Tottenham 'need to make life simple'

Generally speaking, when the mornings become lighter and spring appears around the corner, Tottenham fans often find themselves at a crossroads.

Countless times over the past 20 or so years this time in the calendar brings existential questions. Which competition should be prioritised? Is there enough squad depth to challenge on multiple fronts or just the one? Is the boss the right person to meet the challenges constantly thrown at the Spurs manager, whoever it may be?

Unfortunately, this spring, Spurs fans are confronting all those questions and more.

Their brutal departure from two cup competitions and the difficult position they find themselves in in the Premier League means they are already casting around for solutions.

As things stand, the Europa League is very unlikely to provide an answer - unless this team's ability to deal with high-level knockout football increases significantly in the next few weeks.

So, rather than being overwhelmed by events, maybe the fans - and the club's hierarchy - need to make life simple.

What is the single most important thing to address at this point? Is it the kind of fundamental change that some fans have advocated? Is it managerial stability, one way or the other? Or does there need to be a reset of expectations and understanding of what is achievable in this most demanding of leagues?

As Spurs fans lick their wounds and wonder what to do, with their wonderful new stadium continuing to hum with activity - concerts, other sports and revenue-generating fun of every kind - someone needs to provide clarity of purpose for the direction of the football team and stick to it.

Not everyone will like it, but it will lift the fog that currently threatens to obscure everything else.