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Jamie Carragher believes that there are some really worrying signs at Tottenham Hotspur, which show that relegation may be a very real possibility for the club this season.
The prospect of Spurs being in a relegation battle was inconceivable for the last two decades, but that is exactly the situation that the Lilywhites find themselves in right now/
They are at risk of going down for the first time in Premier League history, but there appears to be a hesitation from the club to admit their current predicament.
New interim boss Igor Tudor insisted that he is 100 per cent confident that Tottenham will stay up, even refusing to discuss the possibility of a relegation battle in his first press conference.
Jamie Carragher explains why Tottenham are far from guaranteed to stay up
However, Carragher vehemently disagrees with Tudor’s claim, suggesting that the lack of quality in Tottenham’s squad makes them a clear candidate for relegation.
The pundit believes that finishing in the bottom three would be an extremely embarrassing development for a club of Spurs’ size and resources.
He wrote in The Telegraph: “It is often said that a club are too big, or even too good, to go down. No one is making that claim about Tottenham Hotspur. The fear that prompted the end of Thomas Frank’s unhappy reign is justified. Watching Spurs, and comparing their current form to third-bottom West Ham United – a team who recently won at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – warrants the suggestion they are on the verge of catastrophe.
“If they drop into the Championship it would be the most shocking descent of the Premier League era, and the most embarrassing for a club of such wealth and stature since Denis Law’s back-heel for Manchester City sent Manchester United into the old Second Division in 1974.
“Analysing the quality of the squad Igor Tudor leads for the first time in this weekend’s North London Derby, the scale of the challenge is obvious.
The concern is the prolonged dip under his two immediate predecessors, and how soon that can be reversed. There is no escaping the shadow of the dreaded “R word” at Spurs. Relegation is possible. Add “ridiculous” or “reprehensible” and plain “rubbish” to the valid descriptions of their record over the past 27 months, which has led them to this perilous situation.”
Carragher says Spurs’ home record is a cause for major concern
The former Liverpool man pointed out that clubs who are in a dogfight at the bottom end of the table are generally reliant on picking up points at home to ensure their safety.
Carragher suggested that there is no evidence that Tottenham can manage that, given their record at home during the past two seasons.
He added: “Spurs’ abysmal form since they were top of the Premier League in November, 2023, defies belief. Since the infamous night when Ange Postecoglou’s in-form side continued to play a high line with nine men against Chelsea in a 4-1 defeat, Spurs have played 91 Premier League games. They have won just 30 and lost an eye-watering 44.
“What is most troubling for those seeking a compelling argument that the team will fight their way out of trouble is the terrible home run.
“Successful relegation scraps are often built on the ability of a club to turn their own stadium into a fortress – especially those with the most vibrant arenas. Goodison Park was Everton’s saviour on numerous occasions whenever they needed a great escape, for example. They were an example that the bigger the club, the more effective the rallying cry at the darkest hour.
“Can Spurs rely on such home comforts? Of the 44 defeats referenced above, exactly half have been at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where they have won only 17 of their last 46 Premier League fixtures. Where is the evidence that can change in an instant? Too many opponents are heading to that ground with relish rather than trepidation.
“After Arsenal, the visitors are Crystal Palace, Brighton, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Everton. On paper they are all winnable games. The trouble is that it is truer for the opposition. If there is no upturn, the alarm bells will be deafening when you consider Spurs’s last two away games of the season are at Aston Villa and Chelsea.”
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