Hotspur HQ

Thomas Frank's latest Mathys Tel snub is a sackable offense

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Thomas Frank's latest Mathys Tel snub is a sackable offense - Hotspur HQ
Description

Thomas Frank seems to be intent on destroying any sliver of good will he has at Tottenham Hotspur. After taking care of two easy opponents with a 2-0 win over Brentford and a 3-0 victory against lowly Slavia Praha in the Champions League, Frank reverted Spurs back to losing ways with an abhorrent 3-0 loss to a Sean Dyche coached Nottingham Forest, one of the worst teams in the 2025/26 Premier League season.

Spurs, at no point, looked like they were in the contest at all. Frank picked a terrible starting lineup, and Spurs were out of it from the get go. They got behind early, never looked ready to come back into the game, and were poor tactically while being a lethargic as ever.

What really blows Spurs supporters minds and makes them angry about Frank is how little he trusts the young players on the team who actually should be in the games. And just when it seems like Mathys Tel is getting momentum for starts at striker or left winger above players like Richarlison, Frank keeps him stuffed on the bench with no chance at helping the team win or progressing in his own development.

Thomas Frank is making laughable errors

Frank laughably played Richarlison for a full 90 minutes and did not start Tel for this game, and Spurs thus carried no real attacking threat in a 3-0 blowout loss. Richy has been tragically poor this season, with half the talent or dynamism of Tel.

Meanwhile, the young French forward had to wait until the 79th minute to make his introduction into the game. It really feels like Frank either does not care about Tel at all or is actively trying to sabotage him with how few crumbs he gives to the developing striker to feed off of. Tel was impressie off the bench in recent weeks, yet, once again, when he had the chance to start and merited a start over Richy, Frank played favorites and went with the putrid veteran striker.

The other part that is laughable is that Spurs were down badly and desperately needed more attacking fire power, and before even putting Tel into the match 20 minutes earlier, Frank inexplicably brought in journeyman defender Ben Davies.

Chasing the game and needing a goal, Frank's response was to bring in a defender who almost never plays, rather than to bring in Tel. Embarrassing. Coaching malpractice. A fireable offense in and of itself and a microcosm of everything that is wrong with the failing Thomas Frank era at Tottenham Hotspur in 2025.

Source

Thomas Frank quietly snubbed Randal Kolo Muani again

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Thomas Frank quietly snubbed Randal Kolo Muani again - Hotspur HQ
Description

There are not many bright spots to write home about at Tottenham Hotspur, especially in the attack and especially among the attackers who are actually getting minutes. So striker Randal Kolo Muani can, in some sick way, be happy that he is among the talented forwards who are actually starting regularly under Thomas Frank.

The new Spurs manager has not shown that he understands who is best XI is every given week, as Lucas Bergvall, for example, can attest, having been unfairly snubbed from the starting lineup again before the club's embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the weekend.

But even when Frank does play someone, he does not always play them in the best position for them. And that is where Kolo Muani can have serious gripes with how he was utilized by the Danish coach on Sunday against Forest.

Randal Kolo Muani deserves better

Kolo Muani started for Spurs in the 3-0 defeat, and he was one of the few players who showed the effort and quality that did not deserve to be on the losing side of a blowout. His hold up play, intelligence off the ball, and incredible dribbling skills were on display, and yet Kolo Muani ended up carrying no real goal threat and was isolated.

That was not his fault, though. Frank pretty much tactically forced Kolo Muani on the periphery of the game, forcing his best striker to play more of a secondary decoy role as a workhorse in order to accommodate one of the worst strikers in the Premier League - a player whose goal total is held up by a few fools as a sign of competency, rather than a biting indication of a selfishness that manifests itself in tap in goals born out of the hard work of others, like Kolo Muani.

Richarlison somehow played the full 90 minutes, as Frank continues to inexplicably back a striker who spends no effort creating for his teammates and seemingly half the game flopping around the floor like a dead fish.

Kolo Muani was impactful and intelligent in his 79 minutes before being booted off the pitch of a 3-0 blowout, whereas Richarlison got to play the full game. RKM created chances for his teammates and did all the dirty work for Richarlison, who got to sit pretty and shoot to no avail. Frank has catered so much to Richarlison for no apparent reason, and this latest game was another example of Frank sacrificing a better player's goal threat or chances so that Richy could walk around and boot aimless shots at the stands.

Source

Thomas Frank's latest Lucas Bergvall decision infuriates Tottenham fans further

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Thomas Frank's latest Lucas Bergvall decision infuriates Tottenham fans further - Hotspur HQ
Description

Although Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank had won himself a bit of good will with the fans after beating former club Brentford 2-0 and then Slavia Praha on Tuesday night in the Champions League to pick up back to back professional clean sheets, it did not take long for him to sink Spurs back to losing ways on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League.

Spurs produced what was probably their second worst performance of the season - behind only a three goal blowout loss to North London Derby rivals Arsenal - in a 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest. You know, the club that just fired Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou, turning to Sean Dyche instead.

Frank got it all wrong, even before the game kicked off. Yet again, the Spurs coach left one of his biggest gems and best overall players to rot on the bench, sticking Lucas Bergvall with the substitutes and instead starting the woeful Rodrigo Bentancur, who has turned in poor performance after poor performance this season.

Lucas Bergvall snubbed once more

Bentancur, as expected, did absolutely nothing at the base of the Spurs midfield. Tottenham were completely overrun by an inferior Nottingham Forest side, with young gem midfielder Elliot Anderson strongly auditioning to Spurs fans by running circles around the melting down Bentancur.

Meanwhile, Bergvall came off the bench in the 58th minute when he should have started. By then, the game was well and truly out of reach for Spurs, as Bergvall had no chance at changing the game, with Bentancur making the merciful exit at that time.

Throughout the 2025/26 season, Frank has consistently discarded Bergvall from his top midfield options despite the fact that Bergvall was the best midfielder on Spurs by the end of the 2024/25 season when the club were making their serious Europa League push. And he was only cut short by an injury at the end of the campaign when he was peaking, even scoring important goals.

Everyone thought Bergvall would be given the opportunity to take a big step forward in the 2025/26 season, but, instead, Frank has effectively sabotaged him. After the Arsenal loss, Spurs seemed to be giving Bergvall more opportunities, but, even then, Frank continued to frustrate Spurs supporters by incorrectly evaluating the young Swede as a 10 rather than an 8. And now, Frank is not even starting Bergvall at all again, and that is absolutely maddening for Tottenham fans as they watch their team continue to deliver stinkers against lousy opponents.

Source

Guglielmo Vicario keeps pushing himself out of Tottenham

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Guglielmo Vicario keeps pushing himself out of Tottenham - Hotspur HQ
Description

Once again, Tottenham Hotspur suffered a humiliating defeat, and although the one a couple of weeks ago to bitter rivals Arsenal was the worst of the season, this latest loss to Nottingham Forest was honestly quite close.

Forest have fired two Tottenham reject managers in Ange Postecoglou and Nuno Espirito Santo this season, hiring relegation specialist Sean Dyche, a literal walking meme at this point, as their manager. And the anti tactical journeyman coach pretty much put on a technical masterclass against Thomas Frank, who joined Spurs this summer as a supposed tactical genius.

Frank bears the most blame for another embarrassing display, as Spurs lost 3-0 to one of the worst teams in the Premier League this season. And yet, you cannot tell the story of this game fully without highlighting several culpable parties among the players, including goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Guglielmo Vicario is losing Spurs more points

Just like the Fulham game a couple of weeks ago, Vicario had Spurs losing before the game even truly began. His awful error on the ball, a pass to young midfielder Archie Gray that never should have been made, completely left his teammate out to dry and put Tottenham in a hole early.

Several times this season now, Vicario has helped Spurs lose a game to an inferior opponent by making an inexcusable error early in the match to seal defeat for his team. There have been more games in which Vicario has lost point for Spurs than he's won points, and although he is in the Premier League leaderboard for saving statistics as a goalkeeper, the stats do not fully capture the mistakes he is making that other top keepers do not.

Worse yet, his lack of leadership is appalling. Jamie Carragher may be persona non grata to Liverpool fans, but this is a pundit who calls it like it is. And even he is noticing that Vicario is making a lot of mistakes and then trying to pin the blame on his teammates for them. Carragher said on the Sky Sports broadcast, via The Spurs Express, “Every time I see a goal go in, he throws his arms at someone else. He seems to do it a lot, and he did it again today.”

Tottenham fans have BEEN noticing this, too. James Trafford could be available this winter transfer window, and young Antonin Kinsky is right behind Vicario on the depth chart. If Vicario keeps making blatant errors and losing games, Tottenham fans are going to be more and more ready to cut this guy loose because they cannot get behind him or rely on him.

Source

Tottenham fans will groan at Thomas Frank's outlook on Richarlison over Randal Kolo Muani

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Tottenham fans will groan at Thomas Frank's outlook on Richarlison over Randal Kolo Muani - Hotspur HQ
Description

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank, like any coach, has his favorites, and one of his favorite forwards appears to be Richarlison. Although Spurs were expected to shop the Brazilian striker after another injury plagued and disappointing 2024/25 season, Frank advocated on behalf of the former Everton star, who was actually slated to potentially reunite with the Toffees, and keep him around for another season as a potential starter.

And with Dominic Solanke hurt, Richy actually began the season as the nailed on starting striker. He played pretty well, too, but, as ever, quickly fizzled out. Although some Spurs fans point to a decent goal scoring record of 6 Premier League goals in 15 appearances (9 starts) as reason to praise him, the rest of the fan base knows that Richy has been too one dimensional and invisible to be a valid option.

While Solanke remains out of commission due to injury, loan signing Randal Kolo Muani has clearly lapped Richarlison in every regard. Spurs fans are begging for him to be the only starter at striker, with the occasional sprinkling of young forward Mathys Tel at the 9, as his trio of goal contributions against reigning Champions League winners PSG (Kolo Muani's parent club, by the way) effectively sealed his status as the king of the 9 at Spurs.

Thomas Frank implicitly snubs Randal Kolo Muani

However, the latest quote from Thomas Frank praising Richarlison seems to point in the direction of the Danish manager remaining somewhat married to the idea of Richy being a key player for him at the striker position.

Frank said at a press conference prior to Tottenham facing Nottingham Forest and Sean Dyche in the Premier League this weekend, via Spurs official web site, "Three players I would like to mention of course. Richy is probably in, not in his best form ever maybe, but in a very good place and also physically. Mo Kudus is, after the great start to the season, a little dip and a minor injury, back in full energy, looking sharp. Xavi is performing at a good top level."

Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus were marquee young signings and are obviously the two most talented players in the Tottenham attack right now. The vast majority of Spurs fans would put in another new addition, Kolo Muani, as the third of the trio if they were to name a striker, but for Frank to pick Richarlison again is a bit of a surprise and a slap in the face to RKM, the superior player.

Source

Thomas Frank delivers Tottenham transfer news that is too good to be true

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Thomas Frank delivers Tottenham transfer news that is too good to be true - Hotspur HQ
Description

Tottenham Hotspur were actually one of the busiest teams in the summer 2025 transfer window in preparation for the arrival of Thomas Frank. They signed two of the biggest up and coming stars in the Premier League in Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus to bolster the attack, and they also secured Mathys Tel, who may soon join them in that bracket. Meanwhile, they filled out the rest of the squad with loan acquisitions of Randal Kolo Muani and Joao Palhinha in key areas of need.

But given that Spurs were 17th in the Premier League last season, they still have more needs that must be addressed in the winter transfer window. Though Tottenham have shown signs of growth in the last two games with clean sheet wins over Brentford and Slavia Praha, Spurs are literally a mid table Premier League side right now and showed it in brutal losses to rivals Chelsea and Arsenal.

So Tottenham fans are begging for more new stars this January, particularly players who can bolster the overall quality of the attack. A new star left winger, a new left back, a new playmaking defensive midifelder, and a new striker are all on the menu, though the additional goal scoring winger would be the mot pressing need.

Thomas Frank is making a big push

Ahead of Sunday's Premier League battle against Nottingham Forest, Thomas Frank delivered a very optimistic quote to Spurs fans about the transfer window ahead, practically demanding that the team have an active window and endorsing that this would, indeed, be the case.

Frank said, via the Spurs Express, “We will definitely be in the market. No doubt about that. We want [new signings] as early as possible.”

The "we will" is what really sells it, as well as the "as early as possible". Although Frank has been accused of not having enough ambition as Tottenham manager and thinking that he is at Brentford, this quote seems to run against that and is the kind of declaration Spurs fans will want to see taken to the bank. This is exactly what Tottenham supporters want, though they have been sold enough falsehoods by the club over the years that they will still take it with a pinch of salt.

But with Daniel Levy gone, the ownership group have been pushing the narrative to Spurs fans of 100 million euro investment and major signings ahead. With Antoine Semenyo available and Frank stating that he wants big signing fast who can integrate with the team for the Champions League battle ahead, that sound you hear is Spurs fans, once again, getting their hopes up.

Source

Brennan Johnson might have already played his way out of Tottenham

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Brennan Johnson might have already played his way out of Tottenham - Hotspur HQ
Description

Thomas Frank has made a few questionable decisions with his starting XI choices, and they've all revolved around benching players that Tottenham fans would like to see starting.

Towards the start of the season, new signing Xavi Simons suffered that fate. It seemed like no matter what he was doing on the pitch, he resorted to cameos from the bench due to Thomas Frank's vendetta.

In recent weeks, Xavi Simons has been seeing the chances he's always deserved, and Thomas Frank is happy with him. However, his rise to the first team has come at another player's expense: Brennan Johnson.

Crystal Palace wants to make Tottenham's loss their own gain

According to a report from The Telegraph, Crystal Palace is weighing up a January swoop to sign Brennan Johnson from Tottenham Hotspur.

Brennan Johnson has been dropped to the bench in recent weeks, after a hot start to the season on the goal-scoring front. For whatever reason, he does not appear to be in Thomas Frank's plans, and it's a sad case of Johnson going back to square one.

The fast drop-off right after scoring the goal that made Tottenham champions of Europe is quite something. Under Ange Postecoglou, he pushed his way into the starting lineup, but after making one step forward, Thomas Frank has made him take two steps back.

Honestly, that might not be a bad thing. It might come across as harsh, but Tottenham's offense will certainly suffice without Johnson. He's good, but he's not world-class. Not anywhere near that. And that's exactly what Tottenham needs if they're serious about pushing the top teams.

It's obvious the Eagles would like to push for a top-four finish this season, and they're currently on pace to do that. They lost key players, such as Eberechi Eze, in the summer transfer window. However, they are arguably even more impressive this seasn than they were last time out.

Last season, Crystal Palace won the FA Cup. They began this season by winning the Community Shield. Going from a mid-table team to genuine Champions League contenders is a sign of the times, and Crystal Palace are here to stick around.

Should Brennan Johnson wish to make the switch across London, there aren't many who could blame him. He's good enough to be playing every week in the Premier League, but Tottenham and their higher objectives can't guarantee this. Besides, Crystal Palace is arguably a more attractive project than Tottenham right now.

If Johnson were to leave Tottenham, it might come to bite them in the backside. Time and time again, Spurs have recognized top talents and given them an assured place in the starting lineup. However, Frank has not done this to Brennan Johnson.

Source

Tottenham fans get the Antoine Semenyo transfer news they were not expecting

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Tottenham fans get the Antoine Semenyo transfer news they were not expecting - Hotspur HQ
Description

Although Tottenham Hotspur fans are split between Everton star Iliman Ndiaye and Bournemouth breakout superstar Antoine Semenyo, the transfer rumor mill and the stat sheet have been pretty clear that Semenyo, whom Spurs were after in the summer transfer window before pivoting to Mohammed Kudus, is the priority transfer target on the wings for Tottenham.

The idea that Semenyo's start to the 2025/26 season is a purple patch has been gaining traction among some subsections of the fan base, yet it is worth noting that while Ndiaye has been linked to no other top clubs, Semenyo is wanted badly by Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City with Spurs seemingly somewhere stuck behind the crowd for the second best player of the current Premier League season thus far behind only living legend Erling Haaland.

According to a new report from BBC Sport's Sami Mokbel, though, it looks like Spurs are ready to push back. to even playing with the likes of the Reds and the Gunners. Mokbel says that the Tottenham Hotspur ownership structure is, as has been reported almost ad nauseam, prepared to release considerable transfer funds this winter window.

Antoine Semenyo could pair with Mohammed Kudus

And that specifically ties into Antoine Semenyo, because Mokbel reports that Spurs are willing to offer Semenyo the best personal terms financially of any of the Big Six clubs after the Bournemouth winger. Moreover, the 65 million pound release clause in Semenyo's contract that will be active this winter transfer window will thus be no barrier to a Tottenham transfer.

Obviously, Spurs fans will believe it when they see it, but the specific concession about the salary is new. Spurs rarely ever break their wages in order to sign superstars, but after nabbing two of the biggest new up and coming stars in the Premier League this past summer in Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus, it only makes sense that they would try to pair Kudus with his Ghanaian teammate. Semenyo was already a massive breakout star in 2024/25, and now that he is even better in 2025/26, it only makes sense for Spurs to go for it.

The risk of not signing a top left winger is bigger than the risk of Semenyo flopping and Spurs moving on from someone else. With their amazing fan base, money saved over the years, and an even more amazing fan base, there is more than enough revenue over time to account for the Semenyo splash.

Source

Fabrizio Romano just confirmed exactly what Tottenham fans needed to hear

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Fabrizio Romano just confirmed exactly what Tottenham fans needed to hear - Hotspur HQ
Description

Tottenham's successful summer transfer window is what's made them tick (at times) this season. Sure, they'd like to be in a position much higher than 11th; however, we dread to think where they'd be if they didn't spend big in the summer.

Some of Tottenham's best players so far this season include Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani, all players who were signed in the summer.

But much more is said about the player who left Tottenham, Son Heung-min. There is a feeling at Hotspur Way that Spurs never truly replaced his attacking prowess.

That said, Sonny is just one player who left Tottenham in the summer. Spurs fans just got some pretty great news about a different player in the same boat.

Fabrizio Romano reminds Tottenham fans not to forget this name

According to Fabrizio Romano, all hope is not lost with Luka Vusković. The Italian transfer guru just confirmed that Tottenham is still monitoring Vusković on his loan to Hamburg, and he's still viewed as a potential center piece for Spurs going forward.

In his own words, Romano said: "Tottenham are constantly monitoring Luka Vusković's progress at HSV Hamburg and are very happy with his performances on loan. 18-year-old centre back is seen as a key part of long-term plans. 13 games and 2 goals so far at HSV."

Vusković already got a taste of what it feels like to play for Tottenham. Despite it not being an official match, the Croatian center back scored in preseason.

So far this campaign, he has picked up an impressive 11 Bundesliga appearances, not being subbed off in any of those starts. He also played a key role for Croatia in the international break.

Tottenham has a future star on its hands with Vusković. It was evident in the transfer window when he requested a loan spell to guarantee himself some minutes. Truth be told, he probably could have stayed at Tottenham for that to happen, but he couldn't have foreshadowed Tottenham having defensive depth issues.

Vusković is comfortably one of the most promising defenders in the world right now. He is bound to be a star, and Tottenham hope they can keep him happy going forward.

For fans, this is a breath of fresh air to hear. Given how the loan system is treated these days, it doesn't fill fans with hope when they see a player loaned out. Usually, it's a surefire way to get transferred out without a club paying fees.

However, Tottenham has Vusković in mind when crafting their plans, which is positive for the fanbase to hear.

Source

It didn't take long for Thomas Frank to figure out the real Brennan Johnson

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
It didn't take long for Thomas Frank to figure out the real Brennan Johnson - Hotspur HQ
Description

When Thomas Frank first took over as Tottenham Hotspur manager this summer, every fan was trying to connect the dots to see which current players, especially the young crop of talent, would benefit the most from the switch from Ange Postecoglou to the former Brentford boss.

And one player everyone kept circling was 2024/25 Tottenham leading scorer Brennan Johnson, who was fresh off scoring the winning goal in the Europa League Final against Manchester United in Bilbao. Johnson, after all, was pursued heavily by Brentford the same transfer window that he ended up at Tottenham, and if it were not for the fact that Spurs have a lot more money to spend than the Bees, Johnson may have ended up with the local London rivals instead under Frank back then.

Frank gave Johnson opportunities to start at the beginning of the season, and while he does throw the Wales international a bone here and there, it is pretty clear that Johnson has no real path to the starting lineup under Frank. And that is without Dejan Kulusevski back from his knee injury yet.

Mohammed Kudus has made Brennan Johnson a non factor

Mohammed Kudus immediately took over on the right wing, and Frank, like many Spurs fans, has seen just how much better the Ghanaian international is than last season's hold over. Sure, Johnson can bring the goals and is a great poacher, and, honestly, maybe Frank could be doing more to harness Johnson's scoring instincts when he does actually play him. Playing Johnson on the left wing, for example, is a ridiculous idea.

But by and large, give credit where credit is due to Thomas Frank here. He may have been smitten by Brennan Johnson back when he was a prospect at Nottingham Forest, but now that he sees him up close and personal at a real big club like Tottenham Hotspur, it appears just as evident to Frank as it does to every Spurs supporter that Johnson does not quite have the right stuff to start for a top four contender in the Premier League.

Johnson has his positive traits and moments, but he is the anti Kudus. Whereas Kudus tirelessly runs, takes on defenders, has courage on the ball, and is an amazing chance creator out wide, Johnson does pretty much nothing well that a winger should, to the point where you wonder if he is a winger at all. As Johnson continues to be discarded by the new manager, you have to wonder where his future lies if Frank does not even rate him.

Source