Alan Shearer hints Tottenham could copy Newcastle’s 2009 plan, but it ended in disaster for the Magpies
Alan Shearer has delivered a brutal assessment of Tottenham Hotspur under Igor Tudor, suggesting the club’s trip to Liverpool could end up triggering another major decision.
The coming weeks and months are absolutely vital for Tottenham Hotspur in their quest for survival.
For Igor Tudor, the next few games are crucial, especially with reports claiming that Spurs have set a short timeline for Tudor to turn things around or face the sack.
Up next is a mammoth clash against Liverpool in the Premier League, before Tottenham welcome Atletico Madrid to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the second leg of their round of 16 Champions League tie.
After both matches comes Nottingham Forest, another huge clash for Spurs in their quest to create some daylight from the relegation zone.
Tottenham told Igor Tudor era looks chaotic as Alan Shearer delivers verdict
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has been speaking to Betfair about the situation unfolding at Tottenham.
Shearer first described the club as a “complete and utter mess” under Tudor, pointing to a fractured dressing room and questioning whether the players are responding to the manager.
He said, “Spurs are a complete and utter mess under Igor Tudor. I know it has been a mess for a while, but I think Tudor was brought in to try and calm things down and bring a bit of stability, but it seems as if it is getting worse. It seems like a fractured dressing room and the players are not responding to him.
“They have got Liverpool away this weekend too, goodness me, there is a real live chance that Spurs could be relegated.
“When you look at the dressing room, even taking away the performances, look at what happened the other night with players going to protect the young goalkeeper. The manager is entitled to make a decision, but that decision was on him.
“He felt he had seen enough in the young goalkeeper to put him in ahead of Vicario, and Vicario has been poor as well, but he felt putting the youngster in was the right thing to do. So that is on him. I mean, it was not a nice thing to do.
“You have to feel sorry for the goalkeeper. We all make mistakes, but to make it of that magnitude and in that size of game when things are already going poorly, it is such a tough situation for him. And then for the manager to make the decision to bring him off after 16 minutes, when it was his decision to put him in in the first place… it had to be on him.
“It just looks a complete and utter mess at Spurs at the minute. And it seems to be getting worse because there does seem to be a fractured dressing room, and when that happens, you are in big trouble.”
Shearer also suggested Tottenham may turn to someone familiar with the club if they are forced into another managerial change. Many will remember that Newcastle United did exactly that in 2009 when they hired Shearer himself in a desperate attempt to avoid the drop. On that occasion, it ended in relegation for the Magpies.
He added, “The hierarchy at Spurs will be hammered if they make another change. Because of how fractured and messy it is, I think what they would do is go for someone who knows the club, whether that is an ex-player or an ex-manager. They would go down that line to try and get some harmony.”
Shearer then hinted that discussions behind the scenes may already be taking place if results continue to go against Tottenham.
He said: “It could be an interesting week for Harry Redknapp with his horse running in the Gold Cup as well!
“It could also be an interesting weekend if Liverpool beat Spurs. My guess is that they already may have sounded one or two out. If they have not, then they should have, because if what we expect happens at the weekend, I would expect a change.”
Spurs players must respond as pressure grows on Igor Tudor
The game against Liverpool is absolutely massive for Tudor if he is to keep his spot in the Spurs dugout.
A defeat on Sunday evening could send Tottenham below the relegation line should both Nottingham Forest and West Ham United get results in their respective clashes.
The Spurs players must also show some fight after their abysmal showing against Atletico Madrid, as a similar performance will see them well beaten at Anfield.
Shearer believes that a defeat at Liverpool could serve as the perfect reason for Tudor’s sacking, and his assessment is understandable given that a new manager could work with this group of players during the upcoming international break.
He added, “Well, it could be two of the biggest months in Spurs’ history. My guess is if they get beaten at Anfield at the weekend, that might be an excuse for them to get rid of him. I do not know, I am guessing.
“But looking at Spurs and looking at what is going on, you cannot realistically see them going to Anfield and getting anything. Then they have got Forest, and then there is an international break.
“I know they have got Atletico Madrid in between that, but my guess is that tie is done, and they might even have to accept they are out before that game and look forward to Forest rather than try and claw back that result.
“So yeah, if they get beaten this weekend, my guess is they might be looking for a new manager. In fact, it would not surprise me if they are already speaking to one.”
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