Former Spurs hardman slams players: they're hiding, playing as individuals and letting the fans down

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Spurs lost 3-1 at Newcastle last night to remain in the bottom three of the Barclays Premier League and Roberts claims it is Tottenham's inability to keep a clean sheet which is undermining their efforts.

Under pressure: Tottenham manager Martin Jol

Martin Jol's future has again come under the spotlight and Roberts, who was at White Hart Lane for four years from 1980, believes urgent action is required.

Asked whether they need to find a replacement before any possible exit by Jol, Roberts told Sky Sports News: "They should do.

"They tried to do it before but they didn't do it in the right manner, they let everyone know what they were doing.

"Tottenham are a fantastic football club, they are a big club and should be in the top five or six every season.

"But the only way to get them into the top five or six is to keep clean sheets.

"Take Fulham - they drew 0-0 at the weekend and moved up five places so if they can keep clean sheets Tottenham can move up the league.

"But I can't see when they are going to keep a clean sheet and it looks as though they might need a change in the system.

"Maybe Martin needs to get the players on the training pitch morning and afternoon until they can. Because at the moment they can't afford to concede three goals because they would need four to win it. But Tottenham are just not good enough at the moment."

Shellsocked: Newcastle's Cacapa celebrates as Tottenham's porous defence conceded another three poor goals at St James' Park

Roberts played alongside the likes of Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa as manager Keith Burkinshaw led Spurs to two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup in the early 1980s.

However, Roberts believes the current side cannot match the team spirit and pride shown when he was a player.

"We had a fantastic manager in Keith Burkinshaw," continued Roberts. "He treated us as adults and when we went out on the pitch everybody knew they were hungry to wear that shirt.

"And that is the way it should be and I don't see that at the moment.

"Some of them are hiding, some of them are letting their supporters down by not playing to their potential and they are playing as individuals and that is letting them down at the moment.

"I would hope Chris Hughton and Martin Jol can get them on the training pitch and work until they get it right."