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Tottenham fans managed to see the funny side of one of the worst free kick routines in recent memory in their 1-0 defeat by AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.

The north Londoners were beaten in the first leg of their Last 16 tie by the Dutch side, courtesy of a hugely unlucky Lucas Bergvall own goal in the first half, in the latest blow to Ange Postecoglou and Co.

It was a largely toothless display from Spurs, who now have it all to do in the second leg in order to revive their hopes of Champions League qualification.

Chasing the game, though, Spurs had a great chance to get back level with a free kick on the edge of the box.

James Maddison stood over the ball, and made as if to have a crack on goal before playing a disguised short pass to captain Son Heung-min.

But the South Korean icon's return pass was hit too heavy, and ended up behind the on-rushing Maddison.

The England international's touch back in to Son was then played off balance and therefore behind his team-mate, leaving the Spurs skipper all at sea, with three AZ defenders closing him down.

Son then passes to Kevin Danso as Spurs look to resurrect the chance with numbers in the box already for the set-piece, but the centre back's ball into the danger area is over hit, and trickles out of play.

It was a let off for the Dutch hosts, but a move that largely encapsulated Spurs' performance on a disappointing European night.

As such, it drew the ire of a number of fans on social media, though they were able to laugh at the woeful set-piece.

One fan wrote: 'Got to be the most Tottenham free kick imaginable.'

Another echoed the sentiment: 'That free kick was the most Tottenham thing I've ever seen.'

A third posted a picture of a dartboard surrounded by darts, none of which had managed to land on the board.

And a fourth joked: 'I can't believe this actually isn't AI generated.'

It is the latest disappointing result in a season of setbacks for Spurs, who have struggled with swathes of injuries throughout the campaign.

As a result, they have been incapable of building up any sort of momentum and form, which has unfortunately impacted their campaign, with Postecoglou's side down in 13th, tied on 33 points with 14th-placed Man United and West Ham in 15th.

It was a thoroughly disappointing performance, especially given this competition remains the club's last hope of silverware this term, and they have work to do to turn the tie around in the second leg in north London.

'We'll analyse it and have a look at the areas where we struggled with, but it's fair to say it was nowhere near the level it needed to be,' Postecoglou said.

'It wasn't great from us tonight. Pretty much all facets of the game. We didn't really get to grips with any part of the game. We struggled to gain any momentum with the ball, we weren't as aggressive as we needed to be without the ball.

'I don't think it's a matter of effort or attitude. I don't think it is going out there and not trying, but, like I said, we didn't really come to grips and have the right mindset to tackle an away fixture in Europe.

'It is always tough and we obviously conceded the goal, which was a disappointing set of events, but even after that we didn't really settle down into the game at all.

'You are going to face some pressure when you play away from home in Europe and weather the storm and get to grips with it, but we never really did so that was a disappointment.'

Vicario was seen remonstrating with Spurs fans after their loss to AZ Alkmaar

Tottenham fell to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg after Lucas Begvall's own goal

LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Is Alisson the best goalkeeper in the Premier League?

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario clashed with supporters after the club slipped to a lacklustre 1-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar in their Europa League last-16 tie.

A freak Lucas Bergvall own goal proved the difference between the sides in The Netherlands.

Vicario prevented Tottenham from facing a larger deficit ahead of the second leg, with the Italian making fine stops from Troy Parrott and Ernest Poku.

And the 28-year-old Italian attempted to rally the Spurs supporters who had made the trip to the Netherlands after the final whistle.

Vicario was seen demonstratively raising his arms towards the away fans, appearing to be calling for more support.

Tottenham fans vented their fury back at the goalkeeper following the latest blow in a dismal season, with the goalkeeper expressing frustration in return as he walked away.

Tottenham fans reacted to Vicario's actions on social media as one accused the shot stopper of making a 'sly dig' at supporters.

'Vicario has done me, can't believe he thought it was a good idea to give it large at the final whistle,' one fan wrote on social media.

'Vicario et el "geeing" fans up "waving" hands... we all spent the best part of £500 plus, concentrate on own performance instead of sly dig at fans,' another said.

'Vicario giving it the big one to the fans! What u want them to be bouncing about after paying money to watch that s***!!! F*** aff!!!'.

Others went further by accusing the goalkeeper of having a 'loser mentality' and claiming they would be happy 'if he never wears the shirt again'.

'Vicario having a go at the away end. Happy if he never wears the shirt again,' one claimed.

Another wrote 'Booed every single one of them *****. Vicario giving to us telling us to get behind the team. Get behind what mate? F*** off. All useless 2 bob.

'Hundreds down the drain. You don't give af. Back to your mansions you go with your 100k+ a week. You don't care about us.'

The first leg defeat marks the latest setback in Tottenham's season, with the Europa League providing their last chance of silverware.

Ange Postecoglou's side had headed into the knock-out stage of the competition as the tournament favourites, but will have to rescue their last-16 tie at home next week.

Tottenham will return to Premier League action against Bournemouth on Sunday, with the club currently lying 13th in the table having lost 14 of their 27 league games.

Dominic Solanke has given Tottenham fans another injury scare after footage showcased the player limping off after a disappointing night in the Netherlands.

Ange Postecoglou's men suffered a nightmare matchday against AZ Alkmaar away, concluding it with a 1-0 defeat following Lucas Bergvall's own goal in the 18th minute.

The Swedish midfielder attempted to clear the ball out of the Spurs' box, following a corner kick from Peer Koopmeiners but instead saw his touch give the lead to his opponents.

Tottenham then fell short of keeping control of the game as they were clearly dominated by the Dutch team, which ended up with 12 shots in total and five on target.

However, Postecoglou's side's night only got worse as footage from the match showed Solanke hobbling towards the stadium's tunnel with the help of the team's staff.

It comes after the striker returned to the pitch for the first time since his knee injury picked up in mid-January.

Solanke was forced to miss 45 days and 10 games, in which Tottenham managed to get five wins and five defeats.

His recent setback marks his third injury of the season, following ankle issues he experienced in August and September, as well as an illness he suffered before the game against Fulham in December.

The English striker scored 11 goals and added six assists in 29 games for Tottenham this campaign.

He came on as a substitute in the second half of the clash against AZ Alkmaar, yet failed to deliver a strong performance and was forced off in the 92nd minute.

Due to Solanke's physical problems, newcomer Matthys Tel appeared in the starting line-up but was later replaced by Wilson Odobert.

Postecoglou's side suffered their eighth loss in 2025, in a disappointing season both on domestic and international levels.

While they were knocked out of the FA Cup and Carabao cup, Spurs sit in 13th place in the Premier League table with just 33 points.

A potential blow by Solanke's injury confirmation would deepen Tottenham's crisis, as they are currently missing Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski, and Richarlison.

Lucas Bergvall's first-half own goal saw Tottenham fall to defeat in Alkmaar

AZ Alkmaar deserved the victory and might think they deserved more

LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Is Alisson the best goalkeeper in the Premier League?

Well, it isn't over. Tottenham remain in the tie and that is the only positive factor Ange Postecoglou can take by way of solace from a trip to the Netherlands where his mission to save the season in the Europa League kicked off with a performance as flat as the landscape.

His team did not register an effort on target against AZ Alkmaar until the 88th minute when a mishit cross by Wilson Odobert fell dropped into that empty category thanks to the generosity of UEFA's statisticians.

The only other one was the freakish own goal by Lucas Bergvall which settled the first leg in favour of the Dutch team who should feel aggrieved not to lead by more.

There were missed chances they will rue if they go out in the second leg, when Spurs will be without Rodrigo Bentancur, who will be suspended after a yellow card. Dominic Solanke might be a doubt, too. Solanke made his return after seven weeks out with a knee injury but hobbled off 20 minutes later in discomfort after landing heavily on his back.

'Hopefully nothing too bad,' was Postecoglou's verdict but long-suffering fans might wish they had given up hope for lent. At the end, they took their frustration out on goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario who was trying to lift their spirits without success.

'We didn't really come to grips and have the right mindset to tackle an away fixture in Europe,' said Postecoglou. 'It's always tough and we obviously conceded the goal, which was a disappointing set of events but even after that we didn't really settle down into the game at all.

'You are going to face some pressure when you play away from home in Europe and weather the storm and get to grips with it, but we never really did so that was a disappointment.'

Postecoglou grumbled about the pitch but also accused his team of lacking 'aggression' and being too 'hesitant'. And captain Son Heung-min said it was 'sloppy' and 'nowhere near good enough' and 'a big wake up call ahead of the biggest game of our season next week'.

Tottenham found themselves behind inside 18 minutes. And the home fans were bouncing up and down, singing the name of their former Spurs striker Troy Parrott, who played his part in a goal that will go down against Bergvall.

Parrott was lurking beyond the back post to meet a deep corner. He tried to help it back across goal on the volley but did not catch it clean, miscued and scuffed it down into the ground, which seemed to confuse Bergvall who sliced an attempted clearance off the outside of his right boot.

The ball swerved up towards his own goal over goalkeeper Vicario and Djed Spence on the line.

AZ were content to let the visitors dominate the ball and sought to hit them quickly on the turnover with slick passing combinations and speedy wingers Ernest Poku and Denso Karius.

They should have scored again before half time when Karius outpaced Son on a run from his own half before releasing Parrott, clean through on goal. There was no flag, but Vicario came to the rescue, dashing out to close the angles and make a fine save.

More disappointing was that Spurs created so little going forward. AZ centre-halves Wouter Goes and Alexandre Penetra easily neutralised Mathys Tel, who is struggling to make any impact as a centre forward.

Tel was replaced at half time by Wilson Odobert who briefly offered extra menace because his threat to run in behind created space for the creative midfielders.

Bergvall advanced into space and lashed a shot narrowly wide. Odobert linked up with Son, whose finish was disappointingly wild. Clearer chances came and went, meanwhile, at the other end. Poku forced another save from Vicario and then skied a decent chance presented by a rare mistake on the ball by Archie Gray.

Penetra had another shot deflected wide before Postecoglou made a triple change, which included the return of Solanke but his night ended in pain, there would be no late leveller and Spurs have work to do on Thursday in London.

MATCH FACTS AND RATINGS

AZ ALKMAAR (4-2-3-1): Owusu-Oduro 6; Maikuma 6, Goes 7, Penetra 7.5, Moller Wolfe 6.5; Clasie 7, Koopmeiners 8; Poku 7.5 (Belic 81), Buurmeester 7 (Sadiq 81), Lahdo (Kasius 9, 7 (Smit 66, 6)); Parrott 7 (Van Duijn 81).

Subs: Belic, Daal, Dekker, Martins Indi, Verhulst, Zoet, De Wit.

Goals: Bergvall OG 18.

Bookings: Koopmeiners, Poku,

Manager: Maarten Martens 7

SPURS (4-3-3-): Vicario 7; Spence 6.5, Gray 6, Danso 6, Udogie 5.5 (Porro 72, 6); Bergvall 5.5, Bentancur 6, Maddison 6 (Sarr 72, 5); Johnson 5.5, Tel 4.5 (Odobert 46, 6), Son 5 (Solanke 72, 5.5 (Scarlett 90)).

Subs: Austin, Whiteman, Van de Ven, Bissouma, Moore, Romero.

Bookings: Bentancur

Manager: Ange Postecoglou 5

Ref: Rade Obrenovic (Slovenia) 6.5

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a fresh injury blow with key forward Dejan Kulusevski set to spend a spell on the sidelines with a foot injury.

The Sweden international is undergoing tests to determine the extent of the issue but seems certain to miss at least Thursday’s Europa League clash versus AZ Alkmaar and this weekend’s clash versus Bournemouth.

It remains to be seen whether he can feature again before the international break, with head coach Ange Postecoglou to confirm the extent of the injury tomorrow.

Kulusevski has become a key player Ange Postecoglou and his absence will come as major setback for the Spurs boss.

Their season has been beset by a raft of injury problems to key players with Kulusevki the latest victim.

There is hope that first-choice centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are close to making their returns.

Dominic Solanke, Richarlison, Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies are also currently nursing injury problems.

Kulusevski has become a vital player for Tottenham since his arrival from Juventus in June 2022.

He has played 42 games for Tottenham already this season, scoring 10 goals and providing 10 assists.

Roy Keane has finally responded to James Maddison after the Tottenham star appeared to aim a 'shush' celebration at the Manchester United legend.

Maddison netted a 13th-minute goal to guide Spurs to a much-needed 1-0 win over the Red Devils on February 18, after being heavily criticised by Keane in the build-up to the match.

The former Manchester United midfielder, 53, urged that Maddison needs to step up and questioned whether his team-mates would be delighted following his return from injury.

Maddison saw his early goal against United as the perfect opportunity to swipe back at Keane, running to the camera to perform a 'shushing' gesture and subsequently his signature darts celebration.

Gary Neville asked Keane how he felt about the incident on the latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.

'Good on him' Keane replied. 'Absolutely no problem (with it). I still go with what I said, I don't think he does enough of that.

'But when he scored, I was at home with my cup of tea and went "Good on you". No problem, people have a go at you, you answer them back.'

Keen not to leave things there, however, the Red Devils legend sent another dig back at the Spurs star, who captained Tottenham against Manchester City on Wednesday night.

He added: 'I was hoping he do the same the other day but he was subbed against Ipswich.'

Keane's riposte sparked hilarity among his podcast co-hosts, as Neville, Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott and Ian Wright roared with laughter.

Neville, amused, said: 'James, he's monitoring your every move'.

Breaking his typically serious, no-nonsense demeanour, Keane smiled and stared down the barrel of the camera, as if to look directly at Maddison, before throwing imaginary darts to mock his trademark celebration.

'Just keeping doing your stuff James because you'll never f***ing win,' Arsenal legend Wright joked.

Keane's initial swipe at Maddison came during a previous episode of the podcast.

'Maddison isn't bad, when he's not at the darts,' Keane said. 'But let me tell you, if you think he's going to come back and get Spurs into the top six, you're in cuckoo land.

'He's good, he's a talented player, but if you're a player in the Spurs dressing room and Maddison's back in the squad, you wouldn't be looking and going, oh Jesus he's back today, we're going to be fine.'

Maddison clarified the meaning behind his celebration after Tottenham's 1-0 win over United.

'Just a little bit of outside noise wasn't there this week,' he told Sky Sports.

'People have their opinions. I wanted to do my talking on the pitch. There will be a certain few enjoying me being the match winner.

'The gaffer he always talks about blocking the outside noise but it's difficult. It's in your face with social media, etc. You see it and it's there, especially when it's a high-profile name.'

Back on the turf where the initial wounds of a bruising season were inflicted and Manchester City set about cleansing some of the scars.

It was here in Tottenham in the Carabao Cup in autumn that Pep Guardiola's team swallowed their first defeat, which somehow turned into five in a row, culminating in a 4-0 hammering by Spurs at the Etihad Stadium.

That sequence was extended to just one win in a dozen. That rattled confidence and that in turn appears to have heralded the end of an era. And maybe even terminated one or two City careers. What happens between now and May will determine the extent of the damage.

There is an FA Cup and Champions League qualification to chase, and victory in north London brought some relief for Pep Guardiola, three days after the pain of losing to Liverpool, the team who look set to succeed his as champions.

Erling Haaland settled the contest. Back in the team and back in the goals inside 12 minutes, taking him to 28 for the season in all competitions.

He thought he had number 29 in stoppage time, only for it to be ruled out for handball after a long VAR check. Haaland had barrelled through challenges from Archie Gray and Kevin Danso as the ball bounced around at chest height.

It might have hit him on the upper arm. It might not. The footage was inconclusive but, ultimately, City did not care. 'We won it doesn't matter, I didn't see it, it was not clear,' shrugged Guardiola, who was more concerned by the way his team lost control after the interval.

'The game was open in the second half because we didn't close it in the first. We should have closed it. There's always a lesson. Never ever forget to play because when you do the opponents will make a step up.'

For an hour it was like watching vintage City. The final half hour was more like the new, erratic City and they had to defend for their lives as Tottenham detected an equaliser and gathered momentum kicking towards the South Stand.

Ederson made a fine late save from Son Heung-min and Spurs were still pressing for an equaliser in the final seconds, after the handball fiasco, when Pape Matar Sarr headed the last chance over from close range.

'Disappointing to lose but we looked more like us,' was Ange Postecoglou's verdict. 'First half, we were too eager to get forward, really wasteful and allowed City to get into the rhythm of their game.

'Second half, we dominated the game and the territory. Relentless, aggressive football against a good opponent and we never tapered off. We got stronger if anything. Just missing a goal.'

In truth, anything but a win would have been harsh on City, such was their superiority in the first half, and Jeremy Doku in particular, who excelled on the left wing, tormenting Pedro Porro, who could not work out whether to stand off or engage his winger.

Whichever Porro chose to do, seemed like the wrong option as Doku skipped past or shaped crosses around him and he created the goal with a low cross deflected to the feet of Haaland, who finished with a simple side footer at the near post.

Guglielmo Vicario made saves from Doku, low from the edge of the box, and Haaland, at close range. Savinho swept in from the right, unmarked onto another Doku cross, only to see his effort skid over off the turf.

Spurs struggled to get out of their own half at times. Having started with Son and Dejan Kulusevski on the bench, they could have done with more from their youthful front three. Ederson was hardly tested in the first 45 minutes and the half time whistle was met with groans.

But Postecoglou resisted the urge to make substitutions at half time and his reward was to see his team back in the game even before he sent on the cavalry with a quadruple change. Porro, after all his problems with Doku, sparked the gear change with a charge forward and a wonderful low, fizzing cross.

Wilson Odobert, who came sliding in at the back post, could not turn it on target but it charged the home crowd. Postecoglou's team found a brisker tempo and more intensity and were better once Son, Kulusevski, Sarr and Djed Spence were sent on.

City came under sustained pressure for the first time in the game and Guardiola's response was to send on Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva, which regained a little control and they become only the second team to stop Spurs scoring at home in the Premier League, and the first since Arsenal in September.

Only a small reward by Manchester City's standards but these are different times. They turn to the FA Cup as Spurs, still pinned in the bottom half of the Premier League, rest and dream of the Europa League.

Follow Mail Sport's live blog of Manchester United vs Ipswich in the Premier League with updates from Tottenham's clash at home to Manchester City.

PLUS: Why Sir Jim Ratcliffe can still be a major success at Manchester United and how the Leicester squad are getting exactly what they deserve

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If Arsenal fans feel deflated at the end of the season for again finishing Premier League runners-up - which they should! - I’d suggest the perfect tonic for them would be to sign Harry Kane.

A flight of fancy? Perhaps, it depends on how deep the England captain feels his attachment to his former employees, Tottenham Hotspur.

But professionally it would make sense for all sides. Arsenal would get the prolific goalscorer to help them take the final step and Kane would give himself the best chance of winning a league title in this country as well as surpassing Alan Shearer as the Premier League’s leading marksman.

Both of which I’d suggest gives him a more meaningful legacy than a Bundesliga winners’ medal, which Bayern Munich achieve nearly every season.

Certainly, if Kane decided to return to his country next season with a £54million buy-out clause there to be activated, joining Arsenal would be a more sensible decision than returning to Tottenham, who need another £300m spent on players to become realistic challengers, something that is very unlikely to happen under the current ownership.

While there may be no economic resale value in Kane, becoming champions would open a raft of commercial benefits for Arsenal that would negate that concern.

I’ve no doubt Gunners fans would be delighted to see Kane in the red and white. They would regard it as the ultimate one-upmanship over their local rivals, and taking one of the best players in Tottenham’s history would give them even greater opportunity to ridicule them.

Of course, Kane will have other options, but maybe not as many good ones as he would want, given that he turns 32 in July.

Manchester City have Erling Haaland, Liverpool a variety of different goal outlets and Chelsea’s spending model is based on younger players with growth potential and sell-on value. Manchester United? Forget it, if you want to hit the ground running in a decent team right away.

The Newcastle project would be interesting and there may be a vacancy should Alexander Isak leave, although I don’t know who can afford the Swede's £100m-plus valuation. Real Madrid and Barcelona struggle these days because of financial rules in Spain.

If I was in the unfortunate and reprehensible position of choosing the career path of being a football agent, I would suggest to Kane he most certainly looks at all options, including Arsenal.

He is a big boy now, not a child, and will ultimately make his own mind up, but he needs a clear head to make a rational decision.

He has shown before that he is not beyond doing silly things, like a 'come and get me' interview with Gary Neville which killed his exit at the time from Spurs, or having his brother represent him without the prerequisite bottom feeder agency expertise.

Players have moved directly from Tottenham to Arsenal before. Sol Campbell still gets abuse from Spurs fans, but that was a unique situation. They felt he led their club up the garden path before going directly to the 'enemy'. Which, by the way, he did!

They are probably the same fans who cheered on Manchester City against their own team to prevent Arsenal winning the title and the same ones screaming for Daniel Levy to get out of the club.

Kane has already severed his ties with Spurs by joining Bayern. While certain sections of the Tottenham fanbase would see it as a betrayal for him to end up in another part of north London, you would hope most rational thinkers would understand he wants to take the best opportunity on offer. And while he was once part of the Tottenham family, players in the end have to look after themselves.

Pat Jennings is possibly a better example. He left Spurs for Arsenal, returned later in his career, and is much-loved at both clubs.

Mikel Arteta’s team have been knocking on the door without signing the required players to get over the line. Kane will not automatically lead them to the title – you could argue the major shortfall this season is losing Bukayo Saka to injury – but it’s undeniable that he would make them markedly stronger.

Shearer once let his heart rule his head by choosing hometown club Newcastle rather than Manchester United and sacrificing plenty of medals, but he had the luxury of having already won the Premier League at Blackburn. Kane is still searching for that.

I do like the idea that an emotional sport allows players to respect their former clubs. It’s why I don’t automatically condemn those who don’t celebrate scoring against old employees.

Even so, it’s naive and arguably unfair to expect never-ending loyalty from players. Fans have it most of the time, but a player’s job is to give to their best while under contract. You can’t expect their loyalty to be everlasting from their first waking moment as a professional to the last. That goes for Kane as much as anyone else.

He may instinctively loathe the idea of playing for Arsenal but, if he wants another crack at the Premier League and Arteta shows interest, it would be silly not to hear him out at the very least.

Why Sir Jim can still get it right

I don’t know Sir Jim Ratcliffe personally, so can’t say whether being in the papers endlessly feeds his ego, but sometimes you have to remember it’s the Glazers, not him, who are majority shareholders of Manchester United.

No-one talks about the Glazers now, so Ratcliffe has done them a solid because he has become the story.

Ineos are trying to get out of other sports-related deals, but I’ve not heard they are struggling as a commercial operation so don’t think it is a case of Ratcliffe running out of cash. If he’s making redundancies at United it will be to save money, not because they haven’t got any.

I don’t feel there is going to be a car crash at United, although in football normal business vagaries don’t always exist because some silly b*****d at the top is always going to write a cheque to cover somebody else’s shortcomings.

Successful people from outside can come into the sport and look at aspects of it differently.

More often than not, despite making initial inroads into adopting better business practices inside their new shiny assets, they learn to move the needle slightly and get on with it, even if what they have paid for something isn’t worth it, either economically or emotionally.

Leicester players and owner getting what they asked for

Leading voices in the Leicester City dressing room were instrumental from what I understand in driving a wedge between former boss Steve Cooper and the owners.

The ownership took the direction of the players over their manager and have now got their ‘rewards’.

Leicester are in a far worse position in the table and, barring an improbable turn of events, heading for relegation.

PLUS: Why our fans face a brutal week of violence in Europe and the biggest question that Man United's canteen cuts raise

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It felt like a throwback - a walk into the past - when I arrived in Ipswich at the weekend.

Somehow, amid the countless trips to watch and report on football, Portman Road had always passed me by, and it was the way that club connected to its place which lifted the soul. 'Always Proud. Always Ipswich, Always Suffolk' read the legend on the wall outside the club store.

There was no mistaking who was in town, because of the strains of 'We're the Park Lane Tottenham' issuing from the railway station at 6pm, after a 4-1 win for the day's visitors.

Those exuberant singers seemed blissfully unaware that they were out of kilter with a new edict - the club are calling it 'guidance' - in which Tottenham have asked broadcasters not to call them 'Tottenham.'

No, April Fool's Day is more than a month off yet. This request really is included in a Spurs email - entitled 'Tottenham Hotspur Naming Update' - stating various dos and don'ts about acceptable nomenclature for the club.

A 'remastered brand identity' has been 'rolled out across all the Club's physical and digital touchpoints,' we're told. It emphasises to broadcasters that 'Spurs' is fine for brevity and 'Tottenham Hotspur' very much wished for, but plain old 'Tottenham'? Definitely not.

That 'Hotspur' is so very fine - a name with romantic, Shakespearean overtones, which, as one Tottenham-supporting friend tells me, 'felt magical as a kid, because in a world full of Uniteds, Citys, Towns, Athletics and Albions, there is only one Hotspur. If more people refer to us as Tottenham Hotspur, then I'm happy.'

But seven little words in the club email - 'Never refer to our Club as "Tottenham"' - were enough to make your heart sink.

It's all about the global brand, of course. A form of words that looks best on mugs and bags and apparel to sell the 'product' from New York to Nairobi and all points in between.

Well, I rather thought that brand management was all about optics - the image you create for your product. Tottenham's geniuses neglect to see that quietly retiring off 'Tottenham' has a terrible look.

That the local must transcend the global at any British club. That without the district whose name seems a minor inconvenience, there would be no 'Tottenham Hotspur.' That arbitrary decisions about what a club is called - by anyone - are simply not theirs to make.

The local area has been synonymous with that club since the days of the Tottenham boys who kicked balls in the district and formed Arthur Rowe's first great team. It was the Tottenham community which fought against the club's move across London in 1977. The Tottenham locals who turned up, week in, week out, when the club was on its uppers after the war.

'Tottenham' was good enough for Ossie Ardiles in a recording studio before the 1981 FA Cup final, singing of how he'd 'play a blinder, in the cup for Totting-ham.' Another indelible part of the historical fabric, seemingly no more a part of the new 'brand' than Chas & Dave's 'Tottenham, Tottenham, no one can stop them.'

No one can deny the work Tottenham have done in the local area over the years. I distinctly remember the children's faces light up at a primary school where I interviewed Kieran Trippier seven years ago.

But, God knows, that district - with the highest rate of claimed unemployment in London and countless boarded-up properties on the Tottenham High Road - needs all the nurturing, promotion and encouragement it can muster.

An edict that 'Spurs', a mere nickname, take ascendancy over 'Tottenham' does nothing to tell a new global fanbase that there is actually a place called 'Tottenham', postcode N17, in the London borough of Haringey, which - while lacking much wealth - has enabled Spurs to soar.

A place, incidentally, where pensioners have just been told that concessionary tickets for the club's home game are being axed. A 'Save our Seniors' campaign against that is ongoing.

Tottenham are by no means the only club looking to reach for a global future with a casual disregard for the past.

Club badges, a brand consultant's dream, have been routinely manipulated for financial ends. Manchester United' dropped the words 'Football Club' from theirs in 1998.

Tottenham 'reimagined' their own last November, by removing the club's name from it. It was a 'more playful, daring approach,' said the PR spin. 'They ruined a once great badge,' my friend says.

The names of grounds are equally interchangeable. West Ham demand their stadium is referred to as 'London Stadium' when most fans feel it should be 'THE London Stadium.'

A few years ago, I received an email from Wrexham - at whose ground, The Racecourse, I have been watching football for most of my life - instructing me to begin using a new name for it in copy, incorporating the name of a Colorado-based cold coffee firm. Sorry, Wrexham. Absolutely no chance.

Such considerations seemed like double Dutch to the local Ipswich supporters I found sitting beneath an image of Bobby Robson, Mick Mills and that town's great 1980s team on Saturday lunchtime.

They told me they were just pleased to see their little place back on the map, even if this sojourn among football's elite does not last beyond May. 'We love our Ipswich,' said one, a sentiment which, much like the place, seemed like a blast from the past.

Brace yourselves for a wild week

Next week's European fixture list is enough to make you shudder, with two of our clubs in the Dutch citadels of hooliganism - Arsenal at Eindhoven on Tuesday and Tottenham at AZ Alkmaar two nights later, when Eintracht Frankfurt also arrive in Amsterdam to face Ajax.

Some aspects of continental football never left the dark ages. Stab pants at the ready.

Bury FC the Opera?

Bury FC and English National Opera, an improbable combination, are collaborating on a project, called 'Perfect Pitch', to explore the impact of massing singing on team performance.

ENO have chosen the ideal club, who are clambering back to their feet again, top of the North West Counties league, after disgraceful rogue owner Steve Dale took them out of business.

ENO are soon moving to Manchester. Bury FC the Opera? That one could fly.

What the hell are United eating?

Are Sir Jim Ratcliffe's people seriously asking us to believe that they are saving Manchester United £1million by slashing canteen lunches?

Even if United had 1,000 employees - which they don't, anymore - eating in the place five days a week for 50 weeks a year, that would add up to £40 a meal, by that figure.

United are on course to earn £34m less Premier League prize money this season than last.

Given that, based on last year's figures, they would earn themselves £11.5m more by finishing 14th, rather than their current position of 15th, perhaps corporate genius Sir Jim might wish to suggest that Rubem Amorim abandons his precious 'philosophy' and claws back points at all cost.

Given the canteen is his current priority, at £40 per lunch it seems fair to ask, 'What the hell have they been eating in that place?'