Tottenham Hotspur’s season has been rather lackluster, yet there’s something to be said for Cristian Romero’s efforts, highlighting that not every player under Thomas Frank’s leadership has lost their offensive touch.

The wisdom of employees openly criticizing their superiors on social media is debatable. If Romero’s actions seemed rash, it wouldn’t be unprecedented for him.

However, his criticism appears to target the right issues, suggesting that Tottenham’s problems start at the top, as they have for quite some time. With Daniel Levy’s exit, identifying a singular figure to blame has become more challenging.

Levy was adept at navigating within the club’s established framework, though he wasn’t its creator. If the Lewis family, who own the club, had truly wanted to compete at the highest level, they wouldn’t have taken 25 years to decide that Levy’s approach was inadequate.

Did an enlightening moment occur after their night in Bilbao? Was there a sudden shift from the longstanding conservative approach that’s been evident in their financial decisions? So far, there is scant evidence to support such a transformation, and with each day of the transfer window, that evidence becomes even scarcer. A proactive club doesn’t wait for the window to open before laying out its plans.

As ponderously dull as Tottenham have been this season, some credit must go to Cristian Romero for proving not all components of Thomas Frank’s side have forgotten how to attack

There was always a naivety attached to believing his removal would address traits that went beyond Daniel Levy – when Joe Lewis’ family had done little to show they were any different

Vivienne Lewis and Spurs CEO Vinai Venkatesham have a matter of weeks to prove that they fully grasp the opportunity they have this season and in this transfer window

Consider how Antoine Semenyo scored a winning goal for Bournemouth against Spurs on Wednesday and was already undergoing a medical at Manchester City by Thursday. Similarly, Crystal Palace pursued Brennan Johnson, finalizing his departure from Tottenham by January 2.

Where is Frank’s help coming from? He needs a few, especially in forward areas, but the nearest point of reinforcement is a teenage left back from Brazil. He’s apparently a good player, Souza, but extra competition for Destiny Udogie isn’t what the mutineers were protesting from the away corner at Bournemouth. It’s not what they were booing about against Sunderland or Brentford.

Frank is getting the brunt of it and little of his football so far would make for a good counter argument. Spurs have been stodgy and ineffective on the ball, prone to defensive errors that mimic themselves by the week, and poor discipline. He is a renowned, organised, flexible coach and yet, on his watch, bad patterns are repeating.

But there should be considerable sympathy for him that goes past the ‘nice guy’ reflex – Frank has been left to cover the creative shortfall with a fig leaf by the recruitment system.

James Maddison’s knee was injured in August, Dejan Kulusevski’s gave way before that, and Dominic Solanke hasn’t been seen since August 23 – the recruiters had time to read the land and source alternatives. Spurs now have three-and-a-half weeks to prove it wasn’t spent fingerpainting.

If they botch it, as they have so many windows, the failure ought to fall hard on the Lewis family and the personnel hiding behind the manager’s blast shield. They include Fabio Paratici, who was reappointed as sporting director in October and has possibly had his head turned by interest from Fiorentina. Without Levy in place, they are all out in the open, their free-passes are no longer valid.

At 14th in the table, not far north of where Ange Postecoglou left them, the situation is urgent. If Aston Villa knock Tottenham out of the FA Cup on Saturday – which isn’t a reach given Villa’s form, how dire Spurs have been at home and that it happened last season too – then it could be the end for Frank. It would be Champions League or bust. Bust probably wins that one.

But there are two conversations to be had there. Is Frank getting the best from what he has available? Since the win over City in August, when everything chimed so brilliantly, it is a hard no. Has he got a strong squad? That is a harder no and blame falls elsewhere.

Antoine Semenyo scored Bournemouth’s 95th-minute winner against Spurs on Wednesday and by Thursday was having his medical at Manchester City

Is Frank getting the best from what he has available? Since the City win in August, it is a hard no. Has he got a strong squad? That is a harder no and blame falls elsewhere

James Maddison suffered his knee injury on August 3 – why has there been no action to rectify the hole he left behind in Spurs’ creativity since then?

Because when was the last time Tottenham bought a serious upgrade for their squad? And who in Frank’s best XI would be considered a top-four or top-six player?

Micky van de Ven and Romero have great strengths, but each has clear vulnerabilities, too. Romero’s thought processes in giving away a goal and collecting two brainless yellow cards against Liverpool last month tell us enough about his.

But he was right with his social media post. For all the chaos at Tottenham and the anger of their fans, there is a cast of suits in the expensive seats to whom much of the mess can be traced.

Whether it is through incompetence or indifference, they are culpable for a club that has lost a lightning rod since Levy left and apparently gained nothing.