He had fewer touches than Vicario: Ange must finally sell Spurs dud after 4/10 display

Another matchday, another disappointing result for Tottenham Hotspur as their 1-1 draw with West Ham United extended their winless run to 24 matches in 35 Premier League outings.

While Wilson Odobert’s early strike offered brief hope, Jarrod Bowen’s equalizer confirmed what Spurs fans have come to expect – their side lacks the mentality to see out games.

With European qualification mathematically impossible and relegation not a concern, this dead rubber fixture perfectly encapsulated Tottenham’s season: flashes of promise undone by familiar shortcomings.

The match served as a final audition for several players before what promises to be a transformative summer at N17. While Thursday’s Europa League semifinal against Bodo/Glimt remains the season’s priority, Postecoglou will have taken notes on who deserves to be part of his rebuild.

Unfortunately for several first-team regulars, their performances at the London Stadium did little to strengthen their cases.

Midfield Malaise

Yves Bissouma’s Jekyll-and-Hyde season continued unabated. The Malian, so dominant in Thursday’s European clash, regressed to his league form against West Ham – losing possession ten times and failing to complete a single dribble.

His inconsistency has become emblematic of Tottenham’s wider problems, with the team unable to string together consecutive performances at the required intensity.

Alongside him, Dejan Kulusevski’s post-injury struggles persisted. The Swede lost a game-high 12 duels and succeeded with just one of six dribble attempts. Once Tottenham’s creative spark, Kulusevski now looks like a player running on empty – his trademark bursts down the right flank increasingly rare.

The Richarlison Conundrum

While Bissouma and Kulusevski at least have credit in the bank, Richarlison’s performance reinforced growing doubts about his long-term suitability. The Brazilian’s anonymous display (see table below) highlighted why Tottenham may need to cut their losses this summer.

Handed a rare start, the £60m signing failed to influence proceedings before being hooked in the 68th minute. His 22 touches (half of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario’s total) and 40% pass accuracy paint the picture of a striker completely disconnected from play. When London World’s Tony Bryant awarded him a 4/10 rating, few could argue.

This performance typified Richarlison’s Tottenham career – plenty of effort but little end product. For a club needing to climb back into European contention, such output from a senior striker is untenable.

With two years remaining on his contract, this summer represents Tottenham’s last realistic chance to recoup a portion of their investment.

Summer Overhaul Required

Tottenham’s hierarchy faces a pivotal transfer window. Daniel Levy must back Postecoglou properly – a departure from recent austerity – while the manager needs to make tough decisions on squad composition. The West Ham match confirmed several truths:

1. The midfield lacks consistency and control
2. Attacking options beyond Son Heung-min are unreliable
3. Squad depth is inadequate for a club with Tottenham’s aspirations

Richarlison’s situation encapsulates Tottenham’s broader issues. Signed as a statement purchase, he’s become symbolic of their flawed recruitment.

Moving him on would signal a welcome break from past mistakes, but only if replaced with a more clinical finisher.

As attention turns to Thursday’s Europa League semifinal, Tottenham have one last chance to salvage pride from this disappointing campaign.

But regardless of how their European adventure concludes, the West Ham match served as a stark reminder of how much work awaits this summer.

For players like Richarlison, it may have been their final audition in a Spurs shirt.

The rebuild starts now – and it must be ruthless.