It’s been so far, so good for Thomas Frank since taking over the managerial reins at Tottenham Hotspur. Having impressed during his seven-year stay with Brentford, guiding the Bees to their first-ever Premier League campaign and establishing them as a top division outlet, the Danish coach took the ambitious step of swapping stability for unpredictability this summer.
Joining a Spurs side that had massively under-performed in the Premier League, finishing 17th but also ending their 17-year trophy drought with UEFA Europa League glory. Now with ten games in North London under Frank’s belt, it’s safe to say that Tottenham look like a completely different side compared to last season. As Spurs have suffered just a single defeat in all competitions, whilst winning on five occasions – currently sitting 4th in the Premier League and unbeaten in the UEFA Champions League.
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Having attempted to play free-flowing attacking football under Ange Postecoglu, Spurs suffered majorly on the defensive end, conceding an astonishing 65 goals in the Premier League – 4th-most in the division. Something that was not going to be repeated under Thomas Frank, who opted for a more defensively structured system, which sees Spurs line-up in a 4-3-3 or a 3-5-2 depending on the opposition.
Frank’s 4-3-3 system often sees Spurs attempt to win possession by pressing high and creating overloads in wide areas through the use of wingers and fullbacks. While also having the option to play more direct by bypassing the centre of the field, instead focusing on areas where Spurs are able to double up.
A contrast to the 3-5-2 system, which allows the opposing side to retain possession, as Spurs soak up pressure and look to punish on the counter attack or with the use of set pieces. The effectiveness of Frank’s 3-5-2 was on display in his competitive debut against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup, holding the Champions League winners at bay for 85 minutes before a disappointing collapse saw the game taken to a penalty shootout.
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Despite being a defensive system, Frank’s ability to turn set pieces into goal-scoring opportunities is what saw Tottenham grab a 2-0 lead over the Parisians. Using Spurs’ physical advantages to load the box from throw-ins, corners and free kicks. Frank’s philosophy can be described as pragmatic and not consisting of much ‘entertainment value’, however it’s hard to suggest that it hasn’t been working, as Spurs have kept five clean sheets this campaign.
Areas of Concern
While there have been positives from the beginning of Frank’s tenure, there are still things that he will need to fix, if he wishes to be a success in North London. As it’s obvious that Spurs have been dealing with a creativity issue ever since James Maddison had been ruled out for the season with a ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament, sustained in preseason.
Spurs attempted to salvage the loss of such a key player by approaching Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White. A deal that would not be as straight-forward as anticipated, having been accused of making illegal contact before triggering the England international’s £60m release clause. Causing Nottingham Forest to threaten legal action, resulting in Gibbs-White signing an extension due to the holdup.
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Tottenham would then turn their attention to Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, who would also fail to make the switch to Spurs, instead choosing to sign for rivals Arsenal. Xavi Simons would eventually put an end to Tottenham’s miserable transfer window by putting pen-to-paper on a seven-year deal, following a £51.8m move from RB Leipzig.
A highly-rated attacking midfielder, who had registered 18 assists across two seasons in the Bundesliga, Simons seemed to be the perfect solution for a side in desperate need of some creativity. Despite operating best in deeper positions, Spurs had been using Pape Matar Sarr in the realm of an attacking midfielder before the signing of Simons.
Which caused Frank’s decision to play Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha in a pivot together behind Sarr to raise some eyebrows. As while possessing individual qualities that benefit the team in instances, neither possess the ability to consistently break lines with a pass.
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A choice that was even more baffling when Simons made his first few appearances on the left-wing. Severely limited the Dutchman’s impact, due to the inability of being able to dictate from central areas and a lack of chemistry with left-back, Djed Spence. A tactical flaw, which left the majority of Tottenham’s attacking output down to Mohammed Kudus from the right-hand side.
A summer arrival from West Ham United, Kudus has hit the ground running in North London, picking up three assists in six Premier League appearances so far. Dazzling supporters with his dribbling ability, flair and workrate. However, the lack of creativity surrounding the Ghanaian, caused opposing defenders to focus solely on Kudus, essentially slowing down the entire Spurs attack. Although, a minor tweak which sees Simons move into the midfield could rectify a few wrongs.
While Richarlison and Brennan Johnson have displayed respectable performances, their limited technical ability handicaps Spurs’ ceiling. A problem that injured duo Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke could put to an end. As a healthy Kulusevski and Solanke give Spurs an entirely new dynamic.
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Solanke’s profile, ability to excel with his back to goal and link-up with teammates in the final third is exactly what Tottenham are missing. While Kulusevski’s ability to play centrally and in wide areas, would add some fluidity, giving Frank numerous possibilities with his three attackers behind the striker in a 4-3-3, possessing the ideal attributes of playmaking and pressing.
Spurs aren’t perfect at the minute and it’s going to take time for Thomas Frank to figure it out but Tottenham Hotspur are moving in the right direction.
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