Spurs have turned into a toothless side, but the formula to succeed is no secret
Eyes on: Thomas Frank has a winning formula
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Matt Verri
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After picking up wins over Burnley and Manchester City to start their Premier League season, Tottenham suffered their first stumble under Thomas Frank at the end of August.
It came at home to Bournemouth, a 1-0 defeat courtesy of an Evanilson goal.
Almost three months on, that match feels significant. Spurs offered next to nothing in attack, failing to register a single shot in the first half and finishing with an xG of 0.17 despite trailing for 85 minutes. They have not won at home in the league since.
At the time a limp display of that nature felt like a one-off that could be excused against lively opposition, but if anything it has come to be the norm.
It was also the first and only time so far that Frank has named an unchanged starting lineup from one Premier League match to another.
He went with the same side that beat City at the Etihad a week earlier, it did not work and Frank has been tweaking ever since, searching for solutions that have still not been found.
Spurs have made 28 changes to their starting XI in the league this season. Only Wolves and Chelsea have made more.
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That would not be of concern if Frank was just rotating his options to keep the energy up, but there has been too much chopping and changing with the other team in mind. Frank has prioritised nullifying the opposition over allowing relationships to flourish in the Spurs side.
Pressure is building on the Dane after dismal derby defeats to Arsenal and Chelsea, and the growing sense that the team are not improving.
They were short of ideas in attack against Bournemouth in August and that has remained an almost constant theme ever since. The fans need something to get behind, some sense that Frank is building a project to justify patience, even if results are poor.
Spurs' best recent attacking display came against Copenhagen in the Champions League. The caveat of who the opposition were is an obvious one, but there were much better signs with Destiny Udogie and Wilson Odobert on the left, which brought the best out of Xavi Simons.
Four days later, Frank strangely went with Djed Spence and Richarlison on the left against Manchester United. Only when Udogie and Odobert came on in the second half did Spurs offer something resembling an attacking threat.
Thomas Frank is prone to tinkering
Action Images via Reuters
There is a strong argument now for Frank picking what his views as his starting lineup and sticking with it. That would help the players, who have too often looked lost on the pitch, and it would provide the feeling that Spurs are working towards something.
It is not a squad with elite attacking options but there is certainly enough to produce more than has been seen in recent weeks. Frank has often turned to the most defensive option and a braver approach is needed.
Lucas Bergvall was one of Spurs' best players earlier in the season but has found minutes hard to come by since. A lineup with him alongside Joao Palhinha, Xavi Simons in front of them and Destiny Udogie and Wilson Odobert on the left immediately feels more exciting.
Randal Kolo Muani, Mathys Tel and Richarlison have shared the minutes up front but strikers need confidence and that comes from a run in the side.
Even with a jaw injury, Kolo Muani is the best option and should be starting near enough every match when fit. His relationship with Simons is one Spurs should be prioritising.
If Frank's tweaking was bringing results, particularly against Spurs' biggest rivals, then performances could be somewhat forgiven.
Instead, it currently looks a lot like confusion, not versatility. Stifling the opposition is not good enough as a philosophy, certainly not at a club like Spurs.
More than three months into the season, consistency in both the starting lineup and attacking patterns of play has sorely been lacking. One would surely help the other.
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