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Rio Ferdinand offers bizarre Tottenham take as Djed Spence wanted at Manchester United

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Rio Ferdinand clearly has not watched much of Tottenham Hotspur this season amid a bizarre transfer take on Djed Spence.

The England international has featured 38 times for Spurs in what has been a diabolical campaign, which is now being overseen by Roberto De Zerbi.

Spence has by no means by Spurs’ worst performer this campaign, but nor has he been anywhere at the levels expected.

Tottenham are plummeting towards the Championship, with their winless run now spanning 14 matches in the Premier League.

That could mean players being poached on the cheap this summer, and Ferdinand would like to see Spence snapped up by his former side Manchester United.

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Rio Ferdinand names two Tottenham players he’d take at Man United

Ferdinand was asked on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast if there were any Tottenham players from the current squad he would like to see at Old Trafford.

“Not right now, no. I can’t think of any that I’d take, especially the way they’re playing now,” he initially said.

However, Ferdinand did go on to say: “Micky van de Ven, maybe. Van de Ven and Djed Spence, actually. Djed Spence.”

Van de Ven just seems to be an automatic pick when this question is asked of pundits, while Cristian Romero is another name regularly mentioned.

Spence’s name is a new one, though, albeit he did recently get a chance to impress at international level for England and that will only see his stock rise.

However, there can be no denying Spence has underwhelmed this campaign. Indeed, as per Sofascore, Spence has only been Spurs’ 13th-best performer this campaign statistically speaking.

The 25-year-old has played the fifth-most league minutes of any player in the squad (1,808), but he has yet to register a goal or assist and has been part of one of the division’s worst defences.

Spence’s 0.38 interceptions per 90 minutes is, rather remarkably, the fourth lowest of any player in the Tottenham team – this for a defender, remember.

He also ranks pretty much only halfway for tackles won per 90 with 1.15. For context, Pedro Porro averages 1.35.

Further bad news could come for Spence under Roberto De Zerbi

Spence was not used by De Zerbi in his first game in charge, with that a 1-0 loss away at Sunderland on Sunday.

De Zerbi’s preferred setup is bad news for Spence, in fact, as the Italian likes his full-backs – or wing-backs – to get up the pitch.

Given Spence has created just 10 chances from 24 league appearances this term, which ranks him below halfway in the percentile among defenders, he is clearly not that type of player.

This is not to say Spence is a bad player. In fact, if Tottenham were to stay up, keeping the Englishman will be key in pushing on.

But to suggest he is good enough to play for a team currently third in the Premier League just seems like a bizarre take.

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Johan Lange has nowhere left to hide at Tottenham as relegation fight exposes transfer mistakes

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If the fish really does rot from the head down, why does nothing appear to have changed at Tottenham Hotspur since Daniel Levy’s departure?

Is it because Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange are no better? Perhaps.

The only difference now is that it’s slightly harder to pin down an accurate target to bear the brunt of Spurs’ misery this season. However, there can be no doubt that the duo are primarily to blame if they go down. Under their watch, this listing club has continued to drift aimlessly.

Where is the purpose and the vision? There remains nothing for supporters to grab onto, nothing to believe in. Instead, there are only meaningless words that might as well be vapour in the wind. They have talked the talk, but they’re not walking; they’re stumbling.

Lange badly let Tottenham down during the winter transfer window, and he should be the first to pay the price if Spurs do drop into the Championship.

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Johan Lange’s Tottenham role no longer tenable

Really, Lange should be thanking his lucky stars that he’s still in a job. He joined Spurs back in 2023 as technical director before his role was changed to joint sporting director last October. Since Fabio Paratici’s return to Italy, the Dane has been the one calling the shots.

It is just a shame that he has focused on all the wrong targets.

Tottenham thrashed about like a fish out of water in January before settling on one panic buy and a youngster hardly expected to make an immediate impact. Those decisions could well be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Making matters worse, Lange and Venkatesham resembled the Chuckle Brothers after lumping Spurs’ fate on Igor Tudor, having belatedly pulled the trigger on Thomas Frank. Never was the Croat a good fit for the hot seat, as shown by his dismal seven-game stint.

The two figures have colluded, albeit inadvertently, to steer Tottenham into treacherous waters, and unless they can get them out, they will likely be thrown overboard.

The bulk of Spurs’ worries can be traced back to a dismal winter window. Conor Gallagher was their only addition of note, and look how that has seemingly turned out.

Roberto De Zerbi is a brave man indeed to have stepped into the breach. Where are the players he can put his trust in? Where is the inspiration in the dressing room? The squad badly needed an injection of hope in January, but instead, they were hung out to dry.

Souza is undoubtedly a talent, but a deputy for Destiny Udogie was hardly priority No 1. Strengthening in midfield was, but Lange botched that one, too.

A mere glance at Gallagher’s statistics in North London proves it.

According to FotMob, he has completed 236 passes in the Premier League this season, putting him in the bottom 14 per cent of top-flight midfielders. His pass accuracy of 81.4 per cent also lands him in the bottom 20 per cent.

When he has played, Spurs have been a far worse team. They have been too easily penetrated, as demonstrated by the 26-year-old winning 35 duels, which places him in the bottom 15th percentile. Gallagher has also taken only 412 touches.

As for Souza, he has been made to be patient since joining for £13million. The 19-year-old has made four appearances and started just twice in the Premier League this term, but has fallen victim to Spurs’ wider defensive shakiness in a serious baptism of fire.

Indeed, the three goals Tottenham have conceded with him on the pitch have consigned him to the 91st percentile, while he has also been dribbled past three times.

Joe Lewis is said to have had in excess of £100m to spend in January, but judging from the current mess, every penny should have been invested in alternative targets.

Spurs players right to hit back

Cristian Romero has been justified in his criticism of Spurs’ hierarchy ten times over. After the lack of winter spending, the captain branded the shortage of available players as “disgraceful” on social media, a post which was, tellingly, liked by nine of his team-mates.

Frank and Tudor bore the brunt of anger from the stands during their respective spells in charge, and rightly so. But now, the focus is shifting. Venkatesham and Lange in particular have nowhere to hide, and if Spurs are relegated, it will be a damning epitaph.

With Levy gone, they have been exposed. They can no longer hide behind the supremo.

While they will claim that the squad is good enough, the bottom line is that they have made matters much worse with poor choices – or a lack of any decisions at all. It smacks of downright incompetence, and it cannot be allowed to fester any longer.

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Antonin Kinsky tipped to ‘restart his career’ as permanent Tottenham exit on cards

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Antonin Kinsky could leave Tottenham Hotspur for good in the summer.

The Czech goalkeeper has featured just four times in all competitions this season, playing second fiddle to Guglielmo Vicario.

The Italian has been linked with an exit, with Inter Milan interested in bringing him back to his homeland after a miserable campaign in North London.

Kinsky may not be safe, though, even if the number one departs, as he has not impressed when called upon, and that was the case when he started the 1-0 loss to Sunderland last time out.

Tottenham could see both goalkeepers leave, which would leave them needing two new players between the sticks.

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What was said about Kinsky’s future at Tottenham?

John Wenham believes that Tottenham will get one of James Trafford or Dean Henderson in the summer, which will allow both their current goalkeepers to move on.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, he said: “I could see both going permanently. I haven’t seen enough, really. When he has played, he’s underperformed, and he had that huge, shocking moment against Atletico Madrid.

“I think it’s probably better for him if he just goes and restarts his career somewhere else.

“I mean, next season we’re going to have no Europe either, there’s going to be even less games, less opportunities for him to play.

“I think Tottenham would be wise to move both of them on, bringing in the established number one. If that’s James Trafford, and you have to pay £40 million, so be it.

“I know Man City have paid £28 million in the summer, so they’ll be looking for a little bit on top, but that’s your number one keeper, ideally for the next 10 years – he’s only 23.

“So you go out, you get him done, and then maybe an older English keeper as the backup as well.”

Why a permanent exit makes sense

It is hard to see Kinsky turning it around in N17, especially after that disastrous showing against Diego Simeone’s side.

He just does not have the confidence, in terms of both in himself, or that he inspires in the defence to be the starter on a regular basis.

Wenham is probably right, a permanent exit looks like the best possible solution for all parties when the time comes.

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Tottenham: Richard Keys baffled by Roberto De Zerbi hire – ‘How has it come to this?’

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Tottenham Hotspur fell to defeat once again on Sunday, with Sunderland beating Roberto De Zerbi’s side 1-0 at the Stadium of Light in the Italian’s first game in charge.

The Italian joined the club over the international break, three months after his ties with French outfit Marseille were severed.

Handed the task of steering Spurs to safety, De Zerbi has inherited a downtrodden squad riddled with injuries after the previous dismal spells of Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor this season.

As has been the case on too many occasions for the Lilywhites this term, Sunday’s match ended in defeat on Wearside, giving the 46-year-old a lot to think about.

And heading into Saturday’s match against Brighton, presenter Richard Keys has given his thoughts on the decision to appoint De Zerbi.

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Richard Keys baffled by Tottenham decision to appoint Roberto De Zerbi

Making the move to Brighton in 2022, De Zerbi instantly succeeded upon his arrival in England.

Playing some of the best football in the division, the Seagulls would fly into Europe under his guidance, while his managerial stocks soared.

Following his departure in 2024, the combustible Italian would join Ligue 1 giants Marseille, who he would guide to a second place finish last term – albeit 19 points behind Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite his record, Keys remains unconvinced.

Returning to his blog for the first time since the international break, he said: “Can someone please explain to me what De Zerbi has done in his coaching career to land the Spurs job?

“I wasn’t surprised to see him get it, but I just don’t know how he qualifies for it. I guess one reason would be Spurs are running out of options. They’re also running out of time. How? How on earth has it come to this?”

While the question is more than correct as to how on earth it has come to this, Spurs fans will be eager to see De Zerbi prove himself at the club.

De Zerbi is more than qualified for Tottenham job

Keys’ comments can be somewhat excused, given the fact that football often doesn’t really exist nor matter outside of the Premier League bubble for some.

Working with Sassuolo from 2018-2021, the Italian produced some of the best football seen during the period in Serie A, dragging a provincial club all the way to a European fight, while De Zerbi’s guidance saw both Manuel Locatelli and Domenico Berardi star for Italy as the Azzurri won the rescheduled European Championships in 2021.

Then alongside this, his Brighton side were one of the best that the Premier League had to offer, and a move after finishing sixth in the division would be no different to any other instance where a manager has been poached from a mid-table side.

It is almost as if some forget just who Mauricio Pochettino joined Tottenham from.

Naturally, though, Tottenham are the club in the firing line from fans and pundits alike across the country at the moment, so De Zerbi was always going to come under fire at some point, even for an apparent lack of qualifications.

He has six matches to rescue Spurs, with former club Brighton coming up first.

And while he may have to stray away from his principles as he looks to do that, the Italian will absolutely deserve the keys to the summer rebuild if he keeps the Lilywhites in the division.

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Tottenham have serious mentality issue as Premier League stat demonstrates weakness

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Tottenham Hotspur have failed to win a game in which they have fallen behind this season.

Spurs’ issues are down to a multitude of factors; a lack of quality, terrible managerial decisions and of course the injury concerns that have lingered all season.

However, the biggest issue is in regard to their character, or lack of it in this instance, which has prevented them from kicking on from what was a dreadful campaign last time out.

The senior players have already downed tools, while the younger players have not been afforded the chance to prove their worth.

But if Tottenham are to avoid relegation, Roberto De Zerbi must find a way to shift that mentality.

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Tottenham’s record when trailing is grim reading

You don’t need stats to tell you just how bad Tottenham have been this season, though they certainly amplify the concerns that have at times been overlooked.

Not only are Spurs winless in the Premier League in 2026, but they are also winless in their last 32 Premier League games after going behind.

Only Wolves can match them this season in that regard, and relegation has been nailed on for them for several months

To make matters worse, only eight of those 32 games ended in draws, meaning that they have picked up eight points from a possible 96 when going behind.

Tottenham have also only spent 18.3 per cent of games in winning positions this season, further amplifying why that is a major concern.

How can Roberto De Zerbi make a difference?

The mentality in North London is broken, and to fix that with six games to go just isn’t going to happen.

However, the injection of youth can certainly improve it, given that they will be looking to make their mark in senior football without having the emotional baggage to carry with them.

De Zerbi must realise that before it’s too late, with relegation fears growing stronger with each week that passes by.

Tottenham have the young talent that can aid their battle against the drop, but failure to utilise it will be a huge mistake ahead of the final six games.

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James Wilson finally showing worth for Tottenham as transfer D-Day approaches

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James Wilson has started to find his feet on loan at Tottenham Hotspur.

The arrival of Wilson was a strange one for all parties, given the fact that he was integrated immediately into Tottenham’s academy set-up.

Wilson abandoned first-team football with Hearts to choose that venture, seemingly with hopes of earning a permanent deal with the Lilywhites.

In the early stages of his loan, it was looking increasingly unlikely that the 19-year-old would get his wish, having struggled for form.

But Wilson has since shown his worth for Tottenham’s Under-21s, making their pending decision a far more challenging one.

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How has James Wilson fared for Tottenham?

Having scored 14 times for Hearts B in the 2023-24 season and then breaking into the first team the following season, Spurs had high hopes that Wilson would do the same in North London.

The latter hasn’t happened yet, but Wilson has started to showcase his quality.

He’s scored in each of Spurs’ last two Premier League encounters, both of which they won by one goal, taking his tally up to four for the season.

Wilson scored with his only shot in the game against Wolves last time out, having had six shots on target all season.

His goal-to-minute ratio places him among the top 29.4 per cent of Premier League 2 strikers.

Should Tottenham retain Wilson?

Much of that may hinge on the outcome of their relegation battle.

If Championship football is coming to North London, then it may be the perfect chance for Wilson to break into the first team and develop as a player.

It would be a low-risk investment either way, and one that certainly comes with potentially huge benefits depending on how he fares in English football.

But for him, he will almost certainly want guarantees over gametime to some extent, which is highly unlikely to arrive if Spurs remain in the Premier League.

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Tottenham predicted XI vs Brighton: Richarlison dropped, Xavi Simons to start in three changes

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Tottenham Hotspur are back in action in the Premier League on Saturday, as they host Brighton.

Roberto De Zerbi took charge for the first time on Sunday, as his Lilywhites side fell to a 1-0 defeat against Sunderland, leaving them in the relegation zone.

The Italian took charge over the international break and was handed the immediate task of guiding Spurs to safety after a dismal campaign in North London.

Looking to bounce back on home soil, Tottenham welcome De Zerbi’s former club, Brighton, to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next up.

Taking charge in 2022, the 46-year-old would take the Seagulls to Europe, playing some of the best football seen across the division – something that Spurs fans will be hoping to see in North London.

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Richarlison dropped after Sunderland no-show as Xavi Simons set for start

The Lilywhites have been in the middle of an injury crisis for the best part of two years, with this severely limiting each manager to come through the door.

As a result, De Zerbi has inherited an incredibly thin squad, with not a single orthodox winger available for selection – resulting in top scorer Richarlison operating out on the left flank.

Though, since the early days of his Everton career, the current Spurs forward has spent the majority of his minutes on the pitch playing through the middle, with the stats above highlighting the stark difference between his output across the two positions.

Against Sunderland on Sunday, the 28-year-old completed just five of 13 attempted passes, while he failed to create a chance, alongside completing just one out of three dribbles.

Looking ahead to Saturday, Mathys Tel simply has to be the answer out wide. Despite not being a natural winger himself, he has to be given a chance from the off.

Alongside this, Xavi Simons must be given the chance to prove himself under De Zerbi, after a far-from-ideal debut campaign for the star signing of the summer.

With the ability to carry the ball, Simons is a player always looking to make things happen, though he needs to become the talismanic influence expected as Spurs strive for survival.

Making three changes in total, one will be imposed upon the Italian, with captain Cristian Romero set to miss the remainder of the campaign following an injury picked up in the second half against Sunderland.

Kevin Danso will start, with his average of 5.3 clearances per game among the best in the entire Premier League, but he must clean up his act on the ball, losing possession 8.1 times per 90 minutes this season.

Now or never for Tottenham as relegation rivals pick up form

Dropping into the relegation zone for the first time since 2008 on Friday, the Lilywhites have been left languishing as a result of the scores elsewhere, while they limped to defeat on Wearside.

With West Ham and Leeds both taking three points, and Nottingham Forest earning a point against Aston Villa, Spurs’ future is not completely in their own hands at the moment, unless they pick up form fast.

Facing off against an in-form Brighton side, it would be quite poetic for De Zerbi to pick up his first win against the club that once benefitted from his services.

Fabian Hürzeler’s side will present a stern test, as the Seagulls aim to gatecrash the European places in the final six games of the season.

The current squad at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is too good to be where it is in the standings, though they are just not producing. One win could change that, with the new boss looking to instil a winning mentality ahead of what will hopefully be a summer rebuild.

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Tottenham relegation would not be as monumental as Leicester’s Premier League title

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Tottenham Hotspur‘s relegation would be a seismic event in the Premier League’s history – but it would still be a footnote compared to Leicester City’s miracle title win.

After Roberto De Zerbi lost his first game in charge against Sunderland on Sunday, Tottenham stayed 18th in the Premier League table as they inched closer towards relegation.

To make matters worse, West Ham leapfrogged them in the table after a 4-0 win over Wolves, Nottingham Forest claimed a point against Aston Villa, and Leeds jumped six points clear of Spurs after beating Manchester United 2-1 on Monday.

With six games to go, Spurs are in real danger of dropping into the English second tier for the first time since 1977, and as the sixth-most successful club in England, that would be a disaster, in more ways than one, for the north London team.

As Tottenham prepare to face Brighton, Tottenham News has assessed the assertion that a Spurs relegation would be as “momentous” as Leicester’s 2016 title triumph.

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Tottenham’s fall is not on a par with Leicester’s triumph

Tottenham took just 38 points in the Premier League last season, finishing 17th. But much of that was, arguably, down to Ange Postecoglou prioritising the Europa League over the Premier League, as they ended a 17-year wait for silverware.

Had it not been for Leicester, Ipswich Town, and Southampton going down so meekly last term, Tottenham could have been relegated in another season.

In 2025-26, 38 points may not be enough to keep a team up.

On Monday, The Times’ Martin Samuel wrote that a Tottenham relegation would be just as momentous as Leicester’s title win.

He argues that Spurs’ relegation would define this season, over a title win for Arsenal, for example.

Samuel points out that no relegated club have ever won a major UEFA competition in the same season, making Tottenham the lowest-placed UEFA champions.

He even argues that if Tottenham go down, their failure will “own” 2025-26, just as Leicester’s title did 10 years ago and Manchester United’s treble in 1999.

Indeed, Tottenham’s wage bill is reportedly the seventh-highest in the Premier League, but their fall from grace has been on the cards.

Whereas Leicester went from finishing 14th in 2014-15 to winning the title 12 months later. That was their first-ever top-flight success. The chances of that happening were 5000/1, according to the bookies.

Tottenham’s chances of going down were certainly lower than that at the start of this campaign. After Sunderland, the Opta supercomputer rated the likelihood of them getting relegated at 44.9 per cent.

These are two sizeable moments in the Premier League, but Leicester’s success will live much longer in the memory than a Tottenham demotion.

Disastrous consequences for Tottenham

If Tottenham do go down, there is likely to be a player exodus, and many of their top stars may be sold for less than their market value.

Tottenham are predicted to lose more than £200million in revenue if they drop into the Championship, and even though their finances will dwarf many of their rivals, there is no guarantee they will come back up.

But before they can contemplate getting relegated, Tottenham have to focus on ending their 14-game winless run, this time against Brighton on Saturday.

After Cristian Romero’s injury in the defeat to Sunderland, Kevin Danso is likely to come back into the starting lineup, and perhaps Mathys Tel will replace the faltering Richarlison.

Many pundits keep saying Tottenham will get out of this simply because they are a big club. But going off their 2026 form, they seem the most likely to go down.

With six games to go, it’s all or nothing.

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Granit Xhaka exposed Roberto De Zerbi’s biggest issue at Tottenham

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Granit Xhaka put Tottenham Hotspur‘s midfield to shame in their defeat to Sunderland.

A 1-0 defeat away to Sunderland was hardly unexpected, with Spurs yet to win in the Premier League this year, despite us being halfway through April.

But once again, it wasn’t just the result that sparked major concern, with the entire performance still miles below the standard required if the North Londoners are to remain in the top flight.

With West Ham and Leeds United both securing victories in their encounters, relegation fears have grown stronger at Tottenham.

And while Roberto De Zerbi will maintain hope of keeping Spurs in the Premier League, there is one major issue that is looking increasingly likely to impact their ability to do so.

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Tottenham’s midfield is a total embarrassment

You can look at the lack of attacking threat in the forward areas, or even the growing number of defensive calamities.

But the main issue is in regard to the midfield options that Spurs have at their disposal, and there is very little that De Zerbi can do about it.

Lucas Bergvall had a shocker against Sunderland, but he wasn’t the only one, with Xhaka having outperformed Spurs’ entire midfield combined for a number of key metrics.

His five tackles outweighed the zero managed by Spurs’ entire midfield, and he won more than double the number of duels.

Xhaka completed 16 passes into the final third, while Bergvall, Archie Gray and Conor Gallagher managed just eight in total.

To top it off, the former Arsenal midfielder had 85 touches in the game, which was only five fewer than the above three combined.

Roberto De Zerbi does not have the answers for Tottenham

De Zerbi may well be a good coach, but he’s far from a miracle worker.

And quite frankly, at this stage in the season, that is exactly what Tottenham appear to need if they are to stay in the Premier League.

This squad is weak in ability and in mentality, and De Zerbi simply can’t be expected to change that without time in the dugout.

If Spurs find themselves relegated, it may be for the better, given the remarkable turnover of players that is so blatantly required in North London.

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Roberto De Zerbi let Archie Gray down as bold new Tottenham role backfires vs Sunderland

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If this were to be the start of Tottenham Hotspur‘s brave new era, they truly are in trouble.

Despite all of the positivity that had emanated from seemingly every corner of the club after Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival, none of it was on show against Sunderland. Instead, there were only the same red raw scars and mental fragility that had dragged them into this mess.

Supporters weren’t hoping for a sea change, but they did want a reason to believe again. At the Stadium of Light, they may have sat forwards as their players more than held their own for 45 minutes, before slumping back down after the restart as the failings of old took hold.

Nordi Mukiele’s deflected goal was deeply unfortunate, but it was also a symptom of this Spurs crisis. Truth be told, they did not have any real conviction during the second half, and after they conceded, they never looked like mustering a response.

With just six matches remaining, Tottenham remain inside the relegation zone, two points adrift of safety. Unless something drastic changes soon, they will go down with a whimper.

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What did Roberto de Zerbi do differently with Archie Gray?

The idea of Spurs being relegated from the Premier League may have been fanciful just a handful of months ago, but now, it’s a reality. It’s approaching this listing club head-first like a train. Players, perhaps resigned to their fate, looked like they were sleepwalking.

First, the (very few) positives. Spurs delivered an improved attacking performance in the opening 45 minutes, which would have pleased De Zerbi. The new head coach did not spring any major surprises in his team selection, aside from keeping Xavi Simons on the bench.

The visitors actually ticked along quite nicely before half-time, aided by a quietly effective midfield duo of Archie Gray and Conor Gallagher. But after Sunderand took the lead, De Zerbi went back to the drawing board. His change effectively – and unfairly – hung Gray out to dry.

Gray and Lucas Bergvall were hooked following the goal, replaced by Pape Sarr and Joao Palhinha. As they trudged off, Spurs lost their way and never really recovered.

For the efforts of the impressive 20-year-old had helped Tottenham keep a level head, as well as several steadying spells of possession. De Zerbi used him as the water carrier, through whom everything flowed. He shouldered a significant amount of responsibility.

In doing so, he had allowed both Bergvall and Gallagher to push on and move closer to Randal Kolo Muani, Richarlison and Dominic Solanke. While Gallagher appeared busy, he contributed next to nothing, with the less experienced Gray stepping up instead.

The youngster mopped up in his deep position, breaking up Sunderland attacks, snatching up loose passes and then feeding his team-mates, usually off to either side of him. Bizarrely, though, Spurs looked reluctant to use him, which meant he took just 23 touches.

This was despite De Zerbi using Gray at the heart of his pre-match rondo, simulating his role as the midfield guardian. Whether this had been worked on during training remains a mystery, but the wonderkid was near faultless before being unceremoniously dragged off.

The substitution almost appeared to suggest that he had been at fault, but it had actually been the opposite. Without Gray, Spurs would have had zero control of the centre of the pitch. Their performance after conceding was another worrying indicator of life without him.

It speaks volumes that Gray is the only Spurs player safe from a possible fire sale this summer, while recent links to Liverpool should sound the alarm bells in N17.

How did Gray play vs Sunderland?

Gray’s stay at Tottenham has been turbulent to say the least. Despite his tender age, he has been used as Spurs’ swiss army knife, but this has raised concerns that he could go on to become a jack of all trades rather than a master of one.

It is obvious where his best position is.

In his first campaign, 53 per cent of his minutes in all competitions came at centre-back. Igor Tudor used him at both right and left-back before finally giving him a run in central midfield. Luckily, De Zerbi appears to have already realised where his strengths lie.

Acting as Spurs’ metronome for just over an hour against Sunderland, Gray completed 18 of his 20 attempted passes (90 per cent) and carried the ball seven times while losing it just twice, according to Sofascore. He also made three interceptions and two recoveries.

To his credit, he was not dribbled past by a single Sunderland player.

Regardless of whether Tottenham stay up, Gray will enjoy a glittering career. But if De Zerbi is willing to put his trust in him fully, maybe, just maybe, he can bail them out of trouble.

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