A loss to Newcastle was neither shocking nor something to read into too deeply, but a second defeat in a row for Tottenham Hotspur might raise some alarms. Chelsea is another opponent who will be favored against Spurs, but the fanbase is not going to be satisfied with a subpar result. This run of fixtures was always going to be tricky, though there are no excuses here.
Thomas Frank gets his first taste of one of the two big derbies and will look to secure Tottenham’s first point(s?) against Chelsea since Oliver Skipp and Harry Kane took down a struggling side that ended up finishing 12th three seasons ago. The task is much different this time around, but at least this one is in the right part of London. A Spurs win would be far from crazy, yet is anyone actually expecting one?
Match Details
Date: Saturday, November 1
Time: 1:30 pm ET, 5:30 pm UK
Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
TV: Peacock (US), Sky Sports Main Event (UK)
Table: Spurs (t-3rd, 17 pts), Chelsea (9th, 14 pts)
So yea, Spurs have lost each of the past four in this derby and have just that one win in the past 12 league contests. Last season saw Tottenham go ahead 2-0 only 11 minutes in thanks to strikes by Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski, but that lead did not hold in a 4-3 loss. The reverse fixture featured a lone Enzo Fernandez goal as the visitors generated little threat.
Three Big Questions
Is this the plan or is there hope? Even when Spurs are scoring goals, the play on the pitch does not look pretty, and when those goals do not arrive it gets ugly. Frank gets some benefit of the doubt in both his lineups and tactics due to limited available (good) attackers, but heading into November it is fair to ask if this is him making the most of what he has or if this is his desired setup.
The hope is the former, and even in the loss Wednesday, there was at least some signs of promise. Chelsea did allow four goals midweek against Wolves and are fourth-worst in non-penalty xGA, meaning chances may be available again this weekend. The Blues will certainly look to hold the ball, so Spurs will need to find a way to make the most of what is presented to them, using creativity and directness.
Will the defense bounce back? Cup defeats, even against good opposition, can often be excused in earlier rounds due to interesting lineups and lower intensity, so a couple annoying goals against Newcastle are not the end of the world. That can change quickly, though, against the side who leads the league in scoring and has recorded 13 goals in four matches since the break.
Enzo Maresca’s side is going to be both patient and fluid, waiting for the right moment to spring and doing so quickly. That means Spurs can absolutely not switch off in defense, with the back six needing to focus first on their defensive responsibilities. This is a real test, as unfortunately there is an easy way this gets very out of hand.
Can Frank turn the tide? At its most entertaining, this derby has been filled with feistiness, though that does not always end beneficial for Tottenham (that Antonio Conte-Thomas Tuchel handshake aside). Both sides have had plenty of managerial turnover in recent seasons, and perhaps Frank can use his demeanor to help his side unlock an advantage.
Frank is both passionate and pragmatic, which feels like the best of both worlds here. Chelsea is a legitimately good team that must be treated with caution, but the lifeless Spurs attack could really use a spark in open play. Rallying the troops and finding the right combination of forwards is the new manager’s task; a win this weekend would instantly boost the vibes a few ticks.