What’s changed at Tottenham is clear, it’s what they wanted to avoid

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Tottenham Hotspur have slipped down to seventh place.

Tottenham Hotspur’s bright start to the season has hit a rocky patch and the team sit down in seventh place in the table.

There are many reasons for their slide in form; the Wembley factor, injuries to key players, poor attacking transfer business, and an increased focus on Europe.

But perhaps the biggest factor is that Spurs are no longer among the hunters, they are the hunted.

In recent seasons Tottenham have gone under the radar, and sneaked up on the early title favourites.

They have been the underdogs, and still are when considering the amount of money they have spent, but their recent success has elevated their stock.

Tottenham are now considered one of the best teams in England, even Europe, highlighted by them topping their Champions League group ahead of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.

But this has meant domestically, Tottenham are now a prize scalp.

Their players are in demand and subject of transfer rumours on a daily basis, with Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen linked with blockbuster moves to La Liga giants.

Consciously or not, Tottenham’s players are aware they could be getting paid more elsewhere, and know they have already ‘made it’.

A couple of seasons ago this was not the case, and the players need to develop a different mentality.

Tottenham had hoped to stay under the radar, and use being overlooked as a factor in their title charge. It worked in previous seasons.

Instead this year what has changed is that they have been touted as challengers to Manchester City, but have gone onto falter over the past few weeks.

Are the players distracted? Are they believing their own hype? Or are they simply finding it tougher now teams raise their game and want to beat them that little bit more?

Either way Tottenham’s coaching staff need to adjust to the situation and motivate the players to refocus, and start rediscovering the hunger which has made many of them among Europe’s most wanted.