The streets of West London are set to host a pivotal moment in Tottenham Hotspur’s season as the club makes the short journey to Craven Cottage later today. For the traveling supporters, the hope is simple but desperate: they want to see Igor Tudor finally secure his first win as manager.
The current state of affairs is nothing short of alarming. As we move further into 2026, a club of this magnitude finds itself in the midst of a historic slump, having failed to record a single Premier League victory in nine attempts since the turn of the year. With four draws and five losses in that period, the “new manager bounce” many expected has yet to materialize, leaving the team in a fragile 16th place, hovering just four points above the relegation zone.
Last weekend’s North London derby against Arsenal was supposed to be a turning point, but it quickly became another chapter in a season of misery. For about thirty minutes, there were flashes of the team Tudor wants to build.
Randal Kolo Muani showed great predatory instincts to pounce on a rare Declan Rice error, momentarily leveling the score after Eberechi Eze had put the Gunners ahead. However, the optimism was short-lived.
The team’s structural weaknesses were exposed once again as Eze grabbed a second, and Viktor Gyokeres added a brace to complete a painful 4-1 defeat. It was a rude awakening for Tudor, who has since admitted that the task of saving this “sinking ship” is far more difficult than he initially imagined when he signed his contract.
One of the primary hurdles for the Croatian coach has been a relentless injury crisis that has gutted the squad of its depth and leadership. However, the medical room has finally offered some relief ahead of the Fulham clash.
The return of Kevin Danso and Pedro Porro after a month on the sidelines is a massive boost for a defense that has looked disorganized and prone to lapses in concentration. Their availability allows Tudor to return to his preferred tactical setup, providing both the physical presence and the technical quality needed to compete with Marco Silva’s well-drilled Fulham side.
In goal, Guglielmo Vicario is expected to keep his place. While he was far from his best against Arsenal, he remains the club’s most reliable option between the posts. The real changes occur in front of him.
The return of Danso allows Tudor to field a robust back three alongside the lightning-fast Micky van de Ven and the physical Radu Dragusin. This trio provides a blend of recovery speed and aerial dominance that has been sorely missing. Furthermore, having Porro back on the right flank, balanced by Djed Spence on the left, gives the team the natural width and crossing ability required to stretch opposition defenses.
| Position | Player | Key Attribute |
| Goalkeeper | Guglielmo Vicario | Reflexes & Distribution |
| Center-Back | Kevin Danso | Aerial Dominance |
| Center-Back | Micky van de Ven | Recovery Speed |
| Center-Back | Radu Dragusin | Physicality |
| Right Wing-Back | Pedro Porro | Creative Delivery |
| Left Wing-Back | Djed Spence | Athleticism |
| Midfield | Joao Palhinha | Defensive Anchor |
| Midfield | Conor Gallagher | Work Rate & Energy |
| Attacking Mid | Pape Matar Sarr | Box-to-Box Threat |
| Attacking Mid | Xavi Simons | Creative Flair |
| Striker | Randal Kolo Muani | Finishing |
The most significant knock-on effect of Danso’s return is the freedom it grants Joao Palhinha. In recent weeks, the Portuguese international has been forced to fill in as an emergency center-back, but his true value lies in the heart of the midfield.
Moving Palhinha back to his natural “destroyer” role alongside Conor Gallagher should provide the steel and energy necessary to win the battle in the engine room. Gallagher, as the club’s highest-paid player, carries a heavy burden of expectation, and his partnership with Palhinha will be crucial in shielding the back three.
In the final third, Tudor is likely to stick with the players who showed a spark of life last weekend. Pape Matar Sarr and Xavi Simons are tipped to start in the advanced roles behind the lone striker.
Their task is to link the midfield to the attack and provide the creative service that has been missing for much of the season. Leading the line will be Randal Kolo Muani. After finally scoring his first Premier League goal at the 19th attempt, the Frenchman appears to have found a much-needed boost of confidence. Tudor will be banking on him to start a scoring run that could pull the club out of its current tailspin.
The stakes today could not be higher. If Tottenham fails to beat Fulham, it will mark the first time in over thirty years that the club has gone ten consecutive league games without a victory. For a team with Champions League ambitions, such a statistic is a damming indictment of the current campaign.
Survival is now the only objective, and the fans traveling to Craven Cottage will be demanding a performance that reflects the gravity of the situation. Tudor has the players back; now he needs the points.
