The Plight of Spurs

Does he have a magic Juande?

The team which had been predicted to break the ‘big four’ this season and bring an entertaining style of football whilst still achieving success. Instead Spurs start to the season has been dramatically inadequate with supporters, pundits and journalist all calling for Ramos’ head. But why has Spurs start been such an anti-climax?

For a start, many people seem to be blaming the structure of the club. Spurs employ a continental approach to their coaching structure with Ramos employed as ‘head coach’ (choosing personnel and tactics) and Damien Comolli in the ‘Director of football’ role (in charge of transfer dealings).

This has seen established players like Berbatov, Keane and Defoe leaving the club and expensive underperformers replace them including Modric, Gomes and Pavlyuchenko. One of the problems with this is that Ramos has to communicate what type of player he needs to fit in with the structure of the team. Although Modric was one of biggest talents at the Euros, does his size and style of play suit the rough and tumble of the English league? We’ll wait and see though so far he has been underwhelming.

Pavlyuchenko has been described by the assistant, Poyet, as “not being able to play with Bent as they’re too similar”, similarly Spurs have always lacked a left-winger so instead they sign David Bentley who has to jostle for the right-wing position with Aaron Lennon.

Another major factor is the loss of Ledley King throughout the start of the season. King is of international class, something which cannot be described of Dawson, Zokora and Rocha; his replacements. Although Woodgate is a wonderful player, he also needs a brilliant player next to him of a different style. King is to Woodgate what Vidic is to Ferdinand, what Terry is to Carvalho. With these examples the clubs have adequate players to replace them, Tottenham do not.

The team is lacking any leaders with the loss of King (and the sale of Keane) with Darren Bent the most vocal player sticking up for his manager.

Perhaps the biggest reason for Spurs poor start has been their inability to win back the ball after losing possession. Every great team has players who can win back the ball in midfield by some means, but Tottenham like to try and fill their midfield with players who can stroke the ball around.

Bentley, Jenas, Dos Santos and co can all pass the ball elegantly but Zokora has been the only player able to win the ball back (and he doesn’t do it particularly well). So far he has been employed in defence so Spurs have lacked that Makelele figure to break up play, the consequence being that the opposition is able to apply constant pressure to their defence. Since the loss of Michael Carrick they have lacked that lynchpin in the middle of the park.

Should Spurs stick by Ramos? In my opinion yes; he has achieved major success in Spain when given the time and money. Should they stick by Comolli? No; he has made poor signings where they were not needed whilst not signing players where they were needed. If the director of football is responsible for transfers then Comolli has to go as that is what has got Tottenham into this predicament.

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