Monday 2 May 2011

Spurs must act quickly to localise Gomes damage

Heurelho Gomes is a talented shot stopper and a likeable guy. But enough is enough. Saturday's costly blunder is not just one too many, it's too many too many.

Spurs must act quickly to remedy the situation, by starting Carlo Cudicini in our next game against Blackpool at home.

I'm aware that the ball didn't actually cross the line but goal-line etiquette seems to work differently where Spurs are involved, remember Pedro Mendes 'goal' against Man United?

The linesman may have made a mistake but he should never have had to make the decision in the first place. The technology debate should have raged on a different day, between two different teams because this was a routine catch for Gomes from a speculative Frank Lampard hit'n'hope - and he blew it.

The reason it is so important that Spurs act over the Gomes situation, apart from the obvious fact that our hopes of a Top 4 finish are hanging by a thread, is that we have a team to protect and build upon and our best players will grow disillusioned if we don't look to solve the problem.

I don't for a minute think that Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon, Rafa Van Der Vaart and Luka Modric would all seriously consider leaving just because we don't make the Champions League this season. If that is on their agenda then frankly they can go because it's the wrong attitude and shows their heart isn't in the right place.

However, for any top player with promise, talent and ambition, I can't imagine anything more frustrating than putting your all in every game, getting the team into a winning position and protecting a lead only for it to be continually undone by defensive gaffes, and it's happened a number of times this season.

It is that frustration that is likely to bring unrest simmering to the surface and I fear it poses a much bigger threat to keeping our team together than our final league position does. Gomes' latest blow damaged our Champions League hopes, there is no denying that, and it's important that the problem is not allowed to rumble on into next season.

It's not always Gomes, admittedly. We make a lot of defensive howlers but it could all stem from having no faith in the man between the sticks. Our centre-backs routinely panic over long balls and fail to deal with crosses; even corners that should be dealt with as second nature become a battle of nerves.

We are desperate for some confidence at the back, especially in time for next season and, if our best players are to pledge allegiance to our cause then they need reassurance that Harry Redknapp will make difficult decisions quickly. And that means dropping Gomes with immediate effect.

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