Sunday’s Premier League home game against Everton is Tottenham’s biggest game in recent history.
There are not only 11 players on the field. It is a club and company with hundreds of employees who care about their jobs and future.
There is only one scenario that could send Spurs into the Championship on Sunday. That’s when Roberto De Zerbi’s side lost at home to Everton and West Ham beat Leeds at the London Stadium.
Sunday, May 24th, 3pm
Kickoff at 4pm
Home fans will be delighted if Tottenham are not relegated. But it will be more of a relief than a feeling of happiness.
Whatever the result on Sunday, fans will be furious as this campaign has had a disastrous result.
A year ago Spurs celebrated Europa League glory with more than 220,000 fans in their trophy parade. But ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought was not enough for Ange Postecoglou to retain his job after the club fell to 17th, bottom of the Premier League.
The message at the time was that clubs had to compete in all disciplines, not just one. Well, this season it was just one front with the goal being to keep the club in the top flight on the final day.
It’s clear Tottenham are in dire need of a reset. But now that the club is in the Premier League, a reset is needed.
It is incomprehensible that Spurs fall into the Championship. After all, this is the 9th richest club in the world.
So how did we get here this season?
Bad managers, poor hiring, lost culture.
Well, it all started in the summer. Postecoglou’s successor, Thomas Frank, did not suit the club. Some players liked him, but others did not accept the Dane.
In the end he was not welcome and should have been fired sooner. The West Ham defeat in January meant it was time for him to go.
Thomas Frank presided over a disastrous eight-month reign as Tottenham manager.
Then the injury anxiety deepened as this season’s crisis proved even more disastrous than last season’s.
The loss of key players such as Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Mohammed Kudus to injury, as well as the loss of club legend and captain Son Heung-min in the summer, has always made this season difficult.
Losing regularly has become an expected outcome for this group of players. Last season the Europa League was the main focus, with the Premier League taking a backseat as Spurs lost 22 games in a 38-game season and became the first team to avoid relegation.
Tottenham have been active in Europe this season again, at the expense of their domestic campaign. Finishing in the top four of the Champions League stage table under Frank did not help these players. In fact, the opponents they were beating were Europa League level teams, which gave them a false sense of confidence.
What players have no control over are the decisions made at the top.
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Jamie Redknapp has criticized Spurs’ performance this season.
Frank should have been sacked earlier, but the recruitment wasn’t enough.
The lack of substantial business in the January window was surprising. With a serious injury list and the club already in a well-protected position, bringing in Conor Gallagher as their key signing of the winter was a poor move.
It was a big mistake not to replace Brennan Johnson, who was sold to Crystal Palace for £35m.
The January transfer window will therefore be one of Tottenham’s biggest regrets if they make it to the Championship.
Another is the incorrect appointment of Igor Tudor. The Croatian’s problem was that he came in and told the players that they were not good enough. No wonder he only lasted seven games.
De Zerbi has had the impact he wanted and there is no doubt that if he had arrived sooner Spurs would have finished 12th or 13th.
Tottenham’s safety may already have been secured if the recent controversial VAR call had not gone as planned. In fact, the north London club is yet to win a penalty shoot-out in the Premier League this season.
Nonetheless, the officiating is only a minor factor in their plight as they need a point to ensure their safety ahead of the final day on the 17th.
Maddison’s role in defining Spurs’ day
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James Maddison opens up about the dark days he experienced after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and being left out of the Tottenham Hotspur squad.
Spurs will be looking for a hero on Sunday and they appear ready for Maddison.
He has made a huge impact off the bench in just two appearances this season, and understandably fans have been asking: Could he start against Everton?
What I’ve come to believe is that he can’t give much more than he’s already shown in the last two games since returning from a serious knee injury.
If Spurs didn’t have anything to play for, we might not see Maddison play at all right now.
However, his qualities are desperately needed in the situation Tottenham are in. Not only does he have a lot to offer as a player, but he is a true leader and presence off the pitch as well.
He had some nice words to say after Tuesday’s defeat at Chelsea. get that. He was right to be “embarrassed” by Tottenham’s poor performance.
I expect Maddison to start on the bench on Sunday, which will be a very tense day.
Sunday, May 24th 3:50 PM
Kickoff at 4pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if Tottenham and West Ham both draw, but I expect the Hammers to take the lead at some point.
And if Tottenham are relegated after the loss, they will only have themselves to blame.
What makes this even more painful is that North London rivals Arsenal are lifting the Premier League trophy on Sunday.
Just four years ago, Spurs beat Arsenal 3-0 to secure fourth place under Antonio Conte, but the two teams may now be playing in different divisions next season.
