Spurs must get meaner – VdV

(24-12-2010) Tottenham need to get meaner if they are to challenge for league honours reckons star midfielder Rafael van der Vaart. Spurs head into the festive period in fifth position on the back of an eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions. But with defeats to lowly teams like West Ham and Wigan earlier this season, van der Vaart knows that success against the division's poorer teams is a must in order to ensure they at least qualify for next year's Champions League. "We have to win our games and have confidence that we will be in the top four,” said the Dutch international on Thursday. "It will be hard work. There are a lot of good teams but we play well against the big teams and some of the small clubs we have our problems." Spurs clash with Aston Villa, Newcastle, Fulham and Everton over the coming two week period.