5 reasons why Tottenham have stumbled.

Talking points: why Tottenham Hotspur have tumbled | David Hytner


Harry Redknapp's Tottenham
have not had the rub of the green since the manager was made favourite
for the England job. Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images

Tuesday 10 April 2012
Tottenham's players simply do not know whether their manager will be around next season – that has to have an effect

1. Harry for England

This could form the basis of reasons one to five inclusive. The cold, hard
statistics show that Tottenham have won only twice in the Premier League
since Fabio Capello quit England on 8 February and Harry Redknapp was
acclaimed as his popular successor. Tottenham's key players simply do
not know whether the manager that they play for will be around next
season. On a subconscious level, at the very least, that has to have an
effect.

2. The balance of the team

When Tottenham were tearing opponents apart, they did so with Aaron Lennon
and Gareth Bale hugging the flanks, and room for Luka Modric and/or
Rafael van der Vaart to operate in the middle. During the slump, Lennon
has been sorely missed to injury and, with Bale roaming more and more,
the shape of the team has been narrower. Central areas have become
congested and Tottenham have felt easier to contain, particularly when
opposing teams dig in and defend well.

3. The derby defeat

Arsène Wenger recently described the 5-2 win for his Arsenal team on 26
February as the turning point of the season but for Tottenham, who had
led 2-0, it represented a shattering blow to confidence. The second half
made for uncomfortable viewing for the club's supporters and it was not
the sort of defeat that any squad could simply shake off. When you are
humbled at the hands of your bitter rivals, the season is stained
indelibly.

4. The form and fitness of key players has suffered

Although Bale and Modric have at least continued to threaten, no Tottenham
player can claim to be at the top of his game. Ledley King has started
to creak alarmingly; Scott Parker has seen his influence wane and the
instincts of Van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor have seemed blunted.
Redknapp is not big on rotation and the team has looked heavy at times.
Eight players have started 27 league games or more.

5. Luck has turned

A close inspection of the eight league fixtures since the 5-0 victory
over Newcastle United on 11 February show four decent performances. The
club's supporters still wonder how they lost to Manchester United and
Everton while the 0-0 at Chelsea felt like an excellent result, even if
Tottenham had the chances to win comfortably. After the victory over
Swansea City, even the point at Sunderland was not a disaster. The very
top teams, however, force their own luck.

1. Harry for England

I feared this and maybe it has contributed but I don't think its the main reason...
I think poor squad rotation , poor management of the squad in the last transfer window is the main factor along with the bundled fixtures thrown at us ...
Goons (a), Man Utd (h) , Everton (a) Chavs (a)...


2. The balance of the team

When Tottenham were tearing opponents apart, they did so with Aaron Lennon
and Gareth Bale hugging the flanks

I refer us back to the squad management ...Our success was largely down to our wing play yet we had no cover for them... We did have Townsend and Pienaar who both could play out wide but we let them go out on loan deals .. I think Harry also tried to sign the Juve winger Milos Krasic and failed so letting the two go was even more baffling .

3. The derby defeat
Maybe but , Man Utd 1 Man City 6

4. The form and fitness of key players has suffered

Players should be rested rather than just dropped from the starting line-up due to injuries... The players coming in knowing they've being given their chance for this reason, also should know, if they play well they have a chance of being picked again which I dont think has been the case.

I read somewhere that we have 5 players Friedel, Benny , Modric , Bale & Parker who have played more minutes than Man Utd's most used player , Evra...

Of those five players , three are ever present in our midfield .. Ferguson at Utd rotates his midfielders. He even has, Rooney dropping into help out as he insists on he's midfield being at optimum levels of fitness which is important in dominating ball possession.

5. Luck has turned
Cant argue with this ...We had some fortunate wins up until January and since then , we've had some unlucky defeats .

6.bottled it