My heart sank when I saw the name Jenas on the team sheet for yesterday’s game against Wolves. Sank with the realization that what would likely unfold would be a gutless, weak and disorganized shower of a game, wherein Spurs would lack any creativity and plod along to a tie or worse yet, another loss at the final whistle.

I am pleased to say I was wrong. We lost to an early goal. Everything else was correct.

I keep saying to myself, look Spurs are down to a dozen games left, within one point of a Champions League spot and the equal of anyone in the league on our day. Spurs have kept five clean sheets since the beginning of the year, and has a better goal difference than any of the rivals for fourth, fifth or sixth place. They are having the best season since the 1960s.

But the niggling thought that keeps me from being all positive and rosy is that for the last month, Spurs have sucked. Spurs have only won once since the beginning of the year, only scored three times, had to take a replay to overcome a third division team in the FA and seem to be going nowhere. Uninspired and lacking any creativity the team look tired and bereft of ideas. They are not hitting their stride, they are hitting a wall.  The only reason why Spurs are not wallowing in sixth or seventh is that Aston Villa, Liverpool and Man City are all sucking somewhat too. What is so frustrating is that Tottenham should have sewn up fourth place a month ago. Now, the team face the very real prospect of finishing out of the Euro spots again.

The reality is that with Aaron Lennon in the side, Tottenham are a Champions League team. Without him, Tottenham have looked like mid-table chumps at best. And when you look at the money spent on this team, it is very disturbing. Redknapp keeps saying it is a great squad, and better than either Liverpool’s or Arsenal’s. If so, why aren’t Spurs third?

Without the speedy winger, Tottenham look ordinary and predictable. Bale, Modric and Bentley have been playing reasonably well on the wings, but there are no goals going in. So based on results –  they are not replacing Lennon. Defoe has dried up. Crouch ditto and Redknapp doesn’t play Pavlyuchenko and we loaned out Keane — so where are the goals coming from? Certainly not midfield or defence any more. The likes of Dawson, Lennon, Bassong and Krancjar scoring was one of the great plusses earlier in the year. Where is Tottenham’s Roy Keane? Where is the guy to step up and drag the team up a notch?

Tottenham need to find a plan B and fast. The loss to Wolves is just the latest in a number of recent sub par performances and Spurs can’t rely on their rivals to continue to sputter. Any team that puts a run of wins together is going the drive off into the distance and sew up fourth. Spurs need to solve the Lennon dilemma as it doesn’t look like he is coming back anytime soon.

The sickening thing is, this year was the best opportunity for anyone to join the top four – Liverpool and Arsenal were there for the taking. But Spurs may have blown their opportunity. Both of those other teams are schooled in working through their problems and now watch for them the step it up and grind something out. Spurs’ fine start may be for nought unless they can find another gear and figure out how to get the goal in the net.

The run in for the last third of the season is a tough one. Next up are Wigan (a) Everton (h) Man City (a) Blackburn (h) Stoke (a) Portsmouth (h) Sunderland (a). The away games are tough. Wigan will be fired up after the 9-0 shellacking, Man City will want revenge and Everton are on a run. Stoke are notoriously difficult to beat at home and have already beaten Spurs once. After this run, Spurs have Arsenal (h) Chelsea (h) and Man Utd (a) back to back to back. Those three games will probably decide where Spurs end up. Three loses and that will be it. Four points might be acceptable. Please let Lennon be back for them at least. Two final games, Bolton at home and Burnley away maybe irrelevant or be two winnable games with which to sew up a CL place.

Redknapp pulled Jenas at half time last night so maybe he has finally seen the light. One can only hope.

Spurs have Notlob in the FA Cup on Sunday. Come on you Spurs, we are due for a FA Cup, albeit a year early.