Tottenham Hotspur’s relegation battle has become one of the biggest stories in the Premier League this season, leading to numerous memes and comments online this past week, with a particular focus on how the ‘Big 6’ member could face the ignominy of travelling to Lincoln City for a league match next season.
Firstly, some have been very harsh on Lincoln City, but others have highlighted what may face Spurs next season. Now, having only paid any attention to Spurs when visiting their new stadium for the NFL, here is my (very) Restricted View.
Henry VIII: A Better Choice?
For some reason, the powers that be at Tottenham have decided that Igor from the house of Tudor is the man to rescue them from the dire situation they find themselves in.
I recall the Croatian from his playing days in a Juventus side that was still feared throughout Europe, and with Croatia, who surprised many by finishing third at the 1998 World Cup.
A decent playing pedigree, but how has he been seen as the man to keep Spurs afloat in the Premier League!?
Spurs hadn’t won a league game, or indeed any domestic match, since December 28th and have only won seven Premier League matches all season. That awful return led to Thomas Frank’s sacking and the hiring of the former Juventus manager Tudor.
The Croat has since overseen three more defeats, now five in a row for Spurs, meaning Tottenham’s current form places them bottom of the form guide for the last 10 matches, with just three draws from their last 10 league outings.
Tudor managed 30 points in 17 Serie A games in charge of The Old Lady, winning eight of those matches. In all competitions, he managed to claim just 1.58 points per game, which is the lowest return for a Juve boss since Luigi Delneri over 15 years ago.
I remember the time Sir Alex Ferguson was due to retire around 2002, rumours began to swirl on the journey home from Old Trafford that Marcelo Lippi was the man chosen to replace the Scot.
In reality, it was something to do with a charity match. Lippi never made the switch, seeing his managerial career peter out with a World Cup win, one further Serie A title, two Italian Super Cups and then a few trophies in China, including the Asian Champions League – it’s safe to say Spurs have not got themselves a Marcelo Lippi!
Tudor actually did ok in his role before Juventus as Lazio manager, winning five of nine domestic matches in charge, and he also had a good record with Marseille, so why does it seem like such an odd appointment?!
The Croatian may have had a decent record at Lazio, but he was in charge of just 11 matches before leaving after a disagreement over transfer policy. Tudor’s inability to count to ten was also evident at Marseille, despite a decent points return from his time as manager.
Behind the scenes, there were disagreements with players; some were even banished from the first team, and those in suits above him. With news of several Spurs players suffering the same fate, it’s nice to see big Igor hasn’t changed!
Tactical Uncertainty, Unrest & Player Bashing
‘We’re struggling at the bottom of the league, chaps, let’s bring in somebody with a calm head and who knows the division.’ This is perhaps what the Tottenham board should have said, having fired Thomas Frank.
But no, that would have been far too dull. What we have in Tudor is a man who doesn’t seem to know his favoured approach to a game and who has already suggested his players are lacking a brain!
In three matches, Tudor has used a 3-3-3-1, the classic 4-4-2 and followed that up with a 5-4-1 last time out. Those tactical changes translated to a 4-1 loss, a 2-1 reverse and a 3-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace.
Tactics aside, that’s the boring stuff! The new Spurs boss immediately attempted to get his new charges on side by claiming that the only places they need to improve are in attack, midfield and defence. He then realised that he hadn’t gone far enough, so he truly wrapped his arm around the shoulders of his players and claimed they lacked ‘brains’ following the defeat to Fulham.
The new boss insisted it wasn’t down to tactics but instead due to the players not being quick enough in their decisions, claiming Fulham’s players reacted quicker than their opponents. His pre- and post-match interviews do little to allay Spurs’ relegation fears and lend themselves to the obvious question: Is Igor Tudor the right man for Tottenham Hotspur?
Who Could Spurs Have Gone For?
Michael Carrick has reignited Manchester United in his interim role at the club, where he served previously as a player and coach. The former midfielder has won six of his eight games in charge, giving the Red Devils a serious shot at Champions League football next term.
Carrick, of course, is not the first former United player to return to the club as manager and enjoy a stellar interim spell, with goal-scoring hero Ole Gunnar Solskjær returning after Jose Mourinho’s dismissal in 2018.
So, could Spurs have gone down the route of bringing home a former fan favourite? Robbie Keane is in charge of the Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros and has been mentioned as a possible Spurs boss of the future.
Keane became a Hungarian champion in 2025 after taking the reins in January of the same year, but led Fradi to second place during his first full season, the first time they had not claimed the title in seven years. Perhaps, if approached, Keane would rather start with a clean slate in the summer rather than take over a sinking ship on the scale of the Titanic.
Another Tottenham legend who may have reinvigorated the crowd is Jurgen Klinsmann, although the German striker does not possess an outstanding managerial record of his own and has had his professionalism called into question on more than one occasion.
One name I did mention to friends, albeit after a couple of beers, was Harry Redknapp. His appointment would surely have galvanised the support and, for a short stint, kicked some of the players hard enough up the backside to get the points they needed to stay up. Granted, when uttering his name, I wasn’t aware he was nearly 80 years of age!
And, just one last name – Big Sam! Surely it’s been too long since we have seen him in a relegation battle! Imagine the 1990s moustacheouid Allardyce patrolling the rather expensive dugouts at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, with Sammy Lee and his earpiece alongside. Football Heritage!
End Of Season Prediction
Tudor’s points record elsewhere is not dreadful; he just immediately stuck out as a strange fit for Spurs. His behaviour and temper shown at previous clubs appear to already be rearing their head in London, and it could lead to some Box Office moments.
Could Tottenham be relegated? Two weeks ago, I would have said no, purely because West Ham and Nottingham Forest are worse. Ask me now, and I am tempted to say yes, particularly as they will face Forest in less than two weeks. Lose that game, and I see another new manager being shoehorned in to rescue the club from facing Lincoln City away next season – the ignominy!
It isn’t a bold prediction to suggest that whatever happens in their relegation, Tottenham will not start next season with Igor Tudor in charge and to suggest that Spurs have a huge managerial decision to make.