Copyright Yardbarker
Tim Sherwood believes Tottenham Hotspur have been adversely impacted by the fans in home games Tottenham’s form this season has been a tale of two halves or rather, two venues. Away from home, Thomas Frank’s Spurs have looked every bit like a side pushing for the top four: resilient, disciplined, and ruthless on the break. But at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the story has been very different. Spurs currently boast the best away record in the Premier League, with four wins and one draw from five games. Yet at home, it’s been a struggle, just one win and three defeats from five matches. Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Chelsea was another low point, with boos echoing around N17 as the final whistle blew. Former Spurs midfielder Tim Sherwood believes he knows why. Speaking on Premier League Productions, he claimed that Tottenham’s players are buckling under the weight of home expectations. “They’re far better away from home,” Sherwood said. “They’re allowed to play however they want away from home, as long as they win the football match. But when you play at home, the fans demand a lot more. They want entertainment, and you feel obliged as a player to provide it.” According to Sherwood, Spurs thrive when they’re free to defend deep and counter, something easier to execute away from home. At home, though, the expectation to dominate and play expansive football may be making the players overthink, rather than express themselves naturally. The Pressure Cooker at N17 Sherwood’s comments will divide the fanbase, but there’s no denying the frustration that has crept into Tottenham’s home performances. The mood at N17 has shifted, impatience with slow build-up play, groans at misplaced passes, and audible discontent whenever the ball goes sideways. For players adapting to Frank’s evolving system, that tension can become tangible. Tottenham’s approach under the Dane is still taking shape: structured, defensively solid, but sometimes too pragmatic for supporters who grew used to the chaos and excitement of the Postecoglou era. The result? A team that looks liberated away from home, but hesitant and tight under their own roof. It’s not a question of effort, but of rhythm, the kind that gets disrupted when anxiety fills the stands. Individual quality the saving grace If Tottenham avoided embarrassment against Chelsea, it was thanks to Guglielmo Vicario. The Italian goalkeeper produced another masterclass, pulling off a string of top saves to keep the score respectable. Without him, Spurs could easily have been looking at a three- or four-goal defeat. While Thomas Frank can take heart from Vicario’s consistency, the bigger issue remains clear: Spurs are struggling to both create and contain at home. The balance that defines their away success hasn’t yet translated to N17, and that’s something the manager will be desperate to fix before the atmosphere turns toxic. Cut out the Voices Blaming the fans is always a slippery slope, and while Sherwood may have a point about pressure, the truth lies somewhere in between. Tottenham supporters demand passion, intensity, and intent and that’s not unreasonable. After all, this is one of the most loyal fanbases in England, and they’ve endured years of false dawns. That said, perhaps patience is what this new-look side needs most. The team clearly has potential, the away results prove that. But at home, they need to rediscover their swagger and that starts with confidence, not caution. If Spurs can learn to feed off the energy of their fans rather than fear it, the fortress at N17 will return soon enough. And when it does, the rest of the league will feel it.
