What could a Spurs XI look like in the Championship?published at 11:40 GMT 6 March
11:40 GMT 6 March
The potential of relegation is very quickly going from distant fear to distinct possibility for Tottenham fans.
There are nine games to save their Premier League status, but thoughts are already turning to what a Championship season could realistically look like.
We have put together a possible XI below. But we want to hear from you.
What would a Spurs XI look like in the second tier? Who could be signed to ensure an immediate return? Who would stay and fight and who would look for a swift exit?
'Us players on the pitch need to take responsibility' - Solankepublished at 10:26 GMT 6 March
10:26 GMT 6 March
Image source, Getty Images
Tottenham's Dominic Solanke says the players have "had a chat between us" and must now "understand we need to improve" as the club's relegation fears were heightened by Thursday's 3-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace.
"Another difficult one to take," Spurs' goalscorer said post-match.
"Before the game, we looked at the game thinking we definitely needed to win, but it's another game that has passed now and we need to realise the position we're in.
"It was difficult circumstances [having a player sent off] but we've had a chat between us and we need to understand we need to improve and improve now.
"It is difficult and hard to say with just words, we need to show it on the pitch but it's something we need to do as soon as possible.
"We obviously need to realise the position that we are in. We know it's been so difficult this season with the injuries, but we can't change that now.
"Us players on the pitch need to take responsibility and ultimately change it as soon as possible.
"It's difficult just speaking, but we need to realise the position we're in and we need to fight for every game. Fight for every result and there are not many games left, so we need to start [winning] soon.
"I think we need to look forward to the next games. We need to see what is going wrong on the pitch, debrief that and change, but we're not in a position to dwell on anything now.
"We need to make sure next game we're going to be at it, see where we can improve and see what we can do to change this form around."
Francis: Desperately poor again from Spurs. This is what happens when a club shops in the bargain basement year after year. Embarrassingly inept squad and unthinking ownership have killed our club.
Neil: Inept and clueless. The worst squad and worst football ever, and I've supported them for over 60 years. Even if the injured players were back. The board deserves a lot of responsibility. Harry Kane and Son Heung-min falsely inflated our past performances.
Jimi: As a season ticket holder, all I want is for this season to be over so I can relinquish my seat for some other unsuspecting fool who will regard this utter garbage as entertainment.
Dave: An abysmal first half truly unravelled in the last 15 minutes or so and a must-win game was lost. However - and I'm clutching at straws here - did we see the green shoots of recovery sprouting in a much-improved second half with 10 men? I hope so, because if not we are not going to get out of this mess. The majority of our players really need to have a serious word with themselves. Managers don't do stupid things on the pitch, players do that. After sending them out early for the second half, I think more tough love is required. COYS.
Andy: When you can't keep the ball for long enough in the opposition's half to do anything with it and when you make average teams like Fulham and Crystal Palace look like like Real Madrid and Barcelona, you know you don't belong in the top flight. Over the past seven years, we've recruited an army of low-quality players and made all the wrong managerial choices. We deserve to go down and we will go down.
Crystal Palace fans
Allan: At last, Palace are starting to play like a coordinated team. Well done, Mr Glasner!
Steve: Palace dominated the first half by playing some very nice football. Going a goal behind seemed to provoke them into some of their best play for some time. Adam Wharton was at his creative best, Ismaila Sarr reminded us of the player he was last season and Jorgen Strand Larsen did what we all want him to do. It promises to be a very good run-in to the end of the season.
Lee: Very good first half. Wharton was excellent with his vision and passing. Thoroughly deserved victory - onwards to Europe next Thursday.
Trev: It's good to see that the real Palace are back, despite yet another highly marginal VAR decision. If you can be offside with just your nose, football has gone mad.
'I've never known a time like this'published at 08:33 GMT 6 March
08:33 GMT 6 March
Image source, Getty Images
Tottenham fan Chris Cowlin says the team "completely lack fight and desire" as the possibility of relegation becomes a "reality".
"I'm lost for words with what I've seen," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast after Thursday's 3-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace.
"You want fight, you want desire and, most importantly, you need the points to get out of this mess.
"How are we going to do it because what is an easy game for us right now? Whoever we play against we're struggling, especially at home.
"At the start pf the game the fans were up for it and very much behind the players, but under Igor Tudor now it's three games, three defeats and nine goals conceded.
"The fans are extremely disappointed and angry in the manner of these goals we're conceding.
"At half-time, hundreds - if not thousands - left the stadium because they'd seen too much. It's too much for a lot of people and the reality now is Spurs might get relegated.
"When we moved into this stadium in 2019 it was supposed to be a game-changer for us and the springboard to success and competing for top honours.
"If we don't buck up our ideas very quickly we will find ourselves in the Championship. All the other teams down there are showing fight and desire, and we lack that completely."
"I've never known a time like this and it's very sad to see."
'Never seen a Premier League ground look so empty with so long to go'published at 08:02 GMT 6 March
08:02 GMT 6 March
Image source, Getty Images
Former Premier League striker Glen Murray says Tottenham "imploded" at the end of the first half in Thursday's demoralising home defeat by Crystal Palace.
Spurs led before Micky van de Ven's 38th-minute red card but went into the break 3-1 down.
"They are without doubt in a relegation fight," Murray told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "This was their game in hand and they haven't made amends.
"The penalty just swings the game completely. From that moment, Crystal Palace were really good and managed the game extremely well.
"The damage was done in stoppage time of the first half. If Spurs could just have got over the line and in at half-time at 1-1 then it's a completely different picture and you can make a gameplan. You can make yourself difficult to beat and try to get a point, but they imploded.
"All of a sudden the game is gone, the situation is worsening, fans start leaving, and things get worse and worse.
"I've never seen a Premier League ground look so empty with so long to go in a fixture.
"Let's not get carried away. It's just one loss. They haven't fallen any further down and there are huge games coming up. They need the fans to be on board, despite the situation, and the club needs to be united."
'More likely than not to go down'published at 07:48 GMT 6 March
07:48 GMT 6 March
Joe Rindl BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is not a happy place at the moment.
They have not won in the Premier League in 2026 and have only led in league games for 13 minutes since 7 January.
Outside the stadium, Tottenham supporters told BBC Sport the club were "in their worst moment in history" and "were more likely than not to go down".
One fan blamed Tottenham's form on the players, saying "there are too many egos" and "the players are still living off that high of the Europa League and sleep-walking to relegation".
One supporter said the board's failures in the transfer market was the main culprit, pointing to a lack of goalscoring options and a failure to cover Tottenham's many, many injuries.
Spurs currently have nine players sidelined.
Fans also pointed to the team's lack of discipline. Cristian Romero was serving the final game of a four-match ban after a straight red card in February.
Micky van de Ven's sending off on Thursday means he will now serve a one-match ban.
Many also queried the appointment of former Juventus boss Igor Tudor. The Croat had never managed in the Premier League before his appointment in February.
Others defended him with one adding each new manager appointment simply "papers over the cracks".
Would Spurs' expenses drop enough to ease financial impact of relegation?published at 06:57 GMT 6 March
06:57 GMT 6 March
Daniel Austin BBC Sport senior journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Tottenham lost £129m last year, according to the data, and the risk of even greater losses going forward if relegated is evident.
In some regards, Spurs' expenses would be reduced by dropping to the Championship. It has been widely reported, for example, that their players' contracts include a clause dropping their salaries by 50% in case of relegation.
If that clause is inserted into the contract of every player in the squad, then last year's record wage bill of £276m could be turned into £138m when the contractual period ticks over to the new season on 1 July.
But in a variety of other ways outgoings would remain the same, and potentially even rise.
One of the major financial issues clubs across the continent have been facing in recent years is rising operational costs, including things like utilities, transport, insurance, marketing, and administration.
Last year, Spurs had the third-highest operating costs in all of Europe, paying out £260m. That was a rise of £27m on the previous year, and the figure could rise again if essentials like energy prices continue to increase in the wider global economy.
Many of those day-to-day operating bills will not simply be reduced by playing at a lower level - the price for powering the stadium for a night match against Norwich City in the Championship is the same as doing so for Newcastle in the Premier League.
Spurs also had 877 full-time employees last year, an increase of 57 on the previous year, giving them the 12th-biggest workforce in Europe.
Barring a cull of that workforce, Spurs will have to keep paying top-tier European salaries while not even playing in the English top flight.
Gossip: Pochettino, De Zerbi and Keane in the frame for Spurspublished at 06:52 GMT 6 March
06:52 GMT 6 March
Former boss Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto de Zerbi are Tottenham's top managerial targets this summer - however, former player Robbie Keane, now in charge of Ferencvaros, could be considered if they are relegated to the Championship. (GiveMeSport), external
Talks are under way between Rangers and Spurs about extending winger Mikey Moore's loan spell at Ibrox. (TeamTalk), external
Tudor not the man for safety pushpublished at 23:26 GMT 5 March
23:26 GMT 5 March
Keifer MacDonald BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
If Igor Tudor was meant to be the firefighter to save Tottenham's Premier League season, so far he has only fanned the flames of a miserable campaign.
The Croat - appointed on an interim basis until the end of the season following the sacking of Thomas Frank last month - has lost all three of his games in charge of last season's Europa League winners.
Even after only 270 minutes at the helm of this timid and dysfunctional side, it is clear that the former Juventus and Marseille manager is not the man to guide Tottenham to safety.
This season's damage was done long before Tudor arrived, but the way his three-game spell has unfolded so far leaves the club's hierarchy facing a serious decision if this rotten run - 11 Premier League games without a win - continues.
Not for the the first time this season, Tottenham - who could lose more than £250m if relegated to the Championship - look like a team sinking.
After West Ham, Nottingham Forest and even Wolves picked up valuable points in this midweek round, Tottenham could not afford to lose.
But even when Solanke put his side 1-0 up, the players, staff, and supporters never seemed confident of holding on to a victory that could have acted as a launchpad for the remainder of the campaign.
The sight of Pedro Porro arguing with Tudor after being substituted in the second half was yet another damning sign that nothing in this part of north London is right at the moment.
Tudor does not appear to be the man to save their Premier League status.
Tottenham 1-3 Crystal Palace: What Tudor and Solanke saidpublished at 23:00 GMT 5 March
23:00 GMT 5 March
Media caption,
Tottenham boss Igor Tudor, spoke to BBC Match of The Day after his side's defeat by Crystal Palace: "We are disappointed we lose. The red card changed the game. Then we conceded two or three fast goals. In the second half we tried. We wanted some good energy, I saw something to make me believe we can do it and I am sure we will do.
"The game plan was to believe when we are attacking that we are going to score a goal, otherwise you cannot stay defending with one player [less] and unfortunately it was not enough.
"After this game I believe more than before. I know it is not easy. It is a moment but it will pass. It will pass. The message I said to them [the players] is not [for the] public."
On Micky van de Ven's red card: "I haven't seen it yet. The referee decided it was red."
Tottenham forward Dominic Solanke, spoke to TNT Sports: "We've just had a big conversation. We know the position we are in is definitely not where we want to be so we need to figure out how we are going to get out of it as soon as possible.
"We know there's been difficulties but we're not in a position to make any excuses anymore. We need to do the job on the pitch. It is easy to say we want to be better but we want to be better on the pitch.
"We need to fight and realise the position we are in. We know the club is not used to being in this position so we need to understand it and understand it's not going to be easy and we need to fight every single game, every single minute, to make sure we improve."
Did you know?
Tottenham have failed to win 11 successive league games for the first time since October 1975 under Terry Neill (drawn seven, lost four).
Tottenham have conceded two or more goals in nine successive league matches for the first time in the club's history.
In the opposite dugout, Oliver Glasner makes two changes from his side's defeat against Manchester United last weekend.
After Maxence Lacroix's red card at Old Trafford, Chadi Riad comes in at the heart of the defence, while Brennan Johnson misses out on a start against his former club as he is replaced by Evann Guessand.
How would Spurs' income be impacted by relegation?published at 15:07 GMT 5 March
15:07 GMT 5 March
Daniel Austin BBC Sport senior journalist
Image source, Getty Images
The prospect of one of the Premier League's six wealthiest clubs being relegated to the Championship should be essentially impossible, given the immense resouces they have at their disposal.
But with 10 games left to play Tottenham Hotspur are just a point above 18th-placed West Ham, and in the kind of wretched run of form that makes it difficult to see where enough points are going to come from.
So, what would be the financial impact on Spurs if the unthinkable really does happen?
Spurs earned £690m worth of income last year, according to data from the Uefa European club finance and investment landscape report, putting them ninth overall in Europe.
That income would take a serious hit if they were to drop into the Championship.
According to BBC Sport analysis, the reduction could be as much as £261m overall.
One key area in which they would be harmed is ticket revenue, which earned the club £130m, the fifth-highest across the continent.
Currently, Spurs charge an average of £76 per fan for each home match, with only five clubs in Europe costing more.
Since building their new stadium for around £1bn, Spurs have focused heavily on selling hospitality tickets and corporate packages for matches in order to maximise matchday takings.
But they will simply not be able to charge the same amount for an opening day fixture against a side like Lincoln City - who are currently chasing promotion from League One - in the second tier in August, should they ultimately finish in the bottom three, and a drop in attendances would likely occur too.
Elsewhere, Spurs' broadcast revenue would plummet too. They would no longer have access to the funds generated from the Premier League's lucrative domestic and international broadcast deals, which last year meant Ipswich Town earned more in broadcast revenue than Barcelona.
And the tens of millions they earn from Champions League TV income will drop to nothing, unless they manage to win the tournament, which would guarantee them a place in next year's competition even if they are playing second-tier football.
Furthermore, the club-record £269m of commercial income Spurs earned last year would likely take significant damage.
Sponsorships such as kit manufacturer Nike and front-of-shirt sponsors AIA's deals (worth around £70m combined annually) will have their values slashed thanks to relegation clauses.
Playing four more home matches in the Championship could also have an impact on Spurs' ability to host other lucrative events and concerts, which the club has heavily focused on.
"For a club of Spurs' ambitions and financial scale, relegation would not simply be a short-term sporting setback", says football finance expert Kieran Maguire. "The economics of English football make recovery a multi-year project."
Tottenham v Crystal Palace: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 15:06 GMT 5 March
15:06 GMT 5 March
Paul Birch BBC Sport journalist
Tottenham continue their battle for Premier League survival against a Crystal Palace side who still need points to secure safety themselves. BBC Sport takes a look at the key themes before this huge clash towards the foot of the table.
Thursday marks 67 days since Tottenham last enjoyed a league victory, while its almost three months since they celebrated a top-flight win in front of their own fans.
Defeat by Fulham on Sunday equalled their longest winless run in the Premier League of 10 games, set under Ossie Ardiles in 1994. They last went 11 matches without a league victory between August and October in 1975.
These are dark days and unless they can arrest their shocking form, playing in the second tier for the first time since the 1977-78 season is becoming a real possibility.
New interim head coach Igor Tudor, who has lost two from two, was very bullish in his opening news conferences but after just 180 minutes of action on the pitch, he seems utterly exasperated with the task he has taken on.
"We lack when we attack," he said of his side post-Fulham. "We are lacking the quality to score the goal. We are lacking in the middle to run. We are lacking behind to stay there and suffer and not concede the goal. Physically, I believe, we are not in an amazing situation."
When the boss says in public you have problems in attack, defence and fitness you know you are in trouble. Given Spurs have led in league matches for a total of just seven minutes since 7 January his words should not come as a surprise.
Historically, a fixture with Crystal Palace has normally proved to be a three-point banker for Spurs, but not anymore.
After a run of just one defeat in 18 Premier League games with the Eagles, they have lost two of the last three.
That includes Palace ending a run of nine consecutive losses at Spurs with a 2-0 away victory last season that sets up their chance to secure back-to-back league victories at Tottenham for the first time.
The bad omens keep coming for the north Londoners. They have lost six of their last seven home league London derbies, including a Premier League club record of four already this season.
That is in drastic contrast to Palace's run of only one loss in their last nine top-flight London derbies (W5, D3) on the road, and that came at league leaders Arsenal.
Six of the Eagles' nine league wins this season have come away from home and they were on course to make it seven until Maxence Lacroix gave away a penalty and was sent off against Manchester United on Sunday.
It took their tally of points lost from winning positions this season to 19, second only to West Ham's 20, and just four points shy of the Eagles' most ever in a Premier League campaign set in 2023-24.
Those hoping for a goalfest might be disappointed as the goals-per-game average for Thursday night matches this season is currently the lowest on any day of the week in a Premier League campaign that's had more than one game played on it.
To compound their misery, Spurs are winless in their last 12 Premier League games on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday dating back over two years to January 2024.
'Tudor has had no reaction whatsoever from this Tottenham side'published at 08:57 GMT 5 March
08:57 GMT 5 March
Image source, Getty Images
Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson says interim boss Igor Tudor strikes him as a manager who is "not fully understanding of his squad" in his short time in charge so far.
"I wasn't the most worried about them a while ago but since the new manager has come in I am," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
"Igor Tudor has not struck me as a manager who is fully understanding of his squad and the players that he's got.
"Yes, he's got a good record of going into other clubs and having an impact in his first few games but he has had no reaction whatsoever from this Tottenham side.
"In his first game against Arsenal he played three at the back with Joao Palhinha as one of the centre-backs which is alien for this team and immediately struck me like he is looking for something. Then he goes to Fulham and plays four at the back with Archie Gray at left-back. Then he makes three substitutions at half-time which again looks like he's searching for something.
"There is strong talk already that if they don't get a result against Crystal Palace that during the international break they might rethink the decision on the manager which is incredible and just shows the strife that Tottenham are in.
"They've got the joint-second worst home record in the league with Burnley. They've won two games at that incredible stadium all season, losing eight of them.
"And by the way, they've got Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night. How does that work?"
Sutton's predictions: Tottenham v Crystal Palacepublished at 08:25 GMT 5 March
08:25 GMT 5 March
Tottenham's home record is wretched - Wolves are the only top-flight team to have picked up fewer points than them on their own turf so far.
The atmosphere there has been toxic all season anyway, and we are into territory where, if Tudor loses this, things could get even worse.
I am not sure about Crystal Palace either, mind you. After a difficult few weeks, they actually looked good against Manchester United on Sunday but they will miss the suspended Maxence Lacroix here, who is important for them at the back.
It would be against the odds, but I am going to back Spurs here. Their last league win came against Palace, at the end of 2025 - maybe they will get their first league win of 2026 against the same opposition.
Gossip: Alli training with Spurspublished at 07:20 GMT 5 March
07:20 GMT 5 March
Former Tottenham and England midfielder Dele Alli, 29, is back training at Spurs as he seeks a return to football after leaving Italian side Como in September. (Standard), external
Tudor on Spence fitness, no must-win games and 'small progress'published at 15:23 GMT 4 March
15:23 GMT 4 March
Tottenham boss Igor Tudor has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Premier League game against Crystal Palace at Tottenham Hotspur stadium (kick-off 20:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Tudor confirmed Djed Spence will not be available to face Palace, but is hopeful he will be back for the Champions League last-16 match away to Atletico Madrid.
He also confirmed there were no new updates on Destiny Udogie and Dejan Kulusevski, adding: "Kevin [Danso] returned in the last game so it has been great to have him back, but there is no other news."
On feelings after defeat by Fulham at the weekend: "Of course it was a little bit disappointing, but that's how we should feel [after a game like that]. We need to be angry and disappointed. I won't be the guy who says everything is perfect, smiles and acts like nothing has happened."
He continued: "Also, it's about me personally sending a message to everyone that I do not accept the situation - but we move on. We had a good but short period to prepare for this next game and I have seen the guys react really well."
The Spurs boss knows there are "a lot of things to improve" but he is seeing "day-by-day the players want this" and this makes him "feel positive enough to believe that we will do it".
On how he is getting the players mentally ready for the challenge of retaining their Premier League status: "We need to have belief that we have enough quality to do it. My point is to give both things to the players, this is how my job works in this sport. I'm trying to touch the players in all kinds of ways. I've seen a good willingness to change. We need something to change and I have seen small progress."
Despite the difficult situation they are in, Tudor doesn't believe there is a "must-win game" as they "need to be approaching all of the games in the right way". He added: "They are nice things to speak about on the TV or in a bar, but we aren't interested in thinking in this way."
Tudor also provided an update on bringing assistant Ivan Javorcic to the club: "It's an ongoing thing now, we'll wait. It's just a work permit issue. We are waiting."
Gossip: Barcelona intensify efforts for Van de Venpublished at 07:10 GMT 4 March
07:10 GMT 4 March
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven, 24, is wanted by Barcelona, who are set to intensify their efforts to sign the Netherlands international in the summer. (Sport - in Spanish), external
