Tottenham’s rough start to the Premier League season has drawn significant criticism, particularly from former midfielder Jamie O’Hara.
Following Spurs’ 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the North London derby, O’Hara voiced his frustration, questioning the quality of their summer signings.
Currently sitting 13th in the league with just four points from their first four matches, Tottenham’s early-season struggles have sparked concerns about whether the club’s recruitment was effective.
Over the summer, Spurs spent €148.85 million on players like Dominic Solanke, Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert, and Lucas Bergvall. However, O’Hara remains unconvinced that these additions were the right fit for the team.
O’Hara argued that the current signings were not in high demand by other top clubs, contrasting them with the marquee players from his era, such as Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe, and Dimitar Berbatov, who were all widely sought after and had a major impact on the field.
He questioned whether players like Solanke and Johnson, despite arriving with high expectations, have lived up to their potential.
In his view, the current Tottenham squad lacks the intensity, drive, and quality of previous teams, and the club’s recent signings have failed to elevate their performances.
Speaking to Grovesnor Sport, the pundit remarked (as quoted by The Mirror):
“They’re signing players that no one else wants. The Spurs side that I played in would wipe the floor with the current team. I’d rather have the likes of Robbie Keane, Tom Huddlestone, Aaron Lennon, Dimitar Berbatov, Peter Crouch, and Jermain Defoe over this current side.
“They wanted to get the ball and make things happen. Aaron Lennon would always want the ball and try to beat his man, Johnson looks like he never wants it! If Robbie Keane touched the ball as little as Solanke does, he’d be knocking people out in the dressing room.
“They were top players that everyone wanted when Spurs signed them, even if some did come from the Championship. No one wanted Johnson in January and no one wanted Solanke in the summer. No one wants these players but Spurs are signing them.”
With Spurs eager to turn around their sluggish start, manager Ange Postecoglou will be under pressure to prove that the club’s summer investments can make a meaningful difference as they strive to move up the Premier League standings.