Tottenham Hotspur have not won a single game this season despite outplaying all of their opponents since Matchdays 1 and 2, as they drew this past weekend against Manchester United 1-1. But they are no longer 20th out of 20 Premier League teams after Matchday 6, as local rivals Fulham lost 2-1 to newly promoted Ipswich Town to stay on two points and move behind Spurs after previously being just barely ahead on goal difference.
Spurs are recovering from the disastrous reign of Thomas Frank, who took over a team that was already in 17th in the Premier League from the 2024/25 season but had won the Europa League. And he made Spurs demonstrably worse. He was definitely hurt by terrible recruitment, but Frank had even Spurs best players doubting themselves and hating football, with stars like Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro looking like shells of themselves.
Roberto De Zerbi came in and saved the day, sparing Spurs relegation blushes after Frank did his best to bury them into the sand. And the difference between how Tottenham Hotspur play under De Zerbi and the awful, negative football they played under Frank is so apparent that any self respecting Spurs fan has to remember to give De Zerbi that credit for the turn around. Because it was not easy.
Fulham are looking at Thomas Frank
But the media and other clubs do not pay attention to the plight of Tottenham and seem to think that everything is Spurs fault. So Thomas Frank continues to have backers and admirers, even as another old club of his, Brentford, are also clearly better off without him.
According to a new report from Alex Crook of talkSPORT, talented young manager Alvaro Arbeloa of Real Madrid fame is already facing pressure of his own at Fulham after six matches, which is to be expected since the Cottagers are dead last in the Premier League after previously being European sleepers under Marco Silva. And the leading candidate to replace Arbeloa is Thomas Frank.
But any Tottenham fan can tell you that just looking at the results after a few weeks is misleading. For example, Frank had a great start to his career at Spurs and turned out to be a total dud. De Zerbi and Arbeloa are struggling, but anyone can see that they have great ideas tactically compared to Frank.
Fulham hiring Frank would be a gift to Spurs, because he was beyond awful last season at N17. If Fulham hire him, that could be another rival joining West Ham United in being gone from the Premier League and vindication for Spurs fans as to how terrible Frank is if that happens. They will be rooting, out of pure schadenfreude, for Fulham to make this misstep.
Today's best reads
Ledley King answered the big question Tottenham fans had about Micky van de Ven
Roberto De Zerbi confirms great Micky van de Ven injury news but leaves Marcos Senesi over Jan Paul van Hecke open
Roberto De Zerbi's biggest problem has nothing to do with his coaching
Mohammed Kudus needs to take over Tottenham's attack against Manchester United
Paul Robinson points out a key tactical approach Roberto De Zerbi has to use for Tottenham to get a win