Survival Brings Relief, Not Celebration
There are football clubs that survive by design, and there are football clubs that survive by accident. Tottenham Hotspur, after another exhausting season spent peering nervously over their shoulder, appear trapped somewhere between the two.
Their 1-0 victory over Everton secured Premier League safety on the final afternoon, while West Ham’s 3-0 win against Leeds ensured the mathematics eventually tilted in Spurs’ favour. Yet the mood around north London hardly resembled triumph. It felt more like escape.
Photo IMAGO
For Gabby Agbonlahor, survival merely sharpened the questions facing Roberto De Zerbi and Spurs this summer.
Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, Agbonlahor delivered a remarkable assessment of Tottenham’s squad, arguing that Three players should effectively be shown the exit immediately.
“These players should have been walking around the pitch on their hands and knees saying sorry to the fans.
“Gary Neville, he’s spot on. Vicario, this goalkeeper, has done nothing in Spurs’ season, he’s been dreadful. There’s a clip of him offering out Seamus Coleman.
“Vicario, we’ve seen you punch, mate. You can’t punch the ball. You’re not going to be able to punch anybody. So, we know you can’t fight.
Photo IMAGO
“Have some respect for a Premier League legend in Seamus Coleman. But that summed up Vicario yesterday. All over the sideline, trying to be a coach and jumping on the manager’s back when they scored the first goal. I think it’s an embarrassment at a football club.”
Ruthless Summer Ahead for Spurs
There is a particular brutality to modern football discourse. One poor season quickly becomes two, and two rapidly morph into institutional decay. Spurs have now finished 17th in consecutive campaigns while watching rivals Arsenal celebrate a Premier League title. The emotional distance between the two clubs has rarely felt greater.
Jeff Stelling added to the discussion by highlighting the…
..
