0% Tottenham flop lets Ange down once again after ‘Really poor’ moment v Ipswich

Radu Dragusin’s struggles continue at Tottenham Hotspur, with the 22-year-old defender once again failing to impress manager Ange Postecoglou during Spurs’ disappointing 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town on Sunday, November 10, 2024. Dragusin, who is only in the starting XI due to Micky van de Ven’s injury, has been tasked with partnering Cristian Romero at the heart of Spurs’ defence, but his performance on the day did little to inspire confidence.

Tottenham were undone early in the match by Ipswich’s quick counter-attacks and clinical finishing. Sammie Szmodics scored an overhead kick past Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to give the visitors the lead, but it was Dragusin’s involvement in the second goal that truly stood out for all the wrong reasons. As Ipswich continued to press, the ball was played across the box, and after a save by Vicario, it was parried into Dragusin’s path. The Romanian defender, struggling to clear his lines, nearly put the ball into his own net, allowing Liam Delap to pounce on the rebound and double Ipswich’s lead.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie O’Hara was quick to criticise Dragusin’s role in the goal, describing the situation as “really poor defending” from Spurs. O’Hara noted that while Ipswich’s attacking play had been commendable, Tottenham’s defensive frailties were glaring. He pointed out that Dragusin’s failure to clear the ball effectively, coupled with the lack of defensive awareness, contributed significantly to the team’s downfall.

Despite some positive statistics in terms of passing accuracy—Dragusin completed 87 percent of his passes—his overall performance was far from reassuring. According to data from FotMob, the defender was dribbled past twice and failed to win a single tackle. He also struggled with long balls, completing just 50 percent of his attempted passes into space (3 out of 6). These shortcomings highlighted the deficiencies in his defensive play, particularly when compared to the top-tier centre-backs in the Premier League.

Further statistical analysis from FBref reveals even more concerning numbers for Dragusin. He ranks in the bottom 11th percentile for tackles, the bottom 48th percentile for interceptions, and the bottom 45th percentile for completed passes. These figures are indicative of a player who is not performing at the required level for a team like Tottenham, particularly in a Premier League side competing for top-four positions. Given the pressure on Postecoglou to improve the squad, it is becoming increasingly clear that Dragusin has not yet proven himself as a reliable first-choice defender.

Tottenham’s defensive struggles have been a recurring theme this season, and Dragusin’s performance against Ipswich only underlined the need for reinforcements. Spurs are now facing a major dilemma, as their defensive options look weaker without Van de Ven in the lineup. With the January transfer window fast approaching, Postecoglou will likely be looking to strengthen his defence, particularly in light of Dragusin’s inconsistent displays. The Romanian centre-back is running out of opportunities to show he can be a trusted part of Spurs’ long-term plans.

The loss to Ipswich Town was a stark reminder of Tottenham’s defensive vulnerabilities, and with performances like Dragusin’s continuing to raise questions, it is becoming increasingly evident that changes are needed if Spurs are to challenge for the upper echelons of the Premier League table. With the January window on the horizon, all eyes will be on Postecoglou to see whether he moves to reinforce a defence that has been exposed far too often this season.