Tottenham’s biggest players have gone missing, set-pieces are a disaster and

• Tottenham started the season in superb form but are now struggling 
• Ange Postecoglou’s team have been woeful at defending set-pieces 
• It’s that time of the season! Who are the top five players of the season? Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast 

At the start of the season everything appeared to be on the right track for Tottenham, with the newly-appointed Ange Postecoglou guiding his side to eight victories in ten games as they enjoyed an unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign.

There was talk that Tottenham could win their first league title since 1961, but such discussions are now a distant memory, with Postecoglou’s team currently in the midst of a miserable run of form as the season nears its conclusion.

Although it is still mathematically possible, securing Champions League qualification looks as if it will be a tall order for Tottenham, who have lost their last three games including defeats against rivals Arsenal and Chelsea.

The belief appears to have sapped away from Tottenham in recent games and Postecoglou will be eager to ensure that the problems don’t run into next season. 

Mail Sport assesses why Tottenham have struggled of late. 

Struggles from set-pieces 

Defending set-pieces has proven to be a major problem for Postecoglou’s team, especially since December, and they have conceded 22 goals from such situations in the Premier League this season.

Postecoglou has claimed that he isn’t especially bothered by the issue, saying: ‘I’m not interested. Never have been. Not in the least.

‘It’s not the first time I’ve been questioned about set-pieces in my coaching career. There is an underlying reason for that which I’m very, very comfortable with.’

Tottenham were again vulnerable from set-pieces in their 2-0 defeat to Chelsea and there is little sign of the situation improving any time soon. Trevoh Chalobah put Chelsea in the lead with a header following a free-kick before Nicolas Jackson made it 2-0 as he found the net after Cole Palmer’s free-kick had hit the crossbar.

With teams now fully aware that this is an area of vulnerability for Tottenham, they will look to exploit it as much as possible.

Too often, the positioning of players at set-pieces hasn’t been effective and has provided the opposition with space to run into. It is an alarming state of affairs that needs addressing but it doesn’t look as if things will change any time soon.

Lack of quality depth

There are undoubtedly some talented players in the Tottenham team, but there are also question marks over the depth in the squad.

Although Son Heung-min has contributed with 16 Premier League goals and Richarlison has scored ten, no other Tottenham players have reached double figures this season, and the feeling persists that one of the reasons Spurs are struggling is…