The former defender offered a stinging assessment of the current squad following that catastrophic loss up on Wearside.
Sunday brought another disastrous result for the travelling loyalists. Roberto De Zerbi watched his team suffer a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland. Walking away from the Stadium of Light with zero points has dire consequences. The senior squad is now properly trapped inside the bottom three. Only six games are left to fix this mess. Sitting in eighteenth place and trailing West Ham United by two points feels completely surreal.
Djed Spence
A still image of Djed Spence. [Image via BBC]
Rival pundits are dissecting the wreckage. Rio Ferdinand took time out on his recent podcast broadcast to analyze the crumbling roster. He tackled a blunt question regarding summer transfer raids. Listeners asked him who he would poach for Old Trafford if the North Londoners actually go down.
Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence selected as sole transfer targets during brutal podcast evaluation
The 47-year-old hesitated initially. He bluntly claimed nobody on the side warranted a move based on current performances. Eventually, he reconsidered and picked out two specific names. He chose rapid Dutch centre back Micky van de Ven (the most valuable Spurs star) and resurgent full back Djed Spence. Ferdinand said, “Can’t think of any that I’d take, especially the way they’re playing now. Van de Ven, maybe. Van de Ven and Djed Spence, actually. Djed Spence.”
Selecting just a defensive duo from an entire top-flight roster is a damning indictment. It proves how hostile the wider perception of this playing group has become.
Looking at historic rivals makes the situation feel worse today. Michael Carrick is dragging a flawed squad toward Champions League qualification up north. Down in the capital, things look entirely different. De Zerbi faces the absolute biggest challenge of his managerial career. The hierarchy cannot afford to lose elite defensive assets to direct competitors next summer. Survival is the only thing that matters anymore. The players must show actual fight this weekend to save their careers.