TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Matt Law

How have they done?

Three wins out of four is a good start, particularly for Tottenham, who are renowned for taking a little while to get going. Harry Kane also broke his duck for scoring in August, which is a positive. But the performances have not always reflected the victories and that caught up with Spurs in the defeat by Watford on Sunday. Too many players have been off the pace and there have been silly errors at the back in each of their four games. There is an art to not playing well and still winning games, but Tottenham need to find another gear after the international break.

What has the mood been like?

Mauricio Pochettino took the press by surprise last Friday, warning his team they would “crash” if they did not improve, and he was proved right at Vicarage Road. Pochettino is annoyed and frustrated by the fact his team have been slightly off the pace so far and have not shown the level of desire he demands. There has also been disquiet among supporters, who have been annoyed by the fact Tottenham did not sign a single player in the transfer window and that the new stadium has been delayed.

Have the signings looked good?

What signings? Tottenham became the first Premier League club since the current transfer window was introduced not to sign a player. Pochettino reacted to the lack of signings far more calmly than many of his rivals would, yet there must remain a worry that once the Champions League begins, his squad could be caught short.

Who has impressed and who needs to raise their game?

Lucas Moura (below) struggled to make an impact during the second half of last season after arriving from Paris St-germain in January, but the Brazilian has scored three times, including twice at Old Trafford, in his opening four games. Pochettino has played Moura as a second striker and the 26-year-old, who has explosive pace, has so far enjoyed his new role. Danny Rose was expected to leave Spurs during the summer, but the left-back has stayed and has so far struggled to justify club chairman Daniel Levy’s

£50 million valuation. Rose suffered an awful first half against United and was then dropped for the defeat by Watford, and quickly needs to find his form.

What issue does the manager need to fix as a priority?

Pochettino needs his Tottenham players to find their mojo again. They have not been bad, but they have just not been at their brilliant best and too many, including Mousa Dembele, have been playing within themselves over the first four games. Fortunately it is early days and Pochettino is rated one of the Premier League’s very best problem-solvers.