Paul Merson makes ‘Huge’ admission as Tottenham problem addressed
Paul Merson has admitted Tottenham Hotspur look a “million miles away” from Champions League football.
Merson, in his Premier League prediction column for SportsKeeda (2 January), admitted ending the 17-year trophy drought this season would be a “huge relief” for Spurs fans, but that the club are a very long way off returning to Europe’s top table.
Spurs head into their contest on Saturday (4 January) as a bottom-half side, with in-form Newcastle having recently brushed aside Manchester United with ease.
Merson, who predicts a 3-1 home defeat to the Magpies for Ange Postecoglou’s men, said: “When you look at Tottenham, they are still in the running to win a trophy. I know that some sort of silverware will be a huge relief for their fans.
“However, they look a million miles away from finishing in the top four and that’s a problem. They are 11 points behind Chelsea and all the six teams, including Newcastle, between them and the Blues have all looked better.”
Tottenham prioritising entertainment over robustness
The consensus from outside Tottenham seems to be this granted judgement that the Spurs supporters should be happy with the “entertaining” football they are watching.
But if it doesn’t yield results, what is the point? It’s alright for Postecoglou to give the “are you not entertained?” monologue after the 4-3 win over Man United in the Carabao Cup. But when your side then immediately go and concede six at home to Liverpool, it weakens the argument somewhat.
Props must go to the manager for brazenly implementing a brand of football which has won over huge crowds. He and others are right – Spurs are the most entertaining team to watch in England right now – but it comes at a clear cost.
Fans were right to slam Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho – for all their successes around the Premier League and wider Europe, their less inspiring brand of play still failed to claw out a trophy for their troubles.
But you ask any ardent supporter. A trophy with the blandest and most overly pragmatic football you ever saw; or Postecoglou if he goes without silverware in his second season?
In other Tottenham news, Daniel Levy has been accused of embarrassing Spurs with the latest of the club’s transfer targets.
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