Tottenham Hotspur’s actions off the pitch on Sunday were a far cry from their on-field work, and footage has been released that reveals one player’s mentality for all to see.
Jamie Carragher urges Tottenham to ‘part ways’ with Tudor
Preparing for the game against Nottingham Forest was all about unity. The battle for relegation in the Premier League will be fought as a group, starting with supporters. And they certainly did their part. They gave a strong welcome to the team bus. I can’t complain about the toxic atmosphere.
They listened to Cristian Romero’s rallying cry and were there after the South American urged fans to unite. But that rallying cry soon turned out to be more of a histrionic plea than a message of real intent.
Igor Jesus’ goal came quickly, followed by goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi. Like Crystal Palace and many other games in North London this season, Spurs were beaten up in front of their fans.
Any feeling that a comeback was possible quickly dissipated and Spurs currently sit just one point above the relegation zone with seven games in hand. Their situation is an emergency.
Tottenham considering sacking Tudor as ‘perfect’ immediate replacement plan looms
The Lilywhites were given the “perfect” opportunity to make a change.
So questions are being asked about Igor Tudor’s future, including from Jamie Carragher.
The former Liverpool centre-back told Sky Sports on Sunday: “It’s unfortunate for him, given his family situation and the consequences, but I think Tottenham should consider parting ways with Tudor and bring in another manager between now and the end of the season.”
However, new footage suggests that the Croats are not solely to blame. A Spurs player was unable to back up his words against Nottingham Forest.
Romero went against his own words against Nottingham Forest
Immediately after the defeat, Romero told reporters that Tottenham would give “200 per cent” to stay in the Premier League. This was just 90 minutes after he wore the captain’s armband and let out his first roar. He insisted that despite the results, the effort was not questioned.
But this footage tells a different story. Actions speak louder than words, and instead of doubling his effort or giving 100 per cent, Romero was seen trudging back towards Gibbs-White’s goal.
Had he followed his word, the Argentine defender could have prevented Forest’s second goal of the afternoon.
It was a terrible moment for the Spurs captain. He is not the only player to feel uneasy about life in north London these days. The big question is whether a new coach can change that.
Those who reach this stage must be survival specialists, not style-firsts. Spurs cannot afford to do anything wrong like they did against Tudor, with only one point separating them from the bottom three.
