Headline: Tottenham’s Struggles Highlighted by Charlie Austin’s Concerns on Form and Spending
Former Premier League striker Charlie Austin has raised concerns about Tottenham Hotspur’s current performance, describing it as “alarming.” He pointed out that, when considering the length of Roberto de Zerbi’s tenure and the club’s spending during the transfer window, the team’s recent form is particularly troubling.
Tottenham has managed to secure only three victories in their last 23 home league matches, with their most recent setback being a 2-0 loss to Newcastle United.
“They have been in the exact same position in the Premier League for the past two seasons,” Austin shared during his appearance on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast. “However, we all anticipated a different outcome this year given their financial investments.”
He expressed concern over the current state of the team, noting that De Zerbi took over with just six games left last season, whereas Matthias Jaissle had a full two and a half to three weeks of pre-season training before delivering two impressive performances.
Austin emphasized that expenditure alone does not guarantee success. He quoted De Zerbi, stating: “Money cannot buy mentality.” Drawing from his experience as a former professional footballer, he acknowledged that building a team’s mentality is invaluable and cannot simply be bought.
While Austin understands the time needed for the players to gel, he insists that Tottenham must collectively recognize and confront their current position in the league.
Former Premier League striker Charlie Austin believes Tottenham’s current form is “alarming”, particularly when bringing the length of Roberto de Zerbi’s tenure and the club’s transfer window spending into the equation.
Tottenham have only won three of their past 23 league games on home soil, with the latest sucker punch coming in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by Newcastle United.
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“They have been in the exact same position in the Premier League for the past two seasons,” Austin said on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast. “But we all thought they would be a different proposition this year because they have spent money.
“The alarming side of it all is Roberto de Zerbi came in with six games to go at the end of last season, compared to Matthias Jaissle with two and a half to three weeks of pre-season under his belt – yet Jaissle has delivered two exciting performances.
“So it doesn’t matter how much money you spend. As De Zerbi said: ‘Money cannot buy mentality.’ As an ex-professional footballer, I know it is something you cannot put a price tag on.
“They have all of these players in, but it is about gelling them now. It will take time, I really do understand that, but Tottenham, collectively, need to understand where they are at the moment.”
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