Neil Ruddock said that although Cristian Romero’s transfer away from Tottenham was expected, he believes new signing John Paul Van Hecke faces an uphill battle to sort out Spurs’ defense.
He also went on to explain why he feels Spurs had to overpay for players in the summer window, pointing to two disappointing Premier League finishes in a row as a primary factor.
Additionally, he mentioned his relief at Tottenham’s survival on the final day of the league last campaign, and stated that the club should never find themselves in that position in the first place.
Van Hecke replacing Romero
“It felt inevitable. There was a lot of talk during the final game of the season – a match Spurs desperately needed to win – and the club captain wasn’t even involved,” Ruddock said.
“The writing was on the wall right there, so his departure wasn’t a shock.
“With time running out, I wondered if it might stall, but behind-the-scenes negotiations were clearly happening.
“Spurs needed a direct replacement, so bringing someone in was always on the cards.
“As for Van Hecke, it’s a massive task (to be a rock at the back). Coming into a side that finished 17th back-to-back is tough.
“If he helps turn things around, he deserves huge credit.
“But the Premier League is unforgiving. If the team starts brightly, he’ll settle well; if the collective performance drops, all eyes will fall on the new centre-back.”
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Summer spending spree
On Spurs’ summer window expenditure, Ruddock added: “I am surprised, especially in the wake of Daniel Levy’s exit. In some instances, they’ve paid well over market value.
“But if you want a top target before rivals swoop in, you have to pay the premium. Seeing them commit that level of transfer budget is still a big surprise.
“I actually put a £10 bet on with a Manchester United fan mate that Spurs would finish above United this season, so they better start well!
“In all seriousness, look at Liverpool last season: they brought in a wave of signings, struggled to blend them quickly, and suffered their worst season in years performance-wise.
“If Spurs don’t hit the ground running, they risk getting dragged right back down toward 17th.
“Momentum is everything in football.
Last season’s struggles
“Ironically, it was quite exciting at the end because there was genuine drama right down to the wire!
“Hitting 15th place would have been boring, but securing survival on the final day felt almost like winning an FA Cup final for the fans going home.
“In reality, a club like Spurs should never be in that situation to begin with, but the relief was immense,” Ruddock concluded.
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Michael Davey