Talking Tactics: Spurs Failing To Push Forward In Premier League
Tottenham's 2025/26 season is characterized by a surplus of attacking options but a lack of reliable goal-scorers, revealing the need for strategic reinforcements. Richarlison's performance, despite some flashes of potential, highlights inefficiencies in the team's conversion rate. Discussion about a possible return of Ivan Toney from Saudi Arabia suggests a strategic boost for the team's attacking capabilities. Additionally, with their impressive away form, Tottenham must find consistency at home to improve their league standings.
- Surplus of strikers but lacking a reliable goalscorer.
- Richarlison's contribution is underwhelming despite potential.
- Speculation on Ivan Toney's return to boost Tottenham's attack.
Crunching the numbers to uncover the reasons behind Tottenham's struggles in front of goal in the 2025/26 season.
When you look at the number of players that can currently play through the middle at Tottenham, there is definitely a sense of quantity over quality. An almost embarrassment of riches when it comes to available personnel, embarrassing that a talisman is still yet to be found.
The discussion has surely moved on now from Harry Kane and his ‘replacement’ - then again a direct replacement was never going to appear. More a case of how the club evolves from one era to another and when it comes to someone you can rely on, Spurs’ strikers have been rather unreliable.
Dominic Solanke seemingly weighed down by price tag and a lack of fitness, nobody knows if he is a ‘Thomas Frank’ player. It may be easier to cash in on the former Bournemouth forward and start again with the bank account topped up.
Then again, if that was to be the case, you would expect any future sale to be at a loss. The same would certainly be said of former Everton forward Richarlison as the Brazilian’s stint in N17 continues to lack any real purpose.
Yes, the Brazilian did score what he thought was the winning goal against Manchester United just under a fortnight ago but the 28-year-old almost epitomises the phrase “even a broken clock is right twice a day” when on the field of play.
Looking at his performances under Thomas Frank, the player who has earned 54 international caps for Brazil has scored four goals in 11 league appearances this season - that in itself is not a bad return, the issue is how much effort was needed to bag that quartet.
Crunching The Numbers
When taking a deeper look at Richarlison’s attacking stats, those four goals have come from a total of 19 shots in total. A hit rate of 21.0% in this season’s edition of the Premier League, far from the ratio required to be a true talisman.
Those who prefer to look at their statistical glass half full, will argue that the player under the microscope is getting himself in the right position to create chances. Those who prefer it half empty, will point to wasted opportunity.
Of those 19 shots, just seven have been on target. 12 shots not even being framed between the opposition goalkeeper’s posts. That arguably makes the player even more frustrating to watch because when he does find range, his odds of scoring improve considerably.
Four goals from seven shots on target is not a ratio to be sniffed at, even if Richarlison has a habit of failing the smell test when leading the line for Tottenham. At the same time, he leads the forwards list as the best of an underperforming bunch.
A bunch that also includes the likes of Brennan Johnson, Randall Kolo Muani and Mathys Tel. In years gone by Tottenham were crying out for an additional cast up top. It may be now that there are just too many options to work with.
Nobody standing out from the crowd and telling manager Frank that they should be trusted with the figurative number nine shirt. But maybe there is a lack of trust in the players that he has inherited within N17.
A Familiar Face
Which makes one wonder whether the former Brentford boss will look to get the band together with a former Bee in the New Year and with Ivan Toney looking for a move back to the Premier League, a return to London may be the answer to all of Spurs’ striking problems.
Is it almost too obvious an answer? Perhaps. However, if you believe what you read in the gossip columns, a list of potential suitors for even a temporary switch is topped by last season’s Europa League winners.
That success has thrust the North London outfit back into Europe’s elite but there is still a lag when it comes to attracting the very best talent. The addition of Xavi Simons did look like a statement of intent in the late summer months, supporters will now have to hope that he is a late bloomer.
Which means if Tottenham are to capture the best that Europe has to offer on a long-term basis, a short-term boost to their firing squad seems the most necessary plan of attack. Toney has credentials in the Premier League regardless of whether they are going to waste in Saudi Arabia or not.
While Thomas Frank and his players need to be sure that their season does not go to waste. Just when you think they have found a string of consistency - something that they were certainly missing last season, do they then find themselves taking a step back.
No Home Comforts
Which leads us to this Sunday’s latest edition of the North London derby and although a trip to the Emirates would not usually be welcomed, the fact that Tottenham are on enemy territory may be to their benefit.
Of the 18 league points that they have collected this season, 13 of them have come away from home. Such is their impressive run of results away from home, they currently top the form table on the road.
Which begs the question as to why this current Tottenham crop is such a Jekyll and Hyde between its home and somebody else’s. By comparison, the same team has the second worst league record in front of their own support, just one league win all season.
An opening weekend win over Burnley and two further draws to their name. The most recent against Manchester United. The other against Wolves, who under the previous tutelage of Vitor Pereira have failed to earn a home win all season.
Tottenham’s away form is absorbing the results earned on home soil. No home comforts at present and with such inconsistencies in terms of results, those same inconsistencies are being mirrored by their attack. A conundrum that needs solving as soon as possible, maybe as soon as Sunday.
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