Igor Tudor’s appointment as Tottenham Hotspur’s interim manager was intended to inject new optimism into the North London side.
But now, two games into the Croatian’s spell at the club, the alarm bells are ringing louder than ever, with relegation from the Premier League becoming more likely with each passing week.
The Lilywhites have suffered two consecutive defeats against Arsenal and Fulham since the 47-year-old’s arrival and currently sit in 16th place, just two places above the relegation zone. The worst part is the upcoming games. History is tough reading material in that field.
Sunday’s loss to the Cottage was another example of the struggles the team is enduring, with the team barely holding their own throughout the game.
A number of players once again failed to deliver, leading to big questions from disgruntled supporters after the recent defeat.
Spurs’ worst performance against Fulham on Sunday
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has kept his No. 1 jersey throughout the 2025/26 season, a decision that has attracted a lot of attention in recent months.
The Italian could have certainly prevented Alex Iwobi’s long-range shot if the Nigerian intern had fired from distance with the inside of his right foot.
There were also questions about the keeper’s placement, with Vicario proving time and time again at Craven Cottage that he could not operate with the ball at his feet.
Center back Radu Dragusin has been deployed at the deep end in recent weeks, with the Romanian having just returned from a lengthy injury spell with a torn ACL.
He has started both games since Tudor took the reins in north London, and Sunday’s game will show once again why he is not up to Premier League standards.
The 24-year-old only won 33% of the ground battles he took part in in the loss, but he also failed to top the field in tackles.
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Injury problems and Tudor’s desire to change Spurs’ system have undoubtedly contributed to their recent Premier League struggles.
The Croatian needs to find a solution in the coming weeks if he is to move his club up the table, with relegation to the second division now looking very likely.
But he certainly hasn’t had any help in the ranks since taking the reins, and his recruitment before arriving in north London was miles off the level required.
More than £700 million has been spent over the past few years, but it appears to have been in vain, as evidenced by the Lilywhites’ meager league positions in recent seasons.
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The January transfer window gave the board another chance to move up the senior ranks, after which they reportedly spent £35 million signing midfielder Conor Gallagher.
Atlético Madrid’s star player’s move left many supporters unconvinced at the time, but recent matches have revealed concerns about such a deal.
Like Dragusin, he has started both games since taking over, but has been unconvincing in both games, with his struggles most evident last weekend.
The 26-year-old was asked to play as a midfield four in Craven Cottage’s 4-4-2 system, but was unable to make the desired impact, whether in or out of possession.
Gallagher played just 58 minutes before being replaced by Pape Sarr, but his absence was justified given his failure to make a positive impact against Marco Silva’s side.
He completed just 72% of the 25 passes he attempted, and as a result the Englishman lost the ball 12 times, the most of any starter.
Conor Gallagher – Stats against Fulham | |
|---|---|
statistics | tally |
Play time (minutes) | 58 |
touch | 37 |
Pass accuracy | 72% |
loss of ownership | 12 times |
tackle win | 0 |
lost in a duel | 75% |
Number of fouls committed | 1 |
An opportunity has arisen | 0 |
The midfielder also failed to create chances for his teammates, making just two passes forward, highlighting his lack of quality in possession.
Without the ball, the 35 million pound man was a completely different beast, unable to make any tackles after that, while losing 75% of his ground battles.
The fee paid for his signature now looks like a big mistake, as the midfielder failed to provide the difference the club had hoped for in such a transfer.
Fans have every right to question such a move given his lack of impact in recent weeks, but it’s certainly not an upgrade over the options that were considered prior to his arrival.
While Dragusin should be given some form of sympathy given his recent injury issues, the same can’t be said for Gallagher, who has seemed to have slowed down considerably under Tudor.
Regardless of relegation, the club will need to consider improvements in the summer transfer window, and leaders should keep such a move for Gallagher in mind for the foreseeable future.
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