Spurs' season so far: Stuck in the middle with Robert Vilahamn

Rachel Cohen analyses how Tottenham have fared at midseason and where improvements could be made

Could new signing Olivia Holdt provide a spark for Spurs in the second half of the WSL season? | Credit: Tottenham Hotspur women

The season so far

The season began with a lot of optimism as new signings Maite Oroz and Hayley Raso both shone in our opening day 4-0 win over Crystal Palace. Then, from October to November, Spurs suffered a series of injuries (including to both Oroz and Raso) and lost heavily to all of the ‘Big Four’ clubs before emerging to finish the first half of the season with players back and wins against middling and lower teams, victories in cup games and a draw against high-flying Brighton.

So there have been ups and downs and ups, but at the end of it all, we are still in both cup competitions and lie sixth in the league, the same position that we ended the 23-24 season.

On the pitch, there have been good periods but manager, Robert Vilahamn’s avowedly ‘daring’ slick-passing, free-scoring style of play has not always been visible and, at times, players have found it hard to connect defence and attack. Goals have also sometimes been hard to come by with Martha Thomas swapping the goal glut of last season for an early season goal drought, while Jessica Naz has not quite caught fire (more regular England caps notwithstanding). As the season’s gone on, however, Bethany England has compensated, returning to scoring form, and Spurs have seen other players contributing.

Pleasingly, we have seen a bunch of (ex) academy players getting opportunities, with minutes for Lenna Gunning-Williams, Araya Dennis, Eleanor Heeps, and Zara Bailey. Dennis has especially shone in her two cup cameos.

The MCL injury to right-back Ella Morris while on international U23 duty was a recent blow. Morris had only recently returned from injury and played just four games. Luckily full-back is an area in which Spurs have backup, but Morris looks a rare talent and will be missed.

Biggest surprise of the season

As a Spurs (men’s and women’s) supporter perhaps the most surprising thing is that Spurs have, for now at least, become a strangely predictable team, beating those below us and losing to those above.

In terms of the setup and players it’s been surprising – and disappointing – to have seen so little of Olga Ahtinen this season. She was brought in by Vilahamn, made co-vice-captain and started every game last season before an MCL injury. Her lack of game-time at the backend of last season had seemed to be about a slower than hoped recovery but now looks like her having fallen down the pecking order.

Continuing with the surprising and disappointing: the relegation of Matilda Vinberg, our only left-footed winger, to late substitute appearances, and complete absence of Wang Shuang (other than one half of a cup game) have been notable. Both, like Ahtinen, are Vilahamn signings given relatively long contracts. New signing Anna Csiki’s somewhat underwhelming performances have also been a disappointment but may simply be a matter of adjusting to the league.

Moving to positive surprises, we need to give some love to Eveliina Summanen’s ridiculous billboard-predicted ‘40 yard screamer’. It came from nowhere, put us in the driving seat in the League Cup group, and became the first women’s team goal to win a club ‘Goal of the Month’ competition.

What do Spurs need in January?

There are probably three key requirements.

The first need is a goalkeeper. In my season preview I highlighted that this position was ‘unfinished business’. Becky Spencer started this season as Spurs’ number one. Across the first eight games Spencer conceded 2.6 goals per 90 minutes (joint highest with Crystal Palace’s Shae Yanez) and racked up the league’s worst post-shot expected goals minus goals allowed – a measure of how many goals are conceded as compared to how many you would expect to concede with an average keeper (data FBRef).

In November, Spencer was nonetheless given a contract extension to 2026. However, Spencer’s illness, gave young keeper, Eleanor Heeps, the opportunity to play her first senior Spurs games, playing the final two WSL games plus two cup ties. Heeps was not very seriously tested in these games but conceded only twice and shows promise. Since loanee keeper Katelin Talbert has now returned to West Ham, Spurs are down to two senior keepers, one out of form and one still quite green. Bringing in a third – ideally a shot-stopper who is comfortable dealing with aerial threats, but also with the ball at her feet – must be on the January to-do list.

The second need has – hopefully – already been addressed with the signing of Olivia Holdt: an attacking midfielder who is strong in possession (press-resistant; able to dribble or pass out of trouble). And who out of possession improves our press. We have been in need of a player with this profile since Clinton’s departure (and Graham’s injury). The only question mark around Holdt’s signing is how soon she will be able to play – and play full games – having been out with a fracture to her leg since September.

The third need is backup to Eveliina Summanen. Summanen has become Vilahamn’s go-to starter in midfield. But she usually plays alongside Drew Spence, Maite Oroz or Olga Ahtinen, none of whom are as defensively minded. This means that Summanen consistently puts in huge shifts. She is also one of only a few Spurs players to consistently play full-90s for her country. At her best Summanen disrupts play and is a creative passer. But there have been games where she has seemed tired. Spurs are awash with potential substitutes at attacking midfield, bringing in another defensive midfielder would help keep Summanen at her best.

Beyond these areas there are positions where the team is not consistently clicking – centre-back most obviously. But it is not clear whether this is personnel related or more about relationships and tactics. At the other end of the pitch, should a 20-goals-a-season striker come along, I would not say no.

Will you be amending your pre-season prediction?

I said “optimistically fifth.” That still seems do-able but will take a few games going our way. The underlying stats separating us from Brighton (currently in fifth) are not large despite the six point difference. That said there are only six points between Spurs and bottom placed Crystal Palace, so if things go badly I will be nervously crossing my fingers that we don’t drop below my more pessimistic, “seventh place” prediction.