Interesting Times Article

[batigol]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article4849577.ece

I find this article very interesting and possibly identifying one key problem which has been plaguing us since last season, our mental weakness in games. The contributing factors to this weakness is the weak spine and poor performing English players we have.

We have always talked about the vaunted English spine complemented with continental flair to give us the strength to hold off traditional English teams and the guile to unlock stubborn defences but the fact is that our spine has been the weakest link of the team.

Not just the English players but the longer serving Spurs players who have been in EPL for awhile needs to stand up and be counted for. JJ, Lennon, O'Hara, Woodgate, Bentley, and Bent are english players who know the english game and have long time experience in EPL. They are the players who should be easing our new recruits into the League; to guide them through the pace and tenacity required and demonstrate by example the way to win in EPL.

Unfortunately, this has not happened and I do not apportion blame on any one player but state if our experienced players cannot even stand up and show the fight or consistency required to survive in the League, then how can we expect our new imports to adapt and excel. Our biggest issue at Spurs is that we lack a character in the squad. (Besides the fact that none of the English player shows an urge to fight for the team) An Edgar Davids player who absolutely hates to lose and will do everything in his ability to win. We have no player who can galvanise our squad when we are 1-0 down and give a fight to the opponents.

At present, our spine wilts at a single challenge. We need a change of leadership. The players need to address their lack of commitment and concentration shown in games. Lastly, the experienced players need to stand up and be counted for as thus far, all I have seen is inconsistency and whimpers at our opponent's onslaught. Nothing personal but JJ is not captain material, whether in performance nor conduct on-field. We need a leader, and we need him now.

 

[leetotty]

It doesn't matter how you put it, for the whole of my life supporting tottenham there is one scenario that always holds true.. If you are a team in trouble and you have a few bad results you want your next game to be against tottenham.

We don't press very well, we play an open game, we will try and play around you but ultimately are very hit and miss with it and we won't play at a fast tempo and if the opposition start well we won't turn the game in our favour by scoring out of nothing. We are weak at the back, we have a soft centre and if you let us play we can do well up front. We do not impose ourselves on the game. We rarely have a player who the opposition will boo, as we are not a nasty team and don't like confrontation.

 

[PT]

It doesn't matter how you put it, for the whole of my life supporting tottenham there is one scenario that always holds true.. If you are a team in trouble and you have a few bad results you want your next game to be against tottenham.

We don't press very well, we play an open game, we will try and play around you but ultimately are very hit and miss with it and we won't play at a fast tempo and if the opposition start well we won't turn the game in our favour by scoring out of nothing. We are weak at the back, we have a soft centre and if you let us play we can do well up front. We do not impose ourselves on the game. We rarely have a player who the opposition will boo, as we are not a nasty team and don't like confrontation.

That is about as close to realism as you'll get - well said.