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taken the opposition to the cleaners.

Then you only have to listen to the men at the top at Spurs to realise why they won't make the top four.

The chairman's ridiculous statement over the position of manager Martin Jol, taking away all the authority of the Dutchman, has not only made Spurs a laughing stock, but has only served to expose their limitations as a major force in the game.

Note how Mr. Levy asks for the minimum of a top four place; not the league championship. Quite simply, most clubs don't care about winning trophies, only increasing their bank balance, which comes as a result of a Champions League place.

Whereas the top players and teams, like Steven Gerrard and Liverpool, whilst concerned about money, as is true in all cases in the modern game, realise that silverware and medals give greater personal satisfaction and a true signal of achievement during a player's career.

Oh, and then there is the footballing side.

Tottenham have a potentially very good squad on paper, capable of upsetting the apple cart of the "big four", their strike force in particular amongst the very best in the Premier League.

But they are a side lacking in experience, both in terms of age and in the art of winning, and with a lack of experience inevitably comes mistakes at key moments in games from the younger players. At present, the players are good enough only to ocassionly trouble the top four, not stay there.

Martin Jol's management has also come into question with the whole Juande Ramos scenario, but when you consider that David Moyes and Everton have finished fourth within the past three years with a squad of local players and signings from the second division, and the performances of Blackburn and Bolton in breaking into the top six with limited resources under Mark Hughes and Sam Allardyce respectively, there are question marks as to whether or not Jol can take Spurs the extra yard.

Given that Spurs have actively been seeking a replacement, they must have their doubts.

A change of attitude from just trying to compete with the top four into a winning, ruthless one, could result in Tottenham achieving a top four finish. Until they do that, they will continue to live in the shadows of the other big clubs.

Learn more about this author, Sam Todd.
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