This is not an attempt to absolve anyone of any blame for the unacceptable performance at White Hart Lane last night, but it's become painfully obvious to me in the last 18 months or so that in the fans' eyes it's players that win games... and managers that lose them.

Let me give you an example:
Towards the end of last season, in what would be Gerard Houllier's final game on the sidelines, we took on the hapless West Ham at Upton Park.