Jamie O’Hara stormed out of the talkSPORT studio after Tottenham’s damaging 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, with the ex-Spurs midfielder calling for manager Igor Tudor to be sacked amid relegation fears
Jamie O’Hara stormed out of the talkSPORT studio after Jason Cundy continually ridiculed Tottenham following their disastrous 3-1 home loss to Crystal Palace.
Spurs suffered defeat on Thursday for the fifth consecutive match to intensify their relegation worries, as a double from Ismaila Sarr and Jorgen Stand Larsen’s effort secured victory for Palace.
The result leaves Tottenham languishing in 16th, just one point ahead of 18th-placed West Ham and Nottingham Forest in 17th. Genuine fears now exist that Spurs, who remain in the Champions League, could tumble into the second tier for the first time since 1977/78 – their sole campaign outside the top division.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
Igor Tudor has suffered a torrid beginning since taking over from Thomas Frank as the club’s caretaker boss until the season’s end, losing all three of his opening fixtures against Arsenal, Fulham and Palace. The former Spurs midfielder O’Hara is demanding the Croatian be sacked just three games after his arrival.
Addressing co-presenter Cundy, O’Hara declared: “The manager’s got to go. He’s got to go. Get rid of him. He’s lost three games on the bounce. We are the only team in the Premier League ever to bring in a new manager to get a new manager bounce and we get a worse bounce.
“Honestly, he’s a joke, this club is a joke, the owners are a joke, the players are a joke, the recruitment’s a joke, the staff are a joke, the manager’s a joke. Everything about the football club is an absolute disgrace. Honestly, I’m hurting, I’m actually hurting. It hurts.
“I didn’t think it would hurt, because I was like, we’ve had some good moments, won the Europa League last season. This is just awful. This is so bad. This is the worst I’ve ever felt as a Spurs fan, ever.”
Ex-Chelsea defender Cundy, sporting an Ange Postecoglou mask complete with clown bow tie and hat, hit back at O’Hara, insisting Tudor deserved more time to work with the squad on the training pitch.
“He’s had three games, give him time on the training ground,” Cundy said.
O’Hara then responded: “Jase come on mate, what are you on about seriously? Do you think he is good enough?”.
Cundy replied: “Yes,” before O’Hara shot back: “You’re just talking rubbish because I know that is not true.”
Yet Cundy remained steadfast in his stance, declaring: “I’ve seen signs. Encouraging signs.”
This prompted O’Hara to leave his seat and walk out of the studio. Heading towards the door, he declared: “It’s pointless doing a show with you mate. You’re not being serious, you’re just an idiot.”
Cundy then confirmed to the talkSPORT listeners that O’Hara had indeed left the studio, finishing: “Jamie has walked out, we’re going to hear from the interim manager of Spurs, Igor Tudor.”
O’Hara returned to complete the programme but remained pessimistic about his former side. The 39-year-old confessed he believes Spurs will suffer relegation this term. When pressed on whether Spurs face the drop, O’Hara reluctantly responded: “Yes.”
He added: “This team is terrible. The players are terrible. They’re Championship players. They’re Championship players. Pape Sarr is a Championship player. Conor Gallagher. How he played for Atletico Madrid, I’ll never know. He’s been awful. He’s been absolutely awful.
“Souza, who’s this kid. He looks like he’s got two left feet. Honestly, it’s embarrassing. Seriously, the team is absolutely awful.
“Mathys Tel. I could have told you. A donkey could have told you last season that he was garbage, a donkey could have told you last season that Tel was not good enough.
“He ain’t good enough. And we signed him on a permanent. It’s unbelievable. The football club. It’s unbelievable. The people in charge of this football club. One of the biggest clubs in the world. And an absolute mockery. We’re a mockery of a football club that we’ve allowed this to happen and the fans have had to accept it.”
Up next for Spurs in the Premier League is a daunting trip to Anfield next Sunday when they face champions Liverpool without the suspended Micky van de Ven following his dismissal last night.
But prior to that, Tottenham travel to Spain to tackle Atletico Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 first leg on Tuesday.