Tottenham Hotspur checked a win off in the column on Sunday, as they successfully did what needed to be done to play gritty and get all three points off local London rivals Crystal Palace in a 1-0 win. It may not seem like much to write home about on paper, but given the losses to the likes of Fulham thsi season, this was the sort of match Spurs had to prove they could win again.
But even when Spurs come out victorious, it is still so abundantly clear to every member of this fan base that the squad is not good enough. Thomas Frank has his own issues as manager, and Tottenham fans can complain until the cows come home about his failings, most namely not creating a clear identity of what he wants to do at the club.
When the level of attacking talent is as barren as it is at Tottenham and when Archie Gray, who is still too young to be a star in this role, is the only remotely competent deep lying progressor, it is truly hard for a team to assert themselves at the highest level of the Premier League. Hence why Spurs are toiling in the mid table again despite changing managers.
Tottenham fans want to be active in January
Tottenham supporters are hoping for an active January transfer window, and the two main needs are attack and midfield. Spurs want to sign a proven goal scoring option either out wide on the left wing, which is preferred, or even at striker if possible. And then they definitely need to sign a top level technical midfielder to help out Gray and upgrade on Rodrigo Bentancur. Left back, center back depth to replace Radu Dragusin, and maybe even a goalkeeper to compete wtih Guglielmo Vicario are other possible signings.
But everyone knows that when it comes to Tottenham and the transfer market, the dreams tend to be bigger than reality, and even something like the summer transfer window they just had with Joao Palhinha, Randal Kolo Muani, Xavi Simons, and Mohammed Kudus coming in is not going to be replicated.
Even Thomas Frank sounds resigned to the fact that Tottenham Hotspur are not going to back him fully in the winter window. The manager said after the win over Crystal Palace, via The Spurs Web, "Of course, the window will open, and we will be in the market and see if there's anything we can do, but it will have to be something where we can improve the team. If not, rather wait, but we will be out there."
So basically it is the same coach speak that Ruben Amorim and other Premier League managers are giving about how Spurs will not force signings but will try to be active. Basically, Frank is setting himself up knowing that Spurs need to make many upgrades, the attacking quality is nowhere near what he even had at Brentford, and he is probably going to get blamed for Spurs issues even more in the second half of the season because those kinds of players will not be available in January. There we go.