Postecoglou told to ‘fix Tottenham crisis’ as Dragusin defended

Tottenham Hotspur should hold no criticism for Archie Gray nor under-fire Radu Dragusin for the poor defensive record, according to Ian Darke.

The duo have partnered one another in the centre of defence in recent weeks due to injuries to Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

Spurs have shipped 35 league goals and lost 12 of their 22 games so far this season, but have the ideal chance to bounce back on Sunday (26 January) against a Leicester City side without a point from their last seven.

“I don’t know about ability dropping off. I’m not sure if they’re worse with Gray and Dragusin at the back than the errors and goals conceded with van de Ven and Romero. The defenders playing now have probably done okay in the circumstances,” TV commentator Darke exclusively told Tottenham News.

“When you look at the squad, though, they should be doing a lot better than they are with the players they’ve got.

“It’s not an easy time, but Postecoglou somehow has to find a key to grind out results.”

Tottenham defensive frailties under Ange Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou’s brazen attacking style has been widely discussed as leaving Tottenham’s defence exposed, though Gray and Dragusin do not quite possess the pace of van de Ven in a high defensive line.

The duo have played together 22 times already in all competitions, claiming an average of 1.55 points per game, with Gray having arrived in the summer from Leeds United and Dragusin from Genoa six months earlier.

Tottenham's Radu Dragusin.
Credit: Imago

Spurs’ last clean sheet in the league came on 15 December against Southampton in a 5-0 win at St Mary’s, since which the only two blanks forced since came against non-league Tamworth in the FA Cup, and Liverpool in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.

In other Tottenham news, a new hint emerges of a potential sale from Daniel Levy.

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