What's wrong with Tottenham?
by Paul O'Donnell
What the heck is wrong at White Hart Lane? That question is on the minds of many fans of the EPL and frequently answered by hazy, truly wondrous and frankly bizarre musings by the pundits.
Actually I've heard and read much about this but for me, much of it seems to be out in the mindless ether of never-never-land psychobabble. It almost seems as if many of the pundits look for something that isn't there and what is even more silly actually believe they've found it. In doing so they look right past the core problem. It really isn't as fuzzy and far out as some of these guys seem to think it is.
To set the record straight I do cheer for Spurs often. Can't say I'm a dedicated fan but I certainly would like to see them succeed for much the same reason I cheer for Liverpool too. To be honest there is more in the way of substantive connections to Liverpool for me but set that aside for the moment.
Primarily I honestly feel it would be good for the league and the game itself IF teams other than the so-called "Big Three" actually won the trophy. For the league that fancies itself the best in the world (and it is) I see it as a travesty that one team has won the title 10 times in the short life of the EPL. When one team wins it 2/3rds of the time there really isn't much in the way of competition, is there?
Now, I'm certainly a fan of and appreciate excellence far more than the American style of pro sports where a team that fails to establish a winning record in the regular season gets a shot at the title anyway in what here we call "the second season." That said, the very real dominance of the league by any one team, for so long a period of time, is not good for the league in the long run, and makes any claim of competitive sport on display a bad joke. Enough of that; for now.
Except to say that is essentially why I cheer for anyone other than Man United, Chelsea or Arsenal. It has to be said that the reason I dislike Arsenal is deeper, but let's just say I almost never cheer for any of those 3, and certainly not when it is a league match. Seeing Hull City, in their first ever EPL campaign beating two of the big clubs on consecutive weekends is heady stuff. I say GO Hull! It is the occasional success of a Hull, Wigan or Reading that keeps my interest to be frank. A team other than one of the Big Three winning it would surely be an even bigger reason to pay attention.
Hence, my interest in Tottenham, but what the heck is really wrong there?
It really is pretty simple and nothing at all like the fuzzy, wildly esoteric nonsense you often hear from those highly paid 'pundits' of the game. Really. Now we hear from their former manager, Martin Jol, that the basis for their failure so far is that they have lost their "English identity" which is a big load of bullfarb, pardon my French. That is just more utterly inane nonsense.
Tottenham's failure so far is due to very poor execution and that from players that are earning a very handsome living playing this game we all love (if you didn't feel that way about it you wouldn't be reading this).
Tottenham has failed to score a goal in their last 3 EPL games. Duh! Zero goals, and in case you don't get the real message there you cannot win a game if you do not score. Simple as that. Really, and I'm not being a jerk about it either. It really is that simple.
When players at this level launch 20 or 25 attempts at goal and put fewer than 1/4th of them on frame the chances of actually scoring a goal are pretty slim. When a few hit the woodwork you can say well, it was fate, but when the other 15 or 20 wind up in row Z you have to wonder why some of these guys are being paid $50,000 a week or more, don't you?
And, as we've seen with the ongoing circus on Tyneside and what happened on White Hart Lane just one year ago, throwing the manager over the side is rarely, if ever, the answer to what is happening on the pitch. This current situation with Spurs is a perfect example that it rarely works. Tactics or player selection/combinations isn't likely to fix anything when it is execution that is so poor. When the players you are expecting to step up are not getting the job done throwing the manager over the side isn't likely to change very much (think Newcastle). The real truth is some of these young players at Tottenham are not earning their salary at this stage. Not by a long shot (pun intended).
In their first 4 EPL games Spurs actually did score 1 goal, but never more than 1 in any game this season. Darren Bent, who scored 13 in the tuneup games has 2 (3 overall) and no other Tottenham player has more than 1. Their corps of fine young UK bred players Bentley, Jenas (1), O'Hara (1), Lennon and Huddlestone have done little to fill the shoes of Keane, Defoe and Berbatov. In 7 league games Spurs have scored only 4 goals.
Jenas is one that to me is a real disappointment. Oh, he often makes things happen but unfortunately for Spurs he rarely finishes what he started or gets the ball to someone who can. Jenas tends to hold the ball too long and while his frequent threatening runs are thrilling they almost always end with not even a shot on goal.
Aaron Lennon is another. His terrific skills and pace can change a game but Spurs fans see little develop from it in the end and it is past time that this young man produce more than just looking good running with the ball. Maybe its time he think more about his game than his hair style or what color boots to wear.
Bentley will contribute but the others remain a question mark. Their big Russian forward has been a giant disappointment so far and he may now be on the injury list after having to be sub'ed off in the 35th minute against Hull. Modric is a player but his contributions have so far not put anything on the board where it counts.
The hierarchy at Spurs decided they could part with Keane, Berbatov and Defoe betting that these young guys and a few purchases (Spurs spent upwards of 70 million pounds in the summer) would fill in for the losses they would suffer. Those 3 lost players represent upwards of 35 goals. So far it is clear that replacing those goals with the players on hand is not likely unless a number of those young guns get serious and actually produce what is expected of them.
In their most recent outing Ramos did get what for this team was nearly a dominant performance yet they failed again to put the ball in the net. It was not that the tactics or selection was inappropriate. The loss came from a failure to execute and finish what they created.
It also seems clear that Spurs board room was wagering on their ability to close the deal with Arshavin and keep Berbatov in the fold too. When both failed to materialize as the window closed Spurs, and especially Ramos, were exposed. That failure suddenly put their season in real jeopardy before it even got started.
A very real threat to Spurs season now is that losing can become a habit and even a self-fulfilling prophecy. This is one area where a coach (manager) can surely make a big difference and help shake the players out of their funk and restore confidence. Can Ramos pull that off or not? That is the question that really matters now for Ramos.
However, nothing really does that any better than a total effort and a resounding victory which is what Spurs desperately need at this stage. Crisp execution and finishing a few chances can be the best medicine for a lagging team spirit and Spurs are in need of just such a tonic.
When league play resumes Spurs travel to Stoke (Oct. 19), then home to Bolton before taking the short trip to the Emirates to do battle in the North London derby. Their next two matches are in the must win category or the pressure on the board to ditch Ramos will be too much to bear; if he makes it that far.
Needless to say, to me that would be the wrong move, but we see it so often that it becomes expected by the fan base and that is unfortunate for all concerned. Spurs fans should look to Newcastle and their own experience just last November when they dumped Jol; the end result is more often than not negative. It is indeed how they got where they are now.
If we get to that it means Spurs management lost their big wager and their survival would really become a question mark.
