One of this year’s Champions League’s pleasant surprises, alongside German underdogs Schalke and former Europa League winners, Shakhtar, Tottenham Hotspur have fallen from heaven, as they now must endure a disappointing end of the season.
Those magnificent lads wrote the “Fairytale of San Siro” (when Bale scored a magnificient hat-trick), defeated the likes of Inter (European defending champions), Arsenal (at Emirates), Werder Bremen and Liverpool (all in November), shocked Milan at San Siro in February.
That team is currently lying in sixth place, out of any kind of European trip should they fail to win against Liverpool. With PFA player of the year Gareth Bale gone, it is even harder for Spurs to get that fifth spot for next year’s Europa League.
What has gone wrong for Spurs and why?
When you look at the results, you begin to understand why: for example, in the last 10 Premier League games, Spurs won 1 (against Stoke), drew 6 (Wolves, West Ham, Wigan, Arsenal, West Brom, Blackpool) and lost 3 (Blackpool, Chelsea, City). Only 1 victory when they should have won at least 6.
Manager Redknapp blames it on the loss of Bale’s and Van der Vaart’s spark. Others blame the attitude (players and manager), some even blame the misfortune.
In football, the thing is you have to stay focus all season long and guard yourself against complacency. You simply cannot afford losing so many points against weaker teams. Especially when you know that regardless of what you do, United, Arsenal and Chelsea will battle for the title until the end. Meaning that you’ll be probably battling for 4th place all over again against City, Liverpool or even Everton. Yet, earlier this season, Harry’s lads were considered title challengers as well.
Moreover, you have to get a world class striker to make use of Modric’s, Bale’s and Van der Vaart’s creativity. At least one having that potential. With the prospect of slipping that last European ticket, one could only wonder what world class striker would be willing to join Spurs in the summer
Just look at Spurs’s goal scorers this season:
- Van der Vaart – 14 goals (12 in the Premier League)
- Pavlyuchenko – 12 goals (8 in the Premier League)
- Bale – 11 goals (7 in the Premier League)
- Crouch – 11 goals (4 in the Premier League)
Redknapp must face it: Spurs desperately needs a striker that could score at least 20-25 goals in the following season. I would even buy a 37-year old, injury-plagued Filippo Inzaghi from Milan. Believe me, that guy will score more than Pav and Crouch combined. A veteran, but still a beast in front of the net. Remember Mourinho’s words ahead of Real Madrid’s clash versus Milan: I do not fear Ibrahimovic, Pato, Robinho or Ronaldinho. Just leave Inzaghi on the bench.
What striker would you like Spurs to buy?
Plus, get a second goalkeeper. You never know when your first choice starts letting you down. Gomes has been poor this season, there’s no need to deny that. He could be brilliant next season, yes, but this season, he was poor. Get a second-choice goalkeeper, just in case you need one.
Perhaps, a defensive midfielder as well.
Until the summer transfer market, play your heart out and win at Liverpool. Turn around the fortune and win the game. Despite the odds. Otherwise, it’s end of the road. And it would be a shame to end it like this.
