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Tottenham’s expected points in the Premier League this season fall well short of the points tally that they have actually acquired.

Many will be wondering why there is a feeling of a mini-crisis surrounding Tottenham Hotspur this season, given the club’s results.

The Lilywhites sit in fifth place in the Premier League table and remain unbeaten in the Champions League so far. This is despite the fact that Spurs have had to deal with an extremely bloated fixture list.

However, the numbers clearly suggest that Tottenham’s performances have not been up to scratch.

Tottenham are outperforming their xG considerably in the Premier League

A team’s expected points are calculated based on the xG they register and concede each game to ascertain how many points a team should have.

Sqwaka have now revealed that based on those calculations, Tottenham should have accumulated just 11 points instead of the 18 they now have.

According to the data-analysis platform, that would put Spurs in 15th place in the xG table, with just two wins, five draws and four losses from their 11 matches so far.

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One fundamental flaw with xG counts against Spurs

Apart from the obvious flaws in using xG as the main metric to judge chances created, there is one big fundamental flaw with the system that gives an unfair reading of any match.

Put simply, most teams that are in the lead are more likely to sit back and invite pressure, which means that the sides that are trailing tend to have more shots in the latter stages of the game.

That has certainly been the case with Spurs, with Frank not afraid to sit back and preserve leads, with the Dane often throwing Kevin Danso in as the third centre-back to help the Lilywhites see out wins.

However, having said that, there is no doubt that Tottenham’s results this season flatter them a bit, and Frank’s men are yet to click as an attacking force.

Tottenham Hotspur had been named as the frontrunners to sign Rodrygo, but a new report appears to suggest otherwise.

Tottenham Hotspur were unable to sign a left winger in the summer, and the absence of natural options in the position have been increasingly noticeable.

Brennan Johnson was initially starting on the left flank, and various players have since occupied the area including Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Richarlison.

However, a recent report stated Tottenham were leading the race to sign £70m-rated Rodrygo, who would likely come in and fill the void.

Tottenham do not have the financial capacity to sign Rodrygo

Any Spurs fan who got excited about the rumours regarding Rodrygo are about to be disappointed, because Florian Plettenberg has revealed they are not true.

According to the journalist, Tottenham will not be able to sign the 24-year-old due to his hefty wage demands.

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Despite this, Rodrygo could still leave Real Madrid in January, with the transfer market currently being explored. His current contract expires in 2028, so the La Liga giants will be eager for a sale sooner rather than later, so a large transfer fee can be gathered.

Spurs must search for a hidden gem if spending is a problem

Daniel Levy may have left Tottenham, but this does not mean their harsh wage structure has been thrown out of the window.

Different sources disagree on what Rodrygo’s salary is, but some say it could be as high as £350,000.

If Spurs are unwilling to spend this money, they must attempt to find talented, lesser-known players. There is simply no point spending £30-£40m on a well-known winger who is average at best.

Now is the time for intelligent scouting to find a player who can develop into the next Heung-min Son.

Heung-min Son has opened up on whether he could return to Tottenham on loan like Thierry Henry once did at Arsenal.

It has been more than three months since Heung-min Son ended his decade-long stay at Tottenham Hotspur.

The former club captain ended his time in North London in the best way possible by winning the Europa League and he already has 10 goals and three assists for LAFC in 12 MLS apperances.

Since the American league operates on a calendar year basis rather than the European format, it has been suggested that Son could return to Europe on loan. With this in mind, there was always a chance that the Korean international might return to Spurs on a temporary basis.

Heung-min Son rules out a move back to Tottenham

Son is aware of the rumours regarding a winter move and he has blasted them as ‘untrue’, ruling out a return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

He told TV Chosun: “I’ve never spoken to any club about a winter move. Such talk is simply untrue. For me, showing respect to my club and giving everything where I play — that’s what matters most. That won’t change.

“I won’t leave LAFC this winter, or ever, while I’m here. I respect this club deeply. As long as I’m wearing this badge, there will be no such thing as a loan or a move. Never.

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“I know fans get confused when rumours fly, but those stories aren’t true. And honestly, it might be disrespectful to my team to even talk that way. I love this club, and I have huge respect for everyone here.”

Spurs must find a Son replacement

It is probably for the best that Son has no intentions of coming back to Tottenham. He was well past his prime, despite a good number of goal contributions last season, and he finished his time at the club with a triumph he will never forget.

Spurs must instead look at the transfer market and identify a talent who can become another great long-term winger.

A former Tottenham Hotspur player has revealed what he believes a successful season looks like for Thomas Frank’s Spurs side.

Tottenham Hotspur are competing on several fronts this season, despite having already been knocked out of the Carabao Cup.

Thomas Frank’s side remain in the FA Cup, the UEFA Champions League, and the Premier League, with plenty still to play for across all competitions.

In Europe, Tottenham have been quietly impressive, staying unbeaten after four group-phase matches, winning two and drawing two.

They currently sit in tenth place in the league phase table, as their European campaign continues to show promise.

Gary Stevens outlines what Tottenham must achieve this season

In the Premier League, Tottenham have managed to stay within touching distance of the top, currently sitting fifth in the table.

They are eight points behind league leaders Arsenal and four points adrift of Manchester City in second.

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Former Tottenham defender Gary Stevens has now shared his view on what would represent a successful campaign for Thomas Frank’s side.

Speaking to Stadium Astro, Stevens explained that Tottenham must secure a return to the UEFA Champions League next season, either by finishing fourth or fifth in the league. Tottenham have not finished in the top four since 2022 under Antonio Conte.

He said: “I think Spurs need to be playing Champions League football, it is as simple as that. At this stage, we do not know how many places are available for the Champions League. Yes, it is four, but does it go to five? I think quite possibly.

“So therefore, I am saying that is where they have got to finish, in the top five. I think it is a big ask and at the very, very outside, it is Europa League football.”

Tottenham must stay consistent to reach Champions League target

Indeed, Tottenham will be hoping to secure Champions League football next season, and there are two possible routes to achieve that.

They could win the competition outright this term, or they could finish in the top four or five places in the Premier League, which has often been enough in recent seasons.

If Spurs are to qualify through the league, consistency will be crucial. December will be a defining month for Thomas Frank’s men, with fixtures coming thick and fast.

Should they fail to pick up enough wins during this period, they risk falling behind and being forced to play catch-up later in the campaign.

David Bentley has now made a big claim on Micky van de Ven’s future at Tottenham Hotspur, following the defender’s recent performances.

Tottenham Hotspur have had a mixed start to the season under manager Thomas Frank, with a series of inconsistent results.

However, while the team has often struggled, one player has remained a bright spark, and that is Micky van de Ven.

The Dutch centre-back has not only helped keep Tottenham’s backline solid, but he has also begun adding goals to his game, crucial goals that help Spurs win football matches.

David Bentley shares his thoughts on Micky van de Ven’s future at Tottenham

Van de Ven is Spurs’ top scorer with six goals this season. He grabbed an important brace against Everton to help Tottenham secure all three points at Hill Dickson Stadium, before netting a wonderful solo goal in the Champions League against Copenhagen.

He continues to prove his worth to Tottenham both in attack and defence, but David Bentley believes that the next two years will be crucial for both the club and the Dutch defender.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Bentley praised Van de Ven’s overall game and explained why Tottenham may struggle to keep hold of him if Europe’s elite clubs come calling.

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He said: “He’s an exceptional player, unbelievable pace, the strength of him. He’s a great defender and reads the game so well.

“He’s one of the top defenders in the world and you’re going to have clubs, big clubs. I think there’s a few rumours within the media about Real Madrid potentially coming in for him.

“A player like that with three and a half years left on his contract, Tottenham will want to tie him up. To be honest, if a big offer comes in, it is very difficult for the club not to accept it.

“He’s an exceptional player, the goal he got against Copenhagen was unbelievable. It was the pace, the control of the ball and to score a goal like that as a defender was unbelievable.

“Tottenham want to tie him down, Tottenham are in a position of, I believe, where the two transfer windows with the next in January and the summer next year are really going to showcase where the football club is going and where it’s moving forward.”

Tottenham must move fast to secure Micky van de Ven’s future

Van de Ven has already attracted interest from Real Madrid, who have been rumoured to be monitoring his situation.

The 24-year-old is one of Tottenham’s top performers, but his current wages do not reflect that, as he is still earning £50,000 a week.

Spurs must do everything possible to keep the Dutch international at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and an improved deal should be high on the club’s agenda.

Enough time has passed to fairly assess Tottenham Hotspur’s summer signings, so it is time to take a look at whether each player has succeeded or flopped in North London.

It has been just over a month since our last article rating Tottenham’s summer signings and plenty has changed since then.

Some previously disappointing players have come good, while others continue to make no impact at the club.

Here is the updated version rating every summer arrival at Hotspur Way.

Rating every Tottenham signing out of 10

Kevin Danso – There were concerns about some of Danso’s early performances for Tottenham Hotspur this season, but he played well when Cristian Romero was injured. The defender is well liked by Thomas Frank due to his long throw-ins and his defensive play has been acceptable.

Danso was particularly good in the 3-0 victory over Everton, winning all his duels and making 18 clearances. The Austrian may not be first-choice, but he provides a strong backup option. 7.5/10

Mathys Tel – Many Tottenham supporters were trying to be positive about Tel earlier in the season. After all, no one wants to be slamming a teenager who was already the victim of racial abuse after his Super Cup display against PSG. However, his performances when called on were nowhere near good enough.

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The striker now looks to be improving and he got on the scoresheet for a second time this season, during Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United. Nothing is certain at this point, but Tel is starting to look like a player who will eventually come good at Spurs. 6.5/10

Kota Takai – Somebody should file a missing person report because Tottenham’s Japanese defender is nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he will have finally overcome his injury issues after the international break, but for now, there is no way of judging him as a Spurs player. N/A

Mohammed Kudus – The dancing dribbler signed from West Ham scored the joint highest rating in our previous edition, but his displays since the Leeds United game in early October have been underwhelming.

Kudus is a great player, but he needs to get back in form after the international break. It would be good to see him get a goal contribution against one of the top teams in the Premier League too, as he has failed to do this against PSG, Manchester City and Chelsea.

Regardless of this, Kudus has still been a very good signing for Tottenham and should continue to be an important player this season. 8/10

Joao Palhinha – No summer signing has been as consistent for Spurs as Joao Palhinha. There is no better tackler in the Premier League and the midfielder is their joint third top goalscorer in all competitions.

The only negative thing there is to say about Palhinha is that he is already 30 years old, but as far as his game is concerned, there are no complaints here. 9/10

Xavi Simons – Were we wrong to judge Simons on his Bundesliga performances? Is he going to be a complete flop at Tottenham? These were some of the questions being asked not so long ago and this was fair enough. Simons’ early displays at Spurs were pretty poor and he continued to be frustrating even after moving into a central position.

However, the 22-year-old has played a lot better in recent weeks. He was particularly good against Copenhagen in the Champions League, creating chances and getting an assist.

It was quite telling that Frank’s decision to sub off Simons against Manchster United was roundly booed by those inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The fans are starting to believe in him and anyone who has been watching will understand why. 7/10

Randal Kolo Muani – Decent player, poor signing. This could end up being the case regarding Muani, who has gone from a dead leg to a fractured jaw.

Muani will not be needing surgery, but the fact he has already suffered two unrelated injuries since joining Spurs does not bode well for the future.

The forward’s finishing against Copenhagen was almost laughable, but his performance excluding his missed chances was actually quite good. There definitely looks to be a player there, but how often will he be available? 6/10

Tottenham Hotspur will take on Arsenal after the international break, and something must change if Thomas Frank’s team are to get anything from the game.

The odds will be stacked against Tottenham Hotspur on November 23, in a must-win North London derby.

Spurs will actually be glad the match is being played at the Emirates rather than their own ground, but defeating the side top of the Premier League table will be far from easy.

It has been a season of mixed results for Tottenham up to this point, and changes need to be made if any points are to be taken from the latest edition of the bitter rivalry. Here are the three things which need to happen to give Spurs the greatest chance of victory.

Destiny Udogie must replace Djed Spence at left-back

There is no question that Djed Spence is a good player, but he has looked too predictable going forward due to being naturally right-footed.

Destiny Udogie has had his injury struggles this season, but his recent performances have been superior to Spence’s.

The Italian defender got his first assist of the season when he came off the bench against Manchester United, and he should be given the opportunity to build on this in the North London Derby.

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Wilson Odobert should play in front of Udogie on the wing

The left side of Tottenham’s team should be completed with Wilson Odobert in attack. The ex-Burnley player has enjoyed plenty of minutes this season, but started on the bench against Manchester United.

Odobert came on and registered an assist, building on the goal he scored in the week against Copenhagen. The 20-year-old’s end product had been lacking up to that point, but he is growing in confidence and has improved in the final third.

Richarlison did not offer much when he played on the left wing in Tottenham’s most recent match, and Brennan Johnson is very hit-and-miss. The Welshman could be brought on if Spurs are trailing and need a goal, but Oodbert is the best option to start.

Mathys Tel has earned another shot for Tottenham

Mathys Tel did in five minutes what Richarlison failed to do in 84 against Manchester United. Of course, the Brazilian did get his goal in stoppage time, but he and Randal Kolo Muani struggled to be effective for the most part.

Tel has still only had a handful of good performances in a Spurs shirt, but building momentum when he is in and out of the team is not straightforward.

Spurs fans are tired of seeing the same players make the same mistakes, and Tel could be the player needed to finish chances and give Arsenal something to worry about. Well, other than Micky van de Ven, of course, who is probably more likely to score than any other Tottenham player.

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to improve their midfield creativity in the next few months as they aim to secure a top-four finish.

The attack is one area that clearly needs attention from Thomas Frank and his staff, as Spurs have often struggled to break down compact sides, particularly when playing at home.

Statistics show that one of Tottenham’s biggest issues in this regard lies within the pivot pairing of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur, who have at times found it difficult to progress the ball effectively when deployed together.

Nevertheless, both players remain integral to the side’s structure, but how do their individual numbers compare, and should Frank consider dropping one for the other? Let us find out.

Tottenham midfield comparison: Rodrigo Bentancur vs Joao Palhinha

So far this season, Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur have featured 18 and 17 times, respectively.

Both players have had almost identical minutes on the pitch, with only a 50-minute difference separating them. Palhinha has played 1,276 minutes, while Bentancur has registered 1,226.

Although they operate as a double pivot, their roles differ slightly. Palhinha tends to sit deeper, acting as the more defensive presence, while Bentancur is often given licence to push forward depending on the opposition setup.

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Interestingly, when analysing the numbers, the pair seem to complement each other fairly well.

At present, Palhinha leads in duels won with an impressive 97.2%, he also recovers possession most frequently, winning 93.7% of his challenges.

The Portuguese midfielder further tops the metrics for progressive carries with 9.3 and progressive passes with 27.5%.

Spurs’ tactical dilemma with Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha

Bentancur, on the other hand, has a significantly lower duel success rate, winning just 23.7% of his challenges. In terms of possession regained, the Uruguayan has managed 43.5, with 7.7 progressive carries to his name.

However, Bentancur does play more forward passes, recording 45.8%, and he boasts a higher percentage of forward distribution overall at 51.8%, compared to Palhinha’s 40.9%.

He also edges ahead in key passes, registering 26.5 compared to Palhinha’s 20.0, although his progressive passes are slightly lower at 24.5.

Both players have contributed with goals and assists, but it is Palhinha who tops that, with the 30-year-old having scored four times and assisted twice. Bentancur, on the other hand, has managed one goal and one assist.

Tottenham midfield comparison 2025/26

From the data, it does appear somewhat counterproductive for both to feature together regularly, as their attacking output and positional tendencies often mirror one another.

Palhinha is clearly the stronger defensive midfielder and could comfortably marshal that holding role alone, while Bentancur offers a measure of control in possession but not enough attacking thrust to alter the tempo in the final third.

Luka Vuskovic continues to surprise Tottenham Hotspur fans with the various facets he has to his game, now including a skilful nutmeg.

Vuskovic has not put a foot wrong in the Bundesliga so far this season, and one can understand why Tottenham fans are getting increasingly excited about the 18-year-old’s potential.

The Spurs centre-back has won two back-to-back Bundesliga Rookie of the Month awards, and one suspects that he will win that prize many more times before the campaign comes to a close.

Vuskovic is elite at winning duels and in ball carrying, making him the perfect modern-day centre-back, but he also has other attributes that one rarely sees in defenders.

Tottenham youngster Luka Vuskovic shows off in training

We already know that the 18-year-old has an eye for goal, with the defender having found the back of the net seven times on loan at Westerlo last season.

Vuskovic has also scored some audacious goals in training at Hamburg, showing that he is far from your typical centre-back.

Now, the Tottenham Hotspur man has been caught on camera performing an audacious piece of skill to nutmeg a teammate while being involved in a rondo in training with Croatia’s U21s.

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Vuskovic is also a dead-ball specialist

Last month, Vuskovic showcased his dead-ball ability by curling a brilliant free-kick for Croatia’s U21 side, which came off the crossbar and was tapped home by a teammate.

Spurs fans have already seen up close what he can do, with Vuskovic scoring and assisting for Tottenham in his first pre-season outing of the summer.

The Lilywhites faithful are just waiting with bated breath to see what he can produce back at N17 next season after having a year of football under his belt in the Bundesliga.

One Tottenham Hotspur star has made it into WhoScored’s Premier League Team of the Season so far.

Even though Spurs sit fifth in the Premier League table and are unbeaten in the Champions League, there is a sense of the club being in a mini-crisis.

Thomas Frank has had to deal with his substitutions getting booed, and many supporters are seemingly frustrated by the team’s lack of attacking intent, especially at home.

However, amidst all this turmoil, one of Tottenham’s summer signings has continued to deliver consistently, and the numbers suggest he has been one of the best attackers on show in the Premier League so far.

Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus named in Whoscored’s Team of the Season so far

Mohammed Kudus has six goal contributions to his name so far this season, but just those alone do not tell the full story of how good he has been for Tottenham.

The winger has tracked back and contributed defensively, while he has always been a threat on the ball.

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Until a couple of weeks ago, Kudus had completed the most dribbles out of any player in Europe’s top five leagues.

Now, the Tottenham winger has been named in WhoScored’s Team of the Season, with an average performance rating of 7.26 this campaign.

Will Kudus be fit for the North London derby?

The 25-year-old has missed Tottenham’s last two matches against Copenhagen and Man United due to a knock.

However, Thomas Frank said that Kudus was ‘touch and go’ to face Man United, which indicates that he should be fit and ready to go for the North London derby on September 23.