The future of Igor Tudor at Tottenham Hotspur is becoming more precarious than ever, even though he took over the team less than three weeks ago.
The 1-2 loss to Fulham last weekend was not only the Croatian strategist's second consecutive defeat, but also marked Spurs' fourth consecutive loss in the Premier League.
After the latest round, Tottenham dropped to 16th place with 29 points, only 4 points above the relegation zone with 10 rounds remaining. This situation is causing genuine concern among the North London club's fans, as one more slip-up could fully drag them into a fierce relegation battle.
Speaking after the defeat, Igor Tudor bluntly admitted his team was second best in every aspect. He stated the players were consistently a step slow in challenges, lacking anticipation and situational reaction. These somewhat harsh comments immediately sparked controversy, especially given Spurs are suffering significant squad losses with only about 12 to 13 fit players available.
Although fortunate that both Nottingham Forest and West Ham United lost in the latest round, Tottenham knows it cannot continue relying on rivals' results. If the poor form persists, a mid-season managerial change scenario could easily repeat.
On talkSPORT Breakfast, pundit Ricky Sacks expressed skepticism about the decision to appoint Tudor. He suggested the 45-year-old coach might not have fully grasped the extent of Tottenham's internal turmoil when accepting the "firefighter" role. Sacks even warned that just a few more defeats could lead the club's leadership to "gamble" again with another change in the dugout.
If that happens, Tottenham would have to find a third manager within the same season. Before Tudor, Thomas Frank was given a chance but was dismissed after a poor run of results. Further back was the period under Ange Postecoglou, who had ended the club's 17-year trophy drought.
Immediately, the upcoming match against Crystal Palace will be crucial for Igor Tudor and Tottenham. A victory would not only temporarily relieve Spurs' relegation pressure but could also save the Croatian manager's job. Conversely, a defeat could very well trigger another seismic upheaval in North London.