As every aspect of the title race is scrutinised by the press down to the smallest detail AViD ponders why a high-profile court case involving Harry Redknapp and due to begin this Monday has received such scant coverage so far…..

Last weekend the media was crammed with stories of how Spurs could go on and win the title. Myriad reasons were put forward on how, at this stage of the season, they had not just kept pace with the Manchester giants but on current form were now effectively pace setting.

Experts in print and broadcasting started to find flaws in the Red & Sky Blue machines ahead of them and how a previously unseen strength in depth from the surprise of the London based challengers may carry them over the line.

The manager played his part with a “yes, of course it’s possible” while Mr van der Vaart was even stronger in his vocalisation about their chances.

This weekend sees a reversal of the fixtures that saw both North London teams embarrassed at the hands of the top two. I am predicting that more words will be written, spoken, bandied around about the “test to title credentials” of those Lilywhites from the Lane.

And test it will be, for the match up against City is the start of a run of 6 games that sees them play 5 of the current top 7, 3 of them away from home.

So why then, in all of the verbiage that has been and will be spouted, is one massive event hardly ever mentioned? All the analysis of whom, when and how they may play misses one point vital to the success or failure of what may be their best season this century.

Henry James “Harry” Redknapp stands trial on Monday, this coming Monday, for alleged evasion of tax payments.

Not that you would know that from the vast majority of media outlets. As an example, this is exactly what I am talking about, but is by no stretch of the imagination an isolated case;

http://www.people.co.uk/sport/columnists/2012/01/08/fire-up-the-quattro-for-a-real-title-shot-harry-102039-23687006/

I have no problem with the sentiment of the article, I have no problem with its tone – but for Christ’s sake if you are going to the trouble of filling a page of one of the countries top selling national newspapers mention the fact that the much lauded manager, that the whole piece is framed around, has a court case predicted to last 2 or 3 weeks, at the start of this ‘tricky’ run of games.

Now I am not going to speculate on the possible outcome of the trial, mainly because the fee for a top libel lawyer is Premiership footballer money.

But the pressure of defending yourself against The Inland Revenue – in a case already delayed, I believe, twice, and having failed to have the charges against him dismissed – well that’s got to play heavy on your mind.

Hasn’t it?

Look back to the time Jonathon Woogate and Lee Bowyer were in court during Leeds hey-days at the top of the league and in the later rounds of the Champions League.

Woodgate was average at best in this period, whilst Bowyer played some of the best football of his career – straight from court to dominate games from the midfield.

So it will have some effect. The galvanisation of a siege mentality within the squad or a fall off in form as their leader has his mind set firmly on other issues, such as avoiding prosecution.

I don’t expect our ‘arry to comment on it to Sky Sports News, from the wound down window of his car as it leaves the training ground. Or even at a press conference as he ‘reveals’ that Demba Ba has a shockingly low buy-out clause in his current contract.

I don’t even expect him to asked about it directly as he won’t be able to comment on the case against him because of ‘prejudice’ or possible contempt of court accusations.

But I return to my earlier theme. If you’re assessing the future fortunes of a title contender and it’s your job to opine on these issues, mention it. If not, I would say that you cannot be considered to be doing your job properly because what you don’t say can be as important and revealing as what you do say.

Is it because the subject is English and a media-friendly, always ready with a quote, newspaper column writing friend of the hacks?

You, the reader, can draw your own conclusions.