title again exactly 20 years later. the players will do whatever they want but it’s not wrong of the fans to hope we lose today, as antithetical as it may be. they’d be wishing the same.