Spurs fans took to Twitter to slate their team’s defence after the 1-0 loss to Southampton on New Year’s Day.
A photo posted by Ryan Goldy (via LastWordonSpurs), shows the majority of Spurs’ defence nowhere near Danny Ings, as the striker was allowed a lot of time and space to score the only goal of the game at St Mary’s. The former Liverpool and Burnley man has been in excellent form of late and left Toby Alderweireld on his backside before clinically finishing past Paulo Gazzaniga for his 13th Premier League goal of the season.
The result leaves Spurs sixth in the Premier League table and reinforces the belief that they need to strengthen their struggling defence during this month’s window, with Jose Mourinho’s side having kept just two clean sheets all season. Injuries have forced Mourinho into playing Ryan Sessegnon as a left-back, with Jan Vertonghen reverting back to his natural centre-back position, but the Belgian has struggled to rediscover some of the form he has shown alongside Toby Alderweireld in recent years.
Should Mourinho make defensive changes ahead of the Middlesbrough game?
Yes
No
Reaction from Spurs fans to the defending, or lack of, which led to Southampton’s goal can be seen in the tweets below.
Embarrassing
— Matt Bezant (@Mattbezant) January 1, 2020
So bad… there’s no quick fix either. Going to take some time and money
— Nathan Markham (@natron1981) January 1, 2020
This is terrible
— Demolar Davies (@demorash009) January 1, 2020
Signings desperately needed or we may not even be in Europe at all next season
— Daniel Toure (@DANNY_TC99) January 1, 2020
Shambolic excuse of a team
— matt panter (@matt_panter) January 1, 2020
How does that’s happen? Where was Jan? Where was the defensive mid? It wasn’t a great build up, it’s was simple and direct and we were pathetic
— gavin (@gavinspurs) January 1, 2020
These Spurs fans were clearly less than impressed with the performance and defending against Southampton and will be hoping to see Mourinho make some serious changes ahead of their FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough on Sunday.
What do we think?
Mourinho has to strengthen Spurs’ defence in January, with the lack of clean sheets as mentioned above evidence for that. Indeed, another issue is that the Lilywhites currently only have Serge Aurier and Kyle Walker-Peters at right-back, with the latter being linked with a possible move away, so they could find themselves in even more trouble.