Former Tottenham captain Graham Roberts says they have failed to replace their sold stars.

Roberts, 53, insists the team's form has slumped because they did not replace Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modric.

Roberts, who made 209 appearances for Spurs, told the Daily Star Sunday: "AVB brought in Clint Dempsey and Gylfi Sigurdsson in the summer but they have yet to make a big impression.

"Last season you had the excitement of Modric and Van der Vaart. They are world-class players. Dempsey and Sigurdsson, are not.

"I've watched Spurs and, yes, they are open. The full-backs get forward but the midfielders come very deep now and get the ball off the two centre-backs. They are more regimental now.

"Van der Vaart last year got us out of trouble with so many second- half goals. I look at Dempsey and is he going to get you that? And Sigurdsson, is he going to get you that? For me, the answer is no."