Robert Vilahamn has said he hopes Tottenham striker Martha Thomas can return to fitness as they prepare to face Aston Villa in the Women’s League Cup this weekend.
The 28-year-old caused a sensation when she arrived in the summer of 2023 from Manchester United, scoring six goals in her first month at the Lilywhites. However, the Scotland striker is yet to score in the 2024/25 Women’s Super League (WSL) campaign, with her last goal coming against Arsenal in December 2023.
90 minutes asked the Tottenham boss about his lack of form, as well as whether talks are being held behind closed doors about his latest performances.
“When you give a player confidence and he plays well but doesn’t score goals, after a few games it looks like another guy is knocking on the door asking to play,” said Vilahamn. So it’s about when you make a change, and when you make that change, they can start to lose confidence in themselves. It becomes a vicious cycle until you get over it and put goals on it back again.
“We had two really good talks with Martha this week about conditions and why she didn’t play too much last game. [against Arsenal]. He looked good in training, so it’s a bit difficult, but it’s also good to go through difficult times. I strongly believe she can come back and score those goals for us, because to be honest, we need those goals too.”
Thomas has been impressive while on international duty, scoring in both of Scotland’s wins against Hungary during the October break. Vilahamn certainly noticed it, saying “it’s about how she can regain confidence in herself, because she has it in the national team.” He said: “We have to find ways to reach the same places in our team and achieve those goals.”
The number nine position is perhaps Tottenham’s most competitive on the pitch, with Beth England and Jessica Naz often finding a place in the starting line-up opposite Thomas so far this season.
“It’s very difficult as a coach to find a way to give confidence because you also have to have competition,” explained Vilahamn. “Martha is a player and a character you want to be on the field, so sometimes you can move her to different positions because you can use her and she is stronger than other players in these positions.
“But of course, you don’t score goals all the time. In the perfect world, you don’t have that and she plays like last season, where she scores goals all the time. When you’re a little “Low as a team, you have to find ways.”
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2024-11-22 17:04:00
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**Given her success with the Scottish national team, could Sarah Jones suggest specific tactical adjustments Tottenham could make to better utilize Martha Thomas’s skillset?**
## The Martha Thomas Conundrum: An Interview
This week on World Today News we’re discussing the intriguing situation surrounding Tottenham striker, Martha Thomas. Joining us today are two esteemed guests:
* **Sarah Jones:** A seasoned football writer and analyst specialized in the Women’s Super League (WSL).
* **Dr. David Davies:** A sports psychologist with extensive experience working with professional athletes on performance and confidence issues.
Welcome both of you.
**Section 1: Form and Confidence**
Let’s dive straight into the heart of the matter. Martha Thomas burst onto the scene at Tottenham last year, showing incredible goal-scoring prowess. However, since the new season began, she’s struggled to replicate that form.
* **Sarah, how do you analyze Thomas’s current performance? What factors might be contributing to this dip in form?**
* **Dr. Davies, from a mental perspective, how significant is this dip for a player like Thomas who relies on confidence? Can you elaborate on the “vicious cycle” Robert Vilahamn mentioned?**
**Section 2: The Role of Competition and Coaching**
Vilahamn emphasized the competitive nature of the striker position at Tottenham. He highlighted the need to find ways to instill confidence in Thomas while also ensuring healthy competition within the team.
* **Sarah, how common is this type of struggle for strikers in a competitive environment? How do other managers typically navigate these situations?**
* **Dr. Davies, what are some strategies Vilahamn could employ to help Thomas regain her confidence while still maintaining a competitive team environment?**
**Section 3: International Success and Potential Solutions**
Interestingly, Thomas has shown excellent form while playing for the Scottish national team recently. This raises questions about the suitability of existing tactics and whether a change of scenery could help her rediscover her scoring touch.
* **Sarah, this difference in performance with the national team is intriguing. What could it suggest about the underlying issues affecting Thomas at Tottenham? Would a tactical adjustment be beneficial?**
* **Dr. Davies, how important is it for Thomas to rediscover her scoring touch soon? What are the mental health implications of prolonged periods of low confidence for a professional athlete?**
**Conclusion**
This is a complex situation with no easy answers. Martha Thomas is undoubtedly a talented striker, and it will be fascinating to see how she and Tottenham navigate this challenge moving forward.
We’d like to thank both Sarah and Dr. Davies for sharing their insights. This discussion highlights the multifaceted nature of performance in professional sports, demonstrating how talent, confidence, and
coaching all play crucial roles.
