Tottenham got off to a winning start in Thomas Frank’s first Premier League game as manager, responding well to Paul Merson’s pre-match criticism.
The Lilywhites beat Burnley 3-0 thanks to two goals from Richarlison and one from Brennan Johnson.
They were made to work for the win, with Burnley having twice the number of shots as Tottenham in the first half alone.
However, the victory follows on from Tottenham’s strong performance against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup Final, which, despite the result, showed the North London club have improved defensively since the departure of Ange Postecoglou.
Yet, contrary to popular opinion, Merson wasn’t impressed with Frank’s side against the Champions League holders, posing questions that Tottenham responded to decisively in their top-flight opener.
Paul Merson claims ‘Tottenham fans want to see action’ as Thomas Frank era begins with win
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Gilette Soccer Saturday immediately before kick off, Merson did have some praise for Tottenham following Wednesday’s result.
The 57-year-old said, “Defensively, I thought they were great. They set up, and they stopped PSG playing, and they defended well.”
This was where the positivity stopped, however, with the former Arsenal winger continuing: “For me, it was tough to watch. I don’t see Tottenham fans liking that too much this season. I thought they were very defensive. I just didn’t see enough players getting up the pitch.”
Merson continued: “You know, working for set plays, working for throw-ons, corners – a bit like Brentford did [last season].
“Everyone was going mad on Wednesday night, and I was sitting there, and I was thinking, ‘I’m not sure how long Tottenham fans are going to have this. It was [Jose] Mourinho, [Antonio] Conte style. It wasn’t free-flowing.
Merson concluded: “Obviously, it was going to be better defensively than [under] Postecoglou, but going forward, Tottenham fans want to see action, and I don’t see them having [that defensive style] too long.”
With their strong result against Burnley following immediately afterwards, it didn’t take Frank’s side long to respond and prove Merson’s words somewhat premature.
Thomas Frank shows good adaptability against Burnley as attention turns to Man City
In his first two games, Thomas Frank has already shown he isn’t afraid to change the way his side plays.
Against PSG, Tottenham went with a back five, stifling their opponents and being tough to break down.
The former Brentford manager reverted to a back four against Burnley, however, taking the game to Scott Parker’s side.
This should only be seen as a positive by Tottenham fans. In a direct contrast to Postecoglou, Frank is unafraid to be pragmatic and adaptable depending on the opponent.