The current situation at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is no longer just a cause for concern; it has become a full-blown crisis. While the previous season under Ange Postecoglou saw the club finish in a lowly 17th place, there was always a comfortable mathematical cushion that kept the threat of the Championship at arm’s length.
That safety net has completely evaporated in 2026. As it stands, Spurs sit in 16th place with only eleven games remaining to save their top-flight status. The pressure is mounting from below, as a revitalized West Ham United side is fighting with everything they have to escape the bottom three, trailing Igor Tudor’s men by a mere four points.
For a club of this magnitude, the current trajectory is unthinkable. To stop the bleed, Igor Tudor must make ruthless decisions regarding his starting lineup. While the defense has been rightfully criticized for being porous, much of the focus has landed on Radu Dragusin.
The Romanian international has endured a nightmare two-year spell in North London since his £27 million move from Genoa. After struggling to find his footing, a devastating ACL rupture kept him out of action for most of the past year. Since returning in late December, he has looked a shadow of his former self, appearing uncomfortable with the basic defensive requirements of the Premier League.
The statistics tell a worrying story for Dragusin. In his six appearances this season, he has won only 33% of his ground duels—a figure that is frankly unacceptable for a center-back in a relegation scrap. His tendency to commit high-profile errors has already led directly to two goals against his side.
With Cristian Romero nearing a return from suspension and Kevin Danso back in the fold, Dragusin’s time in the starting eleven appears to be nearing its end. However, as poor as the defender has been, there is another high-profile player whose performances are arguably more damaging to the team’s balance.
In January, the club attempted to fix its sliding form with the “statement” signing of Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid. The £35 million move was supposed to provide the engine room with a seasoned, reliable Premier League veteran who could drive the team forward.
Gallagher arrived with a reputation as a “machine” in midfield, a 22-cap England international known for his relentless work rate and ability to cover every blade of grass. On paper, he was the perfect solution to a midfield that lacked grit.
While Gallagher has certainly brought his trademark energy recovering nearly five loose balls per game—his actual impact on the game has been startlingly low. In a team currently missing the creative sparks of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, the midfield desperately needs someone who can pick a pass or create a big chance.
Gallagher has failed to do either. Instead, he has become a liability in possession, losing the ball an average of 10.5 times per match. He zips around the pitch and wins his fair share of duels, but his lack of composure and creative quality is proving to be a major roadblock in Tudor’s attempt to build attacking momentum.
| Premier League 25/26 – Most Errors Leading to Goal | Goals Conceded | Errors |
| Aston Villa | 28 | 10 |
| Tottenham | 41 | 8 |
| Fulham | 41 | 7 |
| Wolves | 51 | 7 |
| Burnley | 52 | 7 |
The irony is that Gallagher was signed to be the “safe” option—the player who would bring stability and confidence to a nervous squad. Instead, his lack of quality on the ball is making even the struggling Dragusin look competent by comparison.
In a relegation battle, work rate is important, but it cannot come at the cost of basic ball retention. When a senior international midfielder is turning over possession as frequently as Gallagher is, it places an unbearable amount of pressure on an already fragile defense.
With Pedro Porro returning to the side, Igor Tudor has a golden opportunity to reshuffle his deck. The return of Porro at wing-back could allow the immensely talented Archie Gray to move back into his preferred central midfield role.
Gray offers a level of technical security and vision that Gallagher currently lacks. Moving Gallagher to the bench might be a bold move considering his price tag and reputation, but Tudor is at a point where he must prioritize points over personalities.
Tottenham’s current style under Tudor, which often utilizes a three-man backline, requires midfielders who can handle the ball under pressure and transition quickly into attack. Gallagher looks stale in this system.
He appears to be a player suffering from a massive crisis of confidence, playing with a heavy touch that frequently invites opposition pressure. If Spurs are to find the “variation” they need in the center of the park, they cannot afford to have a passenger who offers effort without execution.
The coming weeks will define the future of the club for years to come. Relegation would be a financial and sporting catastrophe from which it could take years to recover. To avoid that fate, Tudor must pick the players who give the team the best chance to win now, not the ones who cost the most or have the most caps.
Dropping Dragusin is an easy call given his recent errors, but benching Gallagher is the difficult, necessary decision that could finally unlock the midfield and provide the platform Solanke and the other forwards need to fire the club to safety.
