Tudor told he can now finally axe Simons by unleashing £55m Spurs flop vs Palace

Tottenham Hotspur must treat their upcoming Premier League showdown with Crystal Palace as nothing short of a relegation six-pointer, because the reality is that the stakes are extremely high for both sides.

It has been a deeply frustrating period for Spurs supporters. In truth, describing their struggles as simply a poor run of form almost feels like an understatement. Last season the North London side finished 17th in the Premier League table, but they were comfortably clear of the relegation battle. This campaign, however, the situation has become far more serious.

With just ten league matches remaining, Tottenham find themselves hovering dangerously close to the bottom three. They sit only four points above 18th-placed West Ham United, meaning one or two poor results could quickly drag them into the drop zone. The pressure is mounting, and every remaining match now carries enormous importance.

Palace may not arrive in outstanding form either, but the Eagles proved last season that they can cause problems in North London after securing a victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Given that Spurs’ home performances have hardly improved this year, there is little guarantee they will find things easier this time around.

Simons struggling to make the expected impact

The difficult atmosphere surrounding the club has not been helped by the start made by new manager Igor Tudor. The Croatian has endured a disappointing introduction to life in charge of Tottenham, suffering back-to-back Premier League defeats against Arsenal and Fulham.

In both matches Spurs appeared hesitant and lacking confidence, failing to impose themselves on their opponents. The loss at Craven Cottage was particularly concerning, as Tottenham rarely looked capable of controlling the game.

One player who struggled to influence proceedings was Xavi Simons. The Dutch playmaker managed to create just a single chance during the match and otherwise had little impact. His defensive contribution was minimal, and he found himself overwhelmed by Fulham’s physical approach in midfield.

Tudor eventually decided to substitute him before the hour mark, highlighting just how ineffective the performance had been. While Simons cannot be blamed for Tottenham’s broader struggles this season, he has yet to fully justify the reported £52 million investment the club made in him.

With the campaign entering its decisive phase, Tudor will be demanding maximum effort and consistency from every member of his squad. That may force the manager to make some difficult selection calls ahead of the Palace clash.

Richarlison could offer a different attacking dynamic

Dropping Simons would mean removing Tottenham’s main creative midfielder from the starting line-up, but selection decisions cannot be based on reputation alone. One possible alternative would be to hand a starting role to Richarlison, who made an immediate impact from the bench during the defeat to Fulham.

The Brazilian forward found the net after coming on as a substitute and provided Spurs with a level of energy and directness that had previously been missing. Injuries have limited his involvement in recent months, and he has not started a Premier League match since January 4.

Despite often being used centrally, Richarlison is capable of operating effectively out wide, using his aggression and work rate to stretch defences. Under Tudor’s preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, he could slot into one of the attacking roles behind main striker Dominic Solanke.

That setup would allow Richarlison to play slightly off Solanke, providing pressing intensity and attacking support while also offering a physical presence that could trouble Palace’s defenders.

A key moment in Tottenham’s season

Since arriving from Everton for an initial £55 million fee, Richarlison has experienced mixed fortunes in North London. However, many within the Spurs fanbase believe he has become increasingly important to the team.

Podcast host Jack Hussey recently described the Brazilian as “one of our most important players,” highlighting the impact he can have when fully fit and motivated. His tally of nine goals this season reflects a steady attacking contribution, but his influence goes beyond the numbers.

Richarlison’s aggressive style, relentless pressing, and emotional intensity could be exactly what Tottenham need in a high-pressure encounter. Against a hard-working and energetic Crystal Palace side, those qualities may prove invaluable.

With Tottenham battling to stay clear of the relegation places, Thursday night’s clash suddenly feels like one of the most significant fixtures of their season. For Tudor and his players, the margin for error is rapidly disappearing.