Ex-Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara has slammed the perspective and mentality of the Spurs squad and believes they “haven’t got the stomach for a relegation fight”.
In a passionate evaluation of Spurs’ plight, O’Hara laid naked the group’s points following Sunday’s dismal North London derby defeat to Arsenal.
The 4-1 dwelling loss leaves Tottenham sixteenth within the Premier League and simply 4 factors above the drop zone with 11 video games left.
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With out a league win in 2026, relegation to the second tier of English soccer for the primary time because the 1977/78 season is now an actual risk.
New boss Igor Tudor will goal a primary win in cost as Spurs go to Fulham on Sunday, dwell on Sky Sports activities, however O’Hara has brutally assessed the problems dealing with the Croatian and what Tottenham have to repair if they’re to protect their ever-present Premier League standing…
‘Angle of gamers my largest concern’
He instructed Sky Sports activities Information’ Fan Membership: “I used to be anticipating a little bit of a supervisor bounce. Arsenal had a few sticky performances in opposition to Wolves and Brentford, so I used to be anticipating the group to enter this recreation with a excessive perspective, a little bit of ardour, combat, relentless urgent, and never letting simple crosses within the field.
“[It was the] exact opposite. It was miles away from the place I assumed it was. I do know there’s accidents, however the perspective of the gamers is my largest concern. The perspective to defend, to run, to compete, to not concede targets. That for me is fundamental 101, after which you may discuss creativity, whether or not we’re ok, whether or not we have got the gamers, the formation, however the fundamental defending, fundamental mentality of a soccer membership.
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The Soccer Present assesses whether or not Tottenham are too good to be relegated from the Premier League this season
“When you’re down at the bottom, when you’re fighting for results, Spurs haven’t got it. They have not got the stomach for a fight, and it was evident in that Arsenal game, and it was actually embarrassing.
“I could not imagine what I used to be watching as a result of, having been a participant myself at Tottenham, one factor you do firstly is combat and do not let folks get the higher of you.
“Arsenal got the better, and I know they’re a better team, but they’re getting better of you on the pitch in every way, running, defending, just everything about it. I couldn’t believe it.”
O’Hara questions mentality and tradition at Spurs
Spurs are on a nine-game winless league run and have gained solely two top-flight matches within the final 4 months.
O’Hara mentioned: “As a player who played in situations where you’re down in the dumps, first and foremost, 20 minutes, track runners. Don’t let your man get the better of you. Don’t let him run past you.
“And that could be a mentality. That’s not about means. That is not about expertise. That could be a mentality and a tradition at a soccer membership the place gamers are like, ‘Nah, I do not wish to do this. I move him on.’ What do you imply, move him on? It is the primary quarter-hour of the sport.
“I went and done the clips this morning. It took me five seconds to see the clips because I knew. First 15 minutes of the game, you’re passing players on, you’re not tracking runners. It was embarrassing. Forget talent. Forget creativity.
“Xavi Simons, you might be in a relegation combat. You are in a combat. You have to play such as you’re in a relegation combat. None of those gamers are taking part in like they’re in a relegation combat.
“Passing on, tracking runners, not getting back, allowing shots on the edge of the box. Embarrassing.”
He added: “The biggest worry I’ve got is the stomach for a fight. These players that we’ve brought in, I think their heads are down, they’re looking at an excuse, ‘Oh, the board’s not doing this, we’ve not signed anyone’. Yeah, I get all that, but you have got to find a way as football players to get yourselves out of this hole, and that’s what I’m worried about, because I don’t know if they have.
“I do not know in the event that they’re trying on the exit door earlier than truly the job is completed, and the job proper now’s to remain within the Premier League.”
O’Hara: They have not obtained the abdomen for a combat
Spurs have been outrun of their final 5 Premier League video games, whereas this season they rank backside for top turnovers, which means they’re dropping the ball close to their purpose greater than some other group.
“That just confirms my argument,” O’Hara mentioned. “That is shocking. That’s relegation form, because if you don’t run, if you don’t track runners, if you give the ball away in your own area and you’re allowing people to get on top of you and press you, you’re going to lose the game.
“They have not obtained the abdomen for a combat. Once you’re in it as a participant, there is a totally different set of expertise if you’re down on the backside of the desk. However saying that, take a look at Arsenal, take a look at the urgent, their operating, the way in which they’re going to go after groups.
“Spurs do not even wish to run. They’re passing gamers on. That is what issues. That is what counts if you’re on the backside. That is the way you get outcomes. They don’t seem to be monitoring runners. They don’t seem to be getting tight. They don’t seem to be dying on the pitch.
“You can’t have Newcastle running nearly six kilometres further than you. Arsenal, in the North London derby, when you’re fighting for everything, they’re running four-and-a-half kilometres further than you as a team.
“It is embarrassing. And that, for me, is a tradition and a mentality at a soccer membership which is in disarray. These gamers don’t wish to run. They do not wish to combat. They wish to move gamers on. They wish to make it simple.
“They want to turn up in the Champions League, and you’re playing Copenhagen, and you want to play nice football, and Xavi Simons, little flicks and tricks, all that rubbish.
“However when it issues within the Premier League, if you’re preventing for factors, they have not obtained the abdomen for it. That is what I’ve observed, and that is what must be addressed, and it must be addressed rapidly, as a result of Spurs will go down.
“The teams down the bottom, West Ham, Nottingham Forest, they’ll run. They’ll fight. They’ll scrap, because they know they’re in it. They’ve been in it before. Spurs don’t want to be in it. Players don’t want to be in it. They want to be in the Champions League, playing nice football.
“They’re in a relegation combat, and that for me was the most important factor that I’ve observed, particularly within the Arsenal recreation, how embarrassing it was to see. Overlook the creativity. Overlook the probabilities that you would be able to create since you’ve obtained some first rate gamers, that proper there [points at running stats], is why Spurs are in huge hassle.”
