“He should not near the Starting XI vs Ipswich Town… He is as bad as Dragusin & Davies, Ange was let down by 3/10 Spurs dud who lost the ball 11 times
Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League performance against Galatasaray was arguably one of their most perplexing showings this season. For a team that has impressed domestically, their outing in Turkey offered a stark contrast, teetering between flashes of danger and lengthy spells of disarray. Particularly after the introduction of Dominic Solanke in the second half, Tottenham occasionally threatened, but those moments were fleeting. For the majority of the match, the North London side looked lethargic, directionless, and sorely lacking cohesion.
There was, however, a bright spot: young striker Will Lankshear netted his first goal for Spurs, an achievement worth celebrating. Yet, his night ended on a low note after a red card, turning what should have been a personal milestone into a bitter memory, both for him and the club.
Ange Postecoglou’s squad, which has shown such promise under his stewardship, was surprisingly ineffective. They wasted multiple chances in front of goal and displayed glaring weaknesses in defense. Across the board, performances were well below par, but two defenders in particular stood out for their struggles: Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies.
Dragusin and Davies: Defensive Struggles in Detail
Facing Galatasaray away is no easy feat. The intense atmosphere and relentless crowd pressure mean that visiting defenders must stay calm and composed, doing the basics right. Unfortunately, both Dragusin and Davies failed in these essentials, leading to a difficult night for Tottenham’s defense.
Dragusin, often caught out of position, repeatedly found himself causing more trouble than he solved. His mistimed challenges and inability to maintain defensive shape burdened his teammates, and his erratic play gifted Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen a goal after an ill-timed, poor touch left him exposed. Meanwhile, Davies was only slightly more disciplined but was equally prone to missteps. His poorly timed pass to Dragusin led directly to another Galatasaray goal, putting further pressure on the struggling backline.
Both defenders’ performances were widely criticized, with Express journalist Sam Smith giving Dragusin a meager 3/10 rating, suggesting he might want to forget this Europa League campaign entirely. Davies fared only slightly better with a 4/10, as his struggles were just as evident and costly.
James Maddison’s Off-Night: A Midfield Misfire
Another key player who failed to make an impact was Tottenham’s co-vice-captain James Maddison. Known for his creativity and vision, Maddison’s performance was unusually lackluster. He struggled to influence the game from the center and fared even worse after being shifted to the wing in the second half, becoming almost invisible.
Maddison’s statistics painted a bleak picture of his night. Over his 66 minutes, he produced an expected assists figure of only 0.01, misplaced every cross and long ball attempt, failed in three-quarters of his dribble attempts, and didn’t manage a single shot. Defensively, he lost 50% of his duels, surrendered possession 11 times, and was dribbled past once. His lack of composure also led to the free-kick that resulted in Galatasaray’s opening goal. The Express echoed this poor performance with another 3/10 rating, remarking that he was “wholly anonymous” and calling for the Englishman to step up during challenging moments.
A Night to Forget for Tottenham
As the final whistle blew, it was hard not to pinpoint Dragusin, Davies, and Maddison as three of the night’s most significant disappointments. The match highlighted Tottenham’s need for greater composure and resilience, especially in high-pressure European games. While there were moments of potential, particularly when Solanke added urgency, the team’s collective failings were glaring.
For Postecoglou, the task now will be analyzing these weaknesses and finding a way to translate their domestic form to the European stage. Despite a few individual positives, Tottenham’s performance against Galatasaray is one they will want to move past quickly, as they seek to avoid similar missteps in their future Europa League outings.
