Tottenham Hotspur suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat at the hands of Fulham on Sunday afternoon, further intensifying the scrutiny on head coach Ange Postecoglou. The loss at Craven Cottage leaves Spurs struggling to maintain their European ambitions, and one player, in particular, found himself under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
According to football journalist Alasdair Gold, midfielder Yves Bissouma endured a nightmare performance in possession, with the Mali international struggling to cope with Fulham’s intensity in the middle of the park. Gold described Bissouma’s display as “dreadful,” noting that he appeared panicked on the ball and frequently put his teammates under unnecessary pressure. As a result, Postecoglou wasted no time in making a change, substituting the former Brighton midfielder at half-time in favor of Lucas Bergvall.
The match itself saw Fulham take the lead in the 79th minute through Rodrigo Muniz, who capitalized on a lapse in Tottenham’s defense to fire the home side ahead. Then, in the dying moments of the contest, former Spurs academy graduate Ryan Sessegnon sealed the victory with a well-taken second goal, ensuring that Marco Silva’s side strengthened their position in the Premier League’s top half.
Bissouma’s struggles were apparent throughout the first half, with his inability to retain possession proving costly for Spurs. Writing on X (formerly Twitter) just before the interval, Gold expressed his disappointment with the 27-year-old’s performance, which ultimately led to his early withdrawal from the match. Given that Bissouma was expected to play a crucial role in Postecoglou’s high-tempo system, his continued struggles with ball retention raise concerns about his long-term future at the club.
With Tottenham now sitting ten points adrift of the Champions League places and with just nine league games remaining, the need for midfield stability is becoming increasingly pressing. Fortunately, the club possesses several young talents who can step up in the holding midfield role, including Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr, and Archie Gray. Additionally, the more experienced Rodrigo Bentancur remains a valuable asset who can provide guidance to the younger players in crucial moments.
However, Bissouma’s struggles could prompt a rethink from Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy ahead of the summer transfer window. While Tottenham already has promising young midfielders in the squad, the possibility of bringing in a new, more reliable defensive midfielder cannot be ruled out. Postecoglou may instead choose to place his trust in the club’s emerging talents, but Bissouma’s poor showing at Craven Cottage serves as a stark reminder that further reinforcements might be necessary if Spurs are to compete at the highest level next season.
“So absurb”- Alasdair Gold slams “dreadful” Tottenham star who “kept putting team-mates under pressure” v Fulham
