The season that promised so much has gone horrifically wrong. That there are only eight premier league games gone, and the Carling Cup defence hangs in the balance of a tie with Liverpool accompanied by bottom place of in the league and a shaky standing in the UEFA cup. Probably more worrying than the league position is the damning fact that a collection of players assembled for over £100m are at the moment uninspired, out of form, demotivated and shadows of their former selves.
Fingers can be pointed at the departures of Keane and Berbatov, and also questions can be asked about the wisdom of the club in signing so many new players in one close season, without addressing the holes in the squad. None of the above will ultimately have any bearing on the fortunes of the club in the league this season. Relegation, while not by any stretch a certainty, is increasingly a consideration, given not the league position but the performance of management and players.
Fans the length of the country and beyond are bemoaning the lack of cohesion, the lack of passion and the clueless nature of the team at this time, and with good reason. There is some irony that the best performances this season have come from the player alleged to be "the only striker left," that being Darren Bent, and even his performances have not been of a high enough standard. In recent weeks players with huge influence and character have started to fade into the background - Gomes, Woodgate, King, and Jenas, all expected to be big voices in the dressing room, have been notable for their mistakes, poor performances and general lack of passion.
So what steps can be taken, and which should be taken, to instill some of that famous Ian Dowie bouncebackability?
Option 1 is to tough it out and hope that the current regime turns things around. Even the most ardent Ramos supporter must now be starting to wonder whether the spaniard has the wherewithall to bring about the necessary change of fortunes - and with that comes the same question about the backroom staff. The much heralded coaching team of Ramos and Poyet, whilst clearly undermined by the transfer activity of the summer, is now being tested and seems on the face of it to be found wanting.
Option 2 is to break up the management team, and give Poyet and A.N.Other a chance to succeed. This would seem a bit like the legacy of the last 10 years with the retention of Chris Hughton baffling fans for almost a decade.
Option 3 is to change the management. Given the unbelievable media faux pas that Ramos' appointment was, it would be seen as an phenomenal failing on the part of the Spurs heirarchy were they to admit defeat and remove the former Sevilla boss after one year at the helm. Despite the increasing feeling that the current setup is starting to mirror the Christian Gross era, it really is difficult to be believe that Levy and co would take the public humilation that would ensue. The question is will their pride come before the worst fall in 30 years - that being a fall from the top flight?
Option 4 is to take the Middlesborough approach and bring in a name coach to assist the current setup. Boro famously stayed up with Terry Venables in tow, and although El Tel's name has been mooted it is unlikely that Spurs would bring the former boss to the club in any capacity.Talk of sacking Comolli would be meritous given the transfer calamity of this season, however anyone who comes in would find their hands tied until January's transfer window. Thinking beyond this season, Comolli must now be seriously under threat, and a roll for a coach with a reputation for spotting talent might offer an interesting combined role in the future.
None of the above options offer guarantees. Most clubs in Spurs current position who have changed managers have seen a boom associated with the new man's early impact on the players, but rarely do they offer a sustained improvement good enough to keep clubs in the top division.
Are the players good enough? The answer has to be a conclusive yes. A settled and committed side with a clear style and purpose would be capable through shear fitness and organisation of getting results and with those results would come confidence and ultimately the flair so craved by Spurs fans. An unfathomable rotation policy with an unsettled side featuring players played out of position is not a solution. Perseverance with players who are not performing is also not an option - yet surprisingly for a manager so uncompromising that he dropped Paul Robinson unceremoniously last season, Ramos has persisted with poor performing individuals.
From an individual perspective, I am starting to sway towards the belief that Ramos and Poyet are out of their depth - that the ultimate swallowing of pride needs to take place on the part of Daniel Levy, and that along with the departure of Ramos and Co, so must the Sporting Director role be phased out. That its purpose is to ensure that changes in coaches doesn't mean wholesale changes to the playing staff, leads to the question as to whether its being properly implemented by the Spurs senior management - the turn over of players in the last 12 months has been fairly unprecedented and at this stage an unmitigated disaster.
Whether a Kinnear like appointment would appease fans, and more importantly get the results that are required, is debatable. Whatever the case though there is an incredibly urgent need for some decisiveness at the top of the Spurs hierarchy, and soon. Failure to react in an appropriate manner could see Spurs striving to be top four in the Championship next season, not the Premier League.