Football365

Has Thomas Frank really been stupid enough to ‘infuriate’ Spurs fans by policing expectations after having a go at them over booing Guglielmo Vicario?

Obviously not. You’d have to be stupid/the MailOnline to think so. On which note…

To be Frank

Thomas Frank has said some silly things recently, as all Spurs managers seem to when they realise precisely what it is they have gotten themselves into.

But that has opened up the prospect every under-pressure manager faces: perfectly fine quotes being dragged completely and wilfully out of context to beat and mock him with.

‘Under-fire Thomas Frank infuriates Tottenham fans as he claims they HAVEN’T EARNED their big expectations – and suggests they can’t compete in cups… just six months after winning one!’ screams just the most MailOnline of headlines imaginable.

It quite handily sits proudly atop the website on a relatively quiet day, despite no other outlet leading on the ‘claims they HAVEN’T EARNED their big expectations’ line. What a dreadful oversight by literally everyone else, a site not a million miles away from Mediawatch included.

Thankfully Will Griffee caught it and was able to transcribe Frank dropping these fan-infuriating bombs:

“This is on another scale, of course, but more like my first job in Brondby if you compare some of it.

“Brentford was in a different way, no doubt about that. You can say there is always a challenge when there are big expectations. No problem with big expectation if you have also earned the right to really compete for those big expectations, which I think it’s fair to say we haven’t done.

“I said it near the start that we have not been able to compete in a cup tournament, Europe and the Premier League in the last six years.”

Now that definitely sounds weird if read in a certain way, like Frank is indeed policing those “big expectations” and saying Spurs HAVEN’T EARNED them. But when you factor in a) he is surely not imbecilic enough to say such a thing, b) English is not his first language and points can thus sometimes be lost in translation, and c) he also said this…

“Now we are coming from a season where we finished 17th and did fantastically to win the Europa League.

“Now we want to compete in both places, which is natural and will take a bit of time without the normal front players, the four front players who scored the only goals. No problem. We will get there. I am not in doubt, not in doubt.”

…it becomes fairly clear what he is trying to say: Spurs have not competed on multiple fronts since the days of Mauricio Pochettino and that is what Frank is aiming to build towards.

At the start of the same press conference – in a part that was for some reason not quoted within the Mail’s story – Frank also said:

“I said from the beginning I want to build something sustainable, that can compete in all tournaments. We have a squad that is learning, that learned from last year playing the Premier League and Europa League, and going into this year playing in the Champions League and wanting to do well in the Premier League.

“Competing on both fronts, that’s something that takes some time to learn physically and mentally. We’re searching to find the right formula that will click, while we have to rotate some players to keep freshness, keep the intensity high.”

Honestly, see for yourself the bit that has ‘infuriated’ the three Spurs fans on the social media site formerly known as X who the MailOnline quote – one of whom declares themself to be ‘some dumb asshole’ and who collectively have 524 followers between them – but which, again, no-one else has covered in the same way.

Ange management

While it says ‘Thomas Frank should be careful about digging out Tottenham fans – the last two managers to do so didn’t last long’, he goes on to cite the cases of about five different Spurs coaches, ranging from Antonio Conte all the way back to Andre Villas-Boas.

And the Ange Postecoglou comparison doesn’t really stand up to scrutiny anyway: ‘the start of his decline’ was not ‘when he criticised the Spurs supporters for their approach to the home game with Manchester City, where defeat scuppered Arsenal’s title chances’ at all.

That was in May 2024. He was sacked in June 2025; Frank would kill to be in charge more than a year from now after going down a really quite long ‘precarious path’ in having a go at the supporters.

For Postecoglou, ‘the start of his decline’ was probably somewhere around the time Spurs broke the 38-game Premier League record for most games lost by a team who avoided relegation. It feels like that was ultimately slightly more of a factor than disagreeing with some fans over the right way to hate Arsenal.

Mount doom

The seamless ability of the press pack to massively overinflate their importance knows no bounds, with Samuel Luckhurst offering this exceptional example in The Sun:

‘Squad harmony has been prioritised by Amorim and Garnacho was a surly presence.

‘Mount, in contrast, is pleasant to deal with. He did little media at United in his first two years, sensitive about the fallout from his decision to leave Chelsea.

‘Since Mount has started to open up off the pitch, he has started to look freer on it. He flanked Amorim at a post-season tour press conference and was one of the first player interviewees on the pre-season tour in Chicago.’

Mount played the full 90 minutes of a Premier League game for the first time since January 2023? It’s the Sun wot done it. Forget overcoming his injury problems; flanking Amorim at a post-season tour press conference was obviously the key.

On your Ed

That glowing appraisal of Mount features, with a distinct lack of irony, the claim that Edinson Cavani ‘had a tendency to make himself unavailable for games’ at Manchester United.

How unfortunate then that Cavani, ‘unworthy of United’s most fabled squad number’ because of said fleeting fitness, still boasts more Manchester United appearances in two seasons (59) than Mount has racked up in two and a bit (58).

There are many ways of hailing Mason Mount. Mocking another player’s physical durability in a supposedly flattering comparison is not one of them.

Squad goals

‘Mikel Arteta must learn from past mistakes as Arsenal injuries begin to pile up’ is a strange headline to see on the Daily Mirror website about the Premier League leaders who have been without their captain for the majority of the campaign, and whose top scorer from last season has not featured at all since making a half-hour cameo on the opening day.

‘They have to put their trust and faith in the squad to get through a demanding month of fixtures,’ John Cross writes. Did he miss Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera playing away at Chelsea?

‘What is clear is that Mikel Arteta will have to rest and rotate within a squad which is regarded by many as the deepest and best in the Premier League. But it is only the best if you trust all of the players in it.’

Which…Arteta seems to? Because those back-ups are not called Rob Holding, Reiss Nelson or Eddie Nketiah anymore? Because past mistakes have been learned from?

‘Man must do something he is already doing’ really doesn’t feel like much of a story.

Thomas Frank is already under scrutiny at Tottenham Hotspur as there are internal ‘fears’ that he could be about to ‘lose the dressing room’.

Frank was appointed to replace Ange Postecoglou at Spurs ahead of this season, and he was initially praised for his work at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham were active in this summer’s transfer window as they looked to prepare for a season in the Champions League, and Frank’s tactical tweaks made his side more defensively solid as results improved at the start of this campaign.

However, the north London outfit have declined into a real slump in recent weeks, with last month’s victory against FC Copenhagen their only win in their previous seven matches in all competitions.

Spurs have also suffered three losses in a row against Arsenal, PSG and Fulham, so they are under pressure to bounce back when they face Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Tuesday night.

Ahead of this match, Frank has insisted that he feels he has the backing of Tottenham’s board and insisted that he “understands” fans after he hit out at supporters for booing Guglielmo Vicario against Fulham.

“Yeah, I’m very confident. It seems like [the board are] good guys, intelligent people, know how to run businesses and learning about football. I think when we’re dealing with intelligent people, they can see every successful dynasty and every successful club has taken time.”

READ: Big Midweek: Mo Salah, Thomas Frank, Leeds v Chelsea, Aston Villa

He added: “As I said after the game, I completely understand the frustration. If you don’t win, there will always be a frustration. That is normal.

“Especially as we haven’t won as much as we would have wanted to at home, not only this year but the last long period. So the frustration grows a little bit more.

“We are nothing without the fans. No club is anything without the fans. Tottenham is nothing without our fantastic fans, nothing. We need each other. My point is that during matches is where we need each other – where I want to create a fortress.

“If you want to create a fortress, it can only be together – fans, team, me. My job is to make sure we do everything we can to perform – but can we do that together? That is where you create a difficult place to play.”

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Now, a report from The Sun has shed light on the ‘increasing confusion and frustration’ in the dressing room regarding ‘what roles players are being tasked with as plans are thrown out or changed either close to kick-off or alarmingly early during games’.

The report adds:

‘Some stars are said to be left uncertain as to what their role is during certain games, with last week’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain cited as one occasion where a late change was made to plans.

‘While some players are enjoying working with Frank, there are fears the Dane could lose the majority of the dressing room if results do not improve.’

The Tottenham fans will have to boo with quite some vigour to be heard by Thomas Frank at St James’ Park but we’re sure they’ll manage.

It’s also a very Big Midweek for Mohamed Salah whether he starts or not for Liverpool. Leeds will need more than “pride and confidence” to get anything out of a game against this Chelsea side. And who’s that in fourth? When did that happen?!

Manager to watch: Thomas Frank

Absolutely right to call out the “not real Tottenham fans” for booing Guglielmo Vicario, as the ‘lost dressing room’ outcome of not standing up for one of your players beats ‘irking fans calling for you head’ all day long in the game of sacking Top Trumps that Frank is currently engaged in as Tottenham manager.

But branding it “unacceptable” grants ample space for the irate fans to throw that term right back in his face, and we suspect the away fans on Tuesday will test his revelation that “I’m fine with them booing after the match” with an almighty chorus should they lose their fourth Premier League game in five games.

Which looks pretty likely. Spurs may sit second in the away table, just one point behind Arsenal at the top, but they were embarrassed by the Gunners at the Emirates, have lost all of their last four visits to St James’ Park by an aggregate score of 14-1 and are facing Newcastle at the worst possible time this season on the back of victories over Manchester City and Everton as they really look to be kicking into gear.

Player to watch: Mohamed Salah

Arne Slot, honest to a fault and having already suggested Salah was rested amid a busy schedule for Liverpool’s much-needed victory over West Ham on Sunday, couldn’t help but subsequently imply that the Egyptian was indeed dropped because of the problems he’s causing the team through refusing or at least failing to defend.

“The way they set up with a full-back that’s constantly high and a winger who’s inside, I thought this would help the team,” he said.

Slot insisted Salah will still “have a very good future at this club”, hailing him as a “special player”, but no amount of positive affirmation will placate the Reds legend should he not start against Sunderland on Wednesday, which may very well be a line-in-the-sand game even if he does.

If Salah’s on the bench there will be a media frenzy on the assumption that Slot no longer fancies him, with at least one Anfield camera glued to him on the sidelines to capture the delicious rift-creating reaction from a footballer hardly renowned for taking snubs in good grace.

If he starts and Liverpool return to the doldrums then that’s all the ammo anyone will need to consign Salah to the Anfield bin, particularly if Slot takes the scientific approach of only changing him as the one variable in search of the biggest problem.

Game to watch: Leeds v Chelsea

While insisting “we didn’t come here for warm words or compliments” after Phil Foden’s last minute goal denied them a point at the Etihad, Daniel Farke insisted his Leeds players “should take lots of pride and lots of confidence” from the game.

Frankly, his full XI plus substitutes could all play with the pride of dads on their daughter’s wedding day and the confidence of poker players with pocket aces and not get anywhere near Chelsea on current form, even if the Leeds fans create the sort of febrile atmosphere which typically greets a football team they want to beat more than most.

After dismissing Barcelona in the Champions League, Chelsea entered the title race with a very impressive draw with Arsenal. And while the Blues playing with ten men for most of that game offers the possibility of tired legs and – crucially after his outstanding performance – a likely rest for Reece James, along with the suspension of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Maresca’s frequent rotation has made very little difference to their performance of late, and Leeds can’t be too enamoured with the idea of that rotation seeing Cole Palmer’s long-awaited return to action.

Team to watch: Aston Villa

Sneaky little devils, aren’t they? Creeping up to fourth like that with no-one paying them any attention whatsoever. Well, you’ve been exposed as a wonderfully coached football team once again, you cheeky little so-and-sos.

Remember when after five games, no wins and just one goal there were some very unwell people suggesting Aston Villa might look to sack Unai Emery? Stick seven wins in eight games in your pipes and smoke… them(?!).

Just two of those wins have come away from Villa Park, mind, and Brighton offer a particularly challenging prospect having not yet lost at the Amex, winning four of their six games.

It’s three points Villa could really do with too with their eyes now firmly on Champions League qualification once again, as West Ham are the only team offering respite in a harrowing December run which sees them play Chelsea (A), Manchester United (H) and Arsenal twice.

EFL game to watch: Blackburn Rovers v Ipswich Town

Eighth-placed Ipswich will move into fourth with victory over Blackburn, who – like their manager Valerien Ismael – looked doomed until a quite dramatic turnaround of late has seen them win four of their last five games, including the notable scalps of Southampton and Leicester.

Currently 18th and just three points off the relegation zone after a horrible start to the season, a win over Kieran McKenna’s side will move them within six points of the play-offs.

European game to watch: Barcelona v Atletico Madrid

In a season in which both Barcelona and Real Madrid have displayed their fallibilities, Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid are primed to pounce in La Liga.

They’ve not lost since the opening day, have won nine of their last 11 and all of their last six while conceding just once. Having not really challenged The Establishment since last winning the title in 2020/2021, they look like a very serious outfit once again and will draw level on points with Barcelona should they beat Hansi Flick’s side on Tuesday.

According to reports, Tottenham Hotspur have made a Thomas Frank ‘sack decision’ as they are linked with a long-term target as a replacement.

Frank left Premier League rivals Brentford to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur at the start of this season.

Initially, this appointment worked a treat as Spurs immediately entered the conversation for the Champions League places after making the north London side more defensively solid at the start of this campaign.

However, Frank and his players have suffered a huge slump in recent months. Their only win in their last seven matches in all competitions was against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League group stages.

Tottenham Hotspur have also suffered three straight losses against Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Fulham, so Frank has become one of the favourites to be the next Premier League manager sacked.

READ: Premier League winners and losers: Foden, Frank, Sunderland, Paqueta, Arsenal and more…

Now, a report from journalist Fraser Fletcher for our pals at TEAMtalk claims Frank ‘retains backing for now’, but it is noted that ‘contingency plans will accelerate’ if there are ‘more stumbles’.

The report also claims Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, who is due to be out of contract at the end of this season, is a ‘long-term target’ for Spurs, who will turn to him on one condition.

The report claims.

‘Whispers suggest Tottenham’s hierarchy, long admirers, could pounce if the club’s form under Frank dips further.’

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Football Insider, meanwhile, claims Tottenham’s board have ‘made a Frank sack decision’ as they are ‘keen to stick by him despite some unrest’.

Former Premier League chief scout Mick Brown has expanded on this situation and has explained that they are “hopeful” that he will “turn things around quickly”.

“It was another extremely poor result for Tottenham [against Fulham],” Brown told Football Insider.

“That’s no disrespect for Fulham, because they went and did their jobs and were very impressive, but it felt like typical Tottenham, which is a shame.

“In years gone by, when the fans turned against the board, the manager would be the one who gets the blame and ultimately loses his job.

“There have been a few changes there now, and the new board will want to show their support for the manager and show some stability from the top.

“The supporters aren’t happy because the results aren’t going to plan on the pitch.

“They put the pressure on, they demand a certain type of playing time and result and neither of those are in place at the moment, that’s a problem.

“But as far as the club are concerned, I don’t think they’re planning to sack him and they’re hopeful he’ll be able to turn things around quickly.”

Thomas Frank lands himself another spot in the losers alongside Lucas Paqueta, Bournemouth and Everton. How they all wish they could be Sunderland.

But let’s be honest: you’re only here to see which arbitrary section Arsenal have been put in so you can properly word the furious comments that will never be read.

Premier League winners

Enzo Maresca

Chelsea indiscipline probably ought to be addressed at some point but the genuine growth and maturity in their manager and players in such a short space of time has been impressive.

The Blues have had four players sent off since that abhorrent response to an early red card against Manchester United in September and collapse after a red card against Brighton the following week.

That is a problem in itself, and many of those were late on with games already largely settled.

But this was a substantial development. Chelsea lost their best player after 38 minutes against the best team in the league and perhaps world currently, yet were still the better side thereafter as a result of the coming-of-age of those who managed to stay on the pitch, and the decisions the manager made in response.

Sunderland

Even Regis Le Bris can’t be sure “what we can achieve this season”. But there is one certainty with Sunderland: “this team has a strong character and they want to fight”.

That much was evident against Bournemouth, which in itself was a neat microcosm of their season. Sunderland have salvaged more points from losing positions than any Premier League club in 2025/26, and here were three more rescued in historic fashion.

Never before in 621 Premier League games had they come from two goals down to win. Yet even when Bournemouth capitalised so ruthlessly on a couple of individual errors in the first 15 minutes it never really felt as though Sunderland were out of it.

As Le Bris said, they have mastered how to “change the dynamic”, to “reset” and to “find solutions”, either from the dugout or on the pitch through the guidance and experience of Granit Xhaka, Nordi Mukiele, Reinildo or any of the numerous other leaders emerging in this squad.

It is a neat trick – remarkable for a promoted club under a manager new to the Premier League, really – to be able to compartmentalise situations and setbacks and respond so emphatically. Sunderland following up all three of their defeats so far with a win in the next game (a feat only Arsenal can match and they’ve lost just once) is no happy accident.

Fulham

It sums up their early-season malaise that consecutive Premier League wins have lifted Fulham from 15th to 15th. But the complexion of their campaign has transformed: they are closer to a Champions League qualification place than the relegation zone in terms of points.

Marco Silva has landed on a happy balance: the defence is settled; the Iwobi-Berge midfield axis is working; the competition for places in the attacking positions buzzing behind and around the centre-forward is healthy; and Raul Jimenez is still playing that line-leading role impeccably.

When they start as rapidly as in north London and fortune favours that bravery, it is difficult to work out quite why they have struggled so fundamentally this season.

Silva credited “the Nigerian boys” for fostering “a great atmosphere” within the squad, and singled out one soaring Super Eagle.

Samu Chukwueze has been Fulham’s best and most decisive player in consecutive games. He leads the entire league for touches in the opposition penalty area per 90 of those who have played more than a handful of minutes, and Spurs could not handle him.

That £21.9m loan option might just be explored; the outcome of Silva’s ongoing contract negotiations could depend on it.

Jordan Henderson

It’s mad how an atrocious career move to Saudi Arabia will change your view on things. He is thriving at Brentford.

Phil Foden

The only man to play 300 games, score 100 goals and assist 60 more under Pep Guardiola has, by Foden’s own admission, “become more mature” and “one of the leaders” at Manchester City.

Recent evidence of that promotion has been scant. Foden did impress in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund last month but his last proper scruff-of-the-neck performance might have been as far back as Brentford in January, or the final day of 2023/24.

Foden started something Manchester City inexplicably couldn’t finish and ultimately needed him to. Pep Guardiola has been calling seemingly all season for someone to help Erling Haaland with those bags and finally his prayers were answered.

The previous latest goal to put Manchester City in the lead in the Premier League this season was scored in the 61st minute against Burnley. Some stoppage-time heroics – and Foden being the one to conjure such majesty – was long overdue.

Newcastle

Rough calculations suggest Nick Woltemade scoring from an Anthony Elanga pass is the second-most expensive goal combination of two summer signings this season behind Benjamin Sesko setting Bryan Mbeumo up against Brighton in October.

Newcastle signing Woltemade and Elanga in part because both those players chose Manchester United instead adds another delicious layer of narrative.

Another interesting Woltemade line: his six domestic goals so far have all been assisted by different players. Newcastle diversifying their supply line is no bad thing.

Manchester United

Has Amorim got Man Utd on the Arsenal path to Premier League dominance? Probably not; can’t even instinctively tell you the name of their set-piece coach for a start.

But they are definitely on the right track towards, well, something. Which is more than can be said for the last few years.

The Everton defeat was an abomination, but it seems increasingly like the exception to a new rule the club is trying to implement. Even against Palace they were poor for large periods of the game and could have been further behind at half time.

Yet that only reinforces how things are changing slowly under Amorim. Where once they would have been swept away by that sort of storm, this group is learning how to weather it and emerge for the better.

That was the first time they had ‘won’ a second half in the Premier League all season, and it earned them three valuable points with two more players stepping up from the periphery.

Brighton

Returning to the scene of his lowest day as Brighton manager must have been difficult but Hurzeler underlined how quickly he learns his lessons; oh to be 32 again.

Brighton had far less of the ball than in that 7-0 thrashing by Nottingham Forest in February, but more shots and, ultimately, purpose.

The painfully long overdue dropping of Carlos Baleba allowed a promising Gomez-Ayari midfield partnership to blossom from the start, before Hurzeler reinforced his position as the leading substitute maker in the Premier League through the introduction of Stefanos Tzimas to seal victory.

Brighton have scored eight goals from the bench in the Premier League this season, at least three more than any other club. That attacking depth is probably the best in the division.

Unai Emery

Of bloody course some of his half-time team talk consisted of citing specific games from February 2025 and December 2023 as a warning to his players about complacency. And of bloody course it worked.

Not sure how Villa are fourth with seven wins in their last eight Premier League games, but having checked a few times over they certainly appear to be.

Daniel Farke

Should the best 45 minutes of Leeds’ season override what was probably their worst immediately beforehand, as well as the three hilariously insipid defeats which preceded it?

There is a case to argue that the second-half transformation the visitors underwent at the Etihad actually emphasised why Farke should be sacked rather than strengthening any few remaining arguments for him to stay. Why did it take so long to try something like this?

For so long Leeds have needed a variation on a tired, failing blueprint, with the desire for a different approach painfully obvious. The minute Farke reverts to his beloved 4-3-3, the axe should swing.

But this was finally proof that he can adjust and adapt, even if it was entirely forced by the prospect of a chastening enough defeat that unemployment was the only feasible outcome at half time.

When the barrel is staring down at you so forebodingly, it’s almost easier to chuck Dominic Calvert-Lewin on, stick two up top, call for more physicality and go for it with nothing to lose. The real test will be how he sets up from the start against Chelsea in midweek.

But even if Farke, as still expected, is deemed not to be the man who can liberate Leeds, he will always have that second half and what was presumably a barnstorming but beautifully softly-spoken team talk.

Joe Gomez

His middle name is Dave. What more do you want? Fine…

Arsenal

They realistically belong in the undefined, murky, grey area between winners and losers, such is the nature of a draw against an opponent reduced to ten men for about an hour.

But also Arsenal were without both first-choice centre-halves, their chief creator and their main centre-forward for most of the match, which came at the end of a week in which they had already beaten Spurs and Bayern Munich quite handily.

It is becoming the go-to cliche of this iteration of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, but they probably lose that game in seasons gone by.

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Premier League losers

Thomas Frank

Another deeply problematic response to another inadequate performance and result, with another historically mid-table manager being crushed by the scrutiny and weight of expectation higher up the ladder.

That was an opportunity Frank earned but one he has equally wasted thus far. The temptation with coaches overachieving further down the food chain is to wonder what they might be capable of with better players, greater facilities and more resources; the mistake is in forgetting to contemplate whether their style and philosophy can be successfully transposed at a grander level.

The overwhelming evidence is that what worked so wonderfully for Brentford simply cannot at Spurs. Fulham have joined Bournemouth in recording their only Premier League away win this season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It remains the only venue Wolves have scored in or taken a point from as visitors in 2025/26.

Frank can moralise over what makes a “true Tottenham fan” if he wishes, but it might be an idea to show he is capable of becoming a true Tottenham manager at some point.

Lucas Paqueta

Far be it from anyone to speculate and pontificate about how others should act in such a high-pressured situation. But also needling away at the referee in such a sustained manner as to receive two bookings and ultimately a red card for double dissent, having endured almost two years of an investigation over alleged deliberate cautions which Paqueta himself has claimed derailed his career and impacted his mental health, feels inadvisable. Like, specifically so. As outlined by his legal team.

It was also a bit strange to see Alisson, Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones make roughly as much effort calming Paqueta down and keeping him away from Darren England as the Brazilian’s West Ham teammates.

Put it this way: if I was Paqueta, I simply would not pick up two suspensions in three games. Even if I did play for West Ham.

Bournemouth

Andoni Iraola did acknowledge “a part where we have to look at ourselves”, pinpointing Bournemouth’s poor record at conceding from set pieces in particular.

But not sure claiming the referee “absolutely lost control” when it was he and his side who so specifically did as such really works as a post-match narrative. Being beaten after leading 2-0 and investing time in anything other than introspection only ever comes across, as Iraola said, like the actions of a “bad loser”.

Bournemouth have conceded more goals than all but the bottom four. That’s not poor Tim Robinson’s fault.

Everton

The true consequences of Idrissa Gueye’s actions might have been delayed, but only for so long.

David Moyes and Ruben Amorim actively praising the literal fight shown by the midfielder at Old Trafford always seemed at least slightly disingenuous. Everton holding out for that win reflected well only on the players who managed not to slap a teammate, and abysmally on the hosts who failed to take advantage.

Everton were considerably worse with 11 men against Newcastle than ten on Monday. Gueye’s absence sapped their energy and solidity and without that flashpoint to bring them together, it was as disjointed a performance as the Hill Dickinson has seen.

With the Senegalese out for two more games and then away on international duty at AFCON soon after, this was a humbling insight into how that period could look for Everton.

Tim Iroegbunam had been quietly impressive but floundered when thrust into that role, making a single tackle before being substituted at half time.

Yet beyond him there is no obvious understudy to Gueye or solution to the problems he leaves behind. It turns out that being so dependent on a 36-year-old might not be the best idea. Or that ‘James Garner’ is not the answer to every question mankind has ever posed.

Burnley

No club in the entire Premier League has a worse defensive record in any quarter-hour segment of games from 0-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75 and 76-90 than Burnley in the final 15 minutes.

Scott Parker’s side have conceded ten goals in those closing stages, with draws against Manchester United, Liverpool, West Ham and Brentford turned into defeats late on.

Be it substandard game management, poor resilience, inadequate concentration levels or lacklustre fitness – and all four seemed to be a factor against Brentford – that is a trend of dropping points that Burnley really cannot afford to let fester.

Morato

Alvaro Morata’s Pro Evo counterpart continues to imbue about as much confidence as the real thing would in central defence.

Morato’s crime of not being Murillo is forgivable. But the numbers are stark: in his nine most recent Premier League starts dating back to last season, Forest’s record is W0 D2 L7 F5 A18. And some of that run includes when they were good.

The last league game Forest won with Morato starting was the 7-0 at home to Brighton in February; this was not quite the same. After marking thin air for the first goal – with others far more culpable – his brace of weak header back to the keeper and curious choice of backheeling the ball into the path of Stefanos Tzimas will have had the City Ground sports science department quadrupling their order of cotton wool to wrap Murillo in.

As Sean Dyche almost definitely said in the dressing room afterwards: Domo Arigato, Mr Morato.

Crystal Palace

Oliver Glasner is very much in broken territory at this point about Crystal Palace’s subdued level of investment in the summer after winning the FA Cup and qualifying for Europe for the first time.

But you also do understand where he’s coming from when you consider Palace’s record in Premier League games played after Conference League matches in midweek: P6 W1 D2 L3 F6 A6.

All eight of the points they have dropped from winning positions this season have come in games after playing in Europe midweek. That solitary win came in August.

As the schedule has congested since then, the lack of proper squad depth has been exposed. Glasner has made the fewest substitutions of any manager who has been in place all season; he is still six behind Vitor Pereira.

Rob Edwards

Seven defeats in eight Premier League games, and now one win in 19. The last player to score a top-flight goal under Edwards was Alfie Doughty, who spent most of the weekend on the Millwall bench.

It cannot possibly have been an appointment made on the proviso that Edwards might actually achieve safety, and there have been improvements in the two Wolves matches he has overseen.

But that is sustained miserable form which slightly undermines his idea that Wolves merely need to “carry on performing like that and points will come”. Not to go full What’s He Know About The Premier League but, well, yeah.

Rob Edwards again

It is not December 2022, and thus Emi Martinez is not “probably the best goalkeeper in the world”.

The Tottenham players have reportedly held a team meeting as the squad’s relationship with the Spurs fans has now become a ‘critical issue’.

Tottenham lost 2-1 against Fulham at home on Saturday to make it four Premier League matches without a win and only one victory in seven games in all competitions.

Spurs have slipped down to 12th in the Premier League table, although a congested top half means they are only seven points adrift of second-placed Manchester City.

Guglielmo Vicario was booed by Tottenham fans on Saturday after making a costly mistake against Fulham, leading to Pedro Porro appearing unhappy at team-mate Lucas Bergvall for clapping the Spurs fans after the game.

In a message on social media, Porro wrote: ‘Football is emotions. In football, as in life, there can always be mistakes, what I will not tolerate is hearing disrespect from the fan to my team-mates – hence my frustration at the end of the game. And we will get up, we remind you six months ago, everything was so bad, and in the end it is not how it begins but how it ends. To the true Spurs fan, I love you.’

Thomas Frank reacted on Sky Sports: “I didn’t like that our fans booed at him [Vicario] straight after and a few times he touched the ball. They can’t be true Tottenham fans because everyone supports each other when you are on the pitch.

READ: Liverpool shot themselves in the balls so Arne Slot must pay; it’s how football works

“And we do everything we can to perform. After, fair enough, boo, no problem. But not during. That’s unacceptable in my opinion.”

And now the Daily Telegraph claims that Tottenham players, who were ‘upset by jeering of Vicario’, have held a team meeting about the ‘critical issue’ of their ‘disconnect with the club’s fans’.

The report adds: ‘And Telegraph Sport can reveal that the subject of Spurs supporters was the key theme in a players’ meeting following the defeat by Chelsea on November 1. At the end of the game, Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence could not hide their displeasure with some fans and walked straight off the pitch.’

The Daily Telegraph continues: ‘It is also understood that this is not the first set of Spurs players to have held concerns over their relationships with the club’s fans and that it has been an issue in previous years.’

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On the game itself, Frank added: “This game we lost in the first six minutes. We just need to keep working.

“After that, we rushed the first half in many ways. We wanted to come back into the game but couldn’t do it in the first half, but we got much better in the second half. We got a bit of momentum, created more chances and opportunities, but couldn’t get the second goal.

“It was an emotional performance in the second half, and I think that’s quite normal. We know that we badly want to win at home, so when it’s not going your way, it is hard. That’s why you need to stick to the plan, be cool and not stress. It is easier said than done.”

On being booed by the Tottenham fans, Vicario told Sky Sports: “It’s part of football. I’m a big man and older.

“We can’t be influenced by the situation in the stands. The fans have the right to do what they think. It’s on us to stay calm.

“We have to focus on ourselves

“We are lacking in a little bit of composure and calmness at the moment. Today is a bad defeat and tough to accept.”

According to reports, Manchester United are ‘seriously considering’ a Tottenham Hotspur target replace head coach Ruben Amorim for three reasons.

Amorim has been under intense scrutiny this season, and he appeared on the brink of an exit at the start of this campaign.

The pressure on the Red Devils boss has slightly eased of late as the English giants have had a five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.

This was until Man Utd slumped to an embarrassing 1-0 loss to 10-man Everton at the start of last week, with this result and performance sparking criticism for Amorim and his tactical approach.

Therefore, Amorim desperately needed his side to respond when they faced Crystal Palace and battled back from behind to win 2-1 at Selhurst Park.

READ: Has Amorim got Man Utd on the Arsenal path to Premier League dominance?

This victory has lifted Man Utd back up into the top half of the Premier League table, but Amorim is not out of the woods yet as he is still among the favourites to be the next manager sacked.

Despite this, club legend David Beckham has backed Amorim as he thinks he is starting to “turn things around”.

“I think there are signs of the manager turning things around,” Beckham said on Sky Sports.

“He has tweaked a few things and we are coming into a few better results. There’s still a long way to go and there has been a few games where we haven’t been playing as well.

“But I think we’ve got a good manager there and I think he is changing things slowly.”

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Still, Man Utd appear to be keeping their options open as a report from Spanish outlet Fichajes claims they ‘want’ former FC Barcelona boss Xavi, who is also attracting interest from Tottenham Hotspur.

Xavi has been out of work since leaving Barcelona at the end of the 2023/24 season, but it has been widely reported that he is looking for a return to management.

Man Utd are also said to be admirers of Xavi for three main reasons.

The report claims:

‘Although there has been no direct contact yet, both Manchester United and Tottenham have decided that, if their results do not improve soon, they will talk to Xavi Hernández about a possible agreement.

‘His profile is appealing because he offers a long-term project, an offensive approach, and a ball-based strategy, qualities that fit very well with what both clubs are looking for.’

Pedro Porro was seen ‘screaming’ at Lucas Bergvall after Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to Fulham on Saturday.

There were loud boos from the home fans both at half-time and full-time, along with ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ chants from the Fulham faithful on Saturday night as Frank’s Tottenham fell to their third defeat in four Premier League games to leave them mired in mid-table with fellow crisis-club Liverpool.

They’ve won just two Premier League games in their last eight and large sections of the Spurs support are now pushing for Frank’s exit despite him only taking charge in the summer.

Frank wasn’t happy at some of the fans’ ire being directed at Vicario specifically after the goalkeeper was at fault for Fulham’s second goal, which came in just the sixth minute after Kenny Tete’s deflected shot saw the visitors take the lead in the fourth.

Vicario dashed from his penalty area to the left touchline and gifted Harry Wilson the chance to swing his shot for distance into his empty net.

“I didn’t like that our fans booed at him straight after and a few times after that,” Frank said in his post-match interview. “They can’t be true Tottenham fans because everyone supports each other when you’re on the pitch and we do everything we can to perform.”

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And it appears Porro wasn’t too happy with the Spurs fans either, having seemingly had a go at Bergvall for applauding them after the game.

As reported by football.london, ‘Porro went down the tunnel at the final whistle, only to reappear moments later and march across the pitch, shouting something at Bergvall, seemingly telling him not to applaud the fans before he stormed back down the tunnel, whipping his shirt off on the way.’

Meanwhile, The Standard claimed ‘Sky Sports’ cameras picked up the right-back screaming “Lucas” several times as the 19-year-old started to walk around the pitch and show his appreciation to the home supporters that had stayed behind.

Thomas Frank was asked about the incident afterwards and told Sky Sports: “I didn’t see the incident so I don’t know exactly.

“We are in a tough spell right now and for my players it is about being as calm as possible and doing everything we can to work through it.”

Thomas Frank could have picked any word. He could have called it “unhelpful” to boo Guglielmo Vicario during the defeat to Fulham, or “disrespectful”. Maybe “unpleasant” would have worked. Perhaps “unnecessary” too.

But he had to go for “unacceptable”, in turn supplying ample ammunition for those same supporters he decided to call out after yet another home abomination.

They probably deem it “unacceptable” to win fewer Premier League home games in 2025 than West Ham, Wolves and Sunderland. They might think it “unacceptable” to slip below Frank’s former club in the table. They may feel it “unacceptable” to rank below every team bar Wolves and Burnley for shots per game. They could consider it “unacceptable” for the entire team to have played a league-low six through balls all season, as many as James Tarkowski has mustered on his own.

Being two goals down at the earliest point in the entire club’s Premier League history, at home to a team which had last won away on the penultimate day of last season? That right there is “unacceptable”.

It has taken Frank five months to achieve what his predecessors managed in much more time. Ange Postecoglou took nearly two years to properly and publicly turn on the fans, while Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte waited admirably long to explain in painstaking detail just how much they fundamentally despise Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

In being pushed over that edge so remarkably quickly, Frank has drawn battle lines for a conflict he cannot possibly hope to win.

Gatekeeping what and who “true Tottenham fans” are achieves precisely nothing positive. Even Vicario, who called for “cooler heads” and “a little bit more help during some situations from the stands” after the miserable defeat to Chelsea, had learned that trying to turn the mirror on supporters could only be a dreadful reflection on those actually in control of what happens on the pitch.

“It’s part of football,” said the keeper. “I’m a big man and older. We can’t be influenced by the situation in the stands. The fans have the right to do what they think. It’s on us to stay calm.”

Frank himself admitted “this game we lost in the first six minutes,” so why would fans not vocalise their anger and frustration at that during the subsequent 90?

When Kenny Tete opened the scoring with a deflected strike it was the first time since September 2003 that Spurs had trailed in six consecutive home Premier League games. They should know never to go full Glenn Hoddle – and that streak did actually directly culminate in his sacking after defeats to Southampton and, of course, Fulham at the start of that season.

Spurs in the modern day have now lost three of their last four meetings with Fulham, drawing the other. There is no use speculating whether Marco Silva would have fared better than Frank but it is also typically funny that the club appears to have made the wrong choice, and that the universe wishes for that to be underlined, emboldened and italicised.

Even when Mohammed Kudus halved the deficit with a fine goal from Lucas Bergvall’s pass on the hour, there was no inevitability over the completion of a comeback. Spurs were on top but Fulham were comfortable. The visitors actually had the last shot of the game in the 84th minute, and rode out the last ten masterfully.

This was supposed to be the resistible force against the movable object; as atrocious as Spurs have been at home this season, Fulham had been wretched away, taking a single point from their last six games on their travels.

Yet they were made to look especially phenomenal in the opening 15 minutes in particular as Spurs summarily squandered any sense of momentum having been built in that curious PSG defeat.

Pedro Porro vowed that they ‘going to bring the same attitude and ambition’ from the Parc des Princes in midweek to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday. He ended the evening heading straight for the tunnel, re-emerging only to shout at Bergvall – seemingly for applauding the supporters – and storming off again.

Frank, seemingly eager to pick unwinnable fights with the fans, might be better served figuring out why such insolence is becoming a running theme after insipid home defeats, and why his players felt compelled to hold a sort of impromptu team talk on the pitch at half time before retreating to the dressing room.

Those acts feel a little more “unacceptable” than fans openly wondering why they are choosing to spend their time and money on watching this mess every other week.

Thomas Frank has hit out at the “unacceptable” behaviour of Spurs supporters during their 2-1 defeat to Fulham on Saturday, insisting those who booed Guglielmo Vicario “can’t be true Tottenham fans”.

There were loud boos from the home fans both at half-time and full-time, along with ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ chants from the Fulham faithful on Saturday night as Frank’s Tottenham fell to their third defeat in four Premier League games to leave them mired in mid-table with fellow crisis-club Liverpool.

They’ve won just two Premier League games in their last eight and large sections of the Spurs support are now pushing for Frank’s exit despite him only taking charge in the summer.

Frank wasn’t happy at some of the fans’ ire being directed at Vicario specifically after the goalkeeper was at fault for Fulham’s second goal, which came in just the sixth minute after Kenny Tete’s deflected shot saw the visitors take the lead in the fourth.

Vicario dashed from his penalty area to the left touchline and gifted Harry Wilson the chance to swing his shot for distance into his empty net.

Frank said: “When you’re down 2-0 after six minutes, there is a mountain to climb. When you’re in a bad spell, everything seems to go against you as well – the first was a deflected shot, the second is a mistake from Vic.

“I didn’t like that our fans booed at him straight after and a few times after that. They can’t be true Tottenham fans because everyone supports each other when you’re on the pitch and we do everything we can to perform. I’m fine with them booing after the match, no problem, but not during. That is unacceptable in my opinion.”

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Vicario accepted responsibility after the game, saying: “It’s tough because to go 2-0 down after six minutes, you never expect this. Especially the second goal was a mistake of mine. I take the responsibility for that. The intent was to clear the ball long but I hit the ball in a bad way.”

On the fans’ reaction, he said: “It’s part of football. So I am a big man. I am quite older. What can I say? We cannot be influenced by situations in the stand. Fans have the right to do what they think. It’s on us to try to stay more calm and focus on ourselves.”

Frank added: “This result leaves us in a place where we have lost another game. Every game has a single story, this game we lost in the first six minutes.”