Just six months ago Spurs were heading for the holy grail of English football - the top four. Everyone, everyone it now seems except Damien Comolli, knew they just had to strengthen the back four, fix the set plays, and maybe add a left-sided midfielder, better still a proven playmaker.

Spurs fans awaited news of incoming transfers with hope and excitement; Gareth Bale was a good start and a good signing for the future. But then madness set in, Kevin-Prince Boateng - who? Younes Kaboul - what! Then the biggest catastrophe of all, a staggering £16m for Darren Bent.

How on earth was Martin Jol supposed to juggle four top-class strikers whilst simultaneously trying to plug the leaks in one of the worst Premier League defences. If you had ever planned for a team to fail, then this was the recipe to deliver.

'Tottenham’s inability to secure the services of the players they needed last summer means a creditable assault on the Premier League title is now beyond their grasp. And they are also unlikely to feature in Europe next year'


Daniel Levy’s problem was what to do when the continued success of the club was hampered by the inability of his two key managers to work together. Well, it seems Comolli solved that problem for him by buying all the wrong players. Jol duly struggled, failed and paid the price. He has recently come out and stated he did not want these signings. It also transpired that Jol was not Comolli’s choice, nor was Comolli Jol’s choice.

Did Comolli go along with Jol’s appointment, thinking he wouldn’t last long? His attitude towards him, it seems, did not change despite Jol having having finished fifth for two consecutive seasons and the fans loving him for his honesty and straight talking.

Today’s reality is that Tottenham’s inability to secure the services of the players they needed last summer means a creditable assault on the Premier League title is now beyond their grasp. And they are also unlikely to feature in Europe next year. But it could have been so very different; Dimitar Berbatov’s mate, the left-sided Martin Petrov wanted Spurs, we are told, but had to settle for Manchester City.

So in the end no quality defenders were brought in, no defence-minded midfielders and no quality playmaker either. Look at last season’s goal difference - just +3. The Premier League was already wise to Tottenham's weaknesses, and it showed in the very first match of the season.

With Spurs once again viewed as the little club, geographically just a short distance from the mighty Arsenal, and Berbatov losing patience and wanting to play for a big club, the financial consequences may be far reaching and Spurs look condemned to missing out on Europe and losing their top players.

So far only Jol has paid the price…..but some people may feel that the full price has yet to be paid.

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