Opinion: A take on the abysmal week at Spurs, top four and where we go from here

My take on the abysmal week Tottenham have just had, the ‘race’ for top four, and where we go next…

This is a shorter article because I’m on the train and very tired after what I have just witnessed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, both physically and just in general with the same old Spurs problems.

A week or so ago, there was hope and optimism around Tottenham. Sitting pretty in the race for top four with games in hand and Southampton/Wolves at home to come. Fast forward seven days, and Spurs have actually dropped in the table.

Let’s be clear. Spurs were never going to maintain the impressive form they started Conte’s reign with. The squad is not good enough, we have a new system, and a new manager. There were always going to be ups and downs.

The frustrating thing is that the downs always come in the same form – individual howlers in possession and in defence, as well as a seeming lack of effort at times.

After a decent start to the Wolves game, Spurs conceded two through huge errors from Lloris and Davies. 2-0 down to a good PL side who are famed for their solid defence, Spurs had thrown away the win within 25 mins.

And I mean thrown away. Yes, Wolves were good and yes Southampton were class – but Spurs allowed them to have possession, then gifted chances with horrid defending. I don’t see any side in the top half of the league do so with as much regularity as Tottenham.

I am of the opinion that there are no teams in the PL you can sit off and be passive against while still controlling and winning the game. The standard is just way too high. Yet Spurs seem to be doing exactly that at the moment.

At home especially, you should be getting in the face of your opposition, making all the early runs, and playing on the front foot. The second you let your foot off the gas, you get punished. I’m not sure Tottenham got out of third gear today.

The errors and shortcomings we’re seeing are at a schoolboy level. Clearing your lines. Staying goal side. Marking from crosses. Pushing the ball out to the side and away from danger. Pressing together. Maintaining your line. Spurs don’t seem to tick more than one box at a time.

We were teased a little by the start we made under Conte. It seemed as if we had turned a corner or two really early in his reign. The problems at Spurs run a whole lot deeper than that though. Even a world-class manager can’t fix things overnight.

We have seen the same errors from the same people over multiple seasons and Conte needs at least a summer transfer window to stamp his authority on the squad and bring in the type of players he wants.

It would be great if we could push for the top four, and I hope we did. But I can’t say it’s something I expected or demanded when Conte came in. That is really the aim for next season when he has a full campaign, in my opinion.

The current squad now have just a few months to prove to Conte that they are good and consistent enough to remain. I have no doubt he will axe the people he does not think meet that criteria.

I know people will say: we should have bought a RWB, a LCB, a playmaker, a striker and a new kitman in January, but that just doesn’t happen. In fact, you do that and you risk rushing into deals just because they’re there, then you’re in an even bigger hole.

The business needs to be done, and I think will be done, in the summer. Until then, hopefully Conte can keep drilling the current crop and they can put some runs together between the awful performances.

It isn’t going to be a pretty top four race. Whoever gets fourth will likely be the best of a bad bunch. While I wouldn’t put my money on Spurs, they need to keep fighting if they want Champions League football.

Winning teams and successful teams have to decided which in-form player to start with. Spurs at the moment are having to choose who the least out-of-form is. Is that going to be enough to sneak top four?