What went wrong?

With only two games left this season and our absence from the Champions League next season confirmed, the inquisition now begins. The season began with high hopes of not only equalling last seasons fourth place but maybe even improving on it.

Our pre season form was good if not exciting and some of our youngsters were looking likely to break through, most notably Kyle Walker. We added Sandro, Gallas and in the eleventh hour Van Der Vaart so things were looking good.

The warning signs were there for all to see in September when we suffered at the hands of Wigan at home, to date our only league loss at home all season. Their tactics were much the same as most sides against us including Manchester City, flood the midfield, don't allow us space and get every player behind the ball.

With one match to play at home this season Spurs have drawn nine games, have only won two games by more than one goal and have failed to score twice. Sadly we have only scored more than two goals on three occasions at home and only once away.

It is clear that a lack of goals is the prime reason we have failed to qualify for the Champions League next season, but I fell that is too simplistic an explanation. The signing of Van Der Vaart has made for a complicated dynamic at Tottenham. When he plays on the right he drifts all over the pitch so we lose our natural width and also leads Spurs vulnerable to attacks down the flank and leaves our right back exposed.

When Van der Vaart plays as a support striker he lacks the pace to enable us to break quickly and often plays too deep. In my opinion as good as Van Der Vaart is, he is a luxury we can afford to be without unless he can slot into the central midfield in the same way Modric does.

I wont talk about our forwards too much but without a quality goal scorer up front there is too much pressure on our midfield to score.

Our defence has been good this season with the exception of one player. Our goal keeping position is one we have never filled comfortably. Gomes has at times been brilliant and other times been a complete joke. His gaffes have cost us points this season and if we are to make changes to our squad this summer his position must be one that will need to be addressed.

Despite our great Champions league run this season, our league form has been patchy mostly due to a lack of goals and having to cope with defensive tactics week in week out. We were knocked out early in the cups which was also a great disappointment. This was a season of great opportunity but we failed to take our chances on many occasions. If our home form had been better and I point to the games against Wigan, Sunderland, West Ham, West Brom and Blackpool where we failed to take all three points. Those 11 points dropped would have secured Champions League again next season and put the three points we should have won at Chelsea, three points lost to Blackpool and the two points lost at Wolves would have put Spurs just one point behind Manchester United.

So where it is usually lucky for Spurs when the year ends in 1, on this occasion not so. 2010/2011 is merely a year of missed opportunity.