Peter Crouch criticizes Tottenham’s poor performance as a ‘nightmare’ following their significant defeat to Newcastle.

In a scathing analysis on TNT Sports, former Tottenham player Peter Crouch did not hold back in his criticism of the team’s performance after their 4-0 defeat to Newcastle. Crouch highlighted Tottenham’s lack of fight and defensive vulnerability as major issues that were exposed in their heaviest defeat of the season.

The match against Newcastle was eerily reminiscent of Spurs’ 6-1 thrashing at St James’ Park almost a year ago. This time, Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon scored two quick goals within 95 seconds of each other to kickstart the rout. Isak then added a second goal shortly after halftime, and Fabian Schar sealed the victory with a superb header.

Despite enjoying just 27% possession, Newcastle outshot Tottenham and displayed a clinical edge in capitalizing on their opponents’ mistakes. Individual errors proved to be particularly costly for Ange Postecoglou’s side, with Micky van de Ven being beaten three times in the lead-up to goals. A wayward Pedro Porro pass also contributed to Newcastle’s second goal.

Crouch emphasized that Spurs failed to react to Newcastle’s dominance and were second-best in every department. He pointed out the poor performances of Van de Ven and Porro, who were relied upon as the team’s center-backs in their inverted full-back system. Crouch concluded that Tottenham lacked creativity in the second half and were outperformed by Newcastle in all aspects of the game.

Although Tottenham still hold a 10-point lead over sixth-placed Newcastle, it remains uncertain whether the fifth-place finisher in the Premier League will qualify for the UEFA Champions League. With extra spots being allocated to the best-performing leagues in Europe this season, Tottenham will need assistance from teams like West Ham and Arsenal, who face German opponents in the quarter-finals. Postecoglou’s side, on the other hand, will have a 12-day break before their next match against Arsenal.

Rio Ferdinand echoed Crouch’s sentiments on TNT Sports, highlighting the challenge that lies ahead for players like Van de Ven, who struggled against Newcastle. Ferdinand emphasized the importance of how the team reacts to this defeat and suggested that it is an opportunity for Van de Ven to prove himself once again.

Overall, it was a disappointing performance from Tottenham, and their defensive frailties were ruthlessly exposed by Newcastle. The defeat raises questions about their chances of qualifying for the Champions League and puts pressure on the team to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.