Exclusive: Tottenham are in danger of being relegated from the top flight for the first time in almost 50 years
Peter Taylor was relegated at Tottenham in 1977 (Image: Dennis Oulds/Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur’s relegation battle may be unexpected this season, but it’s not the first time the star-studded Spurs side have been in an exciting battle. Almost half a century ago, the team that included Glenn Hoddle and Steve Perryman fell from ninth place in the 1975/76 season to 22nd and bottom of the table the following year.
Peter Taylor joined from Crystal Palace a few weeks into the season and was part of the group that finished bottom of the table. He knows more than anyone else that nothing is too good to be true.
The former England interim manager watched his two former employers square off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Palace upset Spurs. And he knows how painful relegation can be, especially when it’s unexpected.
“The more I thought about it, unfortunately we didn’t do well enough because we ended up getting relegated,” Taylor told Mirror Football. “We probably weren’t consistent enough, because we had some very good players, but we probably weren’t as consistent as we should have been. That’s why we were punished and probably got what we deserved.”
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read more: Harry Redknapp reveals private phone conversation with Daniel Levy over Tottenham jobread more: “I was in the last Tottenham team that got relegated and every mistake made me feel sick.”
Spurs have struggled with injuries and suspensions, most recently center back Micky van de Ven, who was suspended after receiving a red card in the final league game. But Taylor believes the biggest loss may lie elsewhere on the pitch.
“The difference between the first year I was there and now is that we had Glenn Hoddle and we had Alfie Conn,” he added. “So I think we had more talented players than they have at this point.
“I was watching them the other day and they needed (James) Maddison so badly. You can imagine Glenn Hoddle being there and even if Glenn didn’t have to play defense or anything, you know he’s going to pick someone up and score on a day or night.”
“I don’t think they felt it too much[against Palace]. They worked hard but I didn’t get to see enough of the old Tottenham.”
James Maddison has been sidelined since sustaining a serious injury during pre-season (Image: ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP via Getty Images)
Following that league defeat, Atlético Madrid suffered another harsh blow, defeating Spurs in five in the round of 16 of the Champions League. The defeat, a fourth goal under Igor Tudor on spin, raised questions about the Croatian coach’s future.
Taylor was demoted under manager Keith Birkinshaw, but he persevered and led his team to a silver medal once they were promoted to the top flight. But when it comes to Tudor, he believes the damage was done before the former Juventus manager took over.
“Personally, I wouldn’t have changed Thomas Frank,” he says. “He knows the Premier League and he showed that when he was at Brentford.
“Unfortunately, too many people were negative towards him. They didn’t support him and wanted him out, and I personally wouldn’t have been able to change that.”
“Every manager has a different style and will have a different opinion on the game. That’s why in pre-season we have five weeks of time together to prepare for the first game.”
“At the moment there are so many changes at the top that we have to start all over again every other week. That can’t be right. So for me it’s giving the players excuses and I think that’s a dangerous situation.”
Igor Tudor has yet to win a game as Tottenham manager (Image: Diego Souto/Getty Images)
Spurs’ most recent win came against Eintracht Frankfurt in January, when Frank was still in charge. Although they have had little trouble scoring goals, they have struggled defensively, with their last clean sheet in the league coming on New Year’s Day.
Captain and centre-back Cristian Romero, currently serving a four-match ban following his red card against Manchester United, is expected to miss Sunday’s game against Liverpool following a collision with teammate Joao Parinha in midweek. It was his second sending off at Old Trafford this season and Taylor called on the Argentina international to step up and bring much-needed cohesiveness to his side, but time is running out if they are to avoid relegation.
At this stage of the season, Taylor is less concerned about quality on the pitch and more about cohesion. Spurs don’t need a perfect performance to win the game. You just need to win at all costs.
“I admit that the last nine games were just crappy football, but we won three or four of them,” he added. “That’s what they need and I think a good changing room will help with that.
“When I was at Tottenham, we had a proper changing room. We had the best captain I’ve ever played with, Steve Perryman. He did everything for the manager and for the team.
“That’s what they need (now) but that’s what I didn’t see (against Crystal Palace). I’d rather see a win in the changing room than a quality win.”
“If he does it right (Romero’s return will help), I have doubts. I went to the Liverpool game where he was also sent off, so he has to prove that he is worthy of being captain.”
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