When Tottenham Hotspur first signed Conor Gallagher, there was a mix of positivity and skepticism regarding the signing, but it didn't take long for the narrative to turn wholly sour. Gallagher struggled badly in his start to life at the club, failing to justify his wages or transfer fee, as he did not create any chances or meaningfully help Spurs.
He was put in a bad spot, of course, as he was the only signing Tottenham made in a winter transfer window that should have been far more decisive with Spurs already showing worrisome signs of slipping further down the table. And once Tottenham had fully devolved into the relegation places, Gallagher became a convenient scapegoat.
Though he did improve once Roberto De Zerbi came into the picture, showing the fight, the experience, and the ability to move the ball into the final third that made Thomas Frank and Johan Lange want to sign him in the first place.
Conor Gallagher does not have to be a starter for Tottenham
Gallagher started this 2026/27 Premier League season with the same issues of not being able to create chances or be an actual No. 10 in the team, but he has also scored two goals in all competitions, which is as good as anyone else on Tottenham Hotspur right now. And there have been games where he has played very well, making up for his obvious technical deficiencies with pure grit, hard work, and that underrated ability to press and suffocate the opposition into mistakes.
As it stands right now, Conor Gallahger is not a starter, nor is he really anywhere close to the starting lineup. James Maddison is the No. 10, Xavi Simons will be the 10 when he comes back from injury in the winter, Dejan Kulusevski is back in the picture, and Omar Marmoush just started as the 10 in Maddison's stead in the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Gallagher has found a more comfortable role at Tottenham where he can be an asset in a rotational role off the bench. He can start against opponents when rotation is required or there are injuries and the opposition is not one where Gallagher has to be technically prolific, or he can start in a more box to box role or as a defensive 10 instead of a traditional playmaker.
And off the bench, he can be the bulldog that he is and a spark in terms of running the other midfield and defense ragged to close out the game. There is less dependence and less of a request on Gallagher to be a top playmaker, and he can just focus on his strengths and play his game. That's a much better set up for the Englishman and for Spurs.
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