Modric played quite well, so he wasn't taken out of the game by spearing or anything, it's just spurs as a whole sat back defensively. And Spearing's passing was so poor, and so amateurish, that if he didn't do anything defensively, he'd be on 2 or a 3 out of 10. His passing was that bad.
They sat back because they were pushed back, Modric could only pass the ball in the Spurs half most of the time, this is the guy who ran circles around us in WHL, Spearing was like his shadow, and he didn't play much this season, so cut him some slack for the passing.
If Suarez scored or Carroll was on target every one here would be singing a different tone, this Spurs team is playing the best football this season, not Bolton.