Glenn Hoddle believes Tottenham boss Juande Ramos faces a "mammoth task" to arrest the club's current slide.

Hoddle said: "There is a mammoth task on their hands to turn things around but at least it is early on in the season.

"They have got good players but they are going to need time - more time than just this season even.

"If Ramos is the lucky one to be given that time then I can see some stable success over time but if they do change him this year then we are back in this cycle.

"They won the League Cup last year which could have been a stepping stone to more success but it looks as if they've missed that opportunity now."

Hoddle believes that the club's decision to sell Jermain Defoe to Portsmouth last January could prove to be the biggest mistake.

"Ramos has signed some good players but they have yet to prove that they have what it takes to perform in the Premier League instantly and that is what is required from players these days.

"How much would he give to still have Jermain Defoe at the club?

"People talk about losing Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane but for me they had a prolific goalscorer - one who will end up at the top of the scoring charts this season - in the squad in him.

"They lost three top players from the most important part of the pitch who score goals this season and the cost of that is clear to see now."