A title winner as captain at Blackburn Rovers , Tim Sherwood knows what pressure looks like. Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , he gives his unfiltered verdict on Roberto De Zerbi , the squad's shortcomings, and whether Spurs can survive.
He also has a pointed message for the people running the club and the Tottenham academy boy they should have thrown in months ago and argues there is now guarantee that they bounce back if they find themselves in the Championship next season.
Tottenham
Have Spurs improved under Roberto De Zerbi?
There was an improvement. A little bit more aggression, certainly out of possession. They are a good side, bright, and they are going well. Team selection is up to Roberto . It is difficult when you try to select a team when you are not there every day, but playing Xavi Simons was a good decision.
I was a bit surprised he did not play last week because of the lack of creativity that Tottenham have amongst their squad. He is not very consistent, but he has got that little bit of guile. He showed that once for the assist for Pedro Porro, and then a fantastic finish for the goal. I saw improvements, but it was a home game against a side you would expect to beat at home.
Can Xavi Simons be the figurehead for Spurs?
By default, Xavi Simons is the right man because there is no other creativity in the team. That was his third goal in 27 games, so he has not been prolific, but he has got that ability. If I was in there, I would be putting my arm around him, telling him how good he is constantly, because you need him between now and the end of the season.
The celebration was way over the top, to be honest. It was 77 minutes gone with at least six minutes of injury time to come. Cool heads, see the job off. I thought it was throwing away two points in the end.
Relegation Battle
Is Wolves vs Spurs the last chance saloon?
We keep having these moments. We keep saying it is a do-or-die, a must-win. The fans have done everything they possibly can. The support is there. The understanding and severity of the situation is there. It is now down to the players.
They are away at Wolves , and that might suit them. Wolves look like they are on the beach. Tottenham , however, cannot wait for next year in the Championship . I think they will win three games. I really do. I see them beating Wolves , I see them beating Leeds , and I see them beating Everton in the last game of the season. I never dreamt that would be Tottenham's situation, and now it is.
Who are Spurs most likely to catch in the relegation battle?
Nottingham Forest or West Ham . I think Leeds have gone, though that result away at Old Trafford was immense for them. When I look through their team, and I see Ethan Ampadu at the beginning of the season, if Tottenham said they were going to buy him, all their fans would have said, no, why? He is not sexy enough. But I would have him in a heartbeat. I would take him if I was manager of Man United . He is good enough, he is a leader, he picks the right pass at the right time, he defends for his life. Everything he does is for the collective. He has no self-indulgence in him. He is a top-drawer player. And that is where the recruitment of Tottenham's players has to come under scrutiny.
Does Roberto De Zerbi have enough to save Spurs?
My heart tells me they need to win three games. I think they are capable, but it is just getting that first one over the line. Who is from the academy now at Tottenham with that passion? Have they produced a player since Harry Kane on a regular basis? They have had Harry Winks and Oliver Skipp . But there is a boy there right now.
Luca Williams-Barnett they should have thrown him in months ago, like Arsenal did with Max Dowman , like Rio Ngumoha at Liverpool . He would not be worse than what they put in anyway, and he would be a lot better. He is a creative number 10 who will stick his chest out and believe. He does not want to be in the Championship next year. No one had the nerve to put him in the team.
Then you look at Archie Gray and think, please give us a year. He is one man who has stood up and shown the correct attitude. The rest of them how many do you really want in the Championship ? They are not going to want to be there anyway.
Championship
Would Roberto De Zerbi manage Spurs in the Championship?
He said he would. He said the division did not matter. But I saw the pre-match interview before the Brighton game — it was not about the division. It was about whether the hierarchy are aligned with the same mentality as him. We have seen Roberto De Zerbi in the past; he can easily get out of line with the hierarchy. But who is the hierarchy going to be? Surely not the people in charge at the moment.
They have to be accountable for what has happened at this football club. Postecoglou , Frank , Igor Tudor , and now De Zerbi . The problem is not necessarily the managers. It is the recruitment. Who is bringing players into the club? They have to be accountable.
Are there no guarantees for Spurs in the Championship?
It depends on who is running the club. For the people running it at the moment, there will be no guarantees. If a football person went in and ran the club, then yes, they should have the resources to bounce straight back. But if you do not bounce back on the first attempt, it becomes very difficult. There are giant clubs who have been down there and stayed for many, many years. Tottenham will be back. But you need to change the decision makers to be able to do that.
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