Stumbling Over The Finish Line

How often do we hear the phrase “It’s a marathon, not a sprint” ?  Too often, but on London Marathon day it might have more than a ring of familiarity with the tail end of Tottenham Hotspur’s season.

It is not just that fact that the team seem to have got to the stage where their minds have gone, as they hit the wall on February 25th, when the League Cup was in the Trophy cabinet and there was nothing more to play for other than progress in the UEFA Cup, which stopped soon after that.

It is also the fact that they have nothing to motivate themselves for.  A bit like an elite runner in the Marathon who hits a bad patch and will not reach a time they are happy with, they will just drop out.  Meanwhile, those members of the chosen ones to run the course who are doing it for charity and are sponsored to do so, will run until they drop.  These players pick up their money (with or without win bonuses) and for Juande Ramos to say it is difficult to get them to perform at “Maximum motivation” is a slap in the face for supporters.

Yes, Tottenham sit in the middle of the table with no chance of threatening the top six and while it is mathematically possible for Bolton Wanderers to catch Spurs, the likelihood is that the point against Middlesbrough will guarantee Premier League football next season.  But if this group of players cannot motivate themselves to win against the remaining opponents this season, what makes anyone think that they will be more up for it next season when they face the same foes, having failed to overcome them this time around ?

For the run of two wins in eight games, it appears Tottenham are exhibiting relegation form rather than that of a side who want to show their new Head Coach that they are ready to move up a gear next season.  I think that even a sprint finish now will leave some questions over their stamina and mental preparation.  If they get to February 2009 and have no silverware behind them, will they be able to push on to get a European finishing position in the league table ?

I know that some of the current crop will not be there at that stage, but which ones will go is a matter for conjecture.  The papers seem to have Aaron Lennon on his way, but he had a good first half before Ramos switched him to left wing, which is where he fails to deliver even more than on the right.  His beating of Boro defender Grounds should have been a focus of Tottenham’s play, but instead it was left for him to get on the end of Berbatov’s home-made cross and volley in off the knee of the young visiting left back.  Lennon’s other major contribution was to save Spurs by heading Wheater’s header off the goal-line.  Yes, Lennon winning a header !

The one factor that Aaron has that a number of the team possess is his sheer pace.  But just as the team do not supply the ball properly to get the best out of Darren Bent, rarely does Lennon get a ball in front of him.  He more regularly gets it played behind him, so he has to turn and then go forward to take on his opponent.  Bent needs the ball played in front of him, preferably over the defence, to run onto, but when he was introduced, I think he only had a couple of touches and then they were ones he had to make happen rather than the ball being played for him.

Spurs do possess players who can make things happen.  Berbatov is the main one, with his deft control and ability to conjure up a pass out of nowhere and with Robbie Keane, they make a pairing that have movement and skill to give problems to the opposition.  On the day, Keane failed to mark his 250th Tottenham appearance with a sparkling display and Berbatov often tried to flick the ball on when a simple side-foot might have sufficed.  Sometimes, a pragmatic approach can pay dividends until you are a few goals ahead and then the showboating can begin.

Jermaine Jenas can also be a source of a surprise attack as he showed with his willing running.  On one run, he was manoeuvred wide by Pogatetz (an objectionable fellow who must relish the fact that he remains on the pitch for 90 minutes as he kicks and verbalises his pent up frustrations out once a week), who made himself big enough by extending an arm in good defending style, while his run through when Keane was standing offside was so quick that he beat the ball to the space and had to turn to find it.  He did have the presence of mind to pass to Berbatov, who then set up the goal.

But by the end of the game, Jenas was almost reduced to the status of a fan, as he stood watching the match, unable to get any more from his legs, like those being helped along the Mall as they approach the finishing line.

It was another example for Spurs of one goal not being enough.  With a midfield that tired and a defence, which made some mistakes to let Boro in, the goal for the visitors was just a question of time in coming.  Downing had the freedom of most of the Tottenham half to move forward before he was shut down and then Jenas managed to head the ball as it flashed past him and then Cerny.

Gareth Southgate leapt for joy when it went in, but he must have been beating the ground with fury when Alves was clean through onto a ball that foxed Dawson, only to slip it past Cerny and past the post.  The Boro manager said that the half-time team talk that got his side back into the game after they slowed Spurs to play too much.  I cannot imagine a Southgate hairdryer treatment, but then in the mood the Tottenham players are in, it wouldn’t take too much to change the way the game went.

Perhaps Spurs should have finished the match with a space blanket (which might have clogged Boro’s progress into the last third) and some high energy drink.  The medals hanging round their necks are losing their lustre already and they should think about giving the watching thousands something to cheer about before reaching the final furlong.  Then, like all those sponsoring for charity, we won’t mind handing over our hard earned money.

Wyart Lane
My Eyes Have Seen The Glory
www.mehstg.com