Crouch urges Spurs to make changes and end their 16-year trophy wait this season

Former Tottenham striker Peter Crouch believes Spurs must end their major trophy drought this season.

The north Londoners have been a model of inconsistency this season and perfectly highlighted their shortcomings on Thursday evening as they twice surrendered a lead to draw 2-2 with Roma in the Europa League.

Spurs remain the favorites for the competition as they are in the quarter-finals of the League Cup and in their manager Ange Postecoglou have a boss who has a track record of winning silverware in his second season at a club.

It was harder to get trophies at Tottenham. Since 2008, their fans have not been able to enjoy the thrill of winning a major honor and Crouch believes 2025 should be the year their wait finally comes to an end.

“They need players back,” he told TNT Sports. 'It's been Thursday, Sunday for about five weeks now.

“Tough games, they need the center halves back, but in the run-up to Christmas it's the same for everyone. It's getting ridiculous. When most of Europe is on break, our competition is running at full speed.

'That's great for us as viewers, but for the players it's difficult to manage. If you look at some of those games, they need to win something this year.

'The Europa League is big for them, but also the League Cup, against Manchester United, that's a big game for Tottenham, especially after the manager put himself under pressure with some of his comments.

'I still think they can definitely win something. They have the manager and the players to do it. It's just a matter of mentality to get it over the line now.'

Postecoglou has not shyed away from his trophy-winning record in the second season. In September, after his side's 1-0 defeat in the north London derby to Arsenal, he said: 'I'll correct myself, I don't normally win things, I always win things in my second year. Nothing has changed.'

He further stressed that his comments did not put any additional pressure on his players, who are now outside the Europa League's automatic qualification places. While they are sixth in the Premier League and three points off the Champions League places.

Spurs' last league match – a 4-0 defeat to defending champions Manchester City at the Etihad – proved they are capable of beating anyone on their day. But their inconsistency will undoubtedly worry Postecoglou as his stunning record in north London comes to an end. Just like it did with serial winners Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

Regardless, the Australian emphasized that his team will not change their approach.

'Why can't it just be entertaining? Isn't that why we all come?' he said after their Thursday night draw. 'Would you really rather we sketch a couple of 0-0 draws and a 1-0 win and get through? Don't know.

'I'd much rather us be exciting to watch and maybe it's on the edge of the seat and sometimes we don't get the reward, like we could have tonight, but no, if you want those types of games, there are plenty of football matches to watch every weekend.