SPORTS
Another month on, with Tottenham deservedly beaten 2-1 by Norwich, and the goalposts appear to have moved again.
In January, as Tottenham swept aside Everton to move within two points of both Manchester clubs, it was the Premier League title that was under consideration. "It's not impossible for us to win the league - we have a chance," Redknapp said. Two months later and the target had apparently been revised to third. "That's what we're capable of doing and that's where I want us to be," he said.
Another month on, with Tottenham deservedly beaten 2-1 yesterday (Monday) by Norwich, and the goalposts appear to have moved again. "We'd settle for finishing fourth," Redknapp said.
The jubilant Norwich fans were not even convinced that this was a realistic aim. "Thursday night, Channel Five," they sang. It might be one of the most overused chants in football but, with Newcastle as well as Chelsea now breathing down Tottenham's necks in the battle for Champions League football, it was perfectly aimed.
Since that high point against Everton in January, Redknapp's team are on a sequence of just three league wins out of 15 and suddenly seem consumed with uncertainty. There were even boos yesterday on the final whistle for a performance that was among their worst of the season.
Redknapp, to his credit, offered no excuses and was gracious in his praise for Norwich. "We were a bit flat - I thought their front two bullied us a bit," he said. "We couldn't handle them. One or two didn't look quite right. We had a bad day."
The test of Redknapp's renowned man-management now is considerable, with Tottenham lacking momentum ahead of the remaining five Premier League games as well as Sunday's FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea. In one sense, of course, they have become victims of the expectation they have created but, having spent virtually the entire season in the top four, the pain of failure now would be crushing. "It's going to be close," Redknapp said. "I don't think we have to win all five. It would be lovely to finish above Arsenal. It's still all to play for."
Tactics will also play their part and, yesterday, it was clear that Redknapp made mistakes. He was bold in starting both Jermain Defoe and Louis Saha in a 4-4-2 formation but, with Scott Parker ruled out with a hamstring injury, his team lacked sufficient midfield presence. Losing Younes Kaboul at half-time to a knee injury compounded the problem but the defence also always looked fragile without parker's protection.
Grant Holt, in particular, was a continuous threat and, while Norwich deserved their 12th-minute lead, it was also attributable to some shambolic defending. Kaboul, Ledley King and Kyle Walker all wasted chances to clear but, after some excellent work from Aaron Wilbraham, the ball fell to Anthony Pilkington, who finished confidently beyond Brad Friedel.
With both teams looking to attack at every opportunity, there were numerous chances at both ends. Pilkington again went close before Gareth Bale, Tottenham's most potent attacking threat, fizzed a ball across Norwich's penalty area that was narrowly missed by Defoe.
Norwich were furious when referee Mike Oliver waved away a clear penalty appeal after King bundled Holt to the floor. "That tackle wouldn't have looked out of place at Murrayfield," said Paul Lambert, the Norwich manager. His frustration was compounded when, from the same passage of play, Tottenham equalised.
Jake Livermore, who was largely peripheral, played a perfectly weighted ball for Defoe to accurately guide his finish past Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy. Tottenham improved with the half-time introduction of Emmanuel Adebayor. For the neutral, it contributed to a thrilling second half. Holt began it by forcing a brilliant save from Friedel but that was even bettered by Ruddy, who blocked Benoit Assou-Ekotto's shot following a neat exchange of passes with Adebayor.
Norwich also had another convincing penalty appeal waved away, this time when Adebayor barged into Wilbraham. It seemed that Tottenham might ride their luck all the way to an unlikely victory, especially when Bale was put clear by Luka Modric, but his powerful shot cannoned off the underside of the crossbar.
It was the break that Norwich needed, with Elliott Bennett then driving forward to seal a famous victory with a wonderful swerving finish from 25 yards. "A bullet," said Lambert. It was a memorable first Premier League goal for Bennett but, equally impressive, was how Norwich subsequently held out in relative comfort for the remaining 24 minutes.
There are few more measured managers than Lambert, yet it was with some feeling that he described this as Norwich's best performance in his three years at the club.
With 10 of Norwich's starting XI eligible for England, it was also another example of the domestic quality that has quietly emerged this season from some unlikely settings.
"On merit, maybe people should look at them," Lambert said. "They're young and they're making a name for themselves. I don't want people to dismiss them as little old Norwich. They've earned the right to make a name for themselves." And the same can be said for Lambert.
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