Tottenham Hotspur have won just two league games in 10. Why have they fallen away so badly?
We identify five reasons why it has all gone wrong at White Hart Lane. Have a read and tell us if you believe Spurs can still turn it round.
1) The England job
You can pinpoint the moment Tottenham’s season began to fall apart to the time when the speculation linking Harry Redknapp with the England job was at its most intense. FA chairman David Bernstein was publicly scouting the manager, attending games, adding to the distraction. Redknapp’s refusal to distance himself from the position, playing it coy, only served to add an air of uncertainty around the place. If fans were speculating about who their manager next season might be, it is only human nature that the players would be too, and a lack of focus may have cost the club at a key time of the season.
2) Pressure
Tottenham had a horrendous run of fixtures after the Arsenal defeat, which turned their season. Had they been able to bounce back from the 5-2 loss with home games against Wigan and Wolves, then they might have been able to arrest their slide, but Manchester United and Everton made them pay. Unsettled by North London rivals Arsenal’s comeback victory, the Gunners went on a winning run – nine in 10 league games – which only highlighted each and every failure of Spurs to gain maximum points. As the pressure has grown, Tottenham have become unstuck in home games they would have expected to cruise through early in the season, collecting one point from a possible six against Norwich and Stoke.
3) Fatigue
Tottenham captain Ledley King has admitted Spurs are fighting fatigue as they try to hold their crumbling season together. It is the second season in a row this has happened, with Spurs badly falling off the pace this time last season. Key players like Aaron Lennon have been badly hit with injuries, while Bale, Van der Vaart and Adebayor have all missed minutes with niggles over the past few weeks, while in central defence Dawson is missing, Kaboul has a slight knee injury, while Ledley King himself has been out of form when he has played. Often these sorts of injuries can be played through when a team is flying, but when the results are going against you, the pain is magnified.
4) Bad tactics
Another area where Redknapp has been found wanting, he has been confused which formation to play, deviating from his trusty 4-5-1 to use a 4-4-2. His enthusiasm for the 4-4-2 came after a stunning 5-0 success against Newcastle, but since then it has yielded little return. Redknapp used it against Norwich on Monday and the team were badly exposed, losing 2-1, with the manager admitting it was a mistake. Jermain Defoe must be frustrated, he spent the first half of the season on the bench due to Redknapp’s reluctance to play 4-4-2, only to see him change the formation to accommodate Louis Saha. Redknapp should go back to the 4-5-1 with which Spurs were so successful early this season.
5) Poor signings
For the second January in a row, Tottenham failed to build on a successful start to the season by strengthening during the transfer window. If they had gambled and spent big, who knows where they would be now. As it was, they raided the bargain bin for signings, bringing in Louis Saha and Ryan Nelsen, and confirming the permanent deal of Juventus reserve Iago Falque – ‘one for the future’. As mentioned Saha has scored goals, but his signing has only served to confuse the formation. Perhaps Redknapp’s tax trial prevented him from focusing during the window, but Daniel Levy should have ensured the club moved early to prevent this being an issue. The England job situation has played a part in Spurs downfall, but if you are looking for deeper underlying reasons to the club falling away, look no further than here.
Do you agree with our assessment? Let us know
image: © Jan S0L0
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