Yesterday was officially the
start of the British summer season and as the clocks went forward by one hour, Spurs
looked a few light years away from remotely challenging for the Champions
league positions as Liverpool inflicted yet another pasting. The most
depressing aspect of the drubbing was the air of inevitability about it. Such
has been the gulf in performance between the two teams this season that few
Spurs fans travelled to Liverpool seriously believing that a victory was
possible.
Even allowing for the loss of
some key players, there is still a look of trial and error about some of coach
Tim Sherwood’s team selections, such as the failure to start with Andros
Townsend, selection of Gylfi Sigurdsson and persistence with Nabil Bentaleb
ahead of Mousa Dembele and Sandro respectively, given the momentum and danger
posed by Liverpool’s midfield. In truth though, it is difficult to say with any
certainty these players would have made any difference to the outcome, given
that no one has really shown a consistent ability to lift Spurs play beyond the
mediocre.
Liverpool, the top scorers in the
league this season did not really need a helping hand from Spurs. However,
Younes Kaboul who had a wretched game at the back for Spurs did just that, clumsily
getting caught out of position before scoring in his own net after just ninety
seconds as Spurs continued their miserable habit of starting games poorly. With
their tails up, Liverpool sought to finish the game inside the first half. In the
circumstances, Spurs did well to survive the next twenty minutes and ease their
way into the match. However, just when it was looking like Spurs might make a game
of it, some kami-kaze defending gifted Luis Suarez a chance to extend Liverpool’s
lead which he took with typical relish. From then on, it was case of how many
Liverpool wanted to score. Goal keeper Hugo Lloris was the only difference
between Spurs a truly humiliating score line, restricting Liverpool to two more
goals. The intensity and energy that Liverpool players showed seemed beyond
Spurs which is surprising, given that Liverpool played in midweek while Spurs
did not.
Up in the stands, Spurs chairman
Daniel Levy sat stony faced as the carnage unfolded below him, no doubt reflecting
that for the past four seasons, he has headed to Anfield, confident of
finishing ahead of Liverpool regardless of the result on the day and wondering
at how the fortunes of both clubs have suddenly changed to such an extent that
in two league matches this season, Liverpool have put nine goals past Spurs
without reply.
The truth is that the trajectory
of both clubs changed last August, Spurs sold their best player, Gareth Bale for
a king’s ransom and spent (recklessly in retrospect)without deciding what the
identity of the team will look like post Bale. Not for a very long time has the
loss of one figure robbed a team so decisively of it’s confidence and identity
(Manchester United fans may beg to differ given their own struggles) Liverpool
on the other hand, steadfastly refused to sell their star player, Luis Suarez
for less than a king’s ransom and instead, built the team around him. That
decision has effectively put Liverpool back in the Champion’s league, with all
the financial rewards and may yet bring them the biggest prize in English
football. At the start of this season, your knowledge of football would have
been questioned had you suggested that Liverpool would finish above Spurs in
the league, much less challenge for the title. That, the informed thinking went
was Spurs destiny after the sugar rush spending frenzy in the transfer market. However, as with any sugar rush, the high
wears off quickly and leaves you with a quite severe low. Low is exactly what
Spurs fans feel right now as a season high on promise has imploded before their
very eyes.
The good news is Spurs are
unlikely to lose heavily again for the rest of the season. They might even win
all of their remaining games to put a rosy gloss on what has been an
attritional season and strengthen Sherwood’s case for being long term manager.
The bad news is such a run risks creating the illusion of being close to the
top four, of only needing the odd tweak here and there to be genuine contenders,
again creating a new bubble of false expectation. The Spurs hierarchy really
need to reflect on their vision for Spurs, which coach out there is best suited
to deliver the footballing vision and on what basis. Then back him to the hilt
for the next three years at least regardless of whether Champions league
qualification is achieved or not. Sugar
rush fixes have not worked. It is time for a new approach to taking Spurs back
to the big time.
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