The second international break of 2025/26 gives us another opportunity to rest, recover and take stock of Thomas Frank's showtime Lilywhites. It's not just the players who need respite, you know!
Tottenham failed to lose between the first two intervals of the new season, although many would've entered the current international slate with a concerned face had we not secured a 2-1 victory at Leeds United on Saturday.
Frank's Spurs had been a functional, "just do enough" team for a period, but the win at the weekend manifested a more fluid form of the Dane's outfit, even if the expected goals haul didn't reflect such promising exuberance.
Nevertheless, there's no denying that we're currently in a good spot. Some still have questions, but there's ample time for answers. While Frank's emphasis on the collective has brought about a newfound stoutness and resilience, our productive start wouldn't have been possible without the standout performances of individuals.
So, without trying to get too American on you, here's our October Power Rankings for the Tottenham squad, with the five standout performers of 2025/26 listed below.
Honourable Mentions: Pedro Porro, Lucas Bergvall
The Portuguese international, along with midfield cronie Rodrigo Bentancur, has been a source of division since joining the club on loan from Bayern Munich.
His drawbacks as a passer were laid out by some from the very outset, and there have undoubtedly been games where Palhinha's flaws have contributed to Spurs' stodginess. We know he's not an Andrea Pirlo-like figure at the base of midfield, and pairing him with an iteration of Bentancur who's become more conservative and less dynamic in possession has proven to be a disaster.
That's the 'bad' stuff out of the way. Otherwise, Palhinha has proven to be an exceptional signing. He's the enforcer this engine room needed, and it's no surprise that he leads the Spurs squad with a combined 5.09 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes in the Premier League this term.
Palhinha's an invaluable leader whom Frank trusts immensely, and he's popped up with a couple of excellent goals, too.
Pape Matar Sarr may well have topped our rankings a month ago, but the period between the two breaks has been pretty quiet for him.
The increased deployment of Xavi Simons, combined with an injury niggle, has seen Sarr's minutes decrease in recent weeks. Given what we saw from Xavi against Brighton and Leeds in a No. 10 role, Sarr will likely begin to play in a deeper midfield position, having started out as one of the leader's of Spurs' press from a more advanced role.
The midfielder deserves to make our top five based on his performances during the first month of 2025/26. He had been the star of Frank's tenure up until that point.
His hamstrings were always on the verge of breaking point under Ange Postecoglou, so the arrival of Frank must've been welcomed by Micky van de Ven, who is no longer required to bail Spurs out via his supreme recovery speed 89 times a game.
The new manager has occasionally tasked Van de Ven with tracking opponents deep into their half, but his role isn't anywhere close to as demanding as it was under Ange.
There hasn't been all that much discourse surrounding the defender, who's gone about his business pretty serenely so far. He's emerged as a goal threat, and struggled to put a foot wrong defensively. His limitations as a progressive passer are mitigated by the man that often stands alongside him.
Why are so many reluctant to accept that Cristian Romero is one of the best defenders in the world? Does everyone still think he's the "walking red card" from 2021?
Newfound leadership responsibilities have been the making of the World Cup winner in north London, with Ange first naming Romero as a vice-captain before Frank picked the Argentine to succeed Son Heung-min as captain.
The Spurs skipper is able to masterfully harness his innate aggression for the good of the collective, with the rash decisions of yesteryear lost to a previous iteration of Romero that was undeniably less reliable. He's an outstanding centre-back, and his ability as a passer is also overlooked.
Frank's adoration for Bentancur and Palhinha has thrust greater onus on Romero in possession, and the Argentine is good for at least a few defence-compromising line-splitting passes a game.
Xavi Simons was slated to be the new face of the franchise, and the young playmaker has undoubtedly shown promise. However, it's a different summer addition who's stolen the show at the start of 2025/26.
I tell you what, West Ham have really had our pants down with Mohammed Kudus. £55m? That might've gotten them a couple of midfielders who have the capacity to run.
The Ghanaian only leads the Spurs charts with five goal contributions in all competitions, tops the Premier League's assists table, and has registered more completed take-ons than anybody in Europe's top-five leagues. What a bum!
Kudus has functioned as a one-man attack for Frank's side at times this season. His ability to retain possession under pressure and shake off challenges is otherworldly, and the statistics point towards someone who can deliver in the final third. Without him, Spurs would be pretty unwatchable and certainly in a far worse position.
Can we pull our pants back up now?