Reflections after Spurs’ 1-0 home loss to Brighton
By Rachel Cohen
19th March 2025
Last season Robert Vilahamn seemed to have a plan. Okay, there were games where Spurs were out-thought or out-played. And things fell apart a little as the season went on and the team picked up injuries. But it felt like we were – to use a phrase so beloved of organisational leaders within and beyond football – at the start of a ‘journey’.
This season has felt more like a game of Pac-Man, where each week we run into a new dead-end, only to turn around and try a different route, yet there are always more ghosts and the team never goes up a level.
Components have been replaced – and generally, if not always, upgraded. And every game there have been adjustments. Some enforced by injuries (the absences of Eveliina Summanen, Drew Spence, Ella Morris, Hayley Raso, Maite Oroz and Olivia Holdt). More have been an attempt to fix things from the previous game. Yet, somehow it seems increasingly impossible to fit the players together and get them playing even as well as they did at the start of last season, let alone as well as they might.
The main and most glaring concern is while Bethany England’s eight goals (an impressive 0.64 per 90) have been a lifeline, none of Tottenham’s other attacking players have scored more than a single goal in the WSL. Neither longtime Spurs players (Jessica Naz, Rosella Ayane) nor Vilahamn signings (Holdt, Raso, Martha Thomas, Matilda Vinberg or Anna Csiki). Indeed the last time any Spurs player other than England scored a league goal from open play was in game-week five, back in October – and even then, Chelsea keeper Hannah Hampton expressed skepticism that Amanda Nildén’s long range effort crossed the line.
Moreover, the only ‘attacking’ player other than England to have scored for Spurs in the WSL since opening day is January-signing, Olivia Holdt who converted a direct free kick within minutes of coming on in her first game, away at Crystal Palace (in what was, in some sense her ‘opening day’). All other goals, most of which have been set pieces, have come from defenders, defensive midfielders or have been produced by Spurs’ second highest scorer: ‘own goal’.
With their persistent failure to score, Vilahamn’s trust in his attacking players has seemingly waned, with early season starters, Raso, Thomas and Naz increasingly assigned to the bench. Meanwhile Vinberg, primarily a late substitute in early-season is getting starts on the wing. More notably, Vilahamn has started to use full-backs in the second wide-attacking role – first Charli Grant (vs City) and with Grant injured Nildén (vs Brighton).
Is it all doom?
There are a few signs of hope. First, if the use of full-backs in attack has not yet provided goals, the one consolation is that it has (at least somewhat) added protection to the defence. Improvements in defence have also come from January signing, Lize Kop, who has conceded 11 (compared to a post-shot expected goals against of 9.8), versus Becky Spencer who conceded 21 (on a PSxG of 14.1). Their respective save percentages have been 65.6 and 58.7 (all data FBRef). The pairing of Luana Bühler and Molly Bartrip also seems (touch wood) less error prone than Bartrip and Clare Grant.
Second, against Brighton the press was probably as effective as it has been this season – at least initially – with the visitors unable to get out of their half for the first twenty minutes. The problem was how to create chances from that possession – and without England, how to convert these. And, as the game went on and Brighton identified ways to progress the ball, and especially after Holdt was substituted and with the game increasingly played in Brighton’s half, Spurs’ press became less effective.
Maybe it is a question of relationships. Against Brighton, no player in the front line had well-established relationships with her most proximate teammates. Nildén, new to left-wing, was playing ahead of Neville and while the two have played a lot of games together it is usually on opposite sides of the pitch, rarely exchanging passes. On the other wing Vinberg has only once before played ahead of Morris. Holdt, in attacking midfield, had her first start, her first time playing with Nildén to her left, only her second time on the pitch with Summanen and Spence behind her and Vinberg to her right. It was also, her first extended period with Thomas in front of her. Even Thomas, the member of the front-line with the most starts this season, has played scant minutes as striker since England firmly reestablished her goal-scoring credentials.
The table below shows the rotation with three of the eight players who have started at least 12 of Spurs’ 16 WSL games this season not among the starting 11 against Brighton. Conversely, five of the eleven starters on Sunday have started in fewer than half of Spurs’ games. In addition four starters (Neville, Nildén, Thomas and Vinberg) played in positions that they have less often occupied this season. While a couple of those players have regularly played in their alternative positions in other seasons (Neville and Thomas most obviously) if the focus is building relationships with the current squad, these switches matter.
The lack of connection was apparent in the team’s passing – with just 67 percent pass completion (only 65 percent in the first half, data: FotMob). This was not simply Brighton hustling or stealing the ball, but rather was about passes repeatedly being played into spaces where players might have been but were not, or just short or wide. Additionally, not one of 18 crosses found its target.
Issues for Vilahamn
Spurs are now on a run of four league losses (five in all competitions). That has included (expected) losses to ‘Top four’ clubs, but now also to Everton (in the FA Cup) and Brighton. And after a heartening performance against Manchester City (with 13 shots and an expected goals for (xG) of 1.2) against Brighton Spurs managed a feeble three shots, none on target (and an xG of 0.2. Data: FBRef).
The problem is that if Vilahamn’s response is to again radically rejig the starting lineup the team will again have to adjust and create new relationships. As such he is between a rock and a hard place. He can stick – and assume that the team has the quality and will find ways to connect and play the football we – and undoubtedly he – want to see. Or he can switch the team again in aid of finding the answer, but risk that this simply throws up a new and different set of problems.
There was a lot of goodwill among supporters for the manager after last season. And there is recognition that the club has not invested as heavily as some other teams – for instance, that recruitment has long been dependent on personal networks and idiosyncratic knowledge. But as the season drifts towards a battle for seventh (or even eighth) and with a series of ‘winnable’ games up next, it is essential that Vilahamn finds a way to get more out of this team quickly.
Spurs Women Blog 
see previous blog for thoughts on Brighton game.
Basically, it boils down to when we press high we look a good side. When we sit in, we look shocking.
Centre-halves – none are good enough if want to challenge top 4. Same for midfielders and wide players. Just no flair, invention or pace. Jess has pace but has no idea how to use it effectively.
Desperate need for another quality forward to dovetail with Beth – I have a horrible feeling we will pickup the over-the-hill Blackstenius at end of season when Arsenal recall Agyemang from Brighton.
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Agree wrt the high press/sit in dichotomy. Just frustrating that we can’t maintain the press for long enough to make things happen.
In terms of personnel we just desperately need a better scouting set-up so that any future recruitment is as systematic and the net cast as widely as we would expect on the men’s side.
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we should have offered Naz to Man U for Clinton or Citeh for Kelly – thats is our problem we keep underperforming players way to long and we have a busload of them still at our club
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Thanks Rachel for another great write up and I would go as so far to say this should be the topic of the next pod meet so that we who listen can really hear what you all feel about the way the club/team/management set up and players that have been signed and others still here and not been moved on has progressed or not since we joined the WSL almost 6 years ago.
You then go on about the run in being winnable games, but sorry I see them all as banana skin loseable games as everyone knows how to neut our play style as we are too predictable and everyone knows RV rarely subs until 80 mins when things are already lost.
The Ides of March month sees 2 more games and we will probably lose again to West Ham and drop to 9th after Everton wins. Then the Leicester game will be the turning point and they for sure will not roll over as they want to stave off the relegation threat.
Only whether Palace or Leicester can drop us to 10th if they can pick up enough points in their 6 games to overtake our final total of 18 which I predict. I hope I am wrong but I just do not see it anymore with our team.
I predict a 0-0 draw as we cannot score goals anymore like previous seasons. We have flatlined yet again no matter who plays.
The rest of games we will probably lose with some being quite big (ala Chelsea maybe Liverpool) as they all have settled sides now and as I said before they all know how to beat us easily.
Time for RV and VJ to go (the common denominator) and we maybe go get the ex Man City coach in before he goes elsewhere.
One good insight for me was the last Arsenal game and our posted training vid – same ol same ol fun and frolics holiday camp stuff whereas the Arsenal training vid was very professional and full of stamina running and full pitch hard shooting and passing – that is our problem, we are not professional enough inhouse when it matters. I rest my case.
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Results havent been great since he brought in his former assistant Bri Campos – weirdly see very little of her in any media or match footage.
as for potential replacements? Beard or Taylor? Not exactly inspiring is it?
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Totally agree Xander …. we need a TOP Women’s coach from a Top elite side who can identify talent and nurture it not another development or trialist unless Levy still wants us to keep running a Butlin’s holiday camp side .. so anothe Bluecoat type.
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I should have also mentioned that Villa also could have a turnaround in the run up, so anyone of 3 could drop us to 10th and that is where I think we will end up which I predicted at the beginning of the season on the forum I am a member of.
10th with 17points and that could still be the case
I really hope I am wrong but a management change has to happen as I am sick of the same ol reasons being used every week and the same “eastender’s script” being also used by the chosen player at the end of each game. I have been following Spurs Women before were in the Championship and we were better before the WSL and thats is saying something.
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With Leicester also winning and only 2 pts behind we could be 10th looking down come the end of March. The club has to do the right thing as we r worse than when Skinner was at the helm of this rudderless club with zero ambition. Where is the “to dare is to do” ?
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seen lots of comments about Robert looking for a new job. They seem to be forgetting that would be dependent on Levy paying him off – and how likely is that??
The problem as I see it he is adamant on playing a style of football that he does not have the players to do – and he is partly to blame for that as his recruitment has been really poor.
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I somewhat agree Xander but if Levy does nothing then he is as much to blame for this as RV/VJ are and he will stand to lose even more fans from supporting and attending our women’s team games. Catch 22Sacking them will cost a lot less than Ange – but if he does not do anything then YES we probably will not get relegated but could come quite close and that will affect the players more I think than the fat cats who sit in their plush offices. Wh
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Shame we cannot edit posts on here when things get mis-spelt or even delete a post and start again. Anyhow Leicester will be the season curtain raiser – lose it and we are looking down from 10th and in dire straights – win and we get back to comfy comfy mid table area where we hide for another season end.
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Well what can I finally say after the latest pod “blame game” – that was interesting to hear incl the F’s !!! but the topic deserved it I guess. Whilst I agree with most of what you all say, it was refreshing to hear at last what you all deeply feel about where the team/club is going. Keeping RV is not the answer as it will get worse if he has indeed lost the faith of the players now like he has with some of the fans who can obviously see he well out of his depth. Next season could be worse if he and Jepson stay as I feel she has a lot of blame here as well and not all RV’s. You mention Skinner’s pedigree when at Spurs but I must say that Vilaham’s is no better bar the fact he was a first team coach for 1 season b4 coming to us – so less than 3 seasons and it is clear the WSL is a league too far in his career development. Maybe changing him now is drastic and then using an interim “Jepson/Campos or even just Campos” and that could be worse but then it could release the players from all this frustration and poor direction ….. so I say he goes asaspo and announce we will be looking for a new helmsperson for next season.
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Thank you for providing such high-quality free content.
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Great content! I was waiting for this.
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