Ange must immediately axe 3/10 Spurs ace who was truly “awful” vs Ipswich
Tottenham Hotspur remains a perplexing team this season. The past few months have shown moments of brilliance, with impressive victories over heavyweights like Manchester City and Aston Villa, but those highs have been tempered by unexpected defeats.
Losses to Crystal Palace, which handed Oliver Glasner his first win of the campaign, and now Ipswich Town, who earned their first three points of the season, reveal Spurs’ inconsistency.
The loss to Ipswich, however, may be the most disheartening so far, even more than the recent defeat to Galatasaray in the Europa League. This match was at home, where Tottenham has generally been strong, and a win would have lifted them to second in the league’s home standings.
Instead, they face an international break that offers time for reflection and a pressing need for defensive improvement if they are to secure a top-four finish.
Sunday’s performance against Ipswich was disappointing for Tottenham, who were expected to secure three points with ease. The newly promoted Ipswich had yet to taste a league victory since their return to the Premier League.
Yet, Tottenham’s lackluster display in the first half showed vulnerability, leaving fans disheartened. Spurs appeared unprepared, and lapses in defense allowed goals from Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap, exposing defensive weaknesses.
Radu Dragusin and Pedro Porro were particularly at fault, with Porro providing an assist for Rodrigo Bentancur’s second-half goal yet failing to defend effectively in crucial moments.
On Ipswich’s first goal, Porro and Brennan Johnson left Szmodics unmarked, while for the second, he failed to close down Szmodics, whose assist to Delap set up the goal.
Tottenham had a brief moment of celebration when Dominic Solanke put the ball in the net, only to have it disallowed, symbolizing a day when everything seemed to go wrong. Dragusin, in particular, struggled, and his performance highlighted why Tottenham’s defense remains a concern.
The Romanian, who joined from Genoa, has not fully settled into a regular role, partly because of the strong partnership between Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven. Van de Ven’s defensive capabilities, speed, and fearlessness have been a boon for Tottenham, but Dragusin has not matched that standard.
His recent performances have been marred by errors, including a costly mistake against Galatasaray when he lost the ball, gifting the Turkish team an easy goal.
Dragusin’s struggles were apparent once more against Ipswich, where his failure to clear the ball set up Delap’s winner. Football.London rated his performance at a dismal 3/10, describing it as shaky and filled with mistakes.
Tottenham reporter Harry Scarfe bluntly called it an “awful” day for the defender. Statistically, Dragusin didn’t perform poorly—he completed 87% of his passes and won six of his ten duels. Yet, his critical errors overshadowed these numbers, illustrating how even solid statistics can’t redeem a performance marked by game-changing mistakes.
Former Tottenham player Eric Dier, once labeled “slapdash and error-prone,” could empathize, having faced similar critiques during his time with the club.
| Player Performance: Radu Dragusin vs Ipswich | Value |
|---|---|
| Minutes Played | 90 |
| Touches | 96 |
| Accurate Passes | 73/84 (87%) |
| Long Balls | 3/6 |
| Ground Duels Won | 3/5 |
| Aerial Duels Won | 3/5 |
| Possession Lost | 12x |
| Clearances | 6 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Tackles | 1 |
| Dribbled Past | 2x |
| Errors Leading to Goal | 1 |
The hope is that Van de Ven, who has been a consistent presence, will return after the international break. If he isn’t ready, it might be worth considering Ben Davies as a left center-back option in place of Dragusin, who has yet to prove his reliability in Tottenham’s defensive line. Tottenham needs stability at the back, and experimentation with other players may be necessary if Dragusin’s form doesn’t improve.
Tottenham’s defensive frailties expose a pressing need for strategic adjustments, especially given the challenges that lie ahead. The team’s inability to consistently perform defensively not only jeopardizes their Premier League ambitions but also threatens their prospects in the Europa League.
The team’s backline must become more disciplined, particularly against teams that Tottenham should be expected to beat. The upcoming fixtures present a valuable opportunity for Tottenham to refocus and strengthen their defensive organization.
This period is critical, with a top-four finish at stake, and if Tottenham is to meet their season goals, a more resilient and adaptable defensive structure is essential.
As Tottenham heads into the international break, the coaching staff faces the challenge of addressing the defensive weaknesses that have hindered the team’s consistency.
Tottenham’s defense, while occasionally competent, has not shown the reliability needed to sustain a successful campaign. In a season marked by peaks and valleys, Tottenham must find a way to translate their flashes of brilliance into a sustained run of form.
The international break offers a crucial opportunity for introspection and re-evaluation, with an emphasis on creating a cohesive defensive unit capable of meeting the demands of both domestic and European competitions.