Two points out of eight games and their worst start to a season ever. Despite the arrival of Harry Redknapp and positive signs of change, Tottenham Hotspur still find themselves ominously close to the relegation zone.
The incredible first week in Redknapp's spell at White Hart Lane saw the North London club defeat Bolton, rescue a point in a 4-4 spectacle with rivals Arsenal and steal three points from Premiership title contenders Liverpool. Subsequently a convincing win in the UEFA Cup, the defeat of Manchester City and another win against Liverpool led to fans heralding "Harry Houdini", taunting former Spurs hero Robbie Keane and already booking their Carling Cup Final tickets.
However whilst the immediate impact was certainly impressive and a relief for Spurs fans to find themselves out of the bottom three and safe from horrendous jokes, many issues still need to be dealt with.
Brazilian keepers historically are never reliable. Whilst the outfield players are illustrating the flair, the flicks and the fancy skills that reward the nation with their title of masters of the beautiful game, the keepers often feel the need to join in. Despite Doni at AS Roma and Júlio César at Inter Milan seemingly bucking that trend, there are numerous examples of dodgy Brazilian keepers. Whilst the veteran Rogerio Ceni displayed he could be a good shot-stopper in Brazil, his record goal scoring tally speaks for itself - Brazillian goalkeepers feel the need to join in with the attacking play. Tottenham's much maligned keeper Heurelho Gomes is a converted keeper, previously playing as a striker. The point regarding Brazilian keepers could not have been illustrated any better than in the Carling Cup match versus Liverpool. Liverpool's keeper Diego Cavalieri let one goal go in through his legs and, perhaps over-anxious to make amends, charged rashly out of his goal and gave another one away. At the other end his international compatriot felt the need to join in the antics and Gomes, the big-money recruit, allowed Liverpool to nearly claw their way back into the game.
It was another of Gomes's catastrophic mistakes that led to Redknapp's first defeat in charge at the hands of fellow London side Fulham. The Brazilian allowed a cross from former Spurs winger Simon Davies to slip through his fingers and into the back of the net. Whilst Liverpool signed Cavalieri as back-up to Jose Reina, Gomes was signed to be a reliable and consistent back bone to the Tottenham team. Costing a reported £8 million Gomes is yet to find the form that he demonstrated in Holland where he holds the record for highest percentage of clean sheets in the Eredivisie with him keeping a clean sheet in 60% of his league games for PSV.
In the wake of Gomes' blunders Tottenham's goalkeeping coach Hans Leitert was sacked and despite a couple of clean sheets against Blackburn and NEC Breda, many fans and pundits are still wary of the liability he causes.
Furthermore whilst a resurgence in form looked optimistic, apparent complacency has once again entered the Tottenham camp demonstrated perfectly in the London derby with Fulham where the players appeared to believe they were too good to try. Wanting to reach the top half of the table, the North London team could not afford to drop points at home to an injury struck Everton side. An unconvincing performance against lower league opposition in the Carling Cup quarter final saw Spurs scrape through to the semis after beating Watford 2-1.
With a win versus West Ham they now sit in 15th place and whilst a couple of wins will mean they move quickly up the league, the star-studded side must realise they still remain too close for comfort to the relegation zone. A relegation scrap is the last thing Spurs need and it is always this festive period that makes or breaks club's seasons.
Whether or not Spurs fans receive a merry Christmas, late presents are assured to arrive in January with wheeler-dealer Redknapp certain to make the most out of the transfer window.
As usual the daily transfer gossip columns link Spurs with players from across the globe. Redknapp is rumoured to be planning a raid on his former team Portsmouth, as well as looking at the Ghana international Stephen Appiah, summer target Andrey Arshavin and Sporting Lisbon's £20m striker Liedson.
Though if Gomes continues to drop clangers it will surely be a goalkeeper on the top of Redknapp's Christmas wish list as he strives to implement consistency in the team. The summer signings still need to find their feet and it is imperative that Modric, Bentley and Pavlyuchenko show the class they demonstrated regularly at their previous clubs. With a hectic schedule of games upcoming, an exciting Carling Cup semi-final and both the UEFA Cup and FA Cup coming alive after Christmas only time will tell if Redknapp can live up to his nickname and turn the disastrous start to the season on its head. However it is currently too early to state Spurs are safe with Redknapp needing to nip the recent complacency in the bud before it manifests itself.
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