Source: Daily_Mail
Spurs pay the price for losing their cutting edge
Share Hero to villain: Gomes saved a penalty before conceding another[LNB]Ask Tottenham fans what characterisedtheir mid-table stagnation for much of the decade prior to Harry Redknapp's arrival and the phrase 'inconsistency against the bottom teams' won't be far from their lips. [LNB]Fanciness of footwork hasn't always been translated into trampling the lesser sides into submission. Points frittered away here and there, particularly on their travels have blighted the club's ambitions of Champions League football.[LNB] Last season was different. Last season, Tottenham turned into bullies.[LNB] If you include fifth-from-bottom Wigan in the analysis, Redknapp's team dropped just four points in 10 games against the strugglers, outscoring them by a whopping 32-8. [LNB]They made the Champions League and strutted their stuff against Europe's elite in the Spurs style of old.[LNB] It's just that, back on the domestic front, they seem to have forgotten what bought them a ticket to ride around Europe. [LNB]Had they emulated that success against those teams fighting relegation, they would be vying with Arsenal for third place. [LNB] Instead, a goals tally of 8 for, 10 against and just one win in eight meetings with West Ham, Wolves, Wigan and Saturday's visitors Blackpool means that they travel to Eastlands onTuesday night in faint hope rather than expectation.[LNB] It is Manchester City, their rivalsfor the final Champions League spot, who have become the flat-track bullies and, because of it, favourites to take Tottenham's place. [LNB]Speaking after the 1-1 draw against Blackpool, defender Michael Dawson said: 'We have to become more ruthless as a team again. It was a big chance for us to get three pointstoday.[LNB] 'We can't make excuses that the Champions League has affected us. I don't think our results have been asbad as all that. We have come back from Champions League games and won,so we can't put it down to that. But we knew that we were going to haveto go to City and win anyway.[LNB] 'They're in the better position thisyear. Last year it was us who could say going into that game: "If we win, we're there." Now they can.' [LNB]What will irritate Redknapp and his players still further is that, just as they have proved in Europe, matching the best is no longer a problem for them. [LNB] Bullies blunted: Gareth Bale has his effort stopped by Blackpool's Neal Eardley[LNB] [LNB] [LNB]Tottenham have taken six points to City's five in their matches against Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal this season. [LNB]They will be without Gareth Bale for the visit to City and probably the remainder of the season as the Wales international awaits the results of a scan on ankle ligaments damaged by Charlie Adam's tackle against Blackpool. [LNB] Watch all the Premier League goals every week on our brilliant video playerHolloway hits back as Blackpool captain Adam is accused over BaleBlackpool star Adam in dock after his tackle leaves winger Bale on crutchesTottenham 1 Blackpool 1: Gomes goes from hero to zero in just 66 seconds!All the latest Tottenham Hotspur FC news, features and opinion Explore more:People: Michael Dawson, Gareth Bale, Harry Redknapp, Charlie Adam Places: Wales, Europe
