Spurs Web

Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, has blasted one of the referee’s big calls in Tottenham vs Arsenal.

Arsenal ran riot in the second 45 after a tight first period at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the Lilywhites going down 4-1 to their fierce rivals.

There was a big moment in the game at the start of the second half when Arsenal were 2-1 ahead, with Randal Kolo Muani having the ball in the net.

However, the referee, Peter Bankes, disallowed the goal, adjudging that the Tottenham Hotspur striker had pushed Gabriel Magalhaes on the back before finding the back of the net.

Keith Hackett claims Tottenham’s second goal should have stood

Replays showed that Kolo Muani did have his hand on Gabriel’s back, but the Brazilian exaggerated his fall after receiving just the faintest of touches on his back.

Keith Hackett claims that the French striker’s goal should have stood as he was trying to maintain his balance rather than push the Arsenal defender.

The former PMGOL chief told Football Insider about Kolo Muani’s disallowed goal: “What the referee has to decide is whether the Arsenal player is backing in. What makes it so stupid in this situation is that we see grappling going unpunished, but something as soft as this is punished.

MORE SPURS STORIES

“No wonder spectators are confused by the quality of these decisions. The player is backing in with the intention of achieving exactly what he’s achieved.

“A push starts with a bent arm, and it straightens – that’s a push. Here, we have a straight arm, and the player is using a degree of balance while maintaining space.”

Igor Tudor plays down Kolo Mauni’s second goal

Igor Tudor was scathing of Tottenham’s performance against Arsenal, admitting that some aspects of his side’s display made him angry.

However, the Spurs interim head coach brushed aside the controversy surrounding Kolo Muani’s disallowed goal.

When asked what he made of the decision to rule out the goal, the Croat told Football.London: “Oh, you know about this, touching the players in the box. It’s always about referees here, you know.

“They have their eyes who, you know, they make decisions every time, you know. How they feel. How they see. So it’s nothing. Sometimes they leave. Sometimes, no. This is how it is.”

Tottenham Hotspur are ready to change one of the pillars of their transfer strategy if the club manage to preserve their Premier League status this season.

Over recent weeks, some reports have suggested that Tottenham are planning an ambitious rebuild of their squad this summer after a quiet January window.

However, the club cannot even be sure that they will still be in the top-flight next season after the latest defeat to Arsenal in the North London Derby.

Spurs are currently sitting just four points ahead of the drop zone, and many pundits have warned that relegation is a very real possibility for Tottenham.

Tottenham owners ready to rip up club’s wage bill structure if they stay up

The Guardian have revealed that the Spurs owners have made a big decision to change how they operate in the transfer market should the club avoid relegation.

Tottenham are planning to ‘rip up their rigid wage structure’ in the summer as they undertake a massive overhaul of their squad.

MORE SPURS STORIES

There is said to be an acknowledgement at the club that they have underinvested in players’ salaries for years, and that is seen as one of the reasons why the team finds itself in its current predicament.

Lewis family feel a correction on wages is long overdue

The Guardian point out that Tottenham have the lowest wage bill among the ‘big six’, with the club’s £222m outlay on salaries being just a little over half of Man City’s, but that is now expected to change.

The club did not tend to pay out massive salaries under Daniel Levy. However, the report reveals that there is a growing feeling at Tottenham that correction on that front is ‘long overdue’.

Micky van de Ven has revealed what he noticed about the atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the North London derby on Sunday.

There has been a disconnect between the Tottenham fan base and the club over recent months, and that has often reflected in the atmosphere at N17.

This Spurs side has been regularly booed off the pitch by the supporters, who are not happy with the style of football they have seen.

However, with Thomas Frank leaving the club and Igor Tudor coming in, there was more optimism ahead of the North London derby, and that was reflected by the atmosphere at the stadium.

Micky van de Ven admits it is a ‘tough situation’ for Tottenham fans

Ven de Ven himself has had run-ins with some supporters this season, but the Dutchman admitted that the fans got right behind the team for the entire 90 minutes on Sunday.

The centre-back, who wore the captain’s armband for the derby, revealed that the players were disappointed not to give something back to the fans for their efforts.

Van de Ven told the club’s official website: “The fans were unbelievable today, and I have to give credit to them for the full 90 minutes. I know it’s also a really tough situation for them, but they kept standing behind us today.

MORE SPURS STORIES

“It was really important for us, and I think we felt it as well. We wanted to do everything to give them something back but, but unfortunately, we couldn’t do that today.”

Van de Ven insists Spurs ‘didn’t play really bad’ against Arsenal

Reflecting on the 90 minutes, the 24-year-old admitted that the result was tough to take after battling as well as the home side did in the first period.

However, he confessed that Arsenal’s second goal early in the second half provided a succer punch for the Lilywhites.

Micky added: “It was a really tough game. I think in the first half we were going into half-time with 1-1, and I think there’s a good feeling from our side. Obviously, we suffered again, didn’t play really bad, but then we came out in the second half, they scored after two minutes and after that it was really tough.”

Gus Poyet has now stated that Tottenham captain Cristian Romero is a vital piece for the club if they are to avoid relegation this season.

Tottenham Hotspur currently need all the help they can get as they look to retain their Premier League status this season.

However, at the moment, they are short of options, with injuries and suspensions keeping several players out.

In the north London derby, Igor Tudor had only 13 senior first-team players at his disposal, while a further 12 were unavailable.

Tottenham suspension latest: Gus Poyet says Cristian Romero is vital for Spurs survival

Among those currently sidelined is Cristian Romero, who is suspended following a red card in the clash against Manchester United.

The Argentine has been serving a four-game ban and is expected to return on 15 March in the clash against Liverpool, although he will miss Tottenham’s next two London derbies against Fulham and Crystal Palace.

Former Tottenham midfielder Gus Poyet has now stressed how crucial Romero is to Spurs’ survival hopes, while acknowledging that his aggressive streak can sometimes hurt the side.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Speaking about Romero’s temperament and importance, Poyet told BetWright: “Cristian Romero is clearly a player that wants to win football matches.

“But when he goes over the top or gets sent off, he can be a problem for the team or the manager, because they really miss him when he is not playing.

“The criticism he has received is probably exaggerated because of the current position Spurs are in; they have just sacked Thomas Frank and are sitting near the relegation zone, so there is naturally more pressure and blame going around.

“Romero is exactly who Spurs needed on the pitch against Arsenal; his character is perfectly suited to those kind of intense derbies.

“I hope he uses his time away from the pitch wisely, because sometimes when you are suspended and take a few weeks off, you return with a fresh mindset having learned a lot from sitting on the sideline.

“Spurs have a far better chance of winning matches when Romero is in his best form – on the pitch but also mentally.”

Spurs defence will improve as Cristian Romero nears return

Spurs’ back line was all over the place against Arsenal, with Joao Palhinha and Radu Dragusin struggling to contain the Gunners’ attack, but that should change when Romero returns.

The Argentine may have moments of recklessness, yet there is no denying he is a world-class option who elevates this Tottenham side, not just with his defending but also with his passing.

Tottenham Hotspur suffered a heavy defeat to Arsenal, but there could be some positives to look out for ahead of their next Premier League fixture.

Tottenham Hotspur’s first Premier League match under Igor Tudor was an absolute trainwreck, but making a quick start does not guarantee success.

Thomas Frank almost won the UEFA Super Cup in his first competitive game at Spurs and this was followed up with victories over Burnley and Manchester City.

However, Tottenham do need to improve quickly in order to steer further away from the relegation zone, making their match with Fulham this Sunday of great importance.

Here are three things Spurs supporters can expect from Tudor’s second London derby as the club’s manager.

Kevin Danso and Pedro Porro could return from injury

Tudor has revealed that Kevin Danso and Pedro Porro could be fit to face Fulham, which is great news for Tottenham.

Danso is desperately needed in order for Tudor to play his preferred formation, because his current options let him down against Arsenal.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Joao Palhinha is not a centre-back and Radu Dragusin should be nowhere near the first-team based on his performances in a Spurs shirt. Whereas Danso has been fairly reliable when called on and would make a big difference at the back.

Then there is Porro, who was actually experiencing a poor run of form before his injury. Hopefully this will change once he returns, as he would be far more natural as a right wing-back than Archie Gray.

Igor Tudor will stick with a back three

Tottenham fans will have fond memories of playing with a back three under Mauricio Pochettino, but Tudor’s first time attempting the system at Spurs was a very different story.

However, it is a well known fact that this is the Croatian’s preferred formation, so he is unlikely to ditch if after a single game.

Hopefully Tottenham will be able to get forward against Fulham more than they did in the North London derby and that is where having wing-backs could become highly useful.

Tottenham fans will get a better understanding of what Tudor is all about

Judging a manager based on one game against the Premier League leaders would not be fair on Tudor, but Spurs fans will have gained a better understanding of him by full time on Sunday.

Tottenham need to start winning matches otherwise relegation to the Championship is a genuine possibility.

Does Tudor have what it takes to get results? Well for now, the answer to that question remains unknown, but everything will become clearer with each game he manages.

Tottenham fans have now made their predictions for Spurs’ next five Premier League games as the relegation battle intensifies.

Tottenham Hotspur fans will be hoping their side can stay in the English top flight this season after what has been a difficult 25/26 campaign.

Spurs find themselves in 16th place and are currently in a three-horse relegation battle with Nottingham Forest and West Ham United.

Tottenham and their relegation rivals have a crunching set of fixtures to come in the coming weeks, and results in the next five could well seal their respective fate.

For Spurs, it is simple – get wins on the board and give yourselves some daylight in the final stages of the season.

Tottenham fixtures: fans predict Fulham, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest results in relegation battle

Tottenham fans know their side is in a tough spot and have predicted the outcome of Spurs’ next five fixtures in the Premier League – Fulham away, Crystal Palace at home, Liverpool away, Nottingham Forest at home and Sunderland away.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Many do not expect maximum points. Taking to social media, one supporter said when predicting how many points Tottenham could take: “7, but if they lose the first three games then it will be pressure they have never felt before and I am not sure they have the backbone for a relegation fight.”

Another added: “Draw, Win, Loss, Win, Draw 8 points.”

One fan wrote: “With Radu Dragusin at the back? Maybe 4. Once Danso and Cristian Romero come back we will be much harder to score against with those three at the back but before that I cannot see us getting anything from Fulham away.”

Another stated: “6/7 and I think that puts us very close to safety, Igor has got to be brave with the starting 11, do not think we can afford to give Dragusin another chance.”

One added: “7 I think we beat Palace and Forest at home and get a point next week.” Another comment read: “Anything less than 7 is an absolute disgrace. Need to lock in now or the ship will sink.”

A final supporter wrote: “If we beat Fulham, 9. If we win any later, 6 (Palace and Forest are the games with the most importance). Realistically, we do not beat Liverpool away, and the Stadium of Light has become a fortress so I am not expecting a result.”

Spurs must respond as Wayne Rooney backs survival

Spurs cannot afford to go down this season, and Wayne Rooney believes that Tottenham will avoid the drop, thanks to West Ham United.

However, the Lilywhites must guard against complacency and focus on themselves if they are to get out of what is a disappointing situation.

The league is very competitive this term, and no side is a walkover, so Spurs must now take every game seriously.

The race for Bayern Munich star Leon Goretzka continues to heat up as Tottenham eye a summer deal for the experienced midfielder.

It was widely reported that Goretzka was a target for Spurs in the winter transfer window, but the midfielder ended up staying put at Bayern Munich.

It has since been confirmed that the Spurs target will leave the Allianz Stadium when his contract runs out in the summer.

Over recent weeks, there have been suggestions that Tottenham could face competition from Premier League rivals for the Bayern star, and there has now been a fresh update on his future.

Tottenham one of five clubs battling it out for Leon Goretzka

A new report in L’Interista has covered Inter Milan’s interest in the Bayern star and have named the teams that the Nerazzuri have to beat to secure the 31-year-old’s signature.

The report says that Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, AC Milan and Galatasaray have all expressed an interest in Goretzka.

Interestingly, it is said that the midfielder is demanding a salary of €9m (£7.8m) per year from his suitors as his contract at Bayern runs out.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The report suggests that only clubs in the United States and Saudi Arabia may be able to afford to pay the 31-year-old such a salary.

Inter’s strategy to win the race for Goretzka

L’Interista make it clear that the German international would like to continue his career in Europe.

Inter are aware that ‘it won’t be easy’ to see off so much competition for Goretzka in the summer, but he remains on the club’s summer wishlist.

The outlet adds that the Serie A giants may be willing to sit down at the table with the midfielder’s representatives and offer him a three-year deal in an effort to persuade him to come to the San Siro.

Tottenham are braced for a developing transfer battle this summer, with several Premier League rivals circling the same experienced defender.

Tottenham Hotspur know they must add quality to their first-team squad if they are to halt their downward trajectory in the Premier League come next season.

Adding players with Premier League experience is never a bad thing, and that is an avenue Tottenham must explore.

A few of these experienced players are also set to be available on a free transfer this summer, and Spurs have been linked with one.

Tottenham join Marcos Senesi transfer race amid Premier League interest

According to Area Napoli, Tottenham are one of several clubs in Europe viewed as potential competition to Napoli for Marcos Senesi.

The Serie A outfit have been described as “eyeing a move” for Senesi, a player who was an old target, but is now firmly on their radar as injuries in their squad as led to reflections from sporting director Giovanni Manna.

The 28-year-old centre-back has impressed this season for Bournemouth, stepping into Andoni Iraola’s backline after the club lost their two main starting centre-backs Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi to Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Senesi is capable of playing out from the back, with precise passing that often helps break the lines from defence into midfield.

Tottenham, however, are not the only Premier League side showing interest in the Bournemouth man, with Everton, Aston Villa and Newcastle United also in the race for the defender.

Spurs face Barcelona competition for Marcos Senesi free transfer

Outside of England, Barcelona are also said to be interested in Senesi and, given the pedigree of the Spanish side, Tottenham will need to move quickly if they are to sign the 28-year-old this summer.

It is understood that Barcelona are accelerating their plans to land Senesi, who is set to become a free agent when his contract expires in June.

However, with interest from several clubs, including Chelsea and Crystal Palace, and with Newcastle United and Aston Villa only just entering the mix, it is a strong indication that Senesi’s representatives are working to secure a new club for the defender ahead of his departure from the Vitality Stadium.

Harry Redknapp has revealed what he thinks about Tottenham Hotspur’s decision to appoint Igor Tudor as the interim head coach.

The Croat got a reality check on Sunday about Spurs’ current predicament as well as the ruthlessness of the Premier League as Arsenal put the Lilywhites to the sword.

On Friday, Tudor was confident that Tottenham would not go down this season, and it will be interesting to see if the Croat remains as bullish after what unfolded at N17 in his first game in charge.

The 47-year-old has plenty of experience as a firefighter at clubs mid-season, but Redknapp is not convinced it was the right move for the Lilywhites.

Harry Redknapp claims Tottenham have taken a ‘big gamble’ with Igor Tudor

The former Spurs manager revealed that he would have jumped at the chance to take the interim job until the end of the campaign if he had been asked.

He insisted that Tudor’s lack of experience in the Premier League makes him a risky appointment for Tottenham.

When asked if he would have liked the Spurs job, Redknapp told Sky Sports: “Oh… for sure, I would have. Yeah, I would have definitely had a go. I would have loved it, yeah, but listen, a lot of the ex-players coming out and saying they should have got me back here (to Tottenham).

MORE SPURS STORIES

“Even Ray Parlour this morning on talkSPORT said ‘they should have got Harry back in’. I would have loved it. I would loved to have gone in here and given it a go.

“They have bought somebody in, but nobody knew him. He (Tudor) has had lots of jobs and been around the block a bit, but never managed in England. Tudor is a big gamble, but you cannot blame him for yesterday (against Arsenal). That’s how the results have been for months, haven’t they? Shocking.”

Redknapp reveals if he expects Spurs to stay up

Sunday’s loss now leaves Tottenham just four points ahead of 18th-placed West Ham and just two ahead of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.

Redknapp believes that relegation is a very real possibility for Spurs, but predicted that they will have enough to stay up.

The 78-year-old added: “It’s a great job for somebody for next year, if they go down they’ll come back up next year, but I don’t see [it]. I think they’ll be alright. But then I’ve got a foot in both camps, West Ham, I want them to stay up as well, so I’m hoping that both teams stay up, then that leaves Notts [Nottingham] Forest, who are a great club.

“One of the three of them are going to go, I can’t see anybody else. Probably Burnley will go, they’re trying but I think they’re going to go with Wolves. Wolves have gone for sure. Then it’s a toss-up between Forest, West Ham and Spurs, and Spurs are as much in it as the other two. It’s going to be tight.”

It may have ended in defeat, but Igor Tudor’s first game as Tottenham manager revealed a lot to us when it comes to what to expect for the rest of the season.

Sadly, Tudor was unable to make an impact this weekend, with Spurs ending up on the wrong end of a 4-1 defeat to local rivals Arsenal.

Tudor has been backed to save Tottenham from relegation still, but we’ll need to see far more from the players in the coming weeks if that is to happen.

Regardless of the result, here’s hoping those players learned a valuable lesson about their new manager and his expectations. We certainly did, so here’s what we noticed about Igor Tudor’s setup based on the North London Derby.

What we know about Igor Tudor’s Tottenham now

Tudor played the Tottenham formation we all expected

Last week, Tudor said his style and system weren’t important at Spurs, given their current predicament. But he didn’t stray too far from the playbook in his opening game. We all knew he preferred the 3-4-2-1 formation, and he stuck with it on Sunday.

However, it will be interesting to see whether he switches that up to a 3-4-1-2 in the near future. With Richarlison and Dominic Solanke both fit now, Tudor has options in the striker department, whereas other areas of the pitch are depleted due to injuries.

He needs Tottenham defenders to push up higher

One of the more concerning images from the weekend was Micky van de Ven seemingly ignoring Tudor’s instructions to push higher up the field. The Croatian was screaming at his captain to advance the defensive line, and while the Dutchman didn’t do as he was told, that does still tell us a lot.

MORE SPURS STORIES

We know Tudor likes an aggressive, high-press style of play and the fact that he’s demanding this of van de Ven and co. suggests that it will definitely be a trademark of his reign at Spurs.

Guglielmo Vicario was told to play the long ball

In the past, we’ve seen Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank clearly instruct their players to play out from the back and to build up play from the goalkeeper. That approach went out of the window under Tudor on Sunday.

Guglielmo Vicario played plenty of long balls up to Randal Kolo Muani and Pape Sarr. The only problem is that out of 23 attempted long balls, only two (9%) of them found their target. Either Vicario needs to improve those numbers, or Tudor needs to rethink his methods.

Tudor trusts the three at the back

It says a lot that Tudor not only started the game with three at the back, but he finished it with the same shape, too. We assumed that, when Mathys Tel was warming up, we would see Spurs go for a more attacking system, but the young winger was employed at wing-back instead of playing higher up the pitch.

Even when chasing the game, it would appear Tudor is not going to stray too far from his standard approach. Sounds like a few players may have to get used to playing slightly unorthodox roles from now until the end of the season.

Off the ball is just as important as on the ball for Tottenham

Tudor said a lot about Tottenham’s mentality and the confidence of the players in the wake of the defeat to Arsenal. He specifically claimed he did not see enough from his players off the ball, which means there needs to be a lot more work done.

Obviously, Tudor will want his players to perform when they’re in possession, and that’s something he can directly improve on the training ground. However, the work rate and desire to keep chasing the ball and pressing in the right areas is more of a mental aspect, and that’s far harder to make progress on.

Only time will tell if Tudor and his Tottenham players can solve the issue and pick up the necessary points to avoid relegation now.