John Wenham brands Tottenham’s decision to give non-international players a week off as “baffling” amid Spurs’ poor start.
Spurs expert John Wenham has branded Tottenham Hotspur’s decision to grant their non-international players a week off during the current international break as “baffling” and “very strange.”
The decision comes amid a miserable start to the campaign for Roberto De Zerbi’s side, who currently sit bottom of the Premier League table in 20th place after recording two draws and three defeats from their opening five matches.
Despite Tottenham having only nine players away on national team duty, senior first-team figures including James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus, and Dominic Solanke were handed time away from Hotspur Way rather than remaining in North London for extra training sessions.
Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, Wenham, who runs The Lilywhite Rose account, expressed disbelief at the club’s scheduling choice, pointing to persistent reports regarding the squad’s lack of match sharpness. He said:
“We’ve had it confirmed this week that the players are going to get a week off. I find that very strange.”
“The players are going to have a week off, and then obviously two weeks of training, but on what basis do they warrant a week off? Why? We keep hearing, ‘they’re not fit enough, and they’re not in the right match frame,’ or whatever.”
High Risk Ahead of Crucial Fixtures
While time away from the training pitch can offer a mental reset from mounting pressure, critics argue that De Zerbi needed every available minute to fix glaring issues on both sides of the ball.
Tottenham face demanding upcoming fixtures against Manchester United and Coventry City when domestic action resumes. Should Spurs fail to secure maximum points from those encounters, the decision to forego vital preparation time at Hotspur Way will come under even heavier scrutiny.
