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Could Igor Tudor be set for a beheading with relegation looming large for crisis-torn Tottenham?
Tottenham Hotspur’s relegation fears increased last night after a 3-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace left them just one point above the dreaded drop zone.
Igor Tudor is now coming under increasing scrutiny having presided over three straight losses since taking interim charge following Thomas Frank’s recent axing.
With just nine Premier League games remaining, and a Champions League Last-16 tie against Atletico Madrid on the horizon, DAZN News reporter Ross Heppenstall analyses whether another managerial change is needed to avoid a catastrophic slide into the Championship.
A truly shocking run of form
Thursday's reverse at the hands of Palace left Spurs without a win in their last 11 Premier League and also marked a fifth straight defeat.
There was talk beforehand that Tottenham were too good to go down.
By the end of a torrid first half, they looked too bad to stay up.
The rot set in some weeks ago, resulting in Frank being relieved of his duties after the 2-1 home loss to Newcastle on February 10.
The Dane arrived from Brentford last summer with an impressive reputation and a directive to transform Spurs into a respected top-flight force.
Although they won the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou last season – their first major trophy for 17 years – Tottenham also slumped to their worst-ever Premier League finish, one place above the relegation zone.
Yet Frank’s tenure ended after just eight months in charge and after a run of only two wins in 17 Premier League matches.
Tudor’s recent arrival was supposed to halt their slide, but if anything, Spurs’ performances have got worse and losing has become a habit.
A Champions League trip to Atletico Madrid is next up on Tuesday, but the real task at hand is Premier League survival.
Off the field, Spurs made huge losses last year and relegation would have a hugely detrimental impact on their finances.
Tudor set for a beheading?
The sight of thousands of Spurs fans marching out of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in disgust during the Palace defeat said everything about the club’s plight.
Tudor’s men led through Dominic Solanke, but Micky van de Ven was sent off in the 38th minute and the Eagles went in at the break with a 3-1 lead.
That prompted the mass walkout from large sections of a fanbase who quite simply have had enough.
Alarmingly, Spurs appear to be going backwards under Tudor.
They were stuffed 4-1 at home by sworn enemies Arsenal in his first game and then lost 2-1 at Fulham before last night’s horror show against Palace.
That has raised the prospect of another managerial change for the remaining games, with former bosses Glenn Hoddle and Harry Redknapp now touted as potential candidates to come in and save Spurs from relegation.
If Tudor, who has no previous Premier League experience, stays in position and keeps Tottenham up, more change will surely come in the summer.
The likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Robbie Keane, Marco Rose, Roberto De Zerbi and Michael Carrick are all being linked with the role on a permanent basis.
Tudor made a curious analogy about his players following the Palace defeat, saying: “The boat is going in the direction I need it to go. Who is in the boat can stay, the others can leave the boat.”
Right now, Spurs feel like a sinking ship.
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How worried should Spurs be?
Very. When you are in a relegation dogfight – which Tottenham undeniably are – you need a certain kind of character.
You need leaders who are prepared to dig out their teammates in the dressing room afterwards for not putting in a shift.
You have to be able to call on a collective desire.
Sadly, against Palace and all too often this season, that spirit was missing in a game that had so much riding on it.
Archie Gray, 19, showed more courage and guts than a good number of his teammates combined, creating Solanke’s opener and battling hard for 90 minutes.
There was simply not enough of his team-mates willing to do likewise.
And now Spurs – decimated by injuries – are staring at the dismal prospect of playing in English football’s second tier for the first time since 1977-78.
They flirted with disaster last season, and maybe now their chickens, or rather cockerels, are coming home to roost.
Tottenham would not be the first giant of the English game to fall out of the top flight, with the likes of Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Aston Villa having all suffered that fate in recent times.
Wednesday, let it be remembered, were relegated from the Premier League in May 2000 and have not been back since.
A sobering thought for the Spurs board.
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The nine games that will decide their fate
Forget the Champions League, for Spurs, the remainder of this season is all about Premier League survival.
They face a tough trip to Liverpool next Sunday and then host Athletico in the second leg of their Champions League Last-16 tie three days later.
Then comes a huge crunch home clash with Forest on Sunday, March 22.
A trip to Sunderland and a visit from Brighton precede a trip to resurgent Wolves before another trip to the West Midlands to face Aston Villa in early May.
Then things get really interesting as Tottenham host relegation rivals Leeds before a London derby at bitter rivals Chelsea.
The Blues will be fighting for Champions League qualification and would surely love nothing more than to stick the knife into Spurs’ survival hopes.
The final day of the season sees Tottenham welcome Everton to north London, a game which could decide their fate and potentially send them down.
Spurs fans should buckle up and hold on tight – the next few weeks promise to be a very uncomfortable white-knuckle ride.
Whether or not Tudor will be around to watch it unfold remains to be seen.
Full Champions League fixture list for the last 16
Tuesday, 10 March
- Galatasaray vs Liverpool
- Atalanta vs Bayern Munich
- Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham
- Newcastle United vs Barcelona
Wednesday, 11 March
- Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal
- Bode/Glimt vs Sporting
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea
- Real Madrid vs Manchester City
How to watch Atletico Madrid vs. Tottenham in the USA on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham in the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
An annual upfront payment is $224.99 , while paying monthly for 12 months is $19.99 and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
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An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, each offering a different selection of sports. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
