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It’s 12:45pm and all the talking stops as Spurs take to the field. The team, tipped heavily in the media during the summer to challenge for a Top Four finish this season, stroll out at the Stadium of Light and take on newly promoted Sunderland.

The game goes according to plan, and the much vaunted Spurs strike force all score as Tottenham comfortably win 4-0 to underline their credentials. The Spurs fans, many who have travelled since 6am in the morning to attend the game, go home happy while, Roy Keane realises he has arrived in the big time.

As it happened, it didn't go anything like that. The game kicked off about five minutes late, for seemingly no reason whatsoever. The strike force, seen as one of the best in the league, did not trouble debutant goalkeeper Craig Gordon at all. It was then left to the thousands of fans that had traveled the length of the country to be at the Stadium of Light, to trudge home after another disappointing away game.

'I do not think I am being pessimistic, more realistic, when I say Spurs might have trouble keeping fifth spot'


If you had asked most Tottenham fans what the team needed at the end of last season, nine out of 10 would have said a left winger and back up for Aaron Lennon. It was painfully clear last season that Tottenham were often very imbalanced because of the lack of a left midfielder and most, myself included, expected Martin Jol to make that signing. As it turned out, we signed a left-back, a £16m striker and various other players but no left winger. One game into the season and it was painfully clear Jol had got his priorities wrong.

Over the last few weeks, Sportingo has fielded numerous articles from fans on Tottenham and their credentials for a Top Four finish. To be honest, I felt the weight of expectation was going to be a problem and so I think it has proved. I do not think I am being pessimistic, more realistic, when I say Spurs might have trouble keeping fifth spot. In terms of the squad at Martin Jol’s disposal, it probably is the fifth best in the league. However, to compete at the highest level you have to have the squad, the tactics and the desire, week in, week out.

Mike Bassett, the fictional England Manager from the film, Mike Bassett England Manager, got England to the World Cup semi-final with a 4-4-2. For me, it is probably the best formation in the world and certainly, the best for a team in the Premier League. However, what is vital to the 4-4-2 is the two wingers that make up the four in midfield.

If you look at Manchester United last season, Ryan Giggs and Christiano Ronaldo were key to their success because they caused teams so many problems down the wings. Against Sunderland, Teemu Tainio tucked in too much and it was left to Steed Malbranque to be the loan winger. This effectively made the four in midfield, one left winger and three central midfielders. It does not, and did not, work. Jol got his tactics wrong.

Darren Bent spoke before the game of the importance of a good start. By 3pm on the first day of the season, Tottenham were already near the bottom and playing catch up. There was a great stat came out on one of the betting websites before the game that said Tottenham had only won two of their last eight against newly promoted teams; evidently this is a big problem. My wife hates football but when she occasionally takes a slight interest, it always confuses her why a team will put in a great performance against the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United but when it comes to Sunderland or Derby or the like, there is no endeavour and points are lost. It is something that pains me as well.

I am not saying there is a crisis at Tottenham - it is, after all, one game out of 38 - and if Spurs went on to win all of the next 37 you would forget about it. The problem is, to be a Top Four team you have to play in the ugly games and win. It is often said that a sign of a good team is one that does not play particularly well but still wins. When the fixture list threw out Sunderland (a), Everton (h), Derby (h) and Manchester United (a), you felt Tottenham had to have secured 7-9 points before heading to Old Trafford. As it is, I am now thinking we might be on four, if we are lucky.

The optimists out there will tell you it is a marathon not a sprint, which is clearly correct. There is a long hard season ahead. However, Tottenham can ill afford another poor start. Last season, they went to Manchester United in the fourth game of the season with three points out of nine. Indeed, in the opening six games it was three defeats, two wins and one draw. This cannot happen again and Tottenham must find their feet and quickly. A Top Four team, on the evidence of one game, no!