Sunday Supplement’s Matt Dickinson: Tottenham Aren’t in Crisis
Tottenham’s problems this season can be blamed on a tight wage structure which has impacted the team’s depth options on top of injuries and poor form from certain players.
Mauricio Pochettino spoke at length about how Tottenham’s first loss in the Premier League isn’t bad. That fans should be calm because the season is still young.
And while that is true, another way to look at this situation is that Spurs have only won twice in their past 11 games since October began. One loss or two wins? Which would you prefer?
So, what has caused Spurs’ poor run of form? Injuries and players not playing well are two reasons but that has been discussed ad nauseam.
What hasn’t been talked about much however, is Daniel Levy’s tight grip on the club’s wage structure and how it prevents the north London club from improving their squad every year.
Related Story: Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy Must Break Wage Structure
According to the Sunday Supplement’s Matt Dickinson, he believes Daniel Levy’s insistence on finding cheaper alternatives rather than paying a premium amount has cost Spurs.
“I think there was an issue going back to the summer with transfers,” Dickinson said on Sunday Supplement (via Sky Sports). “It was clear to everyone that they needed help up front and Harry Kane was shouldering a heck of a lot, especially with the Champions League campaign.”
“Vincent Janssen is not looking like the man to do that. If you look around European football and said he was the best standard you could come up with, it looks like they went for a relatively cut-price option and they are paying a bit for that.”
“They need different options up front clearly.”
More from Hotspur HQ
- Storybook ending after difficult period for Tottenahm’s Richarlison
- Tottenham comeback showcased invaluable intangible Ange has cultivated
- Tottenham player ratings in 2-1 comeback win over Sheffield United
- Tottenham projected starting 11 for Sheffield United
- Tottenham’s Richarlison says he’s going to seek psychological help
Matt Dickinson does have a point. Because during the summer, Spurs were heavily linked to Michy Batshuayi but his transfer fee (£33 million) and wages (£125,000-a-week) proved to be too expensive.
That is, until Moussa Sissoko was bought for £30 million and now both Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris want at least £100,000-a-week salaries.
Eventually, money was going to be a major deciding factor on how good or very good this Tottenham team could be. It was also one reason why Paul Mitchell resigned.
Despite signing cheaper alternatives, Spurs have played some good games. They have done well to weather the storm of multiple injuries and key players losing their form.
“Let’s not forget they probably put in the standout domestic performance by beating Man City which is not easily done so this is not a team in crisis, far from it.” Matt Dickinson added.
“Maybe now they are out of the Champions League, maybe it will help somehow to get some kind of winning run going but the striker thing is something they can look on and regret.”
The Daily Mail’s Ian Ladyman also talked about Tottenham’s wage structure. Something that every single Spurs supporter knows has been an on-going issue during Levy’s tenure as chairman.
“I think Tottenham’s issues are the squad. Pochettino has touched on it himself, they can’t pay the wages and they are stuck in this holding pattern at the moment that Arsenal had for many years waiting to move into a stadium,” Ladyman said.
“I believe Hugo Lloris is the highest earner in the squad on £70,000 or £80,000 a week which is good money but nothing compared to what rivals in the Premier League are paying.”
Next: Tottenham's Pochettino: Moussa Sissoko Falling Short of Expectations
“I know for example that when Tottenham were looking for strikers, they looked at people like Antoine Griezmann and it’s just not going to happen for lots of reasons.”
“You spend your time doing research on who you might want to buy and you end up with someone who probably wasn’t on your second list but your third list.”
“Until they move forward and Daniel Levy decides that it’s time to give Pochettino proper money to spend on wages, not just transfer fees because wages are what matter at the end of the day, I think they are still going to struggle.”