Why Tottenham are NOT a Top 4 team!

To say I'm absolutely fuming after that result would be like saying George Michael is "a little bit camp" or that Tevez is "not very good looking". I am absolutely, manically, psychopathically, kick a young child in the face livid.

This was it, our big chance to break the jinx that has lain heavy on our shoulders for 16 long years. Liverpool were not only without Gerrard and Torres, they were also without Johnson and Benayoun. Up against a high flying, technically gifted, full strength Tottenham side were the global superstars of Darby, Degen, Ngog and a long haired Greek gyps...sorry I mean 'traveller' who's name no-one can pronounce. It was set to be an embarrassment for Liverpool; their season so far akin to some kind of hamstrung, mortally injured deer writhing helplessly, bleating loudly, just wanting to be put out of its misery. You can almost picture Defoe and Crouchy jostling each other "You do it Crouchy, I can't, its so pathetic it just seems wrong", "No Jermain I don't wanna kill it, its lookin' at me, STOP IT FROM LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT".

Let's get one thing out the way first: Howard Webb continued his glorious tradition of screwing over every Tottenham performance he officiates. Primarily there was the inexplicably disallowed goal. A goal so blatant that even Andy Gray hinted that his beloved Gerrard FC might have 'gotten a wee bit of luck there'. Then there was the yanking of Crouch's shirt and the eventual bundling of him to the ground by Kyrgiakos, clearly a Liverpool free kick. The second appeal, a blatant trip on Crouch, surely a penalty? Webb, eyes darting side to side with fear at the noise of the Kop, points authoritatively to the bemused looking linesman, stood with his flag firmly down, whimpering something about offside. Every time Crouchy won a header he was 'backing in' or' using his arms', Howard Webb mincing up effeminately after the infringement and having a word with Peter, telling him he was too tall and it was unfair on the other players. I'm fairly sure I saw him blowing kisses at Rafa after the final whistle; waving like a lovestruck pre-pubescent girl and making the 'call me' sign with his fingers. When I see a letter from a "Mr H Webb" complaining about Tottenham's new stadium plans the pantomime plot will be complete.

Yet the truth, and this is the part that really hurts, is that we just weren't good enough. Once again we showed that when the pressure is on and when the fight gets tough, we sink and disappear without a trace. I hate to say it but I was actually happy when 'Arry brought Keane on. Yes he ended up being fairly ineffectual but big games need big characters and we have those in enormously short supply. For all the lovely passing and possession football, it seemed as though every player went in thinking 'Oh well, its been 16 years, if we don't win this no-one will care'. I hate to subscribe to the knee jerk media circus line of claiming Tottenham 'lack mental strength' only to then claim they've 'come of age' next time they win, but the evidence is stacking up. Liverpool had about as much genuine quality as a sleazy backstreet in Bangkok but they wanted it more, plain and simple, and that won them the game.

Our tactics did not help. Kranjcar has been a revelation since arriving and Modric is held up by most football fans as a world class talent but neither are out and out wingers. When played together, their penchant for cutting inside leaves the centre of the pitch enormously congested. 20 players all bunched together in the centre circle hacking each others legs in the vain hope of touching the ball may be one of Phil Brown's more sordid fantasies but it is not the way we play and certainly not the way we win. We look at our most dangerous when balls are being pinged out to the wings and play is being stretched. It worries me just how much we miss Lennon when he is out; his pace and the width he gives us are absolutely crucial to how we play. Both Modric and Krancjar went missing for us and the sooner we have a Gio or a Danny Rose to bring off the bench and shake things up the better.

I'm not going to run through the game exhaustively as I'm sure you all watched it but for me there were two small highlights. The first of these was Bale who really is starting to look like a great talent. His defensive weakness wasn't apparent as he tracked back well, looking good in the air and in the tackle. Going forward he was excellent as usual, invariably beating his man and putting in some dangerous crosses. Tottenham are still yet to win a Premiership game with him in the starting line-up and I have to clamp my hand firmly over my mouth everytime I see the teamsheet to stop a hysterical "BURN HIM" escaping. That said, he is playing well and growing in confidence; the sooner we banish this ridiculous concept of a hex to the dark ages, where it belongs, the better. I was also impressed with Hutton and, as I have said before, would be sad to see him go. He offers a considerably more combative and mobile option than Corluka who spends much of his time staring into space or crafting clumsily constructed daisy chains with his giant hairy paws. I know Hutton is reported to have serious personal issues but he goes in for tackles that make Joe Jordan wince and is never afraid to stick his head on the ball. Unless Naughton or Walker make the step up, 'Arry would be advised to keep him in the squad.

To move back briefly to my original point, Tottenham have scrapped for that elusive fourth spot for many seasons now, always failing for the same reason...we were not good enough. Well now, on paper at least, we are. We have a strength in depth that most manager's would sell their youngest daughter for and have a number of players who could slide easily into a Top 4 line-up. Yet, the reason we will not make the Champions League this season is that others want it more than us and over the course of the season that will inevitably overpower sheer ability. Man City will eventually break the top four and Aston Villa will always be knocking on the door. Next season Everton will be up there as will Sunderland and a free spending Birmingham. If there was ever a season to break the cartel this is it. Liverpool hasn't scuppered our season, it has just placed those familiar doubts in our mind. We still need a world class striker to partner Crouch and Defoe, we still need a midfield enforcer to give Hudd and Palacios competition but most of all we need the guts and desire to see things through. I am doubting you lads, prove me wrong!

InArryWeTrust