The arrival of Igor Tudor at Tottenham Hotspur marks the beginning of a high-stakes rescue mission. The Croatian manager has been handed the reins until the end of the season with one clear, uncompromising objective: to prevent a historic slide into the championship.
With the club sitting just six points above the relegation zone, Tudor faces a baptism of fire, starting with the intense pressure of a North London Derby. Because the transfer window is firmly shut, he must work exclusively with the squad he inherited a group currently plagued by injuries and a profound crisis of confidence.
To navigate this period successfully, Tudor must make ruthless decisions regarding his starting lineup, specifically concerning players who have failed to justify their price tags.
The current situation brings to mind the ghost of Tottenham’s past, specifically the meteoric rise and subsequent struggle of Dele Alli. When Dele arrived from MK Dons in 2015 for a modest £5 million, he was a revelation.
He bypassed the academy and became a global superstar almost overnight. During his first three seasons under Mauricio Pochettino, he was statistically one of the most productive midfielders in Europe, racking up 67 goals and 55 assists. He was the heartbeat of a side that challenged for the highest honors, winning back-to-back PFA Young Player of the Year awards.
However, as the football world knows, that brilliance eventually faded. A combination of injuries and off-the-field challenges saw his form plummet, and subsequent managers struggled to rediscover the magic Pochettino had cultivated.
This history is particularly relevant today because many analysts believe Tottenham currently possesses a player with a remarkably similar profile: Conor Gallagher. Before his £34 million move to North London, Gallagher was frequently compared to the “Pochettino-era Dele Alli.” Journalists and scouts noted his ability to pick up the ball in deep positions and arrive late in the penalty area to make a decisive impact.
Unfortunately, since joining the Lilywhites last summer, Gallagher has looked less like a prime Dele Alli and more like a player struggling to find his identity in a dysfunctional system. His recent performance against Newcastle United was a stark illustration of these difficulties.
During his 70 minutes on the pitch, he looked off the pace and strangely ineffective. His passing accuracy hovered at a mediocre 79%, and he surrendered possession 12 times. More concerning was his lack of defensive contribution; he failed to record a single interception or successful dribble, looking like a passenger in a midfield that was being overrun.
| Conor Gallagher: Match Statistics vs. Newcastle | Performance Metric |
| Minutes Played | 70 |
| Total Touches | 31 |
| Pass Completion Rate | 79% |
| Possession Lost | 12 times |
| Dribbles Completed | 0 |
| Interceptions Made | 0 |
| Fouls Committed | 2 |
For Igor Tudor, there is no room for sentiment or “waiting for a player to find form.” The margin for error is simply too thin. Gallagher’s statistics suggest a player who is currently a liability at both ends of the pitch.
In a relegation battle, a manager needs reliability, positional discipline, and a high work rate qualities that Gallagher showed in abundance at Chelsea but has failed to replicate in a Spurs shirt. If Tudor is to inject fresh energy into the squad, his first tactical move should be to bench the Englishman in favor of a more stable alternative.
The irony of the situation is that while Tudor is the man in charge today, the shadow of Mauricio Pochettino still looms large. Rumors persist that the Argentine could return in the summer once his commitments with the USA national team at the 2026 World Cup are complete. Pochettino was the master at unlocking the “Dele Alli” archetype, and perhaps he is the only one who could eventually fix Gallagher. But Tudor cannot afford to think about the summer. He needs results in February and March.
Tudor’s tactical philosophy usually demands high intensity and aggressive pressing. At Juventus, his teams were characterized by their physical robustness and clear defensive structures.
Gallagher’s current habit of losing the ball in dangerous areas and failing to track runners is a direct contradiction to the “Tudor way.” By continuing to start a player who is so clearly out of sorts, the manager risks undermining the defensive solidity he is trying to build.
Tottenham’s survival depends on the collective effort of players who are ready to fight for every inch of grass. While Gallagher undoubtedly has talent, his recent showings suggest he is not mentally or tactically prepared for the current crisis.
Tudor must show the clinical edge that defined his playing career; he must prioritize the safety of the club over the reputation of a big-money signing. By making the tough call to drop Gallagher, he sends a clear message to the rest of the squad: performances are the only currency that matters.
If Spurs are to climb the table and distance themselves from the bottom three, it will be because of tactical discipline, not because they are waiting for a “new Dele Alli” to suddenly wake up.
