Tottenham are changing lanes with a new head coach in charge of the club.
Ange Postecoglou finished in 17th place last season in the Premier League, and a Europa League title, ending a 17 year trophy drought, was not enough to keep the Australian in his job. The board looked across the capital, plucking Thomas Frank from Brentford in June to oversee the side.
They are reaping the rewards of the decision as Spurs sit fifth in the table, are unbeaten away from home in the league, and have quickly embraced a new identity. But could that come at a cost?
Set-piece precision
Set-pieces are back in fashion, and Spurs are leading the way with the focus on their offensive value.
Frank has been a longtime advocate of maximising this phase of play. His Brentford team jumped from the Championship with the knowledge that they needed to make marginal gains to get a competitive edge on more talented opposition, and he looked to make the most of these situations.
It is a belief that has followed him into his role. Spurs scored 11 goals from set plays last season, and by the end of October, they had netted five— harnessing the qualities of existing players in the camp.
Pedro Porro is a player whose vision and range of passing have been a pillar in more than just open play. From corners and free kicks, he has the right deliveries to put the ball into dangerous situations.
Kevin Danso, a loanee from Lens at the start of 2025, was the winner of a throw-in competition in the team’s preseason camp. From the performance in the Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, his ability to hurl the ball into the box has been another significant weapon that Spurs have utilised.
The controlled aggression of Cristian Romero has stood out in this side, especially as a force for good in the last two seasons. He has gone from strength to strength, but there has also been bigger influence from Micky van de Ven in the boxes. The Dutch defender bagged a brace in a 3-0 victory over Everton in October with two goals from corners, and he has scored six times this campaign.
To many fans, this success feels like a world away from the approach of Frank’s predecessor. But Postecoglou brought strengths in many other areas where the Dane still has to show he has answers.
Building from the back
But set pieces cannot solve all of the challenges that Tottenham face. Postecoglou proved that relentless positivity in possession could produce problems for opponents— even if it came at the cost of some defensive stability. By contrast, Frank has emphasised a strategy of finding firm foundations.
The head coach is working without Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, or James Maddison, who have all been absent with injuries. Former club captain Son Heung-min also parted ways with the club after a decade of service, so Frank has felt it is not sensible to place his trust in unsettled pieces.
But some of his decisions also demonstrate that the focus of Frank’s side is shifting offensively. Yves Bissouma, a key player in the first phase for Ange with his ability to progress play centrally, has not featured for the Dane. Brennan Johnson, a brilliant back post box crasher, has also dropped down the depth chart as Spurs no longer create the flow of chances to capitalise on the strength of the winger.
The balance of the midfield has also highlighted how Frank’s focus differs from his predecessor.
Joao Palhinha arrived in the summer as a loanee from Bayern Munich with Premier League experience from his two years at Fulham. Frank was impressed with his work across the capital while at Brentford, and his tough tackling, professional attitude is a valuable asset in this department.
However, Palhinha is not a player who thrives under pressure in central areas. With the strengths of Pape Matar Sarr and Lucas Bergvall both being more forward thinking, and Rodrigo Bentancur looking for the right rhythm to influence games, Spurs have often struggled to click with the ball.
More recently, since the 3-0 defeat of Everton at the end of October, Frank has shuffled the pack. He has used a 3 + 2 buildup structure that seems to have better platformed Bentancur and given Djed Spence less responsibility to find progressive angles on his ‘wrong’ side as a right footed left back.
But there are still a lot of questions about the sustainability and effectiveness of their ideas on the ball.
Playing percentages
All teams will suffer from the absences of key individuals in their starting eleven, but it has felt like Tottenham are particularly short of ideas when a few key relationships are not present on the pitch.
Cristian Romero remains the spiritual leader of the side, and his progressive passing reflects the kind of bravery that Spurs seem to only demonstrate in fits and spurts to try and access more central areas.
Destiny Udogie is also a key figure: an athletic, ‘natural footed’ fullback, he has found chemistry with Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons. That left sided pod played a prominent part in displays against Brighton, Leeds United, and Copenhagen: three of the most impressive performances this season.
However, the Italian has struggled with knee injuries, and his availability is part of the problem that underlies the struggles of the new £51 million man from RB Leipzig. Maddison appears the more complete player, but it is all the more reason to give Xavi help as he transitions from the Bundesliga.
More often than not, the bailout has been the right sided pair for Tottenham as Frank takes positives from playing percentages, throwing crosses into the box, and asserting physicality on opponents.
Time and again, Spurs have relied on the out ball from Porro to Mohammed Kudus, whose 1 v 1 threat, carrying, and dominant physique have produced something out of nothing for the team.