Glenn Hoddle says Tottenham star might as well watch from the stands after shocking display

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You wonder if the dust has settled yet on Tottenham’s latest defeat.

In some aspects, it does them the world of good that the international break is now here, but on the other, Ange Postecoglou would have wanted to be right back out there.

Tottenham’s capitulation against Brighton was another example of the fragility the team still has and how it could cost them moving forward.

From an attacking point of view, you can’t argue too much, they have been back to their best, including Brennan Johnson scoring again.

But Tottenham‘s defence has let them down again and that second-half display was the worst since Postecoglou took charge.

It was mistake-ridden as soon as Brighton kicked off, with their vibrant, fluid and all-action attacking team causing the London club all sorts of problems.

From Tottenham’s defeat in the north London derby to their dropped points at newly-promoted Leicester City on the opening day, it shouldn’t be a surprise.

When you look at the back four Postecoglou employs – Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie – many top teams would happily have these individuals play for their clubs.

But there have been worrying performances from some of them this season, including questionable displays from Romero.

Jamie Vardy got the better of Romero at the start of the season and, once again, as Glenn Hoddle touched upon, he was ‘ball-watching’ as Danny Welbeck scored the winning goa at the weekend.

The Spurs legend stated that Romero might as well be watching from the stands as he slammed the centre-back’s positional play, as he told Premier League Productions (07/10/24 at 5:25 pm).

Cristian Romero’s defending against Brighton

“This is just poor defending all round, you can’t believe it from a Tottenham point of view,” said Hoddle. “There is one attacker in the six-yard box. It’s three v one.

“It’s poor defending from Udogie. You have got to stand up, he gets too tight and gets turned. I think Bentancur has to slide in earlier and take that out for a corner.

“If we just watch this, from an experienced defender, look at Romero here. Eyes on the ball. He’s not looked at (Welbeck). He has actually put himself in a poor position. He hasn’t opened his body up once. He has actually walked from a good position to get into a bad position, then he has just ball-watched. He is a spectator. He might as well be in Row Z watching from behind the goal. If you defend like that, then you are going to get punished.”

Cristian Romero’s form is worrying

It’s not been the best of starts from the World Cup winner and he needs to get his act together as soon as possible.

Tottenham’s all-action style makes it more difficult for their defensive players to perform because there is so much open space at the back.

READ MORE: Tottenham eyeing ‘powerful’ Premier League attacker who likes to ‘hunt people down’

But individual errors from the one in the north London derby to the one at the weekend don’t help matters at all.