A $400M defensive disaster: Gerrard and Cole slam Tottenham after 3-2 Villa defeat

19.09.26 FT English Premier League

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English football icons Joe Cole & Steven Gerrard have heavily criticised Tottenham Hotspur following their latest setback in the Premier League where they suffered a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa in Matchweek 5.

Read Also: De Zerbi backs Marmoush to break Spurs' goal drought

Cole questions transfer policy and defensive structure

The latest result extends a disappointing run of form for the London club this season. During the encounter against Aston Villa, Egyptian international Omar Marmoush played the full 90 minutes but struggled to make the required impact leading to mounting criticism of his performances.

Speaking about the club's broader issues, Joe Cole directed his frustration at the club's summer recruitment strategy and tactical vulnerabilities.

"Tottenham paid a lot of money to sign every player they brought in this summer.. I do not rule out a relegation struggle for them, as there is a problem with scoring goals and the team is extremely weak defensively" Cole said in statements quoted by Goal.

Reflecting on specific defensive sequences, Cole added:

"It is true that Van Hecke scored a goal but he certainly felt frustrated by his performance. I know Tottenham's playing style always puts the defence at risk which is why they signed defenders capable of handling one on one situations. It is difficult to mark Nicolas Jackson but what happened during the goal he scored was not good"

He concluded his assessment with a stark warning:

"Tottenham is suffering from a real problem, the team looks extremely fragile and weak and the season is still long"

Gerrard highlights midfield strengths but defensive flaws

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard echoed Cole’s concerns, though he pinpointed the defence, rather than the midfield, as the root of the team's ongoing struggles.

"Tottenham is suffering from certain things. Now the midfield has become stronger with the presence of Bentancur, Sandro Tonali and Matheus Fernandes and there is also Conor Gallagher. The midfield is not a problem for Tottenham" Gerrard stated outlining his view of the squad's composition.

However, he was ruthless in his evaluation of the backline:

"But the team suffers in defence and concedes many goals.. Does the problem lie in long balls? If the two centre backs are unable to deal with this type of ball, then Tottenham is in a real problem, they need to handle it properly" Gerrard explained.

Tactical imbalance

While the pundits' assessment includes surprising references to players outside the traditional Spurs squad, the core of their critique highlights a genuine tactical disconnect at the club.

The substantial financial outlay during the summer transfer window was intended to solidify the team’s foundation. Instead, the high risk defensive system continues to leave the centre backs isolated during counter attacks and long ball situations.

The inability to convert possession into goals, coupled with this defensive fragility, is creating unsustainable pressure on the starting lineup early in the campaign.

Khaled Hegazy |

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Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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