Sporting Director Damien Comolli and manager Martin Jol identified the reasoning behind not signing a left winger in the transfer window, which shut yesterday.
The club added two new signings on the last frantic day of negotiations – right back Pascal Chimbonda and midfielder Steed Malbranque arrived in addition to targetman Mido earlier in the week.
Comolli said: "Have we improved the squad? Yes, because we have added good players in positions we wanted to strengthen and so we have increased the overall quality of the squad."
"It was what I would describe as a tight window - options were few. We knew what we wanted which made it harder because we were looking to fill a very specific brief to add further improvement. Martin and I had many discussions and the defining aspect was always that Martin felt he had the players with whom he can compete. And I'm pleased to say that we have achieved that."
"Speculation in the media was rife this window and it would appear that we have targeted half the Premiership footballers, not to mention those abroad!"
"In actual fact we had two things happen which we ideally would have liked a different outcome for - Michael (Carrick) decided that he wanted to head north and Middlesbrough felt they did not want to part with Stewart Downing."
Jol said: "Much has been made of our need for a left winger. Yes, it would have been good to have secured an out and out left footer, but we did not want to accept second best and what's more, we didn't need to.
"We have not had the start to the season we all would have wanted, but the support the Board has given me to put together a squad which has given us a real chance to compete at the highest level has been total."
Source: TottenhamHotspur.com