Forget injuries, Ange Postecoglou's questionable tactics or his flimsy defence - Tottenham's monotonous midfield is also at the root of their never-ending struggles.
Spurs' alarming lack of mettle and grit stems from their malfunctioning engine room, which requires a drastic reboot and overhaul in the summer transfer window. It's somewhat telling that crisis-hit Postecoglou has utilised 12 different midfield combinations and partnerships this season in the Premier League - yet is still seemingly no closer to identifying his best trio.
Yves Bissouma, who was suspended by the club for the campaign curtain-raiser at Leicester due to his unprofessionalism off the field, looks a shadow of the ball-winning phenomenon Spurs snapped up from Brighton in a bargain £30million deal almost three years ago.
With the 28-year-old Mali international now rapidly approaching the final 12 months of his contract, his future in north London looks bleak.
Rodrigo Bentancur was an instant hit under Antonio Conte following his arrival from Juventus in January 2022, however, the experienced 67-cap Uruguayan has only completed 90 minutes on just four occasions in the top-flight this term.
When Bentancur completed his rehabilitation following ACL surgery, the expectation within Spurs in late 2023 was that they would not see the best of the player until this season.
While there has been a degree of patience, he has hardly set the world alight this term and his contract is also due to expire in the summer of 2026. It's not currently known whether Tottenham have a one-year extension option but a decision on his future is surely pending at the end of the campaign.
Pape Matar Sarr's energy and enthusiasm continues to shine through but the 22-year-old is still learning his trade and despite a series of eye-catching displays, he still lacks consistency.
James Maddison is perhaps the most frustrating case of them all given he arrived at Spurs with a very credible reputation as one of the division's finest playmakers.
The 28-year-old creator hit the ground running at Tottenham following his £40m switch from Leicester, even briefly propelling Postecoglou's side five points clear at the top of the table in October 2023 when he was pulling the strings, but his influence and importance has since diminished.
While Maddison has already doubled his league goal tally (eight) from last season (four) and statistically his numbers have improved, he has only played three full matches from 31 appearances in all competitions.
Talismanic, ever-present maestro Dejan Kulusevski, for instance, has played 983 more minutes - highlighting that Maddison, who has battled various niggles, is some distance away from being in top physical condition.
Given the stiff competition for places at international level, Maddison now has a real fight on his hands to rescue his waning England career. Kulusevski has set a very high bar at Spurs where availability is concerned in recent months as the Swede continues to drive the standards both on and off the pitch.
Lucas Bergvall is evidently a hugely promising talent but his debut Tottenham season has so far been a baptism of fire. Additionally, the jump from Sweden's Allsvenskan to the Premier League should not be underestimated.
There is also an argument that Archie Gray would breathe new life into Spurs' midfield ranks but the severity of their defensive crisis means that is unlikely to happen anytime soon. Gray, Bergvall and Sarr, are three young players that are rated very highly internally at the club and there's optimism they will be part of the first-team for many years to come, even if the winds of change sweep through north London.
Tottenham's defensive frailty should ultimately come as no surprise when you consider the heart of their team is starved of any notable steel - major surgery feels both inevitable and essential. The lack of fight or desire to put in a firm tackle during the 4-0 Carabao Cup semi-final defeat at Liverpool was particularly damning and insulting to supporters.
The likes of Bissouma, Bentancur and Maddison should take it upon themselves to realise they're fighting for their long-term futures, all the while they're not performing at the peak of their powers. In the PSR era, every player has a price and sales often go hand in hand with big-money signings.
If Postecoglou and underperforming captain Heung-min Son are being held accountable, Tottenham's other underwhelming stars must be, too.