Redknapp questions Spurs' matchwinners as club drops into bottom three

Jamie Redknapp has questioned whether Tottenham Hotspur have the matchwinners to stay in the Premier League after the club dropped into the relegation zone - and admits the decision to hire Roberto De Zerbi is a "big risk".

West Ham's crushing 4-0 win over bottom club Wolves has lifted them two points clear of Spurs, who are in the bottom three - outside of the opening three weeks of the season - for the first time since January 17, 2009.

Spurs have seven matches to save their season - starting with Sunday's trip to Sunderland, with only a win able to take them out of the relegation zone of the bottom three.

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But Redknapp has questioned whether Spurs have players like Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville - who have guided West Ham on a strong run of form in the Premier League - who can get them out of trouble.

"You need matchwinners in your team, who's going to win a game by the scruff of the neck?" said Redknapp on Sky Sports, speaking after the West Ham result.

"When I look at the Tottenham team: where's your matchwinner? Who's going to win you the game?

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Highlights from the match between West Ham and Wolves in the Premier League

"When I look at Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville, they have moments - that's the important thing. And that's now put an almighty pressure on Tottenham Hotspur, who have to go and beat Sunderland in their next game. That's not an easy fixture.

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"Anything can happen. There will still be twists and turns. West Ham have only got to lose their next game at Crystal Palace next week and they're right back in it.

"It's very difficult to predict. But you need calm heads and what West Ham did today: look a threat from set pieces, a real threat from your best players - then you give yourself a real chance."

Redknapp even went as far to say that West Ham have a centre-back pairing in Axel Disasi and Konstantinos Mavropanos which is better than Spurs' best options in Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, when it comes to the relegation fight.

"Mavropanos and Disasi look a real partnership. They are the sort you want in a relegation fight," he added.

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Dinos Mavropanos volleys in his second and West Ham's fourth against Wolves

"And even though they are better players: I'm not sure those two centre-backs at Tottenham are. They think they're too good for a relegation fight. Romero's saying: I've won the World Cup and now we're in the bottom three.

"What they're going to be doing under De Zerbi is he'll be asking to play out from the back, take risks in your six-yard box. What West Ham know is their limitations, they don't take too many risks. Nottingham Forest and Leeds are like that as well.

"This is not the time to be thinking you're a better player than what you are. This is the time to play to your maximum, show your desire, head it and tackle.

"You need moments from top players, but this is a time for cool heads. That's what West Ham have shown here."

Hiring De Zerbi is a HUGE risk

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Take a look at the best bits from Roberto De Zerbi's first press conference as head coach of Tottenham Hotspur

Redknapp also believes hiring former Brighton manager De Zerbi - famed for his bold, possession-based football - is a huge risk for Spurs given their current predicament.

Asked before the West Ham result if De Zerbi's arrival will change the survival fight, Redknapp replied: "I don't know the answer to that. Is he a great coach? Absolutely.

"But the detail and everything he plays with, I remember the Brighton days and the way he played out from the back - if he starts asking Tottenham players to do that, who are devoid of any confidence whatsoever, I think that's a huge risk right now.

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A behind-the-scenes look at Roberto De Zerbi’s first training session in charge of Spurs as he begins shaping his new squad (footage courtesy of Tottenham Hotspur)

"He just needs to find a way to win, find his best XI, he has to find a way to show aggression and desire which has been sorely missing.

"They have to play with more energy, if they do, they have a chance of staying up. But if you ask too much of the players and put them into difficult decisions they can't handle, it's not going to go well.

"To implement that kind of football, you may need a pre-season or even six months. It doesn't normally work in one week.

"I know this window of the players being away on international break has worked quite well, but for me it doesn't change that much just yet. They have to go to a tough place at the Stadium of Light and get a result."