Tottenham Hotspur suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town in the Premier League last weekend, continuing their difficult start to the 2024/25 season. The loss at White Hart Lane was a major setback for Ange Postecoglou’s side, especially considering the team’s dominance in possession throughout the match. However, Spurs were undone by a series of mistakes that allowed Ipswich to take an unexpected win. The match highlighted some troubling issues for Tottenham, particularly at the back, and has raised further questions about the future of certain players, including defender Radu Dragusin.
The game was a close one, with fine margins separating the two teams. Despite controlling much of the possession, Spurs found themselves two goals down by halftime. The first goal came from Ipswich’s Sammie Szmodics, who scored a spectacular overhead kick after positioning himself perfectly between Tottenham defenders Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson. The strike was a moment of quality that left Spurs’ defense flat-footed. The second goal followed shortly after, when Liam Delap capitalized on a mistake by Tottenham defender Radu Dragusin. A defensive error allowed Delap to score from close range, making it 2-0 going into the break. Delap’s goal was the result of a defensive mishap from Dragusin, who failed to deal with a loose ball in the box. It was a costly mistake, and the type of error that has been a recurring theme for Dragusin when he has been called upon this season.
Spurs were able to pull one goal back in the second half, thanks to a header from Rodrigo Bentancur. However, despite the effort, Tottenham couldn’t find the equalizer. The Ipswich defense held firm, and the newly promoted side managed to see out the match for their first win of the season. For Spurs, it was another frustrating result in what has been a challenging campaign so far.
Radu Dragusin, who had been given a rare start in this match, came in for heavy criticism following the defeat. Dragusin, who is not a regular starter for Spurs, was involved in the key moments of the match that led to both of Ipswich’s goals. His performance was underwhelming, and he was one of the poorest performers on the pitch. Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold gave the 22-year-old defender a dismal 3/10 rating in his post-match analysis. Gold highlighted several moments where Dragusin’s mistakes contributed to the team’s poor defensive showing. One of the first errors came early in the match when Dragusin made a mess of a header, which allowed Ipswich to break forward. He did manage to recover momentarily with an important interception in his own box, but the mistakes continued to pile up. Later in the first half, Dragusin was beaten to the ball from a corner, with Ipswich’s Burgess heading the ball onto the crossbar. Finally, Dragusin failed to react quickly enough when Ipswich’s Szmodics crossed the ball low into the box, and the ball ricocheted off Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario into the path of Delap, who scored the second goal.
Dragusin’s lack of defensive awareness and inability to recover from his mistakes were key factors in Tottenham’s defeat. His performance has led to doubts about his ability to fit into Postecoglou’s system, and it seems increasingly unlikely that he will earn a regular starting spot unless he can show significant improvement. The defender’s struggles are particularly concerning given that Tottenham has been relying on a solid defensive unit this season. Postecoglou has previously spoken about his desire to build a team with a strong defensive foundation, but Dragusin’s performance on the day only highlighted the vulnerabilities in Spurs’ defense.
With the January transfer window approaching, there are questions about Dragusin’s future at the club. He has rarely featured for Tottenham since joining, and with performances like this, it seems that his time at the club could be limited. If Dragusin is to remain in Postecoglou’s plans, he will need to show much more consistency and improve his decision-making. Spurs are likely to be linked with defensive reinforcements in the upcoming transfer window, and Dragusin’s position could be at risk if he doesn’t start performing at a higher level.
For Tottenham as a whole, the loss to Ipswich highlights ongoing concerns with their form and consistency. Despite possessing talented players like Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski, and Cristian Romero, the team has struggled to put together solid performances this season. Postecoglou will need to address these issues quickly if Spurs are to turn their season around. A greater focus on defensive stability, along with improved individual performances, will be crucial if they are to avoid further setbacks like the one against Ipswich.
