Posted on April 3rd, 2011 | by Mark in champions,Harry Redknapp,Jermain Defoe,Premier League,title,Wigan
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| Peter was unimpressed with the new mirrored roof over White Hart Lane |
Another game, another goal-shy display. Our failure to stick a single effort in the onion bag in the last two games against some fairly modest defences has exacerbated the fact that should we fail to reach the top four again this season, it will be a direct result of our failure to reinforce our striking options in either transfer window. Less time worrying about Stratford and more time signing off on new players might have been an idea, Levy.
Watching Defoe wander aimlessly through games is getting beyond annoying at this point. There’s only so many blogs and articles that can be written detailing our attacking shortcomings this season. The point is simple and resonates stronger with every opportunity that passes us by: we haven’t scored nearly enough goals this season and we’ll probably suffer as a result.
Hindsight is a luxury and perhaps looking back after the event is cheating somewhat but let us take a brief look at how things could have been had we had the requisite firepower in attack this season. Below is a list of games that Tottenham have dropped points in this season:
Man City (H) 0-0
Wigan (H) 0-1
West Brom (A) 1-1
West Ham (A) 1-0
Everton (H) 1-1
Man Utd (A) 2-0
Bolton (A) 4-2
Sunderland (H) 1-1
Birmingham (A) 1-1
Chelsea (H) 1-1
Everton (A) 2-1
Man Utd (H) 0-0
Newcastle (A) 1-1
Blackpool (A) 3-1
Wolves (A) 3-3
West Ham (H) 0-0
Wigan (A) 0-0
Amongst that list are a few results that are perfectly acceptable and not far beyond the limits of reality. Losing at Old Trafford, for example, is a traditional Tottenham past-time. But there’s an unacceptable number of games there that could and should have been routine Spurs wins. Realistically, were they on top goalscoring form, one would expect the following results be Lilywhite wins.
Wigan (H) 0-1
West Ham (A) 1-0
Everton (H) 1-1
Sunderland (H) 1-1
Blackpool (A) 3-1
Wolves (A) 3-3
West Ham (H) 0-0
Wigan (A) 0-0
Fair? The free-spirited Tottenham of last season would have been eating these games for breakfast. Wolves away is a tough assignment, admittedly, and one that last season’s side weren’t able to overcome but having scored three goals and had numerous chances to wrap it up, it’s not unfair to suggest that this season’s encounter should have resulted in three points and a smug trip back to London.
Drawing with City on the opening day of the season is no crime – Joe Hart was in superhuman form that day and, though they hardly inspire, City have elevated themselves into Top 5 elect and will probably replace us in fourth place. Certain results, such as drawing with West Brom, Birmingham and Newcastle away and losing at Bolton and Everton, are hardly ideal for a side of the status we wish to be known for but they are fairly common pitfalls for nearly every Premier League side. Simply put, every team will slip up along the way in a 38-game season. These results can easily be dressed up as our ‘slip-ups’.
So, for argument’s sake, that’s eight games where Spurs failed to pick up the three points that were expected to be there’s. 16 points were dropped in those eight games. 16 precious points that, added to our current tally, would put us level at the summit of the Premier League table with Manchester United with a little over a month of the season remaining. When Harry Redknapp makes his occasional claims that Tottenham are very close to making a genuine title run, there’s more than a bit of logic to his argument. Every team makes mistakes throughout a campaign but Tottenham’s have been too frequent – cut them out and we’d be in the mix for the title. It really is as plain as that.
This season has seen every side in the top 5 contrive to stumble and make regular mistakes. Not one side has made a concrete and impenetrable case for being worthy title winners. Man Utd are having their weakest season in years yet find themselves in pole position, being dragged along by their wealth of experience and belief. Arsenal, in their best position to take advantage of United’s slip-ups for years, couldn’t finish off Newcastle despite being 4-0 up with 20 or so minutes to go. They lack the testicular fortitude to admit that their fancy passing gets them nowhere and that what they need is just an ounce of grit and guts.
Chelsea have had a shocking season, despite that ridiculously free-scoring start. At one point, they were as low as fifth and looking a long way from the championship-winning side of last May. Man City have noticeably improved but are still fractured as a team and play incredibly uninspiring football, despite their 5-0 mauling of Sunderland today. Tottenham – widely seen as the plucky underdogs of the five sides – have widely recognised problems. But had the aforementioned games been won as many would have expected, then they could have taken advantage of the lack of decisiveness of the others and mounted a shock title bid.
Whatever happens, whoever claims the Premier League crown will be the weakest champions in years. And whoever suffers the unfortunate fate of coming in fifth will be the strongest fifth place side in the same amount of time. It’s a fact emanating from the increased competition amongst the top sides this season.
As mentioned earlier, this is all just speculation. For every unexpected away defeat to West Ham, there was the equally unexpected win at Arsenal. But the general point is clear for all to see. Had Tottenham had a striker on form (Defoe from last season or a new signing), then they wouldn’t have to rely on Bale and van der Vaart so much for goals. For all the talents of those two players, goalscoring is not their natural art and certainly not their primary responsibility.
Perhaps when we’re in the Europa League next September whilst City bore their way to a 1-0 defeat away to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, we’ll think back to these missed opportunities. One prays that this season, essentially one giant missed opportunity, is not the downfall of Spurs’ resurgence as a domestic force.
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