Igor Tudor at Tottenham: ‘Impossible for him to stay’ – what next for Spurs?
Fans lined up at Tottenham High Road to welcome the Spurs team.
Supporters climbed railings and sat atop bus stops as the struggling team faced relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.
The manager crawled towards the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and passed through blue and white smoke surrounded by thousands of fans.
The protests were shelved due to the magnitude of the game, which would have devastating effects on the Spurs’ season.
While the goals of Teddy Sheringham, Jürgen Klinsmann, Harry Kane and Heung-min Son were played on the big screen before the match, Cristian Romero gave the following message: “We will fight for everything together.”
Less than 90 minutes later, fans left the stadium after Taiwo Awoniyi scored Forest’s third goal.
They went from parade to meaningless. Tottenham is in big trouble.
The players reacted to the fans for 45 minutes. Igor Jesus struck his own bar, Richarlison pressed and pestered and Mathys Tel produced one of his best displays.
However, Igor Jesus’ header in injury time in the first half and a subsequent goal from Morgan Gibbs-White increased Spurs’ relegation woes.
Of course, Gibbs-White needed to have a say in the game after his move to north London last summer was cancelled.
Spurs thought they had secured their man to trigger a £60m release clause, but the deal fell through and Forest threatened legal action.
This was the beginning of the chaos and disaster to come this season.
Awoniyi’s final third sparked a mass exodus – some fans were already starting to leave with 20 minutes remaining – and those who remained booed the team.
The unity seen outside the stadium had evaporated, with Spurs fans united only by concern for the future.
Former Spurs and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson told BBC Radio 5Live: “From Tottenham’s point of view, there was a lot of fighting spirit in the first half, encouraged by an enthusiastic crowd who wanted to support their team.”
“But when you go to support your team like that you have to give something back and that doesn’t last long.
“They were tactically weak in the second half, they lacked ideas and the manager changed the squad two or three times and there was nothing today to suggest they could get out of this mess.”
Experienced Spurs fans were surprised when Xavi Simons was dropped from the bench after his two-goal and best-ever performance against Atletico on Wednesday.
The wire was lively and hit the post immediately after Igor Jesus’ opener, but it faded in the second half as Forest’s defense – ably guided by Nikola Milenkovic – pushed everything back.
Forest kept their hosts on the pitch for almost four minutes before heading out for the second half and Tottenham will have wished they had stayed in the dressing room.
“I don’t see any structure,” Robinson said. “A game plan or way of playing. I don’t see a tactical idea.
“They seem devoid of ideas and sound like a manager looking for something he hasn’t found yet and doesn’t have time to find it.”
