Tudor can revive star who “never really wanted to be at Spurs”

Tottenham Hotspur have nearly reached the weekend, and Igor Tudor is ready to welcome Arsenal to N17 and win a deflated fanbase on his first day under the spotlight.

It’s been a testing period for the Lilywhites. Thomas Frank was sacked last week after a miserable attempt at succeeding Ange Postecoglou, who won the Europa League last year but was dismissed by Daniel Levy in one final display of authority.

That call has split opinion, but Spurs supporters are in concert that Frank’s run has been the lowest of the low. It’s crucial that sporting director Johan Lange and club CEO Vinai Venkatesham handle this deftly, with West Ham United only five points behind them on the edge of the Premier League relegation zone.

Tottenham have a front-footed manager at the helm for the remainder of the campaign, but who could he actually rekindle and see take charge in a sustained return to form.

The Spurs stars Tudor could revive

Last summer, Tottenham signed Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig. The Dutch playmaker cost them £52m, and he has been coveted by Chelsea earlier in the transfer window.

However, he’s had something of a tough time, his creativity neutered by Frank’s stuttering system. Bringing such a high-potential attacking midfielder to the fore will be among Tudor’s priorities.

Randal Kolo Muani is another who could find his feet. Did you know the struggling loanee enjoyed a brief but rewarding stint under the Croatian coach at Juventus last season, scoring five goals across only 11 matches during that spell.

On the right flank, Pedro Porro has taken his share of flak this season. Some of his defensive displays have been woeful; he’s made five defensive errors this season. That said, he remains a superb creative asset.

Should Tudor implement the 3-4-2-1 formation that has been his preference in previous jobs, Porro might just find himself in a more suitable role, with the added centre-back adding security and more grass coverage at the back.

Of course, whether Spurs actually have the numbers in central defence remains to be seen. Or indeed the quality to make it happen.

There is one man who could make it happen and become the centrepiece of Tudor’s system, emulating a former icon in Mousa Dembele.

Tudor could revive Spurs’ wantaway star

Dembele is one of the best-loved Tottenham players in recent memory, having arrived from Fulham in 2013 and initially struggled before growing into a unique and irreplaceable part of the system, adept in a box-to-box midfield role.

An expert controller, Dembele’s metronomic grasp on the central midfield was a thing of beauty, and he was once hailed by Belgium teammate Kevin De Bruyne as being “the best in the world“.

In this, Cristian Romero could make a similar case, with a skillset that most centre-backs could only dream of, yet a player who has been hindered by inconsistency.

Deembele polished his boots after an up-and-down start to life in north London, and Tudor could drill in a stable system that would give rise to Romero’s finer qualities, finally securing him the recognition he deserves as one of the very best to do it.

Tudor’s vision aligns more closely with Romero’s own outlook. Aggression is embraced in this new world at Tottenham, though channelled and used to promote front-footed football that will make greater use of the Argentina international’s technical abilities and his aerial ability in the attacking box.

The 27-year-old Romero, let’s not forget, might be at something of a low ebb but remains an elite centre-half, someone who stands taller than Micky van de Ven (figuratively). He’s hot-headed and passionate to a fault, but that doesn’t mean he’s the real deal.

Tottenham fans know this, of course, and while Chris Waddle has asserted to Football FanCast that he “never really wanted to be at Spurs”, his anger toward the board and the position his team find themselves in says otherwise.

There is a sinking feeling, right there in the pit of Lilywhites fans’ stomachs, that Romero is headed for the exit. He’s a contentious figure, for sure, but the South American is one of the best in the business, hailed by journalist Roy Nemer as “one of the best defenders in the world“.

The skipper has the potential to become a true talisman for Tottenham over the coming months, and while rumours of his potential sale are concerning, Tudor could be the perfect force to bring him back to the fore, content in his berth at Tottenham once again.

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