Will Tottenham Hotspur Fritter Away Champions League Football?

Just a matter of weeks ago, even the most cynical of Spurs fans would have found it strangely hard to believe that 3rd place could possibly slip from the lilywhite€™s grasp. However a return of just five points from a possible 18 in the last seven Premier League games suggests if not a worrying decline in form, there has certainly been a mildly disparaging lack of results in the big games that may well count double come May. An inability to pick up points against the top sides has been a perfectly fair criticism levelled against Tottenham not just since the Redknapp induced resurgence of the recent past, but since day one of the Premier League era. Despite the relative success enjoyed against two of their London rivals over the past two seasons in comparison to previous campaigns, the gap between Tottenham and the big boys of the Premier League is one yet to be bridged in the eyes of many. Yet, despite not being able to imagine that even the €˜glass half full€™ Tottenham faithful were prepared to take the odds of Spurs winning the Premier League title whilst on their astounding run, the thought of losing out on the final automatic Champions League spot to what was then a flat and defensively brittle Arsenal side was barely considered. It is almost ridiculous to recall the mid-season crowds, torches in hand, baying for the blood of Arsene Wenger as Arsenal seemed to have relinquished any hope of salvaging their season. It is Tottenham€™s oldest and most fearsome foe that now has them frantically gasping for air and taking stock as the dust settles on what has been an undeniably disappointing couple of weeks for the North London club. Not to pick up a point from the League clashes against Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United will be a statistic that will frustrate if not worry Harry Redknapp. The disastrous blip that saw a two goal lead turn into a resounding defeat by rivals Arsenal is arguably not the most disappointing result of those three high profile losses for the more forward thinking among the stands at White Hart Lane, despite the obvious lift it€™s given the Gunners. Chances to make a real statement to the two Manchester giants were both squandered as good attacking performances weren€™t backed up by the necessary defensive organisation and composure to pick up points from the genuine title contenders in Blue and Red. The recent ties that have followed against Everton and Stoke City have confirmed that the players are feeling the heat along with the manager who was today quoted as saying that his players had €˜lost their way€™. Pundits have shied away from predicting how the top four will look at the end of the season. It would certainly be a brave man to do so at the moment with Arsenal€™s recent form giving little hope to Spurs fans that 3rd place is even a possibility now. Despite their dramatic loss to Manchester City on Wednesday evening, Chelsea will feel that their recent form is superior to that of their London rivals who remain precariously placed 5 points ahead of them in fourth. Saturday€™s game against Chelsea could prove to be nothing short of season defining with Tottenham desperate to put a halt to the mid season avalanche which has suddenly cast doubt where there was none but a few weeks ago. The last 9 games of this rather odd season will tell us whether Tottenham have the desire and the nerve necessary to gain qualification for Europe€™s premier cup competition which they lit up two seasons previously.