10th January 2026

Eleven games in, Spurs women supporters, Jack, Lauren, Tonaliana and Rachel, rate Spurs Women’s first half of the season and January signings (so far).

How do you rate Martin Ho’s first half season in charge? (out of 10)

Jack:   9. He’s done an outstanding job –  when I watch other WSL teams we almost always look better coached with and without the ball than they do. Player morale is high, our football is good to watch, we’re much fitter than in seasons past and he’s helping attract high-profile players through his reputation as a coach. He’s said all the right things in the press and even in the supporters lounge at Brisbane Road. If it wasn’t for some occasional odd substitutions I’d give him a 10.

Lauren:  9 out of 10. Almost the perfect half season except the City and LCL games!

Tonaliana:  Considering what he could realistically achieve, I’d give him a solid 9. He’s done an incredible tactical and mental job, turning Tottenham into a hard-to-beat, resilient team that is also fun to watch and very clear in its ideas. Add to that some excellent recruitment and the score is justified. It’s not a 10 only because of a few sub-optimal in-game management decisions and substitutions, which he himself has acknowledged. But we are a young team, and that’s all part of the process.

Rachel: 9: Given that there were only two new signings in the summer the turnaround from last season has been remarkable – and is clearly a reflection of Ho and the coaching team’s work. Sitting in fifth at the halfway point is clearly above anyone’s expectations. The on-pitch displays have been variable and there is still work to do in terms of chance creation, but the organisational and attitudinal shifts have been massive. And this has produced consistency – with Spurs beating every team currently below us in the league (other than London City) and drawing with both United and Arsenal (currently just above us). That speaks to a coach who focuses on achieving all of what is achievable.

2. What has been your favourite Spurs Women performance or moment so far this season?

Jack:   Everton (a) was outstanding, particularly the first half. That was when it dawned on me we have a good coach and a decent team – plus Tinka’s goal was brilliant and will rightly feature in Spurs Women compilations forever-more. Also a shout out to the away fans at London City; there is definitely a larger, more passionate Spurs Women fanbase out there if it can be harnessed.

Lauren: Performance is the NLD at Brisbane Road. Moment was Tinka’s goal vs. Everton.  

Tonaliana: My favourite performance is still the win at Goodison Park. Not only because of how iconic that moment was, but also because Everton were one of the most hyped teams in pre-season and were coming off a thumping 4–1 win over Liverpool. Producing such a dominant, convincing and complete performance made me realise we could really enjoy this season and that we were genuinely in the mix for fifth place. It also gave us two iconic Tinka moments: the goal from the halfway line and the interview quote on her ambition for the season “I said top 3 but everyone laughed at me.” 

Rachel: Everton away (0-2) was fun. We were so totally in control in the first half and Tinka’s goal was glorious. Or maybe the comeback (2-1) win against Villa. Not for the game – which was not beautiful – but because it is the sort of game, we would not have won in previous seasons. Plus, Olivia Holdt’s goal for the winner exemplified the player she has been this season. That said, I very much ‘enjoyed’ holding Arsenal to 0-0.

3. Which player(s) have been standout so far this season?

Jack:  I now own a Toko Koga Japan shirt when I’d never heard of her before last summer. A true Rolls Royce of a defender. She’s our best player currently in my opinion and Robert Vilahamn (remember him?) deserves huge praise for spotting her talent and getting a deal in place.

Lauren: The whole squad has been superb but Olivia Holdt and Tōko Koga have been incredible at both ends of the pitch.  

Tonaliana: It’s hard to name just a few because everyone has truly contributed, but beyond the obvious Koga, Holdt and Tandberg (who I’d say have been our three best players so far), I really want to highlight Hunt and Kop. Both have played fundamental roles in leading our defence, saving results time and again and standing out in every big match. 

Rachel: I cannot sing the praises of Tōko Koga enough.Rarely has a player so quickly exceeded all my (pretty high) expectations. Her reading of the game, calm and quality on the ball have been central to the transformation of our defence – alongside the reborn Clare Hunt. Cathinka Tandberg has similarly been a revelation. Not just on-pitch (where her hold-up play and chance conversion have been superb) but the confidence she exudes – so un-Spurs and so refreshing. The team has missed her during her injury. And in the last couple of months Olivia Holdt has become the player we hoped she was going to be when she joined last January. She can still drift out of games, but ohmigod, when she is on form and skips past opposition players – wow. As for the angles she finds for shots… At the other end let’s give thanks for the stability that Lize Kop provides. A reduction of errors has been key to our defensive improvement this season and that starts with the keeper.

4. How do you rate our January signings (Gaupset, Wijk, Nildén, Hamano (loan), Blakstad) (score the window out of 10)

Jack: 8.5. It’s incredibly exciting to add players of such pedigree to what’s already a decent team – Signe, Maika and Julie are great gets for us. With our new additions there’s going to be at least one game second half of the season where we slaughter a team and score loads. To sound a cautionary note: I am not sure Matilda Nilden is particularly close to the first team currently, Wijk is unproven in England and Hamano only here on loan (and away in March). We have definitely got better, but how much better we’ll see. 

Lauren:  7 out of 10. This has arguably been the best window in our history but I am truly concerned that we haven’t signed a CB yet given Clare Hunt and Tōko Koga are going to the Asian Cup.

Tonaliana: The work done in the transfer window has exceeded expectations; every signing feels like a step above what we could realistically hope for. I’m not usually a fan of loans, but given the number of long-term injuries they are an excellent short-term solution and a smart opportunity that we took well. I’d give the window another 9: I’d still like to see one more small addition if possible, even though I know January is never easy, leaving room for a little cherry on top. 

Rachel:  For the signings 8. They fill key gaps and include players of clear quality. For the ongoing lack of any obvious scouting mechanisms 2. While it is great that there are players from the manager’s ex-club (as well as international teammates of those players) who want to come to Spurs to play for Martin Ho, this is not a sustainable way to recruit longer term. Nine of Spurs’ current first team players have been signed from just three clubs: Häcken, Hammarby and Chelsea. Another four have come from Swedish clubs and one from Ho’s ex-club Brann. In this window we have recruited two Norwegians and two Swedes (one of whom is a current player’s sister). The Nordic leagues are currently on hiatus and Ho (along with our current squad) have good contacts there, but there are other leagues on hiatus (NWSL for instance) and a global wealth of footballing talent. Hopefully in the summer we will see Spurs’ recruitment network extend further afield.     

5. Which January signing are you most excited about and why?

Jack:   Signe. She has incredible talent and will hopefully be our belated Grace Clinton replacement. Sign(e)ing her is a massive coup and I can’t wait to see SigneBall in person.

Lauren: Signe Gaupset. A superstar signing wanted by the best teams in Europe and Signe chose Spurs which says everything about growth trajectory we are on. Signe will bring goals, both through her own goalscoring ability and creativity. I am so excited to see her on the pitch, wherever she plays.  

Tonaliana: Obviously Signe Gaupset. Since she was announced before Christmas, the hype may have cooled down slightly, but I genuinely think she is the best signing in the club’s history, at least on paper. She’s one of the biggest wonderkids in Europe, especially outside the very top clubs, and it felt unthinkable until last summer that we could attract a talent of Signe’s level. 

Rachel: Gaupset is the obvious answer, not just because of the amount of hype she’s arrived with, but also because Spurs lacked creativity and ways to progress the ball during the first half of the season and this is where she has the capacity to make things happen. I know it’s a loan but I’m also excited to see Hamano playing for Spurs – just because it might be quite fun!

6. What areas of the team would you still like to see strengthened?

Jack:  Midfield. I’m not sure either Eveliina or Drew would be particularly close to starting for any of the top four teams and that’s the standard we need to be aiming for now. Another defensive midfielder who can run, tackle and cover space while being decent on the ball would be my biggest priority the remainder of January and in the summer.

Lauren: Centre back area, particularly because we will be short during the Asian Cup. Luana Bühler is still recovering from a serious injury so I feel uncomfortable that we may just have Molly Bartrip.  

Tonaliana: I stand by what I said in the summer: I’d still love a controlling, playmaking defensive midfielder, someone in the mould of Ruby Mace (even though she moved in the summer so that’s now impossible). A centre-back could also make sense because of the Asian Cup, but only if she can genuinely compete for a starting spot. Otherwise, Bartrip and Rybrink can cover for those two or three matches, and we can reassess in the summer. 

Rachel: Defensive midfield because we are (still) be reliant on Spence and Summanen – although if Gaupset is used deeper it may mean they rotate more. Additionally, with Koga and Hunt both likely to be absent during the Asian Cup in March it would be good to have an additional option at centre-back.

7. Outgoings so far – any surprises about who has moved on/remained?

Jack:  Ash’s departure is a shock. I see the logic – she’s 32, maybe not the greatest fit for the defensive right back role Martin has utilised this season and out of contract in the summer. Getting a fee for her while we can makes sense. But…this is Ash! She’ll be a huge miss and her departure puts huge pressure on Hanna Wijk to be good immediately until Ella returns to fitness.

Lauren: I am shocked by the timing of Ash Neville’s departure as I still felt she had more to offer our squad in the short term, however I can understand why she has moved on. Although this is a painful goodbye, Ash leaves as a club legend and one of the greater players to wear our shirt.  

Tonaliana: I expected Ash to leave in the summer, so her departure in January came as a bit of a surprise, although I can understand the reasons. I also thought Grant would move on sooner because of her limited minutes, and even more so after the arrival of Blakstad (and I still think that could happen), along with some general squad trimming in defence and midfield because we do currently have a lot of players. 

Rachel:  I’ve written a lot about Ash Neville already so won’t say much more here except she is an absolute legend and I’m surprised she went now (rather than in the summer – or stayed as a backup option). I am sad I’ll never again get that frisson of excitement when she gets on the ball and makes up her mind to do something unexpected. I am also surprised we have not seen other players leave (or go on loan), especially Charli Grant, who with two incoming full-backs must surely now be even further down the pecking order.

8. Which current Spurs player(s) do you most want to see get a new contract?

Jack: Olivia. Offer whatever it takes to keep her. She’s not the most consistent, but her talent is truly elite. With better players around her now I can’t wait to see her feasting on opposing defences for the rest of the season.

Lauren: Olivia Holdt must be an absolute priority for the club. PLEASE TOTTENHAM!  

Tonaliana: Holdt is the absolute priority, especially now that she’s really blossoming; she could have a great career with us. I’d also like to try again with Ahtinen, because I haven’t forgotten her first six months here. She has great qualities, plus experience and leadership that are always valuable, and she’s a fan favourite which never hurts. That said, I could understand letting her go, while Olivia’s renewal should be a priority. 

Rachel: Given their contract end dates and centrality to the team: Olivia Holdt (contracted until 2027) and Eveliina Summanen (contract until 2026). I would also give Koga one of those Chelsea men’s team’s contracts until 2030-something and add a few years onto Tandberg’s. Physically strong strikers with an eye for goal are like gold-dust.

9. Which player who has signed for another WSL team do you most wish we’d signed?

Jack: Alice Bergstrom would have been a good addition and a preferable signing to Matilda Nilden in my opinion. 

Lauren: Jade Rose at Manchester City  

Tonaliana: In the mid-table area of the league, honestly no one. There have been some interesting moves, like Tvedten to Brighton, but I’m happy with the options we’ve brought in for those positions. If I’m going to envy anyone, it has to be totally unrealistic signings for us, like Wangerheim or Coffey.   

Rachel: There have not been many so far (Spurs have dominated the transfer market) so probably Lea Schuller – United already have a fantastic set of attacking players but she adds yet more firepower.

10. Where do you think we’ll finish the season?

Jack: 5th. With our fixtures though, we might be closer to the Champions League spots for longer than neutrals think.

Lauren:  My head says 5th but I think it will be close between 3rd, 4th and 5th.

Tonaliana: I was the most optimistic in pre-season with my 7th place prediction. Now I’d improve that by two spots and say 5th place is the most likely outcome, even after the transfer window, especially considering how strong United have also been in the market. That said, we’re currently closer to the 4th–3rd–2nd place pack than to 6th, so there’s definitely room for a cheeky 4th place finish if one of the teams above us has a dip in form. 

Rachel:  With the January signings and (hopefully) players making their way back from injury I’m confident that fifth is very do-able. Our run of post-break games is potentially kind to Spurs (Leicester, Liverpool and West Ham). If we were to get maximum points in those (which we did in the reverse fixtures) we would find ourselves either third or fourth in the table because 2nd to 4th (Chelsea, United and Arsenal) play each other during that period. Should that happen, it would be a case of ‘can we hold on’? Wishful thinking, but the fact that these scenarios are imaginable is exciting.

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Thanks to all the supporters / Spurs writers who contributed. You can find us on Twitter (X) or Bluesky:

• Lauren is @laurencoys and @laurencoys.bsky.social
• Tonaliana is @tonaliana and @tonaliana.bsky.social
• Jack is @jphsw92
• Rachel is @spurswomenblog and @spurswomenblog.bsky.social

You can also look back at our season preview – to see how much we’ve changed our minds!

Spurs Supporters’ 2025-6 Season Preview in 9 Parts.