Football FanCast

Tottenham Hotspur are at their nadir, but it will get a whole lot worse if Igor Tudor fails to inspire his squad over the final few months of the season.

That's assuming the interim boss lasts until May, of course, and that looked decidedly unlikely after four wretched defeats in the wake of Thomas Frank's sacking.

The error-strewn 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie has done no physical damage to Spurs' Premier League relegation fight, but the psychological hit has been intense.

Antonin Kinsky made a slew of mistakes and was taken off after only 16 minutes in the most chastising of circumstances. Tudor made the call, and he's been met with a sea of criticism, and it's already beginning to look like the Croatian coach's position is becoming untenable.

The latest on Igor Tudor's Spurs position

Many thought that the seven-goal defeat at Atletico would prove the end of Tudor's fleeting tenure, but Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold has revealed that the 47-year-old is expected to take questions on Thursday for the club's pre-match press conference, ahead of a Premier League trip to Anfield.

It doesn't feel very likely that Tottenham will stave off the imminent threat of relegation by keeping the faith in Tudor for the remainder of the campaign, but with Harry Redknapp unrealistic and top targets such as Roberto De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino only available after the end of the season, ENIC Group could be forced into making a drastic, left-field decision.

Well, the latest man in the frame is Sean Dyche, who has been out of work since being dismissed by Nottingham Forest. According to TEAMtalk, the manager with 350 Premier League games under his belt, is one of the many names being considered for the post.

In fact, according to a reporter from AP News, Spurs have actually made 'tenative contact' with Dyche's representatives to discuss his availability.

The English boss isn't the most exciting coach on the block, but he could be exactly what this side need as they stare into an abyss they cannot afford to fall into.

Why Spurs need to appoint Dyche

Dyche has a reputation as something of a relegation specialist, having kept Burnley in the Premier League for six seasons before taking the reins at Everton and guiding the beleaguered Merseysiders away from danger.

Indeed, while Dyche's time at Goodison Park eventually went stale, he replaced Frank Lampard's sinking ship and brought clarity to the club before propping them back up.

The differences between his coaching style and Dyche's are night and day. Tudor might employ a front-footed strategy, but it hasn't clicked at all at N17, and perhaps the players need someone who understands the Premier League and what it takes to beat opponents in a battle for survival.

And Dyche, after all, has managed 350 games in England's top flight, with his short-lived tenure at Nottingham Forest earlier this season initially seeing him win four of his first eight league outings, including an away trip to Liverpool and a 3-0 drubbing over Frank's Tottenham.

In the Champions League on Tuesday, Tottenham came undone by their own error-filled performance. But this has been a recurring theme throughout their Premier League campaign, one which could form a central role in their tumble into the second tier.

While there have been some half-hearted claims for Redknapp to return to the Spurs dugout, the iconic English coach is 79 years old, so he'd probably be a poor choice to draft out of retirement and into the thick of a toxic relegation battle.

Dyche, however, enforces some similar old-school principles that Tottenham could benefit from, restoring a semblance of confidence to the dressing room and a unified focus on battling away from the danger zone. Tudor, after all, has thus far proved incapable in that respect.

The reality of Tottenham's position has finally dawned on the under-fire board, but still they back Tudor with time running out.

While drafting Dyche in is hardly the most appetising option at the Lilywhites' disposal, these are desperate times, and they call for desperate measures.

Dyche is a specialist in staving off danger at the bottom of the table, and Tottenham are in real trouble of being relegated from the top flight. With Tudor seemingly unable to rally the troops, the experienced Premier League boss could be the perfect option.

Tottenham appear to be sticking with Igor Tudor until Liverpool, after it was confirmed that the Croatian will be holding a pre-match press conference for the Premier League clash.

However, make no mistake, things could change very quickly.

It has been four games, four defeats, and 14 goals conceded. Tudor is quite simply living on borrowed time at Tottenham, and Tuesday night in Madrid should have been the moment that completely sealed his fate.

The 5-2 mauling at the hands of Atlético Madrid — which makes it six straight losses in all competitions, a first in the club's entire 144-year history — left Spurs fans apoplectic and the board scrambling.

Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham arrived at the training ground early on Wednesday morning for crunch talks with Tudor and his coaching staff.

The club have confirmed the Croatian will take Friday's pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's trip to Anfield, handing him a short-term lifeline, but few expect him to survive much longer.

Spurs sit just one point above the Premier League relegation zone, and with their Champions League exit much more likely than not, this season is fast becoming a Lilywhites nightmare.

The dressing room, it is widely reported, has not taken to Tudor at all — a reality painfully illustrated by his failure to even acknowledge the distraught 22-year-old Antonin Kinsky as the goalkeeper trudged off the Metropolitano pitch, having made two catastrophic errors in the opening 17 minutes.

Teammates consoled the young Czech keeper, while the manager stood motionless.

Tudor's own response to the mounting pressure was almost comically defiant.

"It's not about me," he said after the Atletico disaster.

"We need to stay calm. Less talking."

Spurs fans will disagree on that last point.

So what happens if — or rather when — the axe falls? Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas has explained exactly how the decision-making process works at Tottenham, and his answer throws up a name that most supporters will never have heard of.

'Interesting' Tottenham name set for big say on Igor Tudor's future

Speaking to Sky's official website, Thomas has shared some insight into the corridors of power at Spurs.

"The process that took place when Thomas Frank was sacked was that the senior leadership group at Tottenham, which includes CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange, recommended to the ownership and the board that it was time to make a change," Thomas explained.

"That's certainly the process that will be followed again, but it will be the owners Vivienne and Charles Lewis who have the final say on whether or not the head coach should be changed."

So far, so predictable, but then came the curveball.

"There's also another interesting name in there that Spurs fans may not have heard of before, and that is Nick Beucher," Thomas said.

"He is the son-in-law of Vivienne Lewis and is said to be increasingly influential in key decisions there. So, he would also have a say."

Nick Beucher. Not a name that features in any football almanac, but reportedly one of the key figures who will determine what happens at one of England's biggest clubs over the coming days.

His apparent growing influence — operating through his family connection to co-owner Vivienne Lewis — adds another layer of intrigue to an already chaotic situation at Hotspur Way.

As for who comes next, the bookmakers have made Sean Dyche the frontrunner, with Roberto De Zerbi at 4/1 and Robbie Keane — who TEAMtalk report has already been spoken to — also prominent.

Mauricio Pochettino remains the romantic option, but his World Cup commitments with the USA make any summer appointment the earliest realistic timeline.

Whoever Beucher, the Lewises, Venkatesham and Lange ultimately decide upon, they need to get it right. Third time unlucky is not a phrase Spurs fans can afford to hear.

Igor Tudor’s position as Tottenham boss is under intense pressure after another awful night for the Croatian in the Champions League.

Tottenham Supporters' Trust call for action

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust called for “emergency action” after a chaotic 5-2 loss at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

The club confirmed Tudor is set to speak at the scheduled pre-match press conference on Friday, when his future will again be under the spotlight.

More records tumbled for Spurs on an extraordinary evening where young goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was withdrawn after 17 minutes due to two terrible errors.

Defeat made Tudor the first Tottenham boss to lose his first four games in charge, while the club have lost six games in a row for the first time in their history.

Tudor has only been in charge for 25 days, but refused to answer questions about his future post-match.

“Tonight’s performance and result is a total disgrace,” a statement from THST read. “It’s symptomatic of the abysmal state of things at Spurs right now.

“From the January transfer window to the management appointments, the lack of leadership and the total absence of anyone with a Spurs pedigree informing these decisions. Where is the Daring to Do? Where are the Echoes of Glory?

“Emergency action is needed as right now we are sleepwalking off the edge of a cliff. Being a Spurs fan has never been so difficult but supporters will not sit by and watch the club continue to decline.

“At the very least those in Madrid should have their match tickets refunded. But all we really care about is that the club make us proud. We are here to support the team and be the 12th man. But we all deserve so much more.”

Former Spurs boss Tim Sherwood accused Tudor of “adding fuel to the fire” and believes the club might make their move during the international break later this month.

“He keeps chopping and changing things, which is a worry to be honest,” Sherwood said 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 hasn’t given the players a lift at all. He’s a firefighter who has a can of petrol in his hand at the moment – he’s adding fuel to the fire rather than restoring confidence to the players.

“Hopefully he can turn it around but, if he doesn’t, I think Spurs might roll the dice again. There’s an international break after their game against Nottingham Forest, which would be a good opportunity for a new manager to come in and have a look at things.”

Spurs sit 16th in the Premier League, one point above West Ham and Forest, with their next match a trip to Anfield on Sunday to face Liverpool.

Despite calls for the sack from fans, pundits and mainstream media, Alasdair Gold has revealed the club have "confirmed" Tudor will still be in charge by Friday at the bare minimum, with the 47 year-old set to take the pre-Liverpool press conference.

If Tudor is to be sacked, it seems, it will come after the trip to Anfield, where Tottenham have not won since 2011, thanks to goals from Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modrić.

Tottenham Hotspur have now turned their attention towards signing a Champions League-winning star in a bargain deal this summer.

Tudor: "It was necessary" to substitute Kinsky

Just when Tottenham fans didn't believe it could get any worse, they saw their side fall three goals behind within 15 minutes against Atletico Madrid and their goalkeeper replaced within 17.

It was a brutal first 20 minutes for the Lilywhites and for Antonin Kinsky, who gave away possession twice inside his own box to gift Atletico Madrid an instant advantage.

After coming in to replace the out-of-form Guglielmo Vicario, some may have been pleased to see Kinsky and pleased that Igor Tudor had made a bold decision. To say that choice backfired would be an incredible understatement, however.

Despite receiving criticism for taking Kinsky out of the game after his mistakes, Tudor stood by his decision at full-time, telling reporters: "In my 15 years coaching, I never do that. It was necessary to preserve the guy, to preserve the team.

“Incredible situation, nothing to comment, you will see. It was, before the game, the right choice to do in the moment like we are. Pressure on Vicario, another competition, Toni is a very good goalkeeper. So, it was, for me, the right decision.

"I explained to Toni, also speaking after, that he is the right guy and a good goalkeeper. Unfortunately, it happened in this big game these mistakes.

"He was sorry. He made an excuse for the team. The team is with him. Me too. I was speaking with him, he understands the moment. He understands why he (had to) go out. So, as I said before, he is a very good goalkeeper. We are all together. It is not about one player, so, it has happened."

It doesn't get any easier for Spurs, either. Up next, Anfield awaits and even against an inconsistent Liverpool side, securing victory will be an almighty task - especially if one of their transfer targets starts.

Tottenham plotting second Robertson approach

No matter the result at Anfield, Spurs will have their sights set on Andy Robertson. According to Football Insider, Tottenham are now plotting a move to sign Robertson as a free agent when his Liverpool contract expires this summer.

The move will rely on their ability to avoid the drop, then it's about convincing the 32-year-old to join - something they failed to do in the January transfer window.

"There was obviously interest there - there were discussions had with both sets of clubs. But the decision was that I wanted to stay. We stayed at Liverpool and that was the decision made. I was never not committed." (Robertson)

Although he has fallen behind Milos Kerkez in the pecking order at Liverpool, Robertson would be an excellent signing for Tottenham. The £160,000-a-week defender would fill the leadership gap at the club as a Champions League and Premier League winner, whilst also adding plenty of quality.

As free transfers goes, Robertson would be one of the bargains of the summer if the Lilywhites manage to lure him to North London.

Tottenham defender Djed Spence was spotted giving Igor Tudor a clear message as Spurs were humbled by Atlético Madrid on an astonishing night in the Champions League.

Atlético Madrid blast five past Tottenham as Tudor nightmare continues

Tudor's Tottenham tenure has been a disaster from the start.

Three Premier League defeats, nine goals conceded, one point above the drop zone. But nothing — nothing — in these wretched opening weeks quite prepared supporters for what unfolded at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano tonight.

Atlético smashed Spurs 5-2, and the scoreline barely tells half of the story.

Tudor made the extraordinary decision to drop Guglielmo Vicario — a goalkeeper who had barely missed a game all season — in favour of Antonin Kinsky, the Czech keeper who had not played since a Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle back in October.

The manager spoke beforehand about picking what was best for the team. Within six minutes, that logic lay in ruins.

Kinsky slipped attempting a clearance, the ball broke to Julian Alvarez, who fed Marcos Llorente to stroke home from the edge of the area. 1-0 in the sixth minute.

Micky van de Ven then lost his footing trying to deal with a routine ball and presented Antoine Griezmann with a tap-in. 2-0.

And then — the moment that really beggared belief — Kinsky was handed a straightforward back-pass, swung his left boot at thin air and watched Alvarez walk the ball into an empty net.

Three goals in fifteen minutes. Three catastrophic individual errors. The goalkeeper was in tears as he trudged down the tunnel, after Tudor made the very controversial decision to take him off.

Vicario rushed to get his gloves on, and a shell-shocked Tottenham dressing room tried to process what had just happened.

It got worse before it got better. Robin Le Normand headed in a fourth from a corner in the 22nd minute, the defending shambolic once again, before Pedro Porro at least pulled one back for a vestige of pride just after the half-hour.

Half-time arrived with Spurs four goals down, five yellow cards accumulated, and the tie as good as over.

Alvarez added a fifth on the hour — his second of a personally devastating night for Tudor's side — before Dominic Solanke, introduced at the break, netted a second consolation in the 67th to make it 5-2.

Tottenham finished the game with more yellow cards than shots on target, and have now lost six games in a row for the first time in their history.

But it was not the scoreline that had TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher reaching for his words, it was a moment caught away from the broadcast cameras he spotted — and one that perhaps paints a picture of a club fractured from within.

Djed Spence sends clear message to Tottenham boss Igor Tudor

As Spence was taken off with just under 10 minutes to go, he was seen approaching Tudor on the touchline — not the other way around — and tapping the manager on the shoulder and offering a handshake.

Fletcher was immediately alert to what he was seeing, pointing out that it was "not something you see" — a player initiating that exchange rather than the manager.

The significance, Fletcher suggested, lay in what had happened earlier in the game when Tudor substituted Kinsky without appearing to acknowledge the stricken goalkeeper as he walked past him, leaving the 22-year-old heading for the tunnel in disarray.

Whether Spence was making a deliberate point, showing solidarity to Kinsky, or simply acting out of character, Fletcher was clear that it was a message that warranted attention.

On a night when Spurs were humiliated on the pitch, the sideshows off it may tell the more damaging story.

Tudor's Tottenham are a club in freefall, and the evidence is everywhere you look.

Tottenham Hotspur could make a move for an "expert" former manager if Igor Tudor is sacked.

Tudor under pressure after terrible start

Tudor has made a terrible start to life as interim Tottenham manager, losing his opening three games, which means his side are now just one point above the Premier League relegation zone, with nine games left to play.

Bringing in a manager with no experience in English football was always going to be a gamble, and Jamie O'Hara has already called for Spurs to take drastic action by getting rid of the former Juventus boss, saying: "I’d sack the manager. International break coming up, you’ve got a guy to come in and do a job. He needed to get quick results, he’s done that in the past.

"But if you look at the end of most of his managerial reigns, he’s terrible. Falls out with everyone and they get rid of him. But he’s lost three on the bounce, and the performances have got worse. His tactics are terrible. He’s miles off it, he’s shown no evidence he can get results, all he’s done is come in and moan about the problems there are at Tottenham."

Tudor is already under pressure, and Sean Dyche has now emerged as a leading candidate to replace the Croatian, but the ex-Nottingham Forest boss is not the only option on the shortlist.

According to a report from Sports Boom, Tottenham could also make a move for former manager Harry Redknapp, who has been out of work since leaving Birmingham City way back in 2017.

Tudor has been given two more matches to save his job, with Spurs set to travel to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, before taking on Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.

Should the 47-year-old get the sack, Redknapp is in the frame to replace him, and the 79-year-old has already made it clear he would be willing to take the job.

Appointing Redknapp would be gamble for Tottenham

Bringing in the Englishman would be a gamble for Tottenham, given that he has been out of management for nearly nine years, but there probably isn't a great deal of top-quality options available, with relegation becoming a realistic possibility.

Described as an "expert" manager by Luka Modric, the veteran manager is vastly experienced in England, unlike Tudor, who was a strange appointment from the start.

Gary Lineker has suggested it could make sense for Tottenham to re-appoint the vastly experienced coach, saying: "Honestly, I don't think it would be a bad idea to bring someone like Harry Redknapp in. Not someone like [him], but Harry Redknapp.

"I know it sounds a bit mad and he's been out of the game for a while, but you know what he's like, that big personality, lifting everybody in a moment of crisis. A little bit like Martin O'Neill's done on a couple of occasions at Celtic and lifted them."

Should Tottenham fall to another defeat at Liverpool, they will be in serious danger, and hiring Redknapp as an interim manager would make a lot of sense.

Tottenham Hotspur are now in close contact to sign a £35m forward, who is being targeted by a number of the Premier League's top clubs and Atletico Madrid.

Spurs make approach to sign "electric" forward

Tottenham's 3-1 defeat against Crystal Palace consigned them to their fifth defeat on the spin in the Premier League, and they are now sitting dangerously close to the relegation zone, just one point clear of London rivals West Ham United with nine games left to play.

In fairness, injuries haven't helped the north Londoners' cause, with Mohammed Kudus missing the last nine Premier League games due to a hamstring issue, after making a promising start, with the Ghanaian registering two goals and six assists in 19 matches.

Kudus' absence coincides with a very concerning run of seven losses and two defeats in nine games, which suggests additional strength in depth is required in wide areas, and a former Aston Villa winger has now emerged as a target.

That is according to a report from Fussballdaten, which states Tottenham are now in close contact to sign Al-Ittihad star Moussa Diaby, and there is a feeling the Saudi club could be willing to cash-in for a fee of around €40m (£35m) this summer.

Diaby wants to return to Europe, and there is certainly no shortage of potential suitors waiting in the wings, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle United also being named as interested parties, alongside Borussia Dortmund and upcoming Champions League opponents Atletico Madrid.

The Frenchman is the Spanish side's top target, but ENIC are looking to foil their plans, and there are indications he could be an exciting addition to the squad...

"Artist" Diaby is Premier League proven

Importantly, the ex-Villa star has already proven himself in the Premier League, chipping in with a very impressive six goals and ten assists for Unai Emery's side during the 2023-24 campaign, and he has since gone on to impress in Saudi Arabia.

The 26-year-old has six assists to his name in the Saudi Pro League this season, which is the most of any Al-Ittihad player, having created a whopping 44 chances, exactly double the amount of nearest-rival Steven Bergwijn.

Lauded as an "artist" by Statman Dave, the right-winger could be a quality signing for Tottenham, but it could be difficult to win the race for his signature, given their current plight.

Avoiding relegation and going as far as possible in the Champions League is all Spurs have left to play for, and they have their work cut out, with a trip to Diaby's rival suitors, Atletico Madrid, coming up on Tuesday night.

Three games, three wretched defeats for Igor Tudor as manager of Tottenham Hotspur.

If you think a loss in his first match against Arsenal was bad, then think again. The match against Crystal Palace just a few days ago was arguably even worse.

Spurs took the lead through Dominic Solanke but Micky van de Ven's moment of madness saw him sent off, plunging Spurs into even deeper relegation trouble.

The fact that the word relegation is being used around the Lilywhites is remarkable. It feels like a nightmare, but it's very much a reality.

So, will the Lewis family and Co make yet another change in the dugout? Time will tell.

The latest on Spurs' hunt for a new manager

When Spurs decided to leave hiring a permanent manager until the summer, it looked like a smart decision on paper, particularly when you consider that some of their primary targets are unattainable until after the World Cup.

However, at the time they sacked Thomas Frank, it's unlikely they really thought they'd be in a relegation battle.

Well, three losses on the bounce have plunged Tudor's side into deeper bother and it would take a miracle to turn around this situation.

Would a change of manager help? Quite possibly. After that defeat to Palace, it was revealed that the Lilywhites were strongly considering a move for Robbie Keane who is currently managing Ferencvaros in Hungary.

While the Irishman would likely be another interim move, there continues to be chatter about who Frank's permanent successor may be.

Mauricio Pochettino continues to be touted and according to GIVEMESPORT, the Argentine is interested in heading back to north London. However, he has duties with the USA at their home World Cup to fulfil before he even considers moving elsewhere.

According to the Telegraph, the Lewis family have started exploring their options, with talks reportedly held with another manager. That happens to be Italian Roberto De Zerbi.

They report that 'plans for a summer appointment have been set in motion', and have held discussions with De Zerbi's camp about coming to Spurs on the proviso that they stay in the Premier League.

Why De Zerbi could be Spurs' own Mikel Arteta

There would be something romantic about either Keane or Pochettino returning to Spurs over the summer, but in De Zerbi, they'd be getting themselves an upgrade, certainly on the former.

Pochettino worked wonders at Tottenham, famously taking them to a Champions League final and would surely be the number one choice among all supporters.

Keane, however, does boast an impressive CV early into his managerial career. He has won league titles with both Ferencvaros and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel.

However, he is not De Zerbi, someone with a track record of overperforming with Brighton in the Premier League and most recently with Marseille in Ligue 1, where for a period of time they were challenging for the league crown.

De Zerbi lost his job in France just a few weeks ago after a series of damaging results left his position untenable, falling out with the squad and fans.

He's fiery, much in the same way former Spurs boss Antonio Conte is, but his style differs from your typical Italian coach. Instead, he's more like Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta, favouring possession and a high-intensity press.

In fact, De Zerbi is so much like Arteta that the Spaniard chose Marseille as the destination for Ethan Nwaneri's loan, recognising the former Brighton boss as the man to get the most out of Arsenal's exciting young player.

It also says it all that both De Zerbi and Arteta have been seen as two of the frontrunners to replace Guardiola once he finally leaves Manchester City behind.

But, what makes them so alike? Well, they're both supremely tactical coaches. While some in the game are more of a man manager, the two bosses in question prefer more of a hands-on approach.

They like to create numerical superiority in key areas, have similarly structured passing lanes, while both managers want their teams to press high and recover the ball quickly to spring an attack.

What is arguably most alike is the way they build from the back. From goal kicks, De Zerbi places his double pivot deep in an attempt to draw the opposition high up the pitch. This allows his side to play short, encouraging the opposition to press. Very regularly, the ball is worked to the outside to the full-backs, who hug a spot on the touchline.

The goalkeeper then acts as a third centre-back in possession, offering another passing option. That's identical to how Arsenal operate, with David Raya very comfortable in possession, manoeuvring the ball between the likes of William Saliba and Gabriel.

De Zerbi also loves dominating possession, much like Arteta. The theory is that if you have the ball, your opposition cannot score. At Sassuolo, his team recorded the highest possession share in Serie A in 2020/21, outlining that very fact.

Unfortunately for Spurs, it's incredibly unlikely that De Zerbi would join mid-season but he'd be a fabulous appointment come the summer if they stay in the division.

Tottenham have a key decision to make in regard to the future of Igor Tudor as Spurs slip perilously close to the relegation zone, and a surprise name has entered the fray.

Tottenham consider Igor Tudor future amid disastrous run

Tudor has been handed the Atletico Madrid game, but do not mistake that for job security.

Tottenham sources confirmed on Friday that their beleaguered Croatian interim would take the press conference ahead of Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg in the Spanish capital.

For a man whose position was so precarious 24 hours earlier that Sam Wallace at The Telegraph was reporting the club were actively considering a second managerial change inside a month, that is about as much of a reprieve as it sounds — which is to say, not much of one at all.

What happens after Atletico remains anybody's guess if the Lilywhites don't arrest this alarming slide.

The numbers are damning: three games in charge, three defeats, nine goals conceded, one point above the relegation zone.

Fans streaming out at half-time of Thursday's 3-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace, songs about the sack ringing around what they now call the New White Hart Lane, and reports of a dressing room that has already grown restless under Tudor's harsh, uncompromising methods.

Micky van de Ven saw red. Palace ran riot, and in the directors' box, former Juventus football director Cristiano Giuntoli — the man who hired Tudor at the Italian club last March — was watching from the stands.

The Telegraph's reporting made clear that Spurs are aware of the situation's gravity. Their hierarchy, led by chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange, have been left to weigh up a decision they know will be scrutinised from all angles.

Do you sack an interim manager after just three games and compound the chaos further? Or do you persist with a man whose squad appears to have already tuned him out, while the fixtures keep coming thick and fast?

Those fixtures, it must be said, are absolutely punishing.

After Atlético, it is Liverpool at Anfield next Sunday, then the European return leg on March 18, then the relegation six-pointer at home to Nottingham Forest on March 22. There is barely a moment to breathe, let alone rebuild.

And so, inevitably, the names are beginning to swirl.

Ferencvaros boss and ex-Spurs striker Robbie Keane is believed to be among the contenders to replace Tudor if the north Londoners decide to part company, while it is believed that talks have already been held over Roberto De Zerbi.

Italian sports paper Tuttosport, who have been following the car crash with considerable interest given Tudor's time in Serie A, report today of more names on their radar.

Sean Dyche one of the 'hottest names' to replace Tudor at Tottenham

As per their information, one of the 'hottest names' to replace Tudor is none other than Sean Dyche — the former Nottingham Forest, Everton, Burnley and Watford boss.

Dyche is a no-nonsense Englishman from Kettering who built his reputation the hard way.

He spent 10 years at Burnley, taking them up from the Championship and establishing them as a genuine top-flight presence on a shoestring budget.

Organised, hard to beat, fiercely competitive — his Burnley sides were not pretty, but they were effective.

He also had a stint at Watford, and kept Everton up against the odds in 2022/23 before being sacked midway through the following season when results turned.

"They are extremely solid," said Thomas Frank about Dyche during his time at Everton.

"I know they had a tough start where they lost their first four games; one defeat in their past seven says everything about them.

"Sean is a fantastic coach and manager. He always makes his team very difficult to play against. They are physical, intensive in pressing, they have pace on transitions, are very good on set-pieces, and they play behind you."

His record suggests a man built for exactly this kind of crisis — a firefighter in the truest sense.

And that is precisely the problem at Spurs.

Tudor was sold to them as that type. So was Frank, in a different way.

What Tottenham actually need is someone who can build something sustainable — and Dyche, for all his qualities, has never convincingly been that man at the highest level.

He was also sacked by Forest earlier this season, despite his pretty decent win percentage.

If Spurs do turn to the 54-year-old, it would truly summarise the dire state of the club right now.

Tottenham are a club in dire turmoil, and the prospect of relegation means they inevitably face crucial stars jumping ship this summer.

Spurs in grave danger after lifeless Crystal Palace defeat

There are bad nights in football, and then there are nights like Thursday.

Tottenham, a club with a billion-pound stadium and revenues that rank them among the richest in Europe, were at home to Crystal Palace needing a win to arrest a slide that has turned uncomfortable into genuinely alarming. They got one, for about four minutes.

Dominic Solanke put Spurs ahead in the 34th, and for a brief moment, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium dared to believe their run of 10 of Premier League games without a victory — a new club record — might finally come to an end.

Then Micky van de Ven hauled back Ismaila Sarr inside the penalty area and referee Andrew Madley showed the red card without hesitation.

Sarr converted the penalty, and Jorgen Strand Larsen added a second in the carnage that followed.

Sarr then grabbed a third before the break, tucking the ball under a helpless Guglielmo Vicario. Three goals in 13 minutes, and by half-time, fans were streaming towards the exits.

The second half offered some Spurs resistance but no goals and no way back.

A fifth consecutive defeat, with the north Londoners now going 11 matches without a league win for the first time since before World War Two.

They also remain one point above the relegation zone, with Liverpool at Anfield next in the league, and Atlético Madrid in the Champions League sandwiched in between.

It is hard to imagine a more brutal fixture run for a side this short of confidence and this light on defensive cover, with van de Ven now banned to boot.

Igor Tudor, three weeks into the job and yet to win a Premier League match, insisted he saw something he liked in what remained of his depleted ten men.

"After this game I believe more than before, maybe that sounds strange, but I saw something in the team," he said.

Perhaps, but the numbers are stark — nine goals conceded in Tudor's three games in charge, zero league wins in 2026, and a club that last played second-tier football in 1977 now staring down that very prospect with nine matches remaining.

Reports in the build up to kick off suggested that Tudor could be sacked if he failed to beat Palace, with former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane a 'dark horse' for the job, but it looks as if Spurs are sticking with the Croatian for now.

And now comes news that the crisis could cost them one of their best players, regardless of how it ends.

Tottenham star Micky van de Ven 'unhappy' and wants to leave

Indeed, as per Football Insider transfer correspondent Pete O'Rourke, van de Ven is 'unhappy' at Spurs and has his sights set on a summer exit.

The "key" Dutchman, who had been acting as captain in Romero's absence, is under contract until 2029 — but talks over a new deal have stalled, and the 24-year-old is no longer pushing to commit his future to the club.

Barcelona and Liverpool are among those monitoring his situation. The interest is hardly a surprise given his ability, but the timing adds another layer of misery to an already desperate picture at Spurs.

"He's not rushing into signing any new contract at Tottenham and has delayed contract talks," O'Rourke said.

"That might open the door for clubs to make offers for him this summer, and I'm sure Spurs are well aware of that."

Romero is widely expected to leave too, meaning Tottenham could lose both first-choice centre-backs in the same window — whether they are in the Premier League or not.

The walls appear to be closing in, and perhaps the only thing that can stop it is a remarkable resurgence from now until May.