Sports Mole

Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner has not ruled Chris Richards out of Sunday's Premier League clash with London derby rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park.

The American defender appeared to sustain a serious injury on Tuesday night, when he was stretchered off the field during the penalty-shootout loss to Arsenal in the EFL Cup quarter-finals.

However, Glasner revealed that Richards had simply suffered a cut to his foot which needed stitches, and there is a chance that he will be able to reprise his role in defence for the derby.

The New Year's Day clash with Fulham is a more likely comeback date, though, so Jaydee Canvot should anticipate a rare Premier League start alongside Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix in defence.

Cup goalkeeper Walter Benitez saved Palace's skin during the 90 minutes against Arsenal, but recognised number one Dean Henderson is sure to return for the visit of the Europa League winners.

Canvot moving into a centre-back should see Nathaniel Clyne return at right wing-back - Daniel Munoz is still injured - while Will Hughes may demote Jefferson Lerma down to the bench too.

Eddie Nketiah's participation is in some doubt due to a knock, so Justin Devenny may be rewarded for his recent feats with a start alongside Yeremy Pino and Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The latter played the full 90 in midweek despite lingering concerns over a knee problem, but Christantus Uche is waiting in the wings if need be.

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:

Henderson; Canvot, Lacroix, Guehi; Clyne, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Pino, Devenny; Mateta

Two out-of-sorts London rivals aiming to avoid three straight Premier League defeats collide at Selhurst Park on Sunday, when Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur go head-to-head.

The Eagles are reeling from an EFL Cup penalty-shootout loss to Arsenal, while the Lilywhites and their nine men were edged out 2-1 by Liverpool in their most recent outing.

Match preview

Oliver Glasner's Eagles experienced the highest of knockout highs last season, hoisting the famous FA Cup trophy aloft in the Wembley sunshine, but they were recently denied a swift return to the home of English football in gut-wrenching fashion.

A fatigued and absentee-hit Palace crop earned their stars by holding Arsenal to a 1-1 draw in normal time on Tuesday night, but own-goal scorer Maxence Lacroix capped off a disastrous evening by missing the decisive penalty in the Emirates shootout.

However, with one avenue to silverware closed off, Palace can focus more of their resources on arresting their Premier League slump, having dropped out of the European places in the top-flight rankings owing to back-to-back defeats to Manchester City and Leeds United.

Glasner's men scored just one goal and conceded seven during those grim 180 minutes of football, and the hosts' winless run in all competitions now stands at four matches, during which time their defence has been breached on a worrying 10 occasions.

The FA Cup holders tend to thrive when New Year's Eve comes into view, though, as they won their final league game in all of 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 - never before have they won their last match of a calendar year in five successive years.

Not since 2018 have visitors Spurs been slain in their last game before January 1, but the Lilywhites faithful may travel across the capital in hope rather than expectation following recent catastrophic events.

Liverpool scored the same amount of goals as Thomas Frank's men received red cards last weekend, when the champions condemned the Lilywhites to a fourth loss from six top-flight games, triggering heightened speculation over the manager's future.

A portion of fans are already becoming disillusioned with the Dane - who has just lost a key member of his coaching team - but he retains the backing of the hierarchy for the time being as he seeks to steer 14th-placed Spurs back into European contention.

That will be easier said than done for a Tottenham side who have lost four and drawn one of their last five away matches, though, and the Lilywhites have also conceded a staggering 18 goals during that sequence - an average of one every 25 minutes or so.

The Europa League holders also suffered back-to-back losses to Palace in the 2024-25 season - failing to find the back of the net once - and the visitors are now at risk of successive league defeats at Selhurst Park for the first time ever.

Crystal Palace Premier League form:

Crystal Palace form (all competitions):

Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:

Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

Team News

Palace's fitness situation had seemingly taken another turn for the worse when Chris Richards sustained a freak foot injury against Arsenal, but the stitched-up American may still be in with a chance of making an appearance this weekend.

The same goes for Eddie Nketiah, who suffered a knock against his old club, but Ismaila Sarr (AFCON), Daniel Munoz (knee), Daichi Kamada (hamstring), Cheick Doucoure (knee), Chadi Riad (knee) and Caleb Kporha (back) are definitely missing.

Jean-Philippe Mateta has also been managing a knee injury for a while, but the Frenchman nevertheless played the full 90 in midweek and should reprise his role against Spurs, whom he scored the only goal against in this fixture last term.

Speaking of Tottenham, Xavi Simons begins his three-game ban for serious foul play against Liverpool, while Cristian Romero is suspended for one game for now but may receive additional punishment owing to a recent FA charge.

Kevin Danso ought to be a straight swap for Romero in the backline, while Richarlison, Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson will all battle to step in for Simons, but the former should get the nod after scoring Tottenham's consolation off the bench last weekend.

There has been no change to the visitors' injury situation, meaning that Kota Takai (thigh), Dominic Solanke (ankle), James Maddison (ACL), Dejan Kulusevski (knee) and Destiny Udogie (thigh) are all absent, in addition to Africa Cup of Nations duo Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma.

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:

Henderson; Canvot, Lacroix, Guehi; Clyne, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Pino, Devenny; Mateta

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence; Gray, Bentancur; Kudus, Bergvall, Kolo Muani; Richarlison

We say: Crystal Palace 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Both Palace and Spurs arguably did themselves proud in their recent losses; the Eagles defied their jellied legs and absentees to give Arsenal a brilliant run for their money, and even a nine-man Tottenham handed Liverpool a few scares last time out.

Frank's side may have lost the influential Romero and Simons, but Palace's backline has looked increasingly vulnerable in recent weeks, so a high-scoring derby stalemate is not beyond the realm of possibility.

Arne Slot has been fortunate that Liverpool's performances have been rewarded with wins, but he will face pressure once the team's luck turns, Reds expert David Lynch has claimed.

The Merseysiders left London with three points last weekend, but their 2-1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur did not inspire confidence, especially considering Spurs often looked like the more threatening team despite playing with 10 men after Xavi Simons's first-half red card.

Liverpool have looked to use a more defensive approach in recent weeks, and that has coincided with poor attacking displays, with the club only producing 5.8 xG from open play in their last six games.

Lynch insisted that Liverpool have experienced significant amounts of luck, and if that luck runs out, the team's current playstyle will not be tolerated, telling Sports Mole: "Where pressure will come is when the results start to turn, and they turn up playing like this.

"The penalty at Inter, the red cards at Tottenham which were crucial in that game - those things are falling for them at the moment. When that stops happening, can you use this playstyle as a basis to keep the results coming? Is this sustainable? I would argue not.

"You're playing a brand of football that is not very good to watch, but the poor performances are being accepted because of the results. Once the results dry up, you are going to have very few supporters, so that would be the worry for Slot."

Spurs were reduced to nine men late on when Cristian Romero needlessly picked up a second yellow, but Liverpool struggled to escape their own penalty area despite boasting the advantage of two extra players.

What positives can Liverpool take after Tottenham Hotspur win?

Though the Reds were not at their best against Spurs, that match extended their unbeaten streak to six games, and it was also their fourth victory in that time.

Liverpool had been beaten in nine of their prior 12 games, and the current period of results have somewhat eased the immediate pressure on Slot.

Speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch was keen to reiterate that winning games is still ultimately the most important thing in the race for top four, saying: "If Slot keeps the results coming, if Liverpool end in the top four, if they go on a march, then you'd have to say fair play.

"The manager will be thinking that if confidence rebuilds by being more solid and picking up wins, then this is the way they can move forward and eventually let the shackles off.

"It's very hard to have the answers about which way this is going to go. It's very similar to the start of the season when you saw the results were great, but the performances weren't."

Liverpool won their first five Premier League games of the season, but the results masked the team's poor performances, so fans will hope that the Reds' current undefeated streak is not a false dawn.

Could Florian Wirtz save Arne Slot's job?

Despite Liverpool's struggles against Spurs, playmaker Florian Wirtz managed to register an assist for Alexander Isak's goal, and his performance was one of the few positives from the clash.

The German's form has trended upwards in recent weeks, and if he continues on his trajectory, there is hope that he can lead the club towards the Champions League places.

Lynch was keen to praise Wirtz's growing influence, when he told Sports Mole: "That assist had been coming because he has been more influential, and Liverpool are getting better at knowing where he wants the ball.

"I've been really encouraged by his recent performances, and you've known since the first few games that it's going to take him a while to settle, but we're starting to see the start of that process now.

"If he continues to grow and build then he can make Liverpool play better all on his own, and he's one that Slot will be hanging his hat on. The ultimate idea with him is that he's going to be the jewel in the crown of this team for the next few years."

If Wirtz can consistently contribute in the final third, then there is every chance that Liverpool's unbeaten streak will be extended.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly received 'initial contact' over a deal for number one goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario next summer.

The Italy international has experienced high highs and low lows in the 2025-26 season, earning plaudits for his exceptional displays against the likes of Monaco in the Champions League and Chelsea in the Premier League.

However, Vicario has also come in for heavy criticism at certain points of the campaign, most notably from Jamie Carragher after the Lilywhites' 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

With the score at 0-0, Vicario passed the ball out to an under-pressure Archie Gray, who was subsequently robbed of possession by Ibrahim Sangare before Callum Hudson-Odoi scored the opening goal.

Vicario immediately threw his arms out at Gray in frustration - an action that did not go down well with Carragher, who accused the former Empoli man of always trying to shift the blame onto one of his teammates.

The 29-year-old nevertheless remains Thomas Frank's undisputed first-choice shot-stopper, but for how long he will continue in North London is another matter entirely.

Inter Milan make 'initial contact' over Guglielmo Vicario transfer

According to Sky Italia - via Calciomercato - Serie A giants Inter Milan have now made contact over a move for Vicario in 2026 as they plan for life without the veteran Yann Sommer.

Thirty-seven-year-old Sommer has been recognised as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe during his stint with the Nerazzurri, whom he has helped reach two Champions League finals, but the Switzerland international is out of contract in June.

Inter are reportedly planning to instil a new number one for 2026-27 and have now touched base to enquire about a move for Vicario, who would supposedly be open to returning to his homeland amid a troubled year with Tottenham.

However, the outlet adds that negotiations to bring Vicario back to Serie A will be 'anything but simple', as Vicario still has two-and-a-half years left to run on his contract with Tottenham, who will fight tooth and nail to keep him.

The Europa League holders are also well-placed to demand a profit on the £16.1m they paid Empoli for Vicario in 2023, since when the 29-year-old has registered 25 clean sheets in 98 appearances for the North London club in all competitions.

Vicario has recorded nine shut-outs in 24 matches during the 2025-26 season, a statistic that is supposedly 'making the difference' for Inter's 'increasingly close courtship' of the goalkeeper.

Which other players could leave Tottenham in 2026?

Vicario is one of two Spurs players to be heavily linked with a move to Serie A in 2026, as Radu Dragusin's agent recently talked up the prospect of a transfer to one specific Italian club if his client struggles for minutes next year.

Long-serving defender Ben Davies is also out of contract in 2026 and is likely to depart as a free agent, and the same goes for Yves Bissouma, who is yet to make a single appearance under Frank.

Tottenham Hotspur will hope to avoid a third consecutive Premier League defeat when they travel to play Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Spurs come into the clash in 14th place with just 22 points after 17 matchweeks, and the club's poor form has fuelled scrutiny on boss Thomas Frank.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up Tottenham’s latest injury and suspension news ahead of their contest against Palace.

James Maddison

Status: Out

Type of injury: ACL

Possible return date: Unknown

Maddison has been sidelined since sustaining an ACL injury in August, and the Englishman is targeting a return to action during next year's pre-season.

Dominic Solanke

Status: Out

Type of injury: Ankle

Possible return date: Unknown

Solanke underwent ankle surgery at the end of September, and though he was reportedly close to a return, Frank has been vague about when the striker could make his comeback, though he has ruled him out of Sunday's match.

Dejan Kulusevski

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Kulusevski is still recovering from a knee injury that he picked up towards the end of last season, and a return date for the attacker is unclear at this stage.

Yves Bissouma

Status: Out

Reason: AFCON

Possible return date: Unknown

Yves Bissouma may not have played anyway, but he has been ruled out due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations with Mali.

Destiny Udogie

Status: Out

Type of injury: Hamstring

Possible return date: January 1 (vs. Brentford)

Udogie picked up a hamstring injury towards the end of Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle on December 2, and the defender will not be back until the start of 2026.

Kota Takai

Status: Major doubt

Type of injury: Thigh

Possible return date: Unknown

Takai is yet to make an appearance for Tottenham since joining in the summer due to a thigh injury, and though the defender featured recently for the Under-21s, he is still making his way through his fitness journey.

Pape Sarr

Status: Out

Reason: AFCON

Possible return date: Unknown

Tottenham are currently without the services of Sarr due to the midfielder's involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations for Senegal.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR’S SUSPENSION LIST

Xavi Simons

Status: Ruled out

Possible return date: January 7 (vs. Bournemouth)

Xavi Simons received a straight red card against Liverpool last weekend for a reckless foul on Virgil van Dijk, and he will miss the next three games.

Cristian Romero

Status: Ruled out

Possible return date: January 1 (vs. Brentford)

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly handed Thomas Frank a £150m transfer kitty for the January window.

Frank's transition from Brentford to Spurs has been far from straightforward, with the Danish manager finding the leap a challenge, highlighted by mixed results and the club's position in the Premier League table: 14th.

Although the Lilywhites are just seven points from entering the top four, losing five of their nine fixtures at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has not endeared the Dane to the club's supporters.

Despite the current antipathy, the former Brentford boss could get his squad bolstered ahead of the January window as Spurs aim to climb the table.

Spurs transfer news: Frank's 'primary targets' identified

According to The Sun, Frank is understood to be desperate to land a high-quality left winger after a failed pursuit of Manchester City star Savinho during the summer months.

While Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo remains at the top of the club's wish-list, the Ghana international is also being tracked by several other Big Six rivals, with Manchester City favoured to land the in-form attacker.

A potential move for Savinho may depend on whether the Premier League champions successfully secure Semenyo as a replacement in the coming weeks.

The report further suggests that the recruitment team is also prioritising a move for Porto striker Samu Aghehowa to provide much-needed competition for the returning Dominic Solanke.

Spurs transfer news: Frank's other areas of concern revealed

The report subsequently highlights the need for immediate reinforcements due to a mounting injury crisis within the team's backline.

Destiny Udogie has already missed 11 matches this season with a persistent hamstring problem, leaving the squad without a specialist left-back.

This lack of depth has forced Frank to utilise Djed Spence out of position, leading to concerns regarding the balance of the defensive unit.

Securing a left-sided centre-back who can also cover on the flank is also now considered essential for the second half of the season.

Looking to stabilise after a rough spell, Crystal Palace will welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Selhurst Park for a Premier League showdown on Sunday.

Oliver Glasner's side were knocked out of the EFL Cup by Arsenal on Tuesday, and the Eagles will be hoping that the top flight can provide some respite.

Meanwhile, Thomas Frank's Lilywhites showed a lack of discipline during their 2-1 loss against Liverpool last Saturday, and the boss is sure to demand a response this weekend.

Here, Sports Mole provides all the details you need to know about how to watch Sunday's Premier League clash between Palace and Spurs.

What time does Crystal Palace vs. Tottenham Hotspur kick off?

This match will kick off at 4:30pm on Sunday, December 28 for viewers in the UK.

Where is Crystal Palace vs. Tottenham Hotspur being played?

Spurs will travel across the capital to Selhurst Park, the 25,486-capacity ground that Palace have called home since 1924.

The stadium is to be expanded to seat more spectators, with construction starting in January.

How to watch Crystal Palace vs. Tottenham Hotspur in the UK

TV channels

This match will be broadcast live on the Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event TV channels.

Streaming

Fans can stream the clash live via Sky Go or the Sky Sports+ app.

Viewers can also catch the action through NOW UK if they have purchased the Sky Sports package on the platform.

Highlights

Game-changing moments such as goals may be posted to the SkySportsPL X (formerly Twitter) account, while the Sky Sports app will have highlights shortly after full time.

Highlights will also be uploaded to the Sky Sports Premier League YouTube channel later in the day.

Who will win Crystal Palace vs. Tottenham Hotspur?

Palace have enjoyed a largely positive season in 2025-26, but the past couple of weeks have seen the club stumble across all competitions.

Glasner opted to rest players in a key Conference League game, only to see his team draw 2-2 with KuPS, miss out on automatic progression to the round of 16, and still go on to lose the following two domestic outings.

As for Tottenham, they appeared to be turning a corner after starting December with two wins and a draw, but they also come into this game on the back of frustrating defeats.

The agent of Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin has publicly talked up a transfer to one specific club amid troubled times for both the team and the Romanian.

Spurs are in Premier League freefall under Thomas Frank after suffering an agonising 2-1 loss to Liverpool last weekend, when they ended the game with nine men courtesy of Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero's red cards.

The latter has now been slapped with an FA charge, and regardless of the outcome of the process, he will serve a suspension in Sunday's London derby against Crystal Palace.

Romero's ban will open the door for one of Dragusin, Ben Davies, Kota Takai or Kevin Danso to join Micky van de Ven in the backline, but the latter is seen as the most likely replacement for the South American.

Dragusin will therefore be kept waiting for his first minutes since suffering a horror ACL injury back in January, although the loss to Liverpool saw him make a matchday squad for the first time in 11 months, and a senior comeback is edging ever closer.

Radu Dragusin agent talks up Tottenham exit in 2026

© Imago

However, the 23-year-old struggled for regular starts over Van de Ven and Romero when fully fit, and his representative Florin Manea has now opened the door to Dragusin joining Inter Milan, whose manager Cristian Chivu is also Romanian.

"I know Inter will be looking for a central defender in the summer," Manea told Digisport, as quoted by Get Football News Italy. "If we decide that Radu needs to play more until then, we’ll let them know, and maybe Chivu will call me too.

"He still has four and a half years left on his contract with Tottenham, but the injury has kept him out for 11 months. I can’t allow him to spend another seven without consistency. We need to find a solution to get him playing. He’s 100% determined. Now let’s focus on January, and then we’ll see."

Manea also confirmed that he had not been in contact with any clubs regarding Dragusin's future, conflicting claims that Tottenham rejected an approach from Fiorentina for the ex-Genoa man earlier this month.

"There’s some speculation, and we’re analysing it," Manea added. "The club doesn’t want to sell him right now. However, if the number of games he plays isn’t what we want, then we’ll take that into consideration. I’ll talk to him and we’ll evaluate together.

"So far, no one has called me. It’s an open situation: there’s interest, even from England, but from smaller clubs. Italy remains a better option, because you’re joining a big team there. I haven’t spoken to Chivu, I just called to congratulate him."

Roma are also understood to have taken an interest in Dragusin, who is under contract at Tottenham until 2030 but has played just 37 games for the club since joining in a £21.8m deal in early 2024.

Could Dragusin Inter move aid Barcelona transfer mission?

© Imago

Dragusin's agent is putting out the feelers to Inter at a time when the Nerazzurri's defensive jewel - Alessandro Bastoni - is being heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, who are pursuing a new centre-back as a matter of priority in 2026.

However, the Nerazzurri are already due to lose Francesco Acerbi and Stefan de Vrij on free transfers next summer, and it remains to be seen if Manuel Akanji's loan move from Manchester City is converted into a permanent stay.

Therefore, even if Dragusin's representative can engineer a move to San Siro for his client, it will likely make no difference to Barcelona's Bastoni mission.

Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Cristian Romero has been charged by the FA for alleged offences after he was sent off against Liverpool.

Spurs' festive period has been far from a productive one, with the club's latest defeat coming at home against Liverpool last Saturday.

While defeat was punishment enough, Thomas Frank will also have to deal with the absences of Xavi Simons and Romero in the coming weeks after both were sent off.

The latter received a second yellow card after lashing out at Ibrahima Konate in second-half stoppage time, and he could face further consequences other than the customary one-match ban.

Romero has been charged by the FA for allegedly 'acting in an improper manner by failing to promptly leave the field and/or behaving in a confrontational manner towards the match referee', and the Argentine will have until January 2 to respond to the charges.

Is Cristian Romero becoming a problem for Thomas Frank?

There is no doubting Romero's commitment to both Tottenham and Argentina, and his aggressive style has helped him earn Europa League and World Cup winner's medals.

However, the defender has struggled to find a balance in his playstyle in recent times, with the centre-back having already collected nine yellow cards in 14 Premier League games this season.

No other Spurs player has been booked more than four times, while only three defenders across the division to have played at least 270 minutes in the league have averaged more yellow cards per 90 (0.68).

Frank is under serious pressure, and he must improve results if he is to avoid being dismissed, but the mistakes of defenders such as Romero have not helped the Danish head coach.

Should Tottenham sell Romero in January?

When Romero is at his best, he is able to marshal the backline and prevent dangerous attacks from developing by winning the ball back early.

The 27-year-old has failed to consistently demonstrate his ability this season, and he was also poor for large stretches in 2024-25 under Ange Postecoglou.

It should be noted that Romero has frequently picked up injuries, with the Argentine having only once started more than 26 Premier League games in the last four full campaigns.

Tottenham Hotspur have announced the expected departure of a first-team head coach following their troubled start to the 2025-26 season.

Heading into the 18th gameweek of the campaign, Spurs lie in an underwhelming 14th place in the Premier League table, seven points off the top four and a whopping 17 adrift of leaders Arsenal.

New Lilywhites manager Thomas Frank has come under significant pressure for a number of weeks now, especially amid reports that there are internal doubts from players and others inside the club about his suitability for the role.

The Spurs board are standing by the former Brentford boss for now, but he has now lost one of his trusted lieutenants, as assistant coach Matthew Wells has joined up with Colorado Rapids in MLS.

The 37-year-old rose through the coaching ranks in the Tottenham academy after his premature retirement as a player, before serving as Scott Parker's assistant during his time at Bournemouth, Fulham and Club Brugge.

Tottenham coach Matt Wells departs for Colorado Rapids

Wells then returned to Tottenham in 2023 following the departures of Cristian Stellini and Antonio Conte, helping to usher in a new era under then-interim boss Ryan Mason and eventually Ange Postecoglou.

The Englishman was part of the Lilywhites' Europa League-winning coaching team last season and stayed on when Frank took the reins from Postecoglou, but he has now jumped ship to Denver to take up his first senior head coach role.

Frank paid tribute to his former lieutenant in a statement on the Tottenham website, saying: "When Matt joined my staff I knew it was his dream to become a head coach, and while I would have loved to have kept him with us for longer, I would never stand in the way of him realising that dream.

“We are all delighted for Matt. He has contributed greatly to the Club over a long period of time. He’s an excellent coach, a great person and has a big future ahead of him. We wish him all the best."

The Dane added in his press conference: "I’m very happy for Matt. It is a great opportunity for him. He is a very talented coach and I think he has a good potential to be a good head coach.

"It’s different when you stand out there on your own. I think he has all the abilities to be able to do well. I wish him all the best and I really want him to do well."

Frank also confirmed that Tottenham would be seeking a direct replacement for the new Colorado head coach, but there is no timeframe on a new hire just yet.

Is Thomas Frank the favourite to be sacked?

While Wells has cleared out his Spurs locker, Frank remains in post at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but he is now the bookies' favourite to be the next Premier League manager to lose his job.

The Lilywhites have lost five of their last eight matches in all competitions under Frank, who has also overseen Spurs' worst start to a Premier League campaign since the 2008-09 season.

The Scandinavian will remain in charge for Crystal Palace this weekend, but another string of poor results and performances would leave the Tottenham hierarchy with a big decision to make.