A whole season has 3420 minutes, plus stoppage time. 38 games to define the summers of thousands of fans, 205200 seconds to decide the bragging rights and define the state of mind of a club going into yet another cycle of the beautiful game.
We're down to 180 of those minutes now. Just 10800 seconds lie between Tottenham Hotspur FC (founded 1882) and another European adventure. 2 matches in which the 06/07 season will be defined. Some will still claim it a failure. Its 8 years (around 4204800 seconds give or take) since Spurs last added to the trophy cabinet. Others will cite the signing and performance of Dimitar Berbatov as having made our season.
But its not over yet. The first 90 of those 180 minutes looms...
Blackburn come to town with their own agenda. Having gradually improved since a poor start to the season, they now find themselves within touching distance of an unlikely 7th place. This game therefore is not a formality. Just like Monday's game, where both Spurs and Charlton had so much to lose in defeat, so on Thursday night do both teams once again still have something to play for.
Monday's game will be fresh in the thoughts. In some ways it was a microcosmic look at the season as a whole - extravagant flair football in spells, with some frankly seat of the pants defending at times looking like undermining all the attacking merit. For every moment of genius from Berbatov and Keane, there was a moment of trepidation from Dawson or Robinson. A lack of cutting edge from the hosts has to be considered as much a contributing factor in the clean sheet, as the defending.
Blackburn however are not Charlton. They are a progress, aggressive team, with a blend of youth and experience, a young manager and ambitions to continue to improve. Just like Spurs. With talent on both flanks in the form of the coveted Gamst Pedersen, and the precocious Bentley, cultured passing in the middle of the park from the likes of Tugay and solid if unfashionable defenders like Nelsen and Samba. Their manager has worked with the best in the land, and has proven that he can get the best from his players. And, possibly most poignant - Rovers have not played since Saturday. two full days more time to rest up in preparation for the visit to The Lane.
This might have the hallmarks of being a doom and gloom preview. Far from it - Personally I think we have everything that it takes to beat Blackburn. The likelihood is that Malbranque will start in place of Lennon, and the left back slot may well go to Anthony Gardner, but the core of the team will be the same as the side that has only lost one in 10 games.
Martin Jol has his doubters. I'm not one of them. However the likeable dutchman has got to get the very best out of the team on Thursday night, including refining the defensive side of Spurs game. He has to send out a side that is intent on once again proving that, those monopolizing four aside, Tottenham are the Best of the Rest. Another season in the UEFA cup will further feed the desires of fans, further feed the wishes of the board, and further feed the career intentions of those cultured stars coveted by others.
180 minutes to go Martin. Lets hit Blackburn where it hurts and show the footballing world we're still on the up.