Former Tottenham midfielder and pundit Jamie O’Hara didn’t hold back after Spurs’ disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa, openly criticising two of the club’s young attacking players for their performances.
The result came as a major setback for Tottenham, who had been hoping to continue their strong start to the Premier League season after returning from the international break.
Despite getting an early lead, Thomas Frank’s men failed to build on their advantage, and Villa came from behind to claim all three points with goals that exposed Tottenham’s lack of cutting edge and composure in attack.
The defeat means Spurs have now managed just one win from their last four home league games, a run that has raised questions about both form and selection.
While Villa were full of confidence and deserved the victory, many Tottenham fans and pundits were left frustrated by what they saw as another wasted opportunity.
The loss also reinforced concerns that Spurs struggle to maintain attacking consistency when it matters most.
After the match, Jamie O’Hara, who made over 50 appearances for the club between 2005 and 2011, voiced his disappointment with the team’s performance, particularly pointing fingers at Mathys Tel and Wilson Odobert.
Both players started the game but offered little going forward. Tel kept his place in the starting lineup after scoring against Leeds before the international break, while Odobert has become a regular feature under Frank this season.
However, neither managed to make an impact, and O’Hara questioned the manager’s decision to start them together in such a crucial game.
Speaking passionately, O’Hara said he couldn’t understand the logic behind their selection, claiming the pair failed to create anything meaningful throughout the match.
He went on to describe their performance as “not good enough” for a team with Tottenham’s ambitions. O’Hara also stressed that Spurs’ home form must drastically improve, warning that results like this will continue to cost them valuable points if nothing changes soon.
While Aston Villa have been one of the Premier League’s most in-form sides under Unai Emery, O’Hara insisted that Tottenham should still be doing better, especially at home.
He believes that with players like Randal Kolo Muani regaining fitness, Thomas Frank should consider rotating his squad more often to ease pressure on the younger attackers.
For O’Hara, both Tel and Odobert are promising talents but still need time to develop the consistency and maturity required at this level.
The pundit’s criticism reflects a growing feeling among Spurs supporters that the team’s attack lacks the balance and creativity needed to compete at the top.
With crucial fixtures ahead, including games that could define their Champions League hopes, Frank will be under pressure to find solutions fast.
For now, though, the conversation remains focused on the missed chances and underwhelming performances that once again left Tottenham fans questioning where the spark has gone.
