Management or Capitulation? A Dive into the Tottenham Crisis

Zero wins in four games with 15 goals conceded: Igor Tudor’s reign at Tottenham is already under immense pressure. However, the club’s problem may run deeper than the managerial position.

Via FotMob

Following the 5-2 loss to Atletico Madrid, Spurs are on one of the worst runs of form in their history. Pundits and fans alike have begun to worry about whether the Croatian was the right man for the job. 

Tudor was appointed as interim manager on Feb. 14, following the sacking of Thomas Frank. He was brought in to be a short-term solution to a growing concern: relegation. In his introductory press conference, Tudor had “100%” guaranteed that Spurs would be playing in the Premier League next season. However, in recent performances it appears his estimation is under scrutiny. 

In his tenure at previous clubs, Tudor likes to play a back three system (3-4-2-1). This was a system designed to play high up the line and be aggressive. Pundits like Tim Sherwood have suggested the Croatian’s tactics are confusing at certain times. Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, “He's gone from three at the back to four at the back, then back to three again, with players playing out of position. I've scratched my head at some of the decisions he's made since he came in,” he said. 

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With many suggesting the players are suited for a back-four, it’s still not a viable option considering the number of absences within the squad. So far, 13 players are absent either from injury or suspension. The list includes big-name players like Micky Van de Ven and Cristian Romero. This cuts the number of available players for Tudor to implement his system nearly in half. Fans on platforms like Reddit, state, “his tactics and sub impacts are non-existent,” however, don’t consider the limitations on the subs Tudor has at his disposal. 

Spurs have conceded 15 goals, which are in part due to their defensive woes at the back. Against Atletico Madrid, the backup goalkeeper, Antonín Kinský, made two errors that led directly to goals. Van de Ven additionally lost his footing, which led to another goal conceded. While Kinský is a backup goalkeeper, Van de Ven is a reliable first-team center-half that gave away a goal in a crucial game in the Champions League. An issue raising concern is the fight within the players. In many games under both Frank and Tudor’s reign, Spurs players already look defeated. It can be seen when players concede numerous goals in ridiculous fashion such as against Atletico and Crystal Palace. 

While the tactics of Tudor are under scrutiny, the issue with Spurs isn’t solely a managerial issue. Rather, many problems factor into Spurs’ horrible performance in recent games. They now face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday; a fixture they have not won since 2011. Whether Tudor’s tenure may rely on results, Tottenham’s growing problems suggest the crisis is far beyond the manager. Until then, the growing fear of relegation will continue to linger until a solution for Spurs arises.