Football FanCast

Tottenham Hotspur are in a rut, but they have more than enough quality to stave off the threat of relegation from the Premier League and rediscover that confidence levels that have evaporated across the course of the season.

And yet, this is an unprecedented situation for the north Londoners, who have never been more imperilled and have any number of issues that no one has been able to find a solution for.

Time is running out. Spurs are now staring down the barrel of a gun, and they need to find some points from somewhere, with relegation rivals Nottingham Forest and West Ham United both in better nick, even a point behind as they both are.

The big question, then, is if Igor Tudor is the right man to lead Spurs forward over the business months of the campaign.

Why Spurs should sack Igor Tudor

Since replacing Thomas Frank on an interim basis one month ago, Tudor's tenure has been a disaster. Tottenham have lost all four matches in the Premier League, with the error-strewn defeat against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League adding insult to injury.

It feels like the Croatian, 47, has failed to rouse the rabble. Cristian Romero is back from suspension, but the Lilywhites lost Micky van de Ven during their home defeat to Crystal Palace last week, and the irreplaceable Dutchman will miss Sunday's trip to Anfield.

In fact, pundit Stephen Warnock has said that he has "lost the changing room", and if Tottenham want to avoid relegation, they may need to wipe the slate clean once again.

Who to appoint, though, in his stead? Pickings are slim, and no mistake, but TEAMtalk reveal that Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe, long admired by the Londoners, could be the perfect pick, should several variables fall into the right places.

This is conditional. Former Newcastle United Director Amanda Staveley, who led the charge as a Saudi-backed consortium purchased the St. James' Park club in 2021, is mooted to be interested in bidding for Tottenham, and her consortium would look to place the English coach in the dugout. The cost of such a takeover would be a mammoth £3billion.

Howe's future at the Magpies helm is by no means secure, but he's done exceptional work in recent years and could be the perfect project manager to bring Spurs back into the limelight.

Why Howe would be perfect for Spurs

Howe's Newcastle are enduring a tricky season, but there's no question that his time at the Toon helm has been sensational, lifting the club back into the ascendancy and keeping them there.

Newcastle are now regular European competitors, having spent two of the past three campaigns in the Champions League.

The chances of Howe becoming Tottenham manager this season are negligible. However, this could become a reality if things gather pace, and that would likely require clarity in regard to Spurs' precarious position in the Premier League.

In any case, Howe would be an upgrade on Tudor, whose tactics and methods have raised no shortage of questions so far this season, leaving most of a Lilywhites persuasion hoping he will be sacked just one month after his appointment.

Hailed for his "special" success on Tyneside by Newcastle reporter Sean McCormick, Howe's record on Tyneside speaks for itself, turning the Magpies into one of the Premier League's most formidable outfits.

That, of course, is without even mentioning the Carabao Cup title that Howe secured last season, Newcastle defeating Liverpool at Wembley to lift the trophy.

Compared to Howe, Tudor's managerial accomplishments pale in comparison. Moreover, Howe has a wealth of experience in the English game, and he knows what it means to weather adversity and challenge for European places, also battling for form lower down the ladder.

It's unlikely that the Croatian will even fulfil his interim contract at Tottenham, much less earn a full-time job in the dugout of this sinking ship.

Tottenham may be in trouble right now, but if they can salvage something from this season, the knock-on effect might just lead to someone like Howe taking over and turning things around.

Aston Villa have now sparked concern in North London that they could beat Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign a Serie A target this summer.

Emery satisfied with "serious" Aston Villa display

It hasn't been the most routine last few weeks for Aston Villa. They entered their Europa League last 16 first leg against LOSC Lille off the back of just one win in their previous seven games in all competitions.

The Europa League is a competition that Unai Emery knows exactly how to navigate, however, and his side were as professional as it gets to close out a narrow 1-0 victory in France on Thursday.

The Villa boss was satisfied with his side's performance, though will be well aware that there's still work to do in the second leg. He told reporters: "We played very seriously. We were always organised and we played trying to defend strongly, trying to feel comfortable defending as well, and trying to get some transition with the ball and to dominate with the ball – and we did it."

"We respect this competition because we know the difficulties of each match in Europe, away, and how it is for the English teams, like yesterday in the Champions League, how they were struggling."

The Europa League represents one of two routes towards Champions League qualification for the Villans this season. The other, of course being the Premier League's top four, which could become a top five if English sides enjoy enough European success.

Recent results suggest that a top five finish won't be as simple as it first seemed, though. As things stand, Villa are fourth and just three points above Chelsea and Liverpool with Manchester United to play this weekend.

It almost goes without saying just how much Champions League qualification would boost their summer transfer plans. It could even be enough to win the race to a Serie A star.

Aston Villa plotting Mario Gila move

As reported by Tuttosport, Aston Villa are now plotting a move to sign Mario Gila from Lazio this summer. The 25-year-old defender, who came through the famous Real Madrid academy, is also on Tottenham's radar, but their precarious position gives Villa the upper hand.

With potential Champions League qualification in mind, the Spaniard would be an ideal addition and replace the ageing Tyrone Mings. On paper, if Aston Villa have Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa and Gila to call on next season, they would have incredibly impressive centre-back depth under Emery.

With physicality and long balls becoming more prominent in the Premier League, a player with Gila's passing range certainly wouldn't go amiss and neither would his duel success.

Alas, whilst Villa could welcome a difference-maker in their backline, Tottenham could suffer yet another blow. The Lilywhites are staring down the barrel of potential relegation, with one point between themselves and the dropzone.

To say that they are in no position to bring the likes of Lazio defender to North London would be a major understatement.

Crisis is a word that gets bandied about too often in football, but there's no question that Tottenham Hotspur are in a full-blown emergency as relegation from the Premier League looms large.

Time is running out for interim boss Igor Tudor to whip these struggling Spurs stars into shape and save their Premier League status. Tottenham have lost five top-flight matches in a row, and Tudor each of his first four games in Thomas Frank's old seat.

It's probably fair to say that of all the Londoners' remaining chances to turn things around, their big moment isn't going to arrive this weekend, with a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on the cards.

Arne Slot's side have suffered a poor title defence, but the scale of Spurs' current injury crisis has created an alarming situation indeed.

Spurs' injury nightmare

Micky van de Ven is suspended for this one after picking up a red card against Crystal Palace last week. That blow has been exacerbated by Cristian Romero's expected absence, sidelined along with Joao Palhinha due to concussion protocols; the fiery pair accidentally clashed heads during the midweek defeat to Atletico Madrid.

These absentees only scratch the surface of a disastrous situation that's threatening to consume the club, with Yves Bissouma out with a muscular injury and Conor Gallagher unlikely to make the cut after coming down with a fever.

Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison remain long-term inhabitants in the medical room.

Perhaps ENIC Group and sporting director Johan Lange are simply biding their time ahead of next week, with Sunday's tie considered an unrealistic one as far as returning to winning ways.

It doesn't seem likely that Tudor will see out the duration of his interim contract at N17, but on Sunday, he could help rekindle some of the dormant confidence that has formed the central crux of the club's imperilled position.

He could do this by handing a talented young defender their very first senior start.

Academy talent in line for first Spurs start

Tottenham need to rally over the final few months of the season, and the fanbase can at least take solace in the fact that Romero and Van de Ven will be free to reconnect in central defence after the forthcoming Premier League fixture.

However, in their absence, Tudor might want to hand 17-year-old defender Jun'ai Byfield his first professional start, with the academy talent having edged his way into first-team contention over the past few months and now ready to take the next step forward.

While this weekend feels like an inauspicious time for him to make his first start in the top division, it would be a significant show of faith in a player whose talent has already seen him make three senior appearances, including his Premier League debut in the draw to Manchester City last month.

Physical and slick on the ball, Byfield has all the attributes to become a top centre-back in the Premier League. His tenacity and will to win could bring the energy and enthusiasm that the club have been searching for over the course of the season, and in that, he might even be a better pick at Anfield than someone like Radu Dragusin, who has had a torrid time since returning from injury in late December.

The fact that Byfield has spoken of his desire to lead Tottenham's senior squad one day is a testament to his character and potential on the major stage, and with someone like Dragusin looking apt for a summer sale, maybe unleashing him in Liverpool could give him some confidence and raise the mood of the crowd.

Of course, we don't want a repeat of the Antonin Kinsky situation, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and Byfield has what it takes to stand out.

Tottenham Hotspur need to start winning matches in the Premier League, else the incessant chatter around relegation will only intensify before becoming a reality.

It's rather clear at this point that appointing Igor Tudor on an interim basis until the end of the season was a mistake, with Spurs somehow getting worse since Thomas Frank's dismissal last month.

Where do Tottenham go from here? The dream pick would be Mauricio Pochettino, but that's not going to happen, with the former Lilywhites boss in charge of the USMNT for the World Cup later this year.

But Tottenham need a manager now, else they really could tumble down into the Championship.

The latest on Spurs' managerial search

Tottenham have placed Pochettino and Roberto De Zerbi at the top of their managerial shortlist, but neither of the elite managers are realistic options until all has been said and done in 2025/26.

Therefore, ENIC Group might need to think outside the box, with rumours even linking Harry Redknapp with a sensational return to the dugout down N17.

In all honesty, appointing a retired 79-year-old to lead the fight against relegation, the most perilous position this club have ever been in as a Premier League side, might not be the most prudent move.

But Tudor does need to be dismissed, and if not Redknapp or De Zerbi or Pochettino, then who?

Well, according to TEAMtalk, Ferencvaros boss Robbie Keane is one of the leading contenders to take the job, and what's more, he would be particularly keen on the move now.

Keane, 45, would ideally want to take the role on a permanent long-term basis, whereas Spurs sporting director Johan Lange would want to offer him a contract running until the end of the season.

Why Keane could be the best Spurs manager since Poch

One of the greatest Tottenham forwards of modern times, a "legend", according to former teammate Terry Sheringham, Keane might be young and inexperienced but he knows the club and has enjoyed a strong start to his coaching career in Hungary, hitherto at the helm of Maccabi Tel Aviv and completing a string of assistant roles in the Championship.

For sure, the appointment would be a gamble, but Keane couldn't do any worse than Tudor's doing, four losses from four in the Premier League so far and with confidence in his ability to turn things round non-existent.

Moreover, Keane is tactically adaptable, fielding either a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 flat formation. In that, he shares something with Pochettino, who employed a three-man backline during the sunny days of his tenure.

Pochettino is undoubtedly Tottenham's greatest modern manager. Ange Postecoglou won the Europa League last season, but the instability that reigned throughout his two-year stint suggests he doesn't quite compare with the man who turned the club into one of the Premier League's finest over a several-year spell.

Keane, therefore, could follow a similar route, with his front-footed tactical approach and understanding of the culture and style that Spurs hope to implement suggesting he could be perfect for the role.

When Pochettino arrived in Tottenham, few would have said he could outdrive, say, Harry Redknapp, or even Andre Villas-Boas. But the ex-Southampton coach became the project manager the club needed.

After all, there's a reason that Poch is considered so highly by the board now, and that he is at the top of the shortlist to take the reins after his duties at the World Cup have been fulfilled.

Keane has made a strong start to his own managerial career, and while he's young and inexperienced, the Irish legend could both emulate Pochettino while outstripping all the elite managers in the intervening years, becoming the perfect leader to establish a sustained period of success.

The Celtic manager's job is set to be a key talking point this summer as Martin O'Neill prepares to wave goodbye to Parkhead at the end of his second interim spell in charge.

It has been a season of upheaval at Celtic Park. Brendan Rodgers departed under a cloud, O'Neill stepped in on a caretaker basis, Wilfried Nancy was installed as permanent boss and lasted just 33 days before being shown the door.

O'Neill returned for a second interim spell alongside Shaun Maloney, and somehow in the middle of all that chaos, Celtic have remained in the title race — albeit five points behind pace-setters Hearts with time running out.

O'Neill has performed admirably, knocking Rangers out of the Scottish Cup twice and keeping the club fighting on multiple fronts.

A Scottish Cup final against St Mirren awaits at Hampden. Champions League football next season also remains possible, but O'Neill has been clear — he steps down at the end of the campaign, and Celtic desperately need to get their next permanent appointment right.

After the Nancy disaster, there is simply no room for another misstep.

Multiple names have been circulating.

Motherwell's Jens Berthel Askou has drawn widespread admiration for transforming the Steelmen into one of the Premiership's most impressive sides this season and remains a contender for the Celtic job.

Roberto Martinez — managing Portugal but expected to move on from that role — has been linked, with Rangers legend Ally McCoist publicly tipping him this week.

Wales boss Craig Bellamy has also been mentioned, so it is a shortlist of genuine intrigue.

According to The Guardian, though, one man has moved clear of the rest.

Robbie Keane in pole position for Celtic manager's job

Indeed, as per their information, Robbie Keane is now the frontrunner to take charge at Parkhead this summer, with Celtic's hierarchy making background plans for a significant restructuring of football operations.

The report, by Ewan Murray, states that those in power at the club believe the 45-year-old Irishman would be receptive to a move to Glasgow — a city he knows well from a brief but brilliant loan spell as a player in 2010, when he scored 16 goals in just 19 appearances.

What makes Keane's candidacy credible is not sentiment alone — it is his managerial record.

He won the Israeli title with Maccabi Tel Aviv in his only full season there, then crossed to Hungary where he guided Ferencvaros to the league championship last season and is on course for back-to-back titles.

Keane also served as assistant manager at Leeds United under Jesse Marsch, gaining valuable coaching experience at a major club navigating its own turbulent period.

Winning silverware in two different countries with limited resources is no small achievement, and it is that track record that has caught Celtic's eye.

The Irishman has been heavily linked with Tottenham in recent weeks following the sacking of Thomas Frank, but some reports suggest he has no interest in the interim role currently held by under-fire boss Igor Tudor.

That tells its own story — Keane wants a proper project, a long-term role he can build something with. Celtic can offer exactly that.

No formal approach will be made until the domestic season concludes, and Celtic will not be alone in chasing him with other British clubs monitoring the situation closely.

But for now, the Parkhead job appears to have Keane's name written all over it.

It's not unfair to suggest that Tottenham Hotspur's Champions League campaign is over. The chances of Igor Tudor's side overturning a three-goal deficit against Atletico Madrid next week are negligible, based on the evidence of the past month.

In fact, Spurs have done very little all season to suggest they can stage such a comeback, even if the slippery horrorshow in Madrid this week was exacerbated by a series of first-half mistakes, and that the match itself was more closely contested than some of the Londoners' domestic defeats this term.

Tottenham's priority is to stave off the threat of relegation from the Premier League. Anything beyond that, such as summer transfer plans, comes later.

However, there's no question that Spurs' goalkeepers have been at the epicentre of this enduring crisis, and that needs to change whatever their fate come summer.

Spurs need new goalkeepers

After making a series of mistakes at the Wanda Metropolitano and then suffering the ignominy of being substituted after just 16 minutes, back-up goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky is hoping to leave Tottenham on loan this summer.

To take himself away and rebuild his career is understandable, but Spurs need to sell the No. 1 between the sticks, Guglielmo Vicario, after the Italian's abject performances throughout the campaign.

Vicario has not been a commanding presence in goal this season, and the 27-year-old is among the Spurs stragglers mooted for a move away at the end of the season.

Errors have become commonplace at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Vicario as been at the crux of that problem, with his low 63.3% save percentage further evidence that the club need to make a change. In comparison to shot-stoppers who have played at least ten fixtures, Vicario ranks 20th out of 22.

For Kinsky to play a major role in the near future is impossible now. The severity of his disaster in Spain was so extreme that a move away appears to be the only realistic route forward.

This, of course, means that sporting director Johan Lange is going to need to place emphasis on signing a new goalkeeper, but that might not actually be the first port of call this summer.

Tottenham, after all, are going to have a lot to put right, and they will need the funds to complete a successful rebuild.

Spurs must sell £100m superstar

Tottenham need to press the reset button this summer. Some decisions have been made for them. Take club captain Cristian Romero, for example, who wants to leave the club and is the centre of recent transfer stories regarding his future.

However, while this claim might be contentious, Tottenham might want to sell Micky van de Ven too, a player who many of a Spurs persuasion would argue has been the club's Player of the Season (such as it is).

There's no question that Van de Ven, 24, is one of the most talented defenders in the Premier League. He has risen to superstar status since arriving in Ange Postecoglou's system in 2023. However, it's also becoming increasingly clear that the Netherlands international is beyond dispirited in north London, and that he's angling for a move away himself.

Not too long ago, this would have felt inconceivable, but Tottenham's need for a summer reset is so great that banking a pretty penny from Van de Ven's sale could prove the right call for club chiefs to make.

After all, the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona have both been sniffing around recently, ENIC Group responding to the emerging interest by declaring that the Dutchman boasts a market value of £100m.

Van de Ven has been brilliant this season, but Tottenham need to look forward with players who want to fight for the badge, and recent reports do indeed suggest that he is hoping to draw a close to his turbulent time at Tottenham once the season has wrapped up.

Furthermore, Van de Ven was lucky to escape from Madrid without early marching orders after a reckless challenge on Atletico's David Hancko.

This is a player who has been shorn of confidence and has become haphazard in his performances. He will miss Sunday's trip to Anfield in the Premier League.

While Tottenham's hopes of survival largely hinge on the partnership of Romero and Van de Ven, it's clear that, with both hoping to leave this summer, ENIC Group must bite the bullet and cash in, wiping the slate clean and earning a pretty penny to turn back toward the transfer market and begin anew.

It's difficult to see how Igor Tudor remains in the Tottenham Hotspur hot seat until the end of the campaign.

Less than one month since the Croatian coach was drafted in to save Spurs' season, fans are already calling for his head. Tottenham are not in the Premier League relegation zone, but that could change in the coming days, and Tudor has lost all four of his games in charge so far - and miserably at that.

This is a desperate situation, but if Spurs can string a few wins together, they will ease the intensity of their suffering and then some. That's not going to happen with Tudor at the helm; BBC pundit Stephen Warnock said the 47-year-old has already "lost the changing room" after their 5-2 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.

However, ENIC Group simply have to get their next appointment right.

Who Spurs could replace Tudor with

Fabrizio Romano, expert on all things transfer-related, believes Roberto De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino are right at the top of Tottenham's managerial shortlist, but neither are likely (or even unlikely) to take charge at N17 before the end of the season.

Other names such as Robbie Keane and Ryan Mason have been bandied about, but there would be such risk in appointing young and untested coaches at such a critical point in Tottenham's direction.

Instead, it might be worth going for a more pragmatic option, appointing a manager who understands the Premier League and who would embrace the desperate situation the Londoners find themselves in.

Well, according to TEAMtalk, the experienced Sean Dyche is eager to replace Tottenham's struggling head coach and steer the club away from relegation, though Spurs have not engaged in official contact with the Englishman or his representatives just yet.

Should Spurs go through with the appointment, Dyche would be appointed on an interim basis, effectively taking Tudor's role until the end of the season.

Why Spurs need to appoint Sean Dyche

Dyche is obviously not the most exciting name on the aforementioned list, but the plain truth is that Tottenham don't need exciting right now.

Tottenham need a manager who knows what it means to battle against the odds, a relegation specialist who will steady the ship ahead of a desperately-needed summer rebuild.

Dyche took Burnley to the Premier League and kept them there for six successive seasons, achieving something well beyond the Clarets' spending capacity and the outside expectations. His topsy-turvy tenure at Everton did start with success in steering away from relegation danger, a feat that pundit Stuart Pearce hailed as "incredible".

Ultimately, Dyche's time at Nottingham Forest didn't work out as he might have hoped, but there has been a lot of instability at the City Ground this season and he did start his tenure with four wins from eight Premier League fixtures.

Defensively grounded and with a wealth of experience (350 games in charge in the Premier League), Dyche could even become Tottenham's own version of Atletico Madrid's long-standing boss Diego Simeone, who Spurs fans will know well after their Champions League defeat on Tuesday.

Simeone is a legend, a two-time La Liga champion in an enduring period of Barcelona-Real Madrid dominance and a manager who has continually beat the odds to set his lot against some of the greatest coaches of his generation.

Dyche is not on a level with the Argentine, but both managers share a focus on tactical discipline and a strong mentality from their players.

While someone like Keane would look to implement an attractive style of football over the business months of the campaign, maybe Spurs need something more pragmatic and rooted in defensive solidity and structure.

Both Dyche and Simeone have fielded a traditional 4-2-2 formation throughout their managerial careers, and again, reverting back to the basics could bear dividends for this Spurs side, especially when considering Tudor's unconventional tactics and philosophy have only sunk the club deeper into their malaise.

Tottenham need to start getting points on the board, currently just one point above the Premier League relegation zone. Dyche might not be the man to create a dynasty, but he could save this club from falling into the second tier and he must be appointed quickly.

Tottenham have reportedly held talks with a title-winning manager to replace Igor Tudor, and it is now claimed he's made a key demand.

Tottenham urged to sack Igor Tudor after disastrous reign

Tudor is somehow still standing.

After the worst week in Tottenham's recent memory — a 5-2 thrashing in Madrid, six consecutive defeats, the club's worst run in 144 years of history — the 47-year-old somehow survived the immediate axe and will take charge at Anfield on Sunday.

That stay of execution came with the narrowest of margins.

Spurs are one point above the bottom three going into the weekend, and with West Ham and Nottingham Forest both playing, the potential results around them have made the Liverpool trip feel like a genuine crossroads moment.

The Lilywhites could find themselves in the bottom three if West Ham and Forest win, and they lose on Merseyside, which makes for pretty grim reading, even if Nuno Espírito Santo's side face title-chasing Man City.

Just 10 months after winning the Europa League and their first major trophy since 2008, a truly historic moment under Ange Postecoglou, the horrendous slide has been a devastation to behold.

The owners, the Lewis family, are said to be scratching their heads in bemusement at the situation as supporters continue to aim their own frustration towards CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange.

Senior players are angry too, and The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust has demanded emergency action.

And yet, as of Thursday, Tudor remains in his post — with the board grappling with the messy reality that sacking him brings its own set of complicated problems.

Many names have been touted for the potentially soon-to-be vacant Spurs manager's job, with Sean Dyche believed to be keen on replacing Tudor.

Harry Redknapp has put forward his own willingness to jump into the Tottenham hot seat too, while reports suggest that Spurs have held talks with former striker Robbie Keane.

TEAMtalk reported earlier this week that the north Londoners have spoken to Keane about the job amid his excellent spell at Hungarian side Ferencvaros, with the same outlet sharing another update.

Robbie Keane makes key demand to join Tottenham after talks

The 45-year-old has impressed in his first senior management role, and there is genuine enthusiasm within certain quarters about the prospect of bringing him home.

Keane won the title with Ferencvaros last season, his second league crown after also winning the Israeli first division title with Maccabi Tel Aviv.

He could be a great shout, but there is a significant problem.

Keane is open to returning to N17, TEAMtalk say, and would do so regardless of what division the club finds themselves in next season.

The loyalty is real, and the desire is genuine, but the Irishman wants a long-term contract before fully committing — a permanent appointment, not a short-term lifeline.

Tottenham's current thinking runs in the opposite direction. At this stage, they would only offer a deal until the end of the season, preferring to keep their options open depending on whether they survive the drop.

That mismatch is the crux of the problem. If Spurs stay up, their ambitions for a permanent manager will stretch considerably beyond Keane. If they go down, the financial and structural landscape changes completely. Neither scenario currently suits handing the Irishman the long-term deal he is seeking.

Adding to the complexity is the fact that Keane is not short of interest elsewhere.

Celtic have him prominently on their managerial shortlist as they search for a permanent successor to Martin O'Neill, and that option represents a very credible alternative.

Tottenham's other targets are equally tangled.

Mauricio Pochettino is said to be open to a return in any division, but his financial demands in the Championship would be enormous, while Roberto De Zerbi is a top summer target as well, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Tudor has until Sunday to prove his doubters wrong, but the queue outside Spurs' door is only growing.

One of the main reasons Tottenham Hotspur players are unhappy with Igor Tudor has now been revealed, and it doesn't bode well heading into the final nine games of the Premier League season.

Tudor under mounting pressure after Champions League defeat

Jamie O'Hara certainly didn't mince his words when talking about Tudor after the recent 5-2 Champions League defeat at the hands of Atletico, saying: "I cannot believe how bad we are. I cannot believe how bad this team is. This manager is a fraud. He's the biggest fraud I've ever seen. Who is this guy? Who appointed this guy?'

"We are terrible. It should have been 9-0. Somehow we scored two goals. We were not good. It was embarrassing."

The start the Croatian has made to life in north London has been nothing short of disastrous, losing his opening four games in all competitions, with Tottenham now just one point above the Premier League relegation zone.

However, there are clearly deeper problems, given that Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League last season, despite winning the Europa League under the helm of Ange Postecoglou.

The players also have to be held accountable, and the reason they are unhappy with Tudor has now been revealed, with a report from The Guardian sharing they are frustrated by the manager making them work 'incredibly hard' in training.

The interim boss believes his players are unfit, meaning he has been pushing them to the limit, but that approach hasn't gone down well, while they also haven't been impressed by the 'tone of his messaging', which clearly hasn't been effective thus far.

In truth, it feels like a lame excuse, given that nine members of the squad rake in over £100k-a-week, but Spurs may have to appoint a new manager sooner rather than later, with their Premier League status on the line...

Redknapp keen on Tottenham return

It has been a terrible campaign for Tottenham, but few would've predicted they'd be linked with the likes of Sean Dyche and Harry Redknapp, with it recently emerging the latter would be keen on a return to N17.

Honestly, appointing Redknapp could make sense at this stage, given that the former Spurs boss is well-known for his man-management skills, and some members of the squad are clearly lacking confidence, with Antonin Kinsky being substituted after just 17 minutes against Atletico.

A manager capable of lifting the mood in the dressing room could be exactly what is needed right now, and it recently emerged that Tudor may not last much longer in the hot seat...

Tottenham could well part company with under-fire interim boss Igor Tudor sooner rather than later, and a very intriguing name has thrown his hat into the ring.

Igor Tudor to take Liverpool press conference but Tottenham end in sight

Tudor is still in the job — but only just.

Tottenham confirmed on Wednesday that the 47-year-old will take Friday's pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's trip to Anfield, all but ruling out an immediate sacking, but nobody at N17 is pretending everything is fine.

The numbers tell the story well enough.

Six defeats in a row. Four losses from four since Tudor took charge. 14 goals conceded in those four games alone. One point above the relegation zone. 11 Premier League games without a win and no top flight victory at all in 2026 — a club record.

The Lewis family are said to be disillusioned, while senior players are also furious.and have little faith that Tudor is the man to keep them up (The Telegraph).

Liverpool away on Sunday, then Nottingham Forest — a genuine six-pointer — the week after. Tudor's fate could be sealed within ten days. If Spurs lose both, it is very hard to see how he survives, and many are calling for the Croatian to be sacked far before then.

So who steps in? That is the question dividing the entire fanbase.

Reports suggest that Sean Dyche is keen on the Tottenham job after being sacked by Nottingham Forest earlier this season, while the likes of Thiago Motta and Robbie Keane are also believed to be high on Spurs' managerial agenda.

Anoter man has been making his feelings about the potential Spurs vacancy very clear today as well.

Harry Redknapp makes Tottenham admission after Levy phone call

Harry Redknapp, the 79-year-old who managed Spurs for four years between 2008 and 2012, has never been shy about his love of the game.

And speaking on talkSPORT this morning, the ex-manager who also coached West Ham for years made it crystal clear that he may not be done yet.

Asked directly whether he would take the Tottenham job, Redknapp did not hesitate.

"Yeah, I'd do it, for sure," he said.

"I definitely wouldn't say no, but I don't see myself getting it, to be true."

Honest, characteristically self-aware, and very Harry. He knows the reality — but the desire is absolutely there.

He also revealed the name he believes should genuinely be in the running.

"Tim would be a good shout now," Redknapp told talkSPORT.

"Tim Sherwood would be, you know, I think someone like Tim or Glenn Hoddle, even."

The call for familiar faces is getting louder by the day. Former Spurs midfielder David Bentley has publicly backed Redknapp for a short-term role, arguing that someone who genuinely cares about the club is what this squad desperately needs right now.

Gary Lineker has made similar noises. Even Jamie O'Hara — himself a former Spurs player — has urged the club to pick up the phone to Redknapp immediately.

The backdrop to all of this also comes a remarkable revelation Redknapp shared today — that former chairman Daniel Levy got in touch with him last week.

Their first conversation in over a decade, and by all accounts Levy made clear his admiration for his old manager had not dimmed.

"I got a phone call last week from Daniel, funnily enough," Redknapp continued.

"I think I spoke to him once since I left all that time ago, and I was in the car last week and suddenly the phone goes, it's Daniel Levy.

"I thought 'that's strange' and I was on the phone to him for about half hour, chatting to him and he was explaining what happened to him, and how he got marched out of there, which was really strange.

"And he did say to me 'If I was there now, and I'm not just saying it, I would bring you back in until the end of the season, Harry' - so it would have been interesting."