I am now a fan that expects results and I am happy with a draw at Chelsea, but it isn't what we needed. The strikers cannot be blamed alone for drawing the blank as the midfielders must shoulder some responsibility too. If there are many clear cut chances create.... it would be obvious that we must have a clear out up front, but it is clear that this is not the case.
Having a good chat with a friend (who has close ties to White Hart Lane) he states that a lot of the issues with morale has in fact come from the horrific injury to Oliver Modeste. Many of the senior players are close to the youngster and with the serious incident of Muamba's almost fatal condition I am told that it is taking its toll on the players. I would love to think that this is true but I fear that the problem runs much deeper than this.
For the past 2 seasons Spurs have needed to recruit in the January window, I am not usually a fan but this is fact and evidence is proved by looking at the results each year. Players prices increase dramatically, however players forms can decrease massively. Looking at the start of both seasons there are clear signs to a great start and a poor finish. The problem stems from either the lack of confidence, lack of experience or the lack of fitness. Looking at the fact that we are struggling going forward and back it must be confidence and experience, as the players on the field are fit to play.
So how do you stop this? The simply solution is to bring in fresh players to push for places. Benny has no competition (so he does not have to fight for his place). Same with Lennon, Walker, Modric, Adebayor (to name a few). When a player gets comfortable performances stop easily. Due to a great start to the season it shows that players coming in are better timed for January when the slump begins. Fresh faces provide the competition for places and if the signing is big enough it injects the team with a big lift. So this simple transaction would help confidence and the experience follows from ongoing performances.
Now I am not a paid professional and having only played in Saturday and Sunday football leagues I do not have the luxury of knowing how the life of a paid footballer works. However I do feel that excuses float about, but when you are being paid for a job you shouldn't be searching for constant excuses. If I don't do my job I can get fined or fired. For a professional footballer its ridiculously easy on that front. Under perform still get paid, don't do your job at all still get paid. Injure people on the pitch or shoot your mouth off still get paid. You look at the likes of Tevez. The guy should have been fired and Man City look an absolute joke. The only reason Tevez wants to play is to put himself in the shop window, he has no loyalty to the fans and in all honesty why should he?
In my humble opinion why not put the players on more reward based contracts. Then the players will strive to achieve (as playing for your nation is no longer regarded as it once was) Players need goals and targets it seems nowadays the agents are the only ones with targets.
Anyway I am going off on a different discussion there.
What an experienced Manager and Director knows is that in order to make sure you stay in the fight you must keep the players confidence high at all times. Redknapp has done so well with Spurs as he is great with players, however the team is so used to tailing off now toward the end that it has become a difficult habit to break.
New faces are a must not just the odd big signing and squad additions in the summer. My opinion we need to take on Adebayor and get another world class striker. Another left and right midfielder is needed along with a solid worldclass centre back. Then finally another goalkeeper. I think given what I had highlighted earlier I do not need to explain why, I think its obvious, but most importantly we need to get the dead wood out.
So I don't think moaning will help the lads in any shape or form. To hear the fans understand why, I think that helps and although I have empathy for the players.... I do expect more. I expect the defence to concentrate more, I expect for the midfield to create more and score more. I expect the forwards to score and create more. Most importantly I expect for the team to be a team (stick together and work together), the manager to push his players to success and I expect the director to flex some finical muscle when the squad needs it, not just in the summer.
Come On You Spurs!