adminWorse Than Solanke: De Zerbi Must Axe ‘Absolutely Awful’ Tottenham Star
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi faces some tough selection dilemmas ahead of his team’s next match, following a nightmare start to his tenure with a Premier League loss away to Sunderland.
Spurs remain winless in 2026, and the anticipated “new manager bounce” failed to materialize as De Zerbi took charge of his first game over the weekend.
Though De Zerbi used the international break to work with most of his squad and identify his ideal starting eleven, the Sunderland defeat may have provided even clearer insight into which players he can truly rely on.
Up next for De Zerbi and Tottenham is a clash with his former club, Brighton. As noted, several players underperformed at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, leaving the manager with significant decisions regarding his team selection.
If Spurs hope to secure their Premier League survival, one player who must be dropped is midfielder Conor Gallagher. The ex-Chelsea man appears ill-suited to De Zerbi’s system—a fact that was evident during his struggling performance in the middle of the park against Sunderland.
Gallagher, whom Jamie O’Hara labeled “absolutely awful,” was arguably at fault for Sunderland’s lone goal. He allowed Nordi Mukiele to cut inside and then failed to block the shot, which deflected past goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
With options like Xavi Simons, Pape Matar Sarr, and João Palhinha available on the bench, De Zerbi has plenty of alternatives to reshuffle his lineup for this weekend’s Premier League meeting with Brighton.
Obvious Replacement for Gallagher
The logical replacement for Gallagher is clear. Tottenham lacked creativity against Sunderland, so introducing Xavi Simons makes perfect sense.
Spurs started with Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, and Gallagher in midfield—Simons could step in as the most attack-minded of the three.
Palhinha and Sarr may also push for starts ahead of Bergvall and Gray, given that most Tottenham players underperformed.
After the match, Jamie O’Hara issued his player ratings: Dominic Solanke received 0/10, Richarlison 1/10, and Gallagher 2/10.
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