Former Tottenham star Toby Alderweireld has perfectly echoed the thoughts of Spurs fans when addressing the club's summer recruitment needs.
Spurs simply have to get it right this summer after back-to-back botom half finishes. There is some fresh hope under Roberto De Zerbi, but fans know there going to be little progress without serious investment in what is an under-par squad when compared to the club's ambitions and expectations.
Alderweireld on Tottenham recruitment
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Alderweireld explained what Tottenham should be looking for in their recruitment this summer. "The squad was not good enough for Spurs," he began.
"We need to go back to players who can perform and handle the pressure and play with heart for the club. Fans want players who will fight for the club and badge. Getting new players, that's the way it is. You need players you can count on. Before, there was Sonny (Son Heung-min), Harry Kane, players who were never below a 7/10.
'"You need to buy players who are ready. Of course you can buy players with potential, but you need the core to be so solid. Then you can have a young guy with potential who can learn from some situations. Spurs need players they can count on. Harry Kane (left) was never below a 7/10."
Alderweireld has hit the nail on the head
Spurs fans were tortured by watching this team put up sub-standard performances all season, and while fans can put up with losing, they cannot put up with players failing to meet the minimum standard of showing fight.
Some did fight for the badge, but others talked a big game but didn't show the same desire to win every header and go into every challenge as though there was nothing to lose.
Spurs are sorely lacking in true leaders and players who will give everything for the badge. Even Cristian Romero, who is full of fight, has not shown the same commitment off the pitch in flirting with moves away from the club too often.
Tottenham need a culture reset. Roberto De Zerbi needs to build a culture where anything less than maximum fight is not tolerated, and the ultimate goal is to reach a place where De Zerbi himself has to say very little, You want that to come from the dressing room, for the dressing room to police itself, and it doesn't look as though Spurs are anywhere near that point currently.
A squad overhaul is likely needed to reset the culture to that degree, and serious work is going to have to be done to make sure that, not only the right players, but the right characters are recruited by the club this summer.
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