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Not a prayer: Darren Bent's terrible miss against Portsmouth should be a cause for concern for all Spurs fans
Top 10 reasons why Tottenham could go down
Ben Bailey
23.01.09
Tottenham fans may well be looking forward to a second Carling Cup final after scrapping past Burnley at Turf Moor, but with a mounting injury list, some calamitous goalkeeping and a dire run of form in the league, there is no doubt that Spurs have a relegation fight on their hands.
Here we look at the top 10 reasons why it may well be Championship football at White Hart Lane next season…
10 Fans on their back
When big clubs go through rough patches it doesn't take much for the fans to vent their frustration. The criticism given to Spurs by their fans after the Burnley game sums up the mood surrounding the club. Redknapp has also come in for stick after stating he will play his reserves against Manchester United in the FA Cup, and while this is probably the best option from a footballing stand point, Spurs' fans will have every right to feel aggrieved. Those attending the game will be paying £50 for a match ticket, not to mention the cost and time spent travelling to Manchester and back. If the results don't start improving soon then it won't be long before the boo boys come to stay at White Hart Lane.
9 Failing forward line
In the summer, for reasons unknown, Juande Ramos sold Tottenham's two most prolific strikers in Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov. Ramos later declared that new-signing Roman Pavlyuchenko and Darren Bent could not play together. While Redknapp deserves plaudits for successfully bringing Jermain Defoe back to White Hart Lane, his Partnership with Pavlyuchenko does not compare with that of Berbatov and Keane. And don't even get started on Darren Bent.
8 Managerial problems
Three managers in 18 months is always going to be disrupting for any club but Tottenham haven't handled the last year-and-a-half well. Letting Keane and Berbatov go was a huge mistake and their replacements haven't been able to fill their boots. They also threw money away selling Defoe, just to buy him back a year later. Redknapp made an immediate impact when he joined Spurs, but lately he has become increasingly frustrated with the players. Saying that his that his wife Sandra could have scored the chance Darren Bent missed against Portsmouth may be extremely amusing, but won't help Bent's fragile confidence.
7 Calamitous goalkeepers
Don't laugh, but at one stage Paul Robinson was one of the finest goalkeepers in the land. The England number one was sturdy and reliable. Then he just lost everything (which usually included the ball), and was stripped of the England jersey and ultimately sold by Spurs. Enter Heurelho Gomes, whose ability to convincingly claim crosses is laughable. The man makes Robinson look like he plays with super-glue on his gloves. Despite improving in recent games Spurs need a keeper they can rely on. With only five clean sheets in 22 games, they need to replace Gomes.
6 Soft midfield
He may not have been the most exhilarating of players, but Tottenham are missing Steed Malbranque. Their midfield is as soft as a bottle of pop, with Jermaine Jenas, Aaron Lennon, Luka Modric and David Bentley as likely to win a 50/50 as they are to win The X Factor. Tom Huddlestone and Didier Zakora are the only ones capable of putting the boot in and their form this year has been erratic. They need a solid enforcer in that midfield and fast.
5 Last season's finish
As Harry Redknapp keeps reminding everyone, Tottenham's league form towards the end of last season was atrocious. After winning the Carling Cup at the end of February Spurs won just three out of their remaining 12 Premier League games. That may have been enough to stay up last year when they had enough clubs below them, but at present they are in the relegation zone and if the same happens this year then they will be in serious trouble.
4 Too focused on other competitions
Redknapp is absolutely right to take his reserves to Old Trafford on the weekend for the FA Cup fourth round. If Tottenham are to survive this season then they need to start getting results in the league, and fast. While two Carling Cup finals in two seasons is an admirable record, they have got to concentrate on survival. They have at least two more UEFA Cup matches, both next month, and are picking up injuries at every turn. Reaching finals and semi-finals is fantastic, but it will all be for nothing if they go down.
3 Centre-back crocks
Tottenham's biggest blight in recent times has been their defence. The Spurs back line can be an impregnable opposition on their day, but they rarely have their best defenders on the pitch at the same time. Club captain Ledley King is a case in point. This season King has completed 12 league matches out of 22, partnering Jonathan Woodgate only nine times. When the two are fit they are formidable, but too often one of the pairing is injured and the defensive cover is not good enough.
2 Run-in
Last five matches: Manchester United (a), West Brom (h), Everton (a), Manchester City (h), Liverpool (a). Spurs have an extremely difficult run-in and will have to fight for every single point. They have got to travel to three of the best teams in the country - two of which will be chasing the title - but also their home fixtures are far from straightforward. West Brom will undoubtedly be fighting for survival and Man City are as good as anyone on their day.
1 Current form
Last five Premiership games: Newcastle (lost) Fulham (draw), West Brom (lost), Wigan (lost), Portsmouth (draw).
There's no doubt about it, Spurs are stuck in a rut. Two points from a possible 15 is never good, but Tottenham should really be beating all these teams. What makes it even worse is that all these sides are relegation contenders and if you are in a dog-fight you need to beat the sides around you. If you class each of these as a six-pointer, then they have taken two from 30. If that's not relegation form what is? Not to mention the fact that they were 3-0 down after 90 minutes against Championship Burnley.
HEADLINES:Ferguson rules out transfer moves..... 'Clock is ticking' for Liverpool owners..... Newcastle snap up Lovenkrands..... Villa close in on Heskey deal..... Hull seal Zayatte signing..... Murray claims psychological edge..... Djokovic and Roddick advance..... Jankovic advances in Melbourne..... Proteas edge ahead in ODI series..... New hope for Hatton fight.....
Ferguson rules out transfer moves..... 'Clock is ticking' for Liverpool owners..... Newcastle snap up Lovenkrands..... Villa close in on Heskey deal..... Hull seal Zayatte signing..... Murray claims psychological edge..... Djokovic and Roddick advance..... Jankovic advances in Melbourne..... Proteas edge ahead in ODI series..... New hope for Hatton fight.....
Top 10 reasons why Tottenham could go down
Ben Bailey
23.01.09
Tottenham fans may well be looking forward to a second Carling Cup final after scrapping past Burnley at Turf Moor, but with a mounting injury list, some calamitous goalkeeping and a dire run of form in the league, there is no doubt that Spurs have a relegation fight on their hands.
Here we look at the top 10 reasons why it may well be Championship football at White Hart Lane next season…
10 Fans on their back
When big clubs go through rough patches it doesn't take much for the fans to vent their frustration. The criticism given to Spurs by their fans after the Burnley game sums up the mood surrounding the club. Redknapp has also come in for stick after stating he will play his reserves against Manchester United in the FA Cup, and while this is probably the best option from a footballing stand point, Spurs' fans will have every right to feel aggrieved. Those attending the game will be paying £50 for a match ticket, not to mention the cost and time spent travelling to Manchester and back. If the results don't start improving soon then it won't be long before the boo boys come to stay at White Hart Lane.
9 Failing forward line
In the summer, for reasons unknown, Juande Ramos sold Tottenham's two most prolific strikers in Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov. Ramos later declared that new-signing Roman Pavlyuchenko and Darren Bent could not play together. While Redknapp deserves plaudits for successfully bringing Jermain Defoe back to White Hart Lane, his Partnership with Pavlyuchenko does not compare with that of Berbatov and Keane. And don't even get started on Darren Bent.
8 Managerial problems
Three managers in 18 months is always going to be disrupting for any club but Tottenham haven't handled the last year-and-a-half well. Letting Keane and Berbatov go was a huge mistake and their replacements haven't been able to fill their boots. They also threw money away selling Defoe, just to buy him back a year later. Redknapp made an immediate impact when he joined Spurs, but lately he has become increasingly frustrated with the players. Saying that his that his wife Sandra could have scored the chance Darren Bent missed against Portsmouth may be extremely amusing, but won't help Bent's fragile confidence.
7 Calamitous goalkeepers
Don't laugh, but at one stage Paul Robinson was one of the finest goalkeepers in the land. The England number one was sturdy and reliable. Then he just lost everything (which usually included the ball), and was stripped of the England jersey and ultimately sold by Spurs. Enter Heurelho Gomes, whose ability to convincingly claim crosses is laughable. The man makes Robinson look like he plays with super-glue on his gloves. Despite improving in recent games Spurs need a keeper they can rely on. With only five clean sheets in 22 games, they need to replace Gomes.
6 Soft midfield
He may not have been the most exhilarating of players, but Tottenham are missing Steed Malbranque. Their midfield is as soft as a bottle of pop, with Jermaine Jenas, Aaron Lennon, Luka Modric and David Bentley as likely to win a 50/50 as they are to win The X Factor. Tom Huddlestone and Didier Zakora are the only ones capable of putting the boot in and their form this year has been erratic. They need a solid enforcer in that midfield and fast.
5 Last season's finish
As Harry Redknapp keeps reminding everyone, Tottenham's league form towards the end of last season was atrocious. After winning the Carling Cup at the end of February Spurs won just three out of their remaining 12 Premier League games. That may have been enough to stay up last year when they had enough clubs below them, but at present they are in the relegation zone and if the same happens this year then they will be in serious trouble.
4 Too focused on other competitions
Redknapp is absolutely right to take his reserves to Old Trafford on the weekend for the FA Cup fourth round. If Tottenham are to survive this season then they need to start getting results in the league, and fast. While two Carling Cup finals in two seasons is an admirable record, they have got to concentrate on survival. They have at least two more UEFA Cup matches, both next month, and are picking up injuries at every turn. Reaching finals and semi-finals is fantastic, but it will all be for nothing if they go down.
3 Centre-back crocks
Tottenham's biggest blight in recent times has been their defence. The Spurs back line can be an impregnable opposition on their day, but they rarely have their best defenders on the pitch at the same time. Club captain Ledley King is a case in point. This season King has completed 12 league matches out of 22, partnering Jonathan Woodgate only nine times. When the two are fit they are formidable, but too often one of the pairing is injured and the defensive cover is not good enough.
2 Run-in
Last five matches: Manchester United (a), West Brom (h), Everton (a), Manchester City (h), Liverpool (a). Spurs have an extremely difficult run-in and will have to fight for every single point. They have got to travel to three of the best teams in the country - two of which will be chasing the title - but also their home fixtures are far from straightforward. West Brom will undoubtedly be fighting for survival and Man City are as good as anyone on their day.
1 Current form
Last five Premiership games: Newcastle (lost) Fulham (draw), West Brom (lost), Wigan (lost), Portsmouth (draw).
There's no doubt about it, Spurs are stuck in a rut. Two points from a possible 15 is never good, but Tottenham should really be beating all these teams. What makes it even worse is that all these sides are relegation contenders and if you are in a dog-fight you need to beat the sides around you. If you class each of these as a six-pointer, then they have taken two from 30. If that's not relegation form what is? Not to mention the fact that they were 3-0 down after 90 minutes against Championship Burnley.
