Archie Gray will struggle to start matches under Igor Tudor.
At just 19 years of age, a huge amount of responsibility has been placed on Gray already, and he even had to play as a centre-back under Ange Postecoglou for parts of the 2024-25 campaign.
He has been one of the bright sparks of Tottenham‘s season, but that could all change with the arrival of Tudor.
The 47-year-old has verbally agreed to join Spurs until the end of the season on an interim basis to replace Thomas Frank.
As shown by the Sofascore graphic below, the Croatian manager’s most recent spell with Juventus wasn’t successful, and his tactics at Spurs could leave Gray out of the team.
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Archie Gray doesn’t fit in Igor Tudor’s system
The 19-year-old scored his first professional goal in the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on 28 December and since followed that up with a header against Newcastle on Tuesday.
The English midfielder’s versatility has been crucial for Spurs over the past 18 months, and he has even filled in for Pedro Porro at right-back.
According to Sofascore, Gray has registered a pass accuracy of 85.3 per cent in the league this season, while also completing 45.5 per cent of his dribbles, despite playing in defensive midfield.
He has only been dribbled past once, and displays the perfect skillset of a deep-lying playmaker.
Tudor is known for using a 3-4-2-1 formation in possession, exploiting the width of the pitch to help his side move the ball around quickly.
Off the ball, the team’s shape is a 5-2-3, with the two players in behind the striker pressing centrally.
The midfield is generally a double pivot, and Palhinha and Conor Gallagher would be the favoured options for him to start.
As there is no traditional right-back role in this formation, it leaves Gray unable to fill one of the positions in the starting lineup.
It’s a shame that he hasn’t excelled in a specific position yet, although Tudor might be right to leave him on the bench.
Conor Gallagher and Joao Palhinha are Tottenham’s best midfield partnership
Although Gray’s development may stall, Gallagher’s energy will become indispensable to Tudor.
Since joining from Atletico Madrid in the winter transfer window, the 26-year-old has made 5.43 recoveries and 1.73 interceptions per 90 minutes in the Premier League.
As for Palhinha, his defensive discipline will allow Xavi Simons to roam further up the pitch.
The Portugal international has made 83 tackles in the top flight, more than any other player.
He has won 62.8 per cent of his ground duels and 57.8 per cent of his aerial duels, which blows away Gray’s numbers.
The young midfielder has won just 35.6 per cent of his ground duels, and Tudor won’t value someone who isn’t robust in the centre of the park.
Therefore, it looks bleak for Gray at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.