AliousIgor Tudor was brought in as interim head coach of Tottenham Hotspur with the hope of lifting morale and restoring belief within the squad. Instead, just two matches into his spell in charge, the mood around North London has grown even more anxious, with fears of a potential drop from the Premier League intensifying by the week.
Spurs currently sit 16th in the table, only two places above the relegation zone, after back-to-back defeats to Arsenal and Fulham. With a daunting run of fixtures on the horizon, the outlook appears increasingly bleak.
Struggles against Fulham
The 2025/26 season has seen goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario retain his role as first choice, though that decision has faced mounting criticism. Against Fulham, the Italian might have done better to deal with Alex Iwobi’s long-range strike, as the Nigerian midfielder found the net from distance with a composed finish.
The defeat at Craven Cottage highlighted Tottenham’s ongoing issues. The team looked blunt in attack and fragile at the back, leaving supporters increasingly frustrated. Vicario’s distribution also drew scrutiny, with several moments suggesting he is uncomfortable playing out from the back.
At centre-half, Radu Drăgușin has been thrust back into action after recovering from a serious ACL injury. Starting both matches under Tudor, the Romanian defender has struggled to meet Premier League demands. He won just 33% of his ground duels against Fulham and failed to succeed in any of his attempted tackles, raising doubts about his readiness for this level.
Recruitment concerns deepen
Tudor faces a huge task to steer Spurs clear of danger, but the club’s recruitment over recent seasons has not made his job easier. More than £700 million has been invested in recent years, yet the team’s league position suggests that spending has not translated into progress.
Injuries and a tactical shift under the new manager have compounded the difficulties. During the January window, the board spent a reported £35 million to bring in Conor Gallagher from Atlético Madrid — a move that divided opinion among fans.
Gallagher, like Drăgușin, has started both games under Tudor but has struggled to make a meaningful impact. Deployed in a midfield four in a 4-4-2 system at Craven Cottage, the 26-year-old failed to influence proceedings either defensively or going forward. He lasted just 58 minutes before being replaced by Pape Matar Sarr.
His passing statistics underlined the problem: Gallagher completed only 72% of his 25 attempted passes and conceded possession 12 times — more than any other starter. For a team fighting to steady itself, such inefficiency has only added to the mounting pressure.
With confidence low and performances lacking cohesion, Tudor must quickly find solutions if Spurs are to avoid being dragged deeper into a relegation battle.
| Conor Gallagher – stats against Fulham | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | Tally |
| Minutes played | 58 |
| Touches | 37 |
| Pass accuracy | 72% |
| Possession lost | 12x |
| Tackles won | 0 |
| Duels lost | 75% |
| Fouls committed | 1 |
| Chances created | 0 |
The midfielder struggled to influence the game creatively, failing to register a single chance for his teammates and managing only two forward passes — a clear indication of his limitations in possession.
His impact without the ball was equally disappointing. The £35 million signing did not complete a single tackle and lost 75% of the ground duels he contested during the defeat.
Given those performances, the sizeable fee paid for his services is beginning to look questionable. He has yet to deliver the spark or improvement the club anticipated when sanctioning the transfer.
In truth, he hasn’t enhanced the squad compared to the options already available before he arrived, leaving supporters justified in doubting the decision after a string of underwhelming displays.
While some understanding can be extended to Radu Drăgușin following his recent injury struggles, the same leniency is harder to apply to Conor Gallagher, who has appeared well off the required standard since Igor Tudor’s appointment.
Irrespective of whether relegation becomes a reality, Tottenham must reassess their squad in the summer transfer window. The club’s leadership would do well to reflect carefully on the Gallagher deal when planning their next steps.
Alious
