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Tim Sherwood insists he could keep Tottenham in the Premier League if asked to return, as Spurs hover one point above the relegation places. The 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in a direct survival clash left the club in serious danger, with pressure rising on head coach Igor Tudor heading into the international break and the final games.

Since taking over from Thomas Frank in February, Tudor has managed one win in seven matches in all competitions, with one draw and five defeats. Tottenham also exited the Champions League at the last-16 stage under the Croatian coach. Opta’s supercomputer rates Spurs’ relegation chance at 27.1%, while predicting 17th place as their most probable finish, at 35.1%.

Sherwood, who led Tottenham during the second half of the 2013-14 season after Andre Villas-Boas left, believes experience and clear thinking would be enough to secure safety. He argued that the current squad still has more than enough ability to stay up, but needs belief and a better mood in the dressing room to arrest the slide.

“I would keep them in the Premier League,” Sherwood said on Sky Sports on Monday. “I believe that someone with common sense keeps them in the Premier League. They have the quality to be able to do it. You have to get them feeling good again, you have to get the confidence in the group.”

Tottenham’s current league run underlines the scale of the crisis. Spurs are winless in 13 Premier League fixtures, with five draws and eight losses, matching the club’s second-longest league sequence without victory, first recorded in November 1912. They have collected 30 points from 31 league matches, their joint-worst return at this stage, level with the 1914-15 campaign.

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Tudor’s own record deepens concern. Combining his time at Juventus with the present spell at Tottenham, Tudor has failed to win any of the last 10 league games managed, drawing four and losing six. It is the longest such sequence of his coaching career, and it has arrived less than a month after taking charge of Spurs, increasing scrutiny from supporters and pundits.

Tottenham Premier League tactics and Spurs defensive issues

Sherwood targeted Tottenham’s defensive structure during the loss to Nottingham Forest, arguing that basic organisation had broken down and that Tudor’s set-up left players unsure of their duties. The former manager highlighted the centre-backs’ positioning as a key issue in such a high-stakes fixture near the bottom of the table.

“It’s not complicated, you drill them every single day. 11 vs. 11, so they know exactly where their positions are,” Sherwood said. “When Micky [van de Ven] starts dribbling mazily and taking the ball up the field, you stop him. If [he] is having to do that and [Cristian] Romero is having to burst forward to affect forward areas, it’s because we are not doing something right up there. Stay in your positions, keep your clean sheet first and foremost. If you can’t win the game, don’t lose it. Keep them organised.”

With Tottenham sliding towards a potential relegation fight, the numbers, the long winless streak and Tudor’s difficult start all underline the scale of the task. Sherwood’s comments highlight concerns about confidence and defensive clarity, as Spurs attempt to stabilise results and protect their Premier League status over the remaining fixtures.

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