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Tottenham Hotspur supporters had at least a hundred reasons to despise Thomas Frank as their manager, but one of the biggest was his treatment of Mathys Tel, And if Igor Tudor continues to bench Tel, he can kiss his behind goodbye potentially faster than he thinks.

In watching Tottenham suffer 4-1 and 2-1 losses to Arsenal and Fulham that may as well have both been 10-0 defeats, Spurs supporters have to be wondering if there really is any difference between a team coached by Frank and one managed by Tudor. While Tudor is refreshingly honest about the problems at the club and is not a company back scratcher like Frank, his track record nor his recent results at Spurs seem to indicate that he is any better of a coach.

For some odd reason, Tudor started a front three of Xavi Simons on the left and Randal Kolo Muani on the right, playing them both out of position while Mathys Tel rotted on the bench again. And lo and behold, when he hooked those guys off for Richarlison and Tel, they changed the game and literally created the one goal and shot at redemption Spurs had to make it 2-1.

Mathys Tel needs to play

Tel was, by far, Tottenham's best player on the pitch after he came in and the only competent attacker in the match. How often have we seen that this season? Tel repeatedly gets told to sit on the bench for no reason, then comes in and saves everyone's behinds or sparks in a close defeat, only to then be relegated to the bench behind players with half of his talent, effort, and form.

There is no question that Tel means more to this club in the short and long term than hired mercenary Kolo Muani, and he is in better form and a much better fit on the left wing than Xavi. Tel puts so much effort into every minute he plays, and, honestly, the only real critique you can have of the former Bayern Munich star is that he tries too hard at times.

Most teams would kill to have a young talent who loves the club as much as Tel does, and it says a lot that he nearly left the club in the winter due to a lack of playing time before the World Cup but is still working this hard for the team. If Tudor can't find a way to play this guy, then he really is just as bad as Frank and can get the sack, too.

Tottenham Hotspur lost their fourth straight game on Sunday against Fulham, and Conor Gallagher was the most disastrous performer on a team filled with woeful individual efforts in a game that was only close, 2-1, in score line.

Since joining Tottenham from an Atletico Madrid team that was beyond desperate to get rid of him, Gallagher has maybe had one good performance in a Tottenham shirt. The rest, particularly in the Premier League, have been woeful, including this lackadaisical effort against the Cottagers.

Gallagher committed five unforced turnovers without registering a single key pass, tackle, or dribble completed with a pass completion percentage of 72 on just 25 attempts. Igor Tudor mercifully hooked the veteran Premier League midfielder off to bring on Pape Matar Sarr, who, quite frankly, has been 10 times the player this season.

Conor Gallagher is an overpay on two counts

When Gallagher was signed by Spurs for a clear overpay of 40 million euros, he was touted as a leader and a high effort player who would raise Spurs floor and help them avoid relegation. Well, Gallagher's effort has been less than that of his teammates like Archie Gray and Sarr, who have less experience in the top flight than him, and it is not unfair to state that Gallagher is one of the players actively putting Spurs at harm of relegation.

To make matters worse, Gallagher is apparently a player Tottenham broke their wage structure to sign on 200,000 pounds per week, which is an astronomically atrocious figure for a player for whom the word mediocrity would actually be a flattering compliment at this stage.

Tottenham have too many players who are not good enough for a supposed Big Six club, and based on how poorly Gallagher has played to this early point in a Spurs jersey, it is legitimately fair to wonder if he is good enough to even start in the Premier League. Honestly, Gallagher can't really get any worse than this, but it shows you exactly why both Chelsea and Atleti did not even think he was good enough for their squad.

Dominic Solanke was back on the pitch against Fulham in the Premier League after missing some more action with a throat issue, and after another poor performance by both him and the team, Solanke needs to bounce back against Crystal Palace in another London derby this Thursday. And he is in store for a real boost, as Palace star center back Maxence Lacroix is unavailable.

Facing Crystal Palace is already easier for Tottenham now than it was before when they slogged their way to a 1-0 win a the end of December. Marc Guehi, Palace's best player, was sold to title contenders Manchester City, leaving Lacroix as the main star and CB1 for the Eagles.

Now, though, Lacroix is out of commision, too. After scoring the opener against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, Lacroix got himself red carded in yet another show of indiscipline, thus leading Palace to blow the game 2-1 to Michael Carrick's resurgent Red Devils - and, worse yet, dooming him for the next Premier League encounter with local rivals Spurs.

Maxence Lacroix is out for Tottenham vs. Crystal Palace

From a Tottenham perspective, Lacroix being bounced out of the match is a huge deal. Spurs feel like they are worse off now than they were in late December when they scrapped an almost undeserving victory off a spiraling Palace, and that win remains their only in the last 10 since they have earned just 4 points of their last 30 available in the Premier League.

These latest losses to Arsenal and Fulham have pushed Spurs further down into the threat of relegation, so Thursday's battle with Palace is a must win. And with Lacroix out suspended, it is an even better opportunity for Tottenham to get the three points they need.

Solanke has been crucial to Tottenham since returning from a lengthy, tricky foot injury, memorably dominating Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. Although Richarlisons moxie and fight will be important in the relegation battle, he is, in an ideal world, a backup option as a spark with Solanke the unquestioned starting No. 9 due to his all around skill set.

Not having to face Palace's top center back is the boost Solanke needed to get back on form after slowing his momentum with a throat issue. Solanke still ned to prove to Spurs that he is even remotely worth the 65 million pound price tag spent on him from Bournemouth in 2024, and now Palace is an opportune venue for him to prove himself.

With the teams around us dropping points, this game was an opportunity to finally move away from the relegation zone. A poor display again means that opportunity was not taken, and Igor Tudor is still searching for his first point.

GK Guglielmo Vicario

As we have often seen, particularly this season, Vicario struggled to command his area on corners and crosses. Did not face many shots on target apart from the two goals. Did make a good save in a one-on-one situation. Rating: 5

RB Pedro Porro

A limited performance but still a welcome return to the side. Provided plenty of energy and better balance on the right-hand side. Still too many of his crosses or attacking passes lead only to opposition clearances. Found it more difficult defensively as the game became stretched in the second half. Rating: 5

LB Archie Gray

A surprising choice at left back as Gray does not look comfortable there. Too often got lost with diagonal balls and players getting in behind him. Was fortunate not to lose possession more often in dangerous areas. Had a better second half and provided a good cross for Richarlison’s goal. Rating: 5

CB Micky van de Ven

A game to forget for Micky as he struggled with long balls, too often letting them bounce before attempting to clear. Also seemed caught out of position more often than usual. Lost possession frequently when dribbling out from the back, although this was likely not helped by the extreme lack of options and movement ahead of him. Rating: 4

CB Radu Drăgușin

Does have a fair complaint for the first goal, particularly given the incident with Muani and Gabriel last week, however Drăgușin rarely looked comfortable today. Was beaten in the air far too easily and, like van de Ven, was dragged out of position frequently. Rating: 4

CM Conor Gallagher

Too easy to play through and too slow in possession to attack. Unable to close down Alex Iwobi, particularly. Gallagher did get in for a chance in the second half but looked unsure whether to pass or shoot and did neither effectively. Midfield was a real weakness in general as Fulham dominated, but Gallagher looked particularly off the pace. Â Rating: 3

CM João Palhinha

Has played much better than this so far this season but at least was his usual self in terms of his commitment and willingness to tackle. Had a better second half against his former club but not enough to get us on top at any point. Rating: 5

CM Yves Bissouma

Similar to Palhinha, Bissouma was better in the second half but was too easy to play through. Also struggled to close players down when needed. Rating: 4

AM Xavi Simons

No impact from Xavi in this game. Had improved in recent weeks but did not get into the game at all before being substituted. Rating: 2

CF Dominic Solanke

Was more effective in the first half where he held the ball up and battled well, sometimes in a deeper role than we usually see. Very little service wherever he moved to on the pitch, and less involved in the second half. Should have got closer to Iwobi for the second goal. Rating: 4

CF Randal Kolo Muani

Made some good runs, particularly into the channels and got through in the first half only to have a shot blocked. Mostly, however, he seemed to be half a yard away from getting onto the ball, whatever he tried, despite plenty of effort. Rating: 4

Substitutes: Richarlison, Mathys Tel, Â Pape Matar Sarr, Souza, Kevin Danso

Dominic Solanke needs to be 100 percent for Tottenham Hotspur in order for them to stay afloat in the Premier League, but the secondary striker option has become just as imporant for a desperate Spurs. And with the choice being between Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison, the latter is obviously the right man to play when Solanke cannot - or to come in to change the game.

Richy has done it before, of course. He saved Everton from relegation years ago, which is what led Spurs to spend 60 million euros to sign him from the Toffees. That Everton team was even more pathetic than this current Tottenham side, and Richarlison carried them with aplomb, making himself an eternal legend at the Merseyside in the 2021/22 season.

But for Tottenham now, there is more than just past results that indicate Richy is someone they need to trust in the late stages of the 2025/26 Premier League season and what is shaping up to be a desperate relegation scrap following unsightly 4-1 and 2-1 losses to rivals Arsenal and Fulham, respectively.

Richarlison brings effort and intensity

That 2-1 loss to Fulham was only made respectable by Richarlison coming into the game late and scoring a consolation goal to give Spurs a glimmer of hope of getting an undeserved point off the Cottagers.

But far from just the goal, it is the heart Richarlison shows when things are on the line. You can say a lot of things about Richy: he cannot create chances, he is mind blowingly inconsistent, and he is one dimensional at times. However, you can never question his heart, effort, or intensity, and he will always run his socks off for the club and for the badge, especially when his team needs him most. He did it for Everton for years, and even though he has not met expectations at the N17, he is clearly still fighting hard for Tottenham.

Trips to Craven Cottage were pretty bleak under Ange Postecoglou, and there was nothing particularly pleasurable about Fulham's visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier in the season.

Marco Silva's side have had our number in recent times, and they enter Sunday's clash in west London off the back of a 3-1 victory at Sunderland last week, bringing to an end a three-game losing run.

Expectations remain low for this suffering Spurs team, who could start the day just a point above the drop zone if West Ham United do something special at Anfield.

Kinder fixtures lie ahead for the Lilywhites, but Tudor will want to rid his side of the threat of relegation as soon as possible. Victory on Sunday afternoon would go a long way to alleviating such fears.

Here's the team our interim manager could pick when we face off against the Cottagers.

Predicted Tottenham lineup vs. Fulham (3-4-1-2)

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Guglielmo Vicario (GK)—Antonín Kinsky wasn't fit to make the bench last weekend, so Vicario, who continues to flounder, remains the sole choice between the posts.

Kevin Danso (CB)—A fan favourite returns. Big Kev is one of the very few in this Tottenham squad who's garnered widespread appreciation, and his presence should bolster Tudor's backline. I'd take a 1-0 win courtesy of a Danso long throw all day long.

Radu Drăgușin (CB)—I wouldn't, but I think Tudor sticks with the ex-Juventus defender at the heart of his back three. Don't worry, Romero will be available this time next week.

Micky van de Ven (CB)—It's time for Van de Ven to grab a game by the scruff its neck and lift this Tottenham team. The Dutchman was meek in the derby.

Wing-Backs & Midfielders

Pedro Porro (RWB)—Porro's hamstring eventually gave out towards the end of Thomas Frank's reign, and perhaps his month off was the respite he needed. The Spaniard's delivery from the right should come in handy, given Tudor's available attacking options.

João Palhinha (CM)—The manager places a heavy emphasis upon man-oriented pressing, and Tottenham have one of the world's best midfielders out of possession. Palhinha may not be an athletic phenom, but he could help Tudor's side win the ball back high up the pitch.

Yves Bissouma (CM)—Biss was good for an hour in last Sunday's derby and is at least playing like he has something to prove. That's invaluable in our current position.

Djed Spence (LWB)—It's not ideal, but I don't think João Souza will get the nod just yet. Spence struggled last time out and has another tough assignment in Harry Wilson on Sunday. However, I'm backing the England international to bounce back.

Forwards

Xavi Simons (AM)—I hope the boss doesn't sacrifice Xavi's creativity for the sake of another runner, even if the Dutchman performed poorly on Tudor's managerial bow. He's been our most consistent performer for weeks, and is capable of galvanising this team, as he did in the second-half against Manchester City.

Randal Kolo Muani (ST)—Kolo Muani was one of the few bright sparks against Arsenal, and should've walked away with a brace. It's evident that there's plenty to work with, and Tudor's seemingly capable of getting a tune out of him.

Two of the biggest icons in recent Real Madrid history, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, were big stars at Tottenham Hotspur first, and Los Blancos are still eyeing top talents from Spurs in 2026 in center back Micky van de Ven, center midfielder Lucas Bergvall, and now another young gem in center midfielder Archie Gray.

Per a report from footballing news outlet Tribuna, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, two of the biggest clubs in the world and Champions League favorites every year, are both watching Gray closely, leading Spurs to create a 60 million euro price tag for a player they signed for 47 million euros two years ago from Leeds United.

So selling for 60 million euros would be a modest profit, but, honestly, watching Gray leave Spurs and become an even better player at Bayern or Madrid would feel like a heavy loss, just as watching Modric become a superstar for Real was - or watching Bale and Harry Kane become even more successful icons at these historic clubs.

Real Madrid want Archie Gray, too

Gray is only 19 years of age and does not start every game, but he is already the best in the deep lying midfield role at Tottenham, bravely progressing on the ball when many of his teammates have been frustratingly complacent or even just outright incompetent.

Clearly, Gray has a world of potential, but it is also potential that managers like Vincent Kompany or even Alvaro Arbeloa can coax out of him better than Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor. Gray's development is at stake here, and seeing clubs like Real and Bayern circling for Gray, Van de Ven, and Bergvall should remind Spurs that they need to get serious about their next manager and how they envision shaping the next decade at the club.

Real Madrid are right to show interest in Gray. He is intelligent, works hard, has that moxie about him, is a great athlete, and is technically brilliant. He could be the future of English football, every bit the way another Tottenham and Madrid target, Adam Wharton, is hyped to be over at London rivals Crystal Palace.

Los Blancos need controlling midfield talent like Gray, but, well, so do most teams in European football, even the big boys competing for Champions League football. So you could then imagine how massive a player like Gray would be for a club like Spurs, currently four points above the drop zone. Spurs have to hold onto Gray at all costs - even more than 60 million singles.

Tottenham Hotspur have one of the best left backs in the Premier League in Destiny Udogie, but their continued interest in left backs may be spelling a grim future for the Italian international. Their latest target? Renewed interest in Wolves gem Hugo Bueno.

This past winter transfer window, Spurs signed Brazilian prospect Souza from Palmeiras with the intention of him being the understudy to Udogie and a potential Premier League star in his own right, rated as one of the best left back prospects in the world. But that signing didn't stop them from showing an interest in veteran Andrew Robertson, though Liverpool elected not to sell him, especially with Roma not terminating the loan of Kostas Tsimikas.

So Spurs left the transfer window still thin in the short term at left back, as Udogie has been injured yet again. And though Udogie is one of the best left backs in England, there are rumblings of Spurs having second thoughts of backing him because he is so hard to rely on due to the recurring injury issues.

Tottenham are interested in Wolves standout Hugo Bueno

In the winter, Tottenham briefly showed interest in Hugo Bueno during the fallout from the Robertson saga. And now, according to a new report from TEAM Talk reporter Fraser Fletcher, Newcastle United, Everton, and Tottenham Hotspur are all intersted in the 23-year-old Spanish youngster Hugo Bueno from Wolves.

The man has been one of the big breakout stars at left back within the Premier League this season. He is averaging 1.1 key passes and 3.3 combined tackles and interceptions per game as a real two way threat, ball winner and creator, and you can only imagine how much better his offensive output would be on a team with better attacking options around him than Wolves.

Tottenham need attacking options to provide overlap for the left wingers, and if Spurs are not sold on Udogie's ability to stay healthy, it does make sense for them to go for a left back. Though Spurs did show interest in Robertson, old, declining veterans in the Premier League are not who they need; they need young blood. Souza isn't proven in England yet, as promising as he is, but Bueno has already shown he is an above average starting left back in the toughest top division in world football.

Overall, defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha has been a positive loan signing for Tottenham Hotspur, but spending 30 million euros to sign the 30-year-old permanently from Bayern Munich is a more difficult decision when there are players like Joao Gomes available.

Gomes is not a new name when it comes to links to the Premier League Big Six, but those links should only increase in the summer transfer window as he has been excellent on a Wolves team that has been the worst in the Premier League - though they are showing signs of life with great results against Arsenal and Aston Villa lately.

And the 25-year-old Brazilian No. 6 has been a key part of that effort. He is a classic 6 in the sense that he bases his game off bruising ball-winning and athleticism, much like Palhinha, but he is also a much better passer and progressive dribbler than the Portuguese international at Tottenham.

Joao Gomes is having a great season for Wolves

This season, Gomes is averaging a robust four combined tackles and interceptions per game with 2.3 combined dribbles completed and fouls drawn per match while completing a robust 86+ percent of his passes for Wolves. Meanwhile, Palhinha is averaging 4.5 combined tackles and interceptions per game but only 1.4 combined fouls drawn and dribbles completed per match with a pass completion percentage in the low 80s. Palhinha does have five goal contributions, but they shroud his overall poor play with the ball in possession.

Tottenham would not be opposed to having Palhinha as veteran depth in the 2026/27 season, but it is fair to wonder if a mediocre Premier League defensive midfielder is worth 30 million euros when he has no future resale value and isn't exactly showing the quality of someone who can help get Spurs out of the bottom half of the table.

Between the two No. 6's, Gomes is more enticing. He is entering his prime, bound to improve his offensive performances on a better team with better players like Tottenham, and he offers so much more on the ball. Palhinha's goal contributions, if anything, are a credit to his athleticism to belie the fact that he is quite useless to a team's build-up phase due to his lack of accuracy of passing, creativity, and poor dribbling skills.

Tottenham Hotspur are still lacking in quality and depth on the wings after signing nobody in the winter transfer window, so bringing former Aston Villa man Moussa Diaby back for another Premier League stint could be a legitimate option.

Per sources close to Graeme Bailey of TEAM Talk, the Al-Ittihad star right winger is contemplating a move back to the Premier League in the summer 2026 transfer window, and London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea are both interested in the 26-year-old, who is still in his prime years as a wide forward.

Other top Premier League clubs like Liverpool and Newcastle United are also being linked, but Spurs may actually be the most intriguing option, since they were linked with the former Villa man before falling out of the race quickly behind Inter Milan. And Diaby ended up not moving at all in a saga similar to Ademola Lookman's, though the Nigerian eventually did move in the last winter window to Atletico Madrid - a transfer Spurs surely regret not making.

Moussa Diaby wants to move back to the Premier League

But do they regret not trying to sign Diaby? He is outgrowing the Saudi Pro League, as expected, putting up better assists and more explosive wing play than the geriatrics in his division, so it is no surprise that he is piqued by coming back to the Premier League.

Diaby didn't get along all that well in his first stint in England with Aston Villa, but the flashes of end product were there. Instead of giving himself the chance for an adjustment period, he bolted for the cash in the Saudi Pro League, perhaps pushed along by a Villa organization that is very content with selling young talents to Saudi for big money - look no further than striker Jhon Duran, too.

Tottenham have a burgeoning world-class right winger in Mohammed Kudus, and perhaps the same can be said for right-footed Wilson Odobert, who switched over there after Kudus's injury. Dejan Kulusevski is also a prolific right winger. But all three are currently injured, with Odobert tearing his ACL and Kulu still not back from his own severe knee injury.

Diaby has played on the left in the past, too, but his best position is on the right, where he was one of the best wingers in Europe while at Bayer Leverkusen before his Premier League transfer. Now, the Frenchman's cost may prohibit him from being the best option for Spurs as a backup to Kudus with Kulu and Odobert already on the books, but when it comes to playmaking, difference-making, and quality, Diaby may be the best right winger Spurs could get.