Tottenham Hotspur midfield may be the weakest link

Article by Sam Jenkins

Many are still pondering over the lacklustre performance Tottenham put in against Sunderland on the opening day of the Premier League campaign. Can you pinpoint why we played so badly?

Many pundits have blamed Spurs for 'being complacent'. Others clearly leave the blame at Martin Jol's door. The fans who watched the game have each had their say.

This season should be our turning point. This is the season where we make the Champions League.

No Spurs fans make that bold statement as if we have a divine right to. Our right to claim that this should be the season of joy is based on the heavy investment and back-to-back 5th place finishes in the Premier League.

Only one game has passed and another 37 lay ahead; there is no reason to feel alarmed, or is there?

I see a significant difference between our first team and that of Manchester United's, Chelsea's, Liverpool's and Arsenal. Our lack of a decent midfielder.

Our lack of a dynamic, world-class midfielder may cost us in the remaining 37 games. The irony is that we did have a midfielder that would enable us to compete. Alas, he now plays for the Premier League champions. Michael Carrick is another fine addition to a Manchester United midfield that already houses Hargreaves and Scholes.

Liverpool have their man in Gerrard, Chelsea have Essien, for all intents and purposes, I claim to be the best midfielder in the country. Our neighbours have Fabregas. Many of you will not approve of me stating that he is world-class, but the truth of the matter is that the young Spaniard is a superb midfielder that will only get better.

Who do Tottenham have? Jenas? I can't remember the last time he starred in a commanding role for us. Zokora? I do believe that he still needs time. He is the only player that I can see fulfilling the role of an accomplished outstanding midfielder.

We do of course, have Boateng and Huddlestone, who can also go on to fulfil their ambitions at Tottenham.

The Daily Mirror has once again linked us with José María Gutiérrez, better known to you and I as Real Madrid's Guti. If the story is true, and Martin Jol can bring him to White Hart Lane, we may be on the verge of completing our midfield.

I do fear that our weak midfield, also lacking in balance as we all know, may cost us our desired 4th (or higher) spot in the final Premier League standing.