Reality Check: Tottenham's Europa League Exit Shows Limits of Progress

After what has already been one of the most enjoyable Tottenham seasons in recent memory, there was always going to be a reality check. 

Spurs have bounced back to earth with the most almighty of thuds.

A late escape that ended in a 2-2 draw with West Ham United this past Sunday could be described as a positive, but it was a match that needed to be won.

There is no parsing this European humiliation. Fiorentina are not a particularly good side, and they were missing arguably their two best players. Despite their flaws, two inexplicable defensive errors handed them passage to the next round with a 2-0 victory on Thursday. 

Spurs lacked a focal point in attack. The absence of Harry Kane meant there was no obvious player to play to, while the full-backs failed to play their role and provide the vital width. 

One of the worst pieces of play by any footballer in Europe this season was emblematic of the flaws that still run deep through Spurs' squad. 

Roberto Soldado, a man who will go down in English football history as one of the great transfer misfires, squandered the simplest of chances to take the lead against Fiorentina. 

When played through by a delightfully weighted Erik Lamela pass—with Nacer Chadli racing up alongside him in support—Soldado failed to either shoot or pass, instead playing a charitable back pass to Neto in the Fiorentina goal. 

Perhaps he felt embarrassed by the poor play of La Viola's back line and thought the gentlemanly thing to do would be to simply return possession. Perhaps he is unsalvageable as a centre-forward. 

He has miraculously surpassed Sergei Rebrov as Spurs' worst Premier League signing. He will certainly never meet the criteria that would validate his oft-cited £26 million transfer fee, but regardless of the cost, he has not provided value for money. 

The fact that Soldado is the lesser of Spurs' two miscreant strikers demonstrates that their options are utterly limited. 

Emmanuel Adebayor is not even given the courtesy of a place on the bench, such is the lack of faith in him among Tottenham's coaching staff. 

The paucity of options within Spurs' striking ranks is not even their most concerning flaw. 

The dependence on a handful of players means Spurs are unable to shake their historic tendency of "doing a Tottenham." Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen, Christian Eriksen and Kane are all so vital to Spurs that the absence of even one seems to shatter the aura that has grown around this team. 

Spurs continue to lose games that they should win. 

This has been a frustrating part of the club for decades. Even this season, defeats against Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and Stoke City are just a few of the games that Spurs should have easily won. 

Manager Mauricio Pochettino is transforming Tottenham Hotspur. 

He has installed a resilience that has not existed in living memory. This team's capacity to snatch late results is remarkable and a testament to their physical and mental preparation. Credit there must be due to Pochettino, but he has far more work to do. 

In Tottenham's last two disappointing performances, at home to West Ham and away to Fiorentina, individual defensive errors proved mightily costly. Even with Spurs spending the bulk of last summer's transfer fund on new defenders, more work needs to be done. 

Despite thrashing them six weeks ago, Tottenham enter the League Cup final against Chelsea as significant outsiders. 

Victory at Wembley would soothe the frustration among Spurs fans but would do little to address the underlying flaws. 

These flaws are not cause for alarm. Pochettino inherited an unbalanced squad largely lacking in star power. None of the players who are effectively millstones around the neck of his team were his signings. 

He will need time to develop this squad in his own image and, perhaps unlike some of his predecessors, he will get it. 

Spurs need to build a defensive line worthy of the goalkeeper who stands behind it. They need to provide alternatives so that Kane is not required to produce heroics every week. Even the best players in the world have capable team-mates.

The nature of the defeat in Florence was infuriating. Spurs were desperately poor, and several players, chiefly but not limited to Jan Vertonghen, played with shocking apathy. 

Spurs are out of Europe now, again. Only one game remains to distract them from the final sprint in the Premier League. Despite this disappointment, Tottenham's season is yet to take its final form. 

Even after Wembley, we can't be sure exactly how Pochettino's impressive first season will be remembered. One thing is for sure: If he is allowed to develop his team, the second will be even better.