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Cristian Romero's auxiliary shift as Tottenham Hotspur's centre-forward is exactly what the doctor ordered for Thomas Frank and company as he scored two goals late on in his side's 2-2 draw with Newcastle United at St James' Park, thus securing a share of the spoils for the travelling north Londoners. And the defender couldn't help but upset the apple cart with his celebration.

Eddie Howe's men – who took the lead through substitute Bruno Guimaraes' well-taken effort in the 71st minute – were largely on top of their opposition, but Romero levelled proceedings just seven minutes after with a lovely, glanced header. Anthony Gordon then regained his side's advantage from the penalty spot with four minutes of regulation time left.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Tottenham Hotspur have not had a shot on target in the first half of a Premier League game since November 1.

With mere minutes left on the clock and any chance of earning a point slipping away from the visitors, it was Romero who stepped up again. Mathys Tel's delivery was punched up in the air by Aaron Ramsdale and, without letting it bounce, the World Cup winner met it with a spectacular bicycle kick. The away contingent erupted into raptures; Romero wheeled off in celebration.

Romero Sparks Wild Scene With Post-Goal Celebration in Final Moments

While the Spurs supporters were jumping up and down high up in the nosebleeds, Romero was joined by a sea of yellow shirts in front of the downbeat Newcastle supporters, who had just watched three points being swept from underneath them. That was because of an audaciously acrobatic effort from Romero, a man who has no right to pull off such a feat.

Romero, who was signed from Serie A outfit Atalanta in the summer of 2022, has never been afraid to stir the pot – and he seemingly rubbed fellow South American Guimaraes up the wrong way with his post-goal celebration, which sparked wild scenes at the full-time whistle. Why was that the case?

Well, the 47-cap Argentina international – who is widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League right now – produced a strikingly similar celebration to that of Guimaraes. He walked behind the goal, surrounded by his teammates, and placed his hands over his ears before pointing to 'Romero', which is emblazoned on the back of his shirt.

Frustrated at letting their lead slip on two occasions, Newcastle – spearheaded by Guimaraes himself and Joelinton – attempted to engage with Romero once referee Thomas Bramall called time on the dramatic 2-2 draw in the northeast. Briefly, it threatened to spill over into chaos as plenty of pushing and shoving ensued. Cool heads prevailed.

Newcastle's Dan Burn attempted to add more fuel to the fire by coming over all guns blazing, but the less-aggravated members of either side poured cold water on it.

Waxing lyrical about Romero, though, was Thomas Frank's primary post-match focus. Speaking to football.london, he said: "The perfect bicycle kick, hit the shin, aiming for the bottom corner," he said when describing his skipper's outrageous finish. "I think let's start praising Cuti, I think he deserved that for all of the top performance, defending, on the ball, coolness, calmness, duels.

"And then getting up there and scoring two goals. I think the bicycle kick will most likely get a little bit more praise, but I think the header is more exceptional, the way he does that is better than many strikers."

Could This Match Be Thomas Frank's Momentum Shifter?

It would be remiss to ignore the heaps of pressure on Frank's shoulders. The Danish boss – lured away from Brentford, who constantly punched above their weight under his stewardship – hasn't lost the faith of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium faithful, but he is certainly flirting with the idea as Spurs have dropped from third to 14th in a matter of five weeks.

The level of needle shown on Tuesday night, largely by skipper Romero, is exactly what Frank and his entourage will require in the coming weeks if they are to avoid being sacked.

Could earning a point late on against Newcastle be a turning point for Frank? Their last win came on November 4 against Copenhagen in the Champions League, with that being followed by two draws and three losses – and picking up more victories, either home or away, will be pivotal.

Tottenham's players did little to detract from the criticism they're facing during their latest Premier League defeat.

Spurs were facing Newcastle United on Tuesday night in a contest that was hugely important following their run that has seen them win just once in their last seven games.

Unfortunately for Thomas Frank, that run has got even worse after being held to a 2-2 draw at St James' Park. Bruno Guimaraes gave the hosts the lead before Cristian Romero leveled the game. Anthony Gordon scored from the spot, before Romero netted a bicycle kick to see the game end in a draw.

Brennan Johnson Fails To Impress

Among many poor performances, Brennan Johnson was arguably Tottenham's most disappointing at St James' Park.

With Spurs struggling for attacking inspiration, the stage was set for Johnson to put in a big performance to prove himself as someone capable of leading Frank's side back up the table.

Xavi Simons, Mathys Tel and Richarlison were dropped to the bench, while Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski are missing through injury, meaning that the opportunity was there.

But Johnson failed to impress, recording no shots and just one chance created. He also had no successful dribbles and completed just 57 per cent of his passes.

Described by one fan as 'dreadful', the Wales star recorded a 4/10 rating in GIVEMESPORT's player ratings against the Magpies.

Tottenham Need To Sign Lethal Attackers

Tottenham are being massively let down by their attacking players. One win in their last eight games in simply not good enough and that is largely down to a lack of offensive options within the group.

Despite having a wealth of attacking talent in the squad, Spurs had to rely on Romero scoring a bra ce in order salvage a draw against Newcastle and that's not good enough.

Frank has too many players who lack consistency in the final third and that's why they're rooted in the bottom half of the table. Thankfully for them, the January window is just around the corner.

Spurs must sign players with a goal threat if they're going to improve their fortunes in the second half of the campaign. Antoine Semenyo is a player who is high up on their list of potential targets and based on this evidence, they need to move heaven and earth to ensure that they get their man.

The match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur may have finished 2–2 thanks to Cristian Romero's acrobatic heroics in the 95th minute, but Eddie Howe's men were given the perfect opportunity to pick up three points when they were controversially awarded a penalty ten minutes earlier. Ex-PGMOL Keith Hackett has offered his verdict.

Perhaps a momentum shifter for Thomas Frank and company given the north Londoners last won a match on November 4, Newcastle took control in the 71st minute after Bruno Guimaraes' side-footed effort. Spurs Captain Romero (operating in his role of makeshift centre-forward) then got in front of Dan Burn to level proceedings.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: During the first half of their last four Premier League matches – against Manchester United, Arsenal, Fulham and Newcastle United – Tottenham Hotspur have had zero shots on target.

Substitute Anthony Gordon then converted from the controversially-awarded spot kick in the 84th minute – and many around the stadium believed that Howe's side would walk away with all three points. That wasn't the case, though, as Romero reacted quickly to Aaron Ramsdale's punch to produce quite a spectacular bicycle kick five minutes into added time.

Keith Hackett Provides Verdict on Controversial Penalty Given in Newcastle 2–2 Spurs

Many fans – from those online to those in attendance – were baffled by referee Thomas Bramall's decision to give the penalty after consulting the pitch side monitor. With the score poised at 1-1, the ball was whipped into Spurs' danger area by Guimaraes, and it was somewhat flicked out for another corner on the opposite side by right-back Pedro Porro.

All the while, Rodrigo Bentancur was adjudged to have manhandled Dan Burn in the box by those manning VAR. Bramall was recommended to have a look himself and, after closer inspection, he pointed to the penalty spot. Bramall said: “After review, Tottenham number 30 makes a holding offence at the back post and clearly does not look at the ball. My final decision is penalty kick.”

Gordon, as mentioned, stepped up to convert – and plenty of those associated with Frank's men were disappointed in the decision, given the common consensus was there was simply not enough deliberate contact to warrant Newcastle the chance to dispatch from 12 yards out, which they did.

Even Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand took to X (formerly Twitter) to suggest the decision was a poor one. "Disgraceful decision to reward Newcastle [with a] penalty. Whoever [is] controlling the VAR should be ashamed and the ref then reviews and should be also. Well done Newcastle."

A fan posted footage of the incident on X alongside the caption: "Another howler from VAR. You can't give this as a penalty. Even Burn is surprised." In response, Hackett claimed that Bentancur was holding the lofty defender and Bramall was correct in his decision to award a penalty.

"Bentancur is holding Dan Burn. Correct decision to award a PK."

Of course, neither Spurs nor Newcastle were able to walk away with a grin on their face due to sharing the spoils – but the visiting side can certainly feel hard done by. Jamie Carragher claimed it was "harsh" on commentary duty for Sky Sports, while Spurs' Kevin Danso called for consistency. "It's tough. It feels like some weeks a ref will give it and some weeks they won't," the 27-year-old Austrian said. "We just have to focus and do exactly what we did today."

Thomas Frank and Eddie Howe Give Own Verdict on Decision

From the footage, Bentancur did appear to have his arms around the 6ft 7in frame of Burn as Guimaraes teased a delivery into the box but, as play developed, the Newcastle defender seemed to continue to run over the Spurs midfield, thus resulting in them falling to a heap on the floor. "It was an absolute mistake from the VAR," said Spurs boss Frank, per BBC Sport.

"The referee did good to do the ref call and they encourage the refereeing call on the pitch. For me, that is never a penalty. Even speaking to some from Newcastle [they] don't think it's a penalty and we need consistency. I think the referee's call on the pitch, he nailed it, and VAR can only be if it's clear and obvious."

Perhaps unexpectedly, Howe believes that Bramall was right to overturn his original decision of no penalty. "I hadn't seen it, I'm only seeing it now," the English manager said when asked about the controversy in his post-match interview. "The big thing is the defender isn't looking at the ball at all, he's looking at Dan [Burn]. I think it's probably the right call."

Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur drew 2-2 in the Premier League on Tuesday evening.

In the first half, not much really happened in terms of goalmouth action and clear-cut chances, but Newcastle were definitely looking the more threatening of the two sides. The hosts were finding success, especially down the wings through Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy and were also threatening from long throws and crosses into the box to their big defenders and, of course, Nick Woltemade.

Joelinton and Lewis Miley had the best opportunities of the first half, with the Brazilian hitting the woodwork from a tight angle and the youngster testing Guglielmo Vicario from just inside the box, but Tottenham still carried somewhat of a threat going forward. Although Spurs had several talented attackers such as Mohammed Kudus, Brennan Johnson and Randal Kolo Muani on the pitch, Lucas Bergvall was by far their biggest threat going forward.

The first half came to a close with the sides level at 0-0.

In the 71st minute, the deadlock was finally broken, and it was broken by the hosts. Bruno Guimaraes, who was brought on at half-time, scored the goal, and it was a wonderfully placed finish into the bottom right corner. Anthony Gordon produced some brilliant play down the left wing to get the ball into the box, and Kevin Danso's interception on Nick Woltemade fell straight to the Brazilian, who made no mistake with his finish to make it 1-0.

Newcastle's lead lasted just eight minutes, as Cristian Romero scored a brilliant equaliser for Spurs. Mohammed Kudus put a good cross into the box, and the Argentinian was there to meet it with a fantastic diving header, which was guided right into the bottom corner. Lewis Hall and Daniel Burn could've done more to stop the goal, as Hall could've closed down Kudus better and Burn could've got on the correct side of Romero to stop him from getting contact on the ball.

In the 86th minute, Newcastle regained the lead. Rodrigo Bentancur gave away the controversial penalty after holding Newcastle player Burn in the penalty area, and Anthony Gordon stepped up to successfully convert his penalty past Vicario and put Newcastle in a 2-1 lead.

The dramatic end to the match continued, as in the 95th minute, Spurs equalised to make it 2-2. It was Romero with the goal again, and if you thought his diving header was good, this was even better. The centre-back produced a superb overhead kick, which nestled into the bottom corner, despite not being hit with much power.

Romero's overhead kick was the last action of the match, and the points were shared at St James' Park.

Match Highlights

Newcastle United Player Ratings

GK: Aaron Ramsdale - 5.5/10

Hardly had a single thing to do all evening until the goals. Spurs only managed two shots on target, so Ramsdale will be disappointed to let in two, espeically the second.

RB: Valentino Livramento - 7.5/10

Saw plenty of the ball and was very efficient in possession. Livramento was also defensively sound whilst managing to remain a threat going forward.

CB: Malick Thiaw - 7.5/10

Saw more of the ball than any other player on the pitch. Thiaw didn't put a foot wrong when playing the ball out from the back and was never really defensively challenged.

CB: Daniel Burn - 6.5/10

The big defender won pretty much everything in the air and headed lots of crosses away, but he seemed to struggle against the pace and power of Kolo Muani at times. Burn also got caught on the wrong side of Romero when he scored his headed goal to equalise for Spurs.

LB: Lewis Hall - 6.5/10

Played with plenty of energy up and down the right flank, but could've done better for Spurs' equalising goal, as he didn't even attempt to close down Kudus.

CM: Sandro Tonali - 7/10

Put in a pretty good first-half performance, but was substituted at half-time. The Italian not only worked hard and pressed well but also had several moments of quality, especially with his passing, which sometimes left the opposition's midfield struggling.

CM: Joelinton - 6.5/10

Worked hard in midfield, but didn't really do much in possession.

CM: Lewis Miley - 7/10

Had a good opportunity to score in the first half but squandered it. The youngster worked his socks off and showed real quality when in possession.

RW: Jacob Murphy - 6/10

Didn't really contribute anything to the match outside of his energy and work rate. Murphy only ever really put crosses into the box, which became quite easy for Spurs to defend against.

ST: Nick Woltemade - 7/10

Had a really poor first half, but redeemed himself in the second. The big striker looked very immobile in the first half, but he majorly improved in the second with his hold-up and link-up play.

LW: Harvey Barnes - 6/10

Had a promising first half showing where he had several bright moments down the left wing, but was almost anonymous in the second half as Porro seemed to suss him out.

SUB: Bruno Guimaraes - 8.5/10

Completely changed the game for Newcastle. Guimaraes not only scored a fantastic goal, but he fought hard and had plenty of moments of quality in the final third.

SUB: Anthony Gordon - 8.5/10

Had parts to play in both of Newcastle's goals, converting the second and producing some brilliant wing play to create the first.

SUB: Anthony Elanga - N/A

Didn't do much after coming on.

SUB: Fabian Schar - N/A

Didn't do much after coming on.

Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings

GK: Guglielmo Vicario - 6.5/10

Made a few important saves during the match to keep the scoreline low, and couldn't have really done anything to stop Newcastle's goals.

RB: Pedro Porro - 7.5/10

Defensively dealt with Barnes very well and was also a threat in the final third, especially with his crossing and balls into the box.

CB: Cristian Romero - 9.5/10 (Man of the Match)

The most important player on the pitch. Not only did Romero keep Woltemade pretty quiet throughout the match, he also scored a phenomenal brace, netting a diving header and an overhead kick.

CB: Kevin Danso - 7/10

Like Romero, Danso also did very well up against Woltemade, but was arguably partially at fault for Guimaraes' goal, as he cleared the ball right to him.

LB: Destiny Udogie - 6.5/10

Put in a defensively solid performance up against Murphy, but didn't really offer anything going forward.

CM: Rodrigo Bentancur - 4.5/10

Although it was harsh, the Uruguayan gave away a penalty for his side. As for being in possession, Bentancur was quite sloppy and didn't take many risks despite his side chasing the match for most of it.

CM: Pape Sarr - 6.5/10

Played with a lot of energy, but was quite sloppy in possession and struggled to deal with the quality in Newcastle's midfield at times.

CM: Lucas Bergvall - 8/10

A shining light for Spurs. Although his side really struggled to produce anything going forward, Bergvall always tried to make things happen when he got on the ball. The youngster played with plenty of energy and had some very tidy moments where he made bursting runs to get Spurs up the pitch.

RW: Mohammed Kudus - 7.5/10

Did very well up against Hall. Kudus didn't see that much of the ball in wide areas, but when he did, he was good in one-on-one situations and provided a really good assist for Romero's goal.

ST: Randal Kolo Muani - 7.5/10

The Frenchman may not have had a single shot on goal during the match, but his all-around performance was actually very good. Kolo Muani caused the Newcastle defence plenty of problems with his pace and power going forward and was a real handful to deal with.

LW: Brennan Johnson - 4/10

An evening to forget for the Welshman. Johnson didn't really have a single ounce of success in the final third and had some moments where he was really sloppy and wasteful in possession of the ball.

SUB: Mathys Tel - N/A

Didn't do much after coming on.

SUB: Xavi Simons - N/A

Didn't do much after coming on.

SUB: Richarlison - N/A

Didn't do much after coming on.

SUB: Archie Gray - N/A

Didn't do much after coming on.​​​​​​​

SUB: Wilson Odobert - N/A

Didn't do much after coming on.

Tottenham supporters were left infuriated when Newcastle were awarded a penalty in their 2-2 draw at St James' Park. And the Premier League have now clarified why a spot kick was given.

Bruno Guimaraes had given the hosts the lead in the 71st minute, but Cristian Romero was on hand to tie the game up just minutes later. However, 10 minutes after the equaliser, referee Thomas Bramall was sent to the monitor by VAR, after the video official had spotted Rodrigo Bentancur and Dan Burn tussling during a Newcastle corner.

While the pair did fall to the floor, both players seemingly had a hold of each other. Nevertheless, the official deemed that there was enough contact from Bentancur for a penalty, leaving Tottenham players and fans in disbelief.

Premier League Clarify Newcastle Penalty Decision

The Premier League have since clarified why a penalty was given on their Match Centre account on X. They wrote: "After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of no penalty to Newcastle United.

"Referee announcement: “After review, Tottenham number 30 makes a holding offence at the back post and clearly does not look at the ball. My final decision is penalty kick.”"

Despite the referee deciding that it met the threshold for a penalty, there was still bewilderment at the decision. Jamie Carragher labelled it "harsh" while commentating on the game for Sky Sports. And Rio Ferdinand went even further, describing the decision as "disgraceful" on social media.

The former Manchester United defender wrote: "Disgraceful decision to reward #NUFC penalty… whoever controlling the VAR should be ashamed + the ref then reviews and should be also. Well done Newcastle."

Kevin Danso Calls For Consistency After Newcastle 2-2 Tottenham

Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon would go on to score the spot kick and put Eddie Howe's side in front with just minutes to go in the tie. But, fortunately for Tottenham, Romero then levelled proceedings once again.

After Aaron Ramsdale punched a corner high into the air, the Argentine attempted a bicycle kick. Despite not making the cleanest contact with the ball, it bounced its way into the Newcastle net for his second of the night.

Neither side was able to snatch all three points at the death. But Tottenham players might feel hard done by due to Newcastle receiving a controversial penalty. Kevin Danso, speaking after the game, stated that the decision felt "tough" on the visiting side because of the lack of consistency in the Premier League regarding holding during set-pieces.

Tottenham are planning to steal a march in their pursuit of Antoine Semenyo.

The Bournemouth star is set to be a wanted man in the January transfer window as significant attention turns his way from the Premier League and beyond.

Signing a new contract over the summer, Semenyo has gone on to score six goals in 13 appearances this term to put him firmly on the radar of some of football's biggest clubs.

Hailed as a 'world-class' star by teammate Justin Kluivert, the forward could have his pick of the bunch in just a few weeks' time.

Tottenham Plot Semenyo Move

Tottenham are set to intensify their interest in Semenyo next month, according to Sky Sports News.

Spurs, who were put off by Bournemouth's £70million+ valuation over the summer, are reportedly ready to trigger the new release clause in his Bournemouth contract. That clause is said to be £60million plus £5million in bonuses.

Thomas Frank's side are desperate for a left-sided attacker and have identified Semenyo as the ideal man to step into their side. However, if Spurs think they'll have things all their own way, they'll be sadly mistaken.

Liverpool and Manchester City were also credited with an interest in the 25-year-old just last month, while Arsenal have also kept an eye on his progress. The Gunners are unlikely to make a move though, given the wealth of attacking options at their disposal.

Semenyo Would Be A Perfect Fit For Spurs

Tottenham's interest in Antoine Semenyo is no surprise at all. An injury to Dominic Solanke and the patchy form of Richarlison means that Frank has no proven goalscorer in his team. That's clearly affecting the team's performances.

Spurs are also lacking a top quality left-sided attacker since the decision to allow Son Heung-min to leave the club for the MLS over the summer. It means that the north London side are painfully short in that area.

A deal to sign Semenyo will certainly be expensive, but Spurs have no choice but to pay.

A move to Liverpool or Manchester City may be more appealing for the forward on paper. However, I just can't see him getting sufficient game time at either of those clubs. At Tottenham, however, Semenyo would be the lead man.

That would be the perfect role for the 25-year-old as he moves into the prime years of his career. With the right players around him and the trust of his manager to be a key star, Semenyo could take his career to the next level by moving to Spurs.

Thomas Frank is under real pressure at Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs are without a win in their last four Premier League matches, with a solitary point coming against Manchester United in that run, with three defeats to London rivals Chelsea, Arsenal and Fulham.

Supporters are turning against the former Brentford manager, with a real disconnect between the team and the fans present. Frank called out the supporters for booing goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario during Saturday's defeat to Fulham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Pedro Porro coming out after the game and making a statement of his own, having been spotted getting angry with team-mate Lucas Bergvall after the final whistle.

Frank said: "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.

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

Porro wrote on Instagram: "Football is emotions. In football, as in life, there can always be mistakes. What I will not tolerate is hearing disrespect from the fans to my team-mates, hence my frustration at the end of the game."

Awful record

Defeat to Fulham meant it was just three home wins in the last 21 matches in N17 - a shocking statistic that Frank must turn around, with just one of those wins coming under him - the first game of the season against Burnley.

The reality is that Spurs have stagnated somewhat in the last six years - the Europa League triumph apart.

Since Mauricio Pochettino left the club, Tottenham have finished 6th, 7th, 4th, 8th, 5th and 17th, only qualifying for the Champions League once through the league and luckily through that Europa League triumph last year.

Frank is the fourth permanent manager in that time - the sixth to lead the team after interim periods under Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason and what Pochettino - now manager of the US national team gearing up for the World Cup - said before he left has been ignored.

Better furniture required

Pochettino had just guided Spurs to fourth in the Premier League and the final of the Champions League, but those finishes did mask a slow downturn in performances from a team that had been together and gelled and excelled together over a period of five or so years.

Pochettino warned things would have to change and that it would be painful.

Speaking in 2019 he said: "When you talk about Tottenham, everyone says you have an amazing house but you need to put in the furniture.

“If you want to have a lovely house maybe you need better furniture. And it depends on your budget if you are going to spend money. We need to be respectful with teams like Manchester City or Liverpool who spend a lot of money. We are brave, we are clever, we are creative.

"Now it’s about creating another chapter and to have the clear idea of how we are going to build that new project. We need to rebuild. It’s going to be painful.”

What Tottenham have done since then is rebuild, rebuild and rebuild again under different managers. It has been painful for supporters, that is for sure, but there has not been a proper, focused rebuild of the squad.

Forty-two players have been signed permanently in that time frame, with a further nine joining the club on loan deals. But when those signings are spread across four different head coaches - five if you count that five of those transfers were made for Pochettino - it is not a true rebuild, when a new boss comes in with his own ideas, his own philosophy and perhaps a desire for different players to play a different way.

Trust the process

Spurs have lurched from one manager to the next and have had a squad that has constantly had to be changed and updated as a result. At some point you have to stick with the man at the helm and - for want of a better phrase that has become synonymous with a certain manager who was allowed time to create down the road - trust the process.

Daniel Levy's departure as chairman at the start of this season leaves Vinai Venkatesham and the Lewis family in charge in N17. It feels like a new era behind the scenes and it has already been confirmed that a £100million investment has been made that will help when it comes to the January transfer window.

That message of a painful rebuild has been completely ignored and whether it is Frank who is given the time and space to really make it stick, or another person at some point this season or next summer - Pochettino may be back on the market then after the World Cup has ended - who knows, but whatever happens, Tottenham need to get their next big decision right.

The supporters demand it.

Thomas Frank was forced to insist this week that he retained the support of Tottenham's hierarchy, but after less than six months in the role, that is hardly a glowing endorsement of his work so far.

Spurs are reeling from three consecutive defeats and have won just one of their past seven matches ahead of their tough trip to Newcastle on Tuesday evening. Another setback there would surely nudge Frank closer to the point of no return.

Brought in to replace the popular Ange Postecoglou during the summer, the Dane was tasked with making the club more competitive on all fronts, while stamping home his approach on a dressing room used to a heavy-metal, pressing style. So far, the outcome has been poor, with blunt performances leading to dire results.

There is, of course, still time for Frank to turn this listing ship around, but at present, it does appear his days could already be numbered. Unsurprisingly, attention has turned to his potential replacements.

Tottenham Linked With Xavi

According to Fichajes, Spurs' hierarchy are actively weighing up making a change in the dugout should results not improve before the end of December, and former Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez is a target.

They may face competition from Manchester United, though, with Ruben Amorim once again in the spotlight at Old Trafford.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Xavi managed 142 games at Barcelona, winning 89 of them and losing just 29.

Both clubs are said to view Xavi as the ideal candidate to spearhead a new era, while his tactical approach, trust in youngsters and experience coaching at the highest level also make him well-suited to the Premier League.

The 45-year-old has been out of work since being sacked at the Nou Camp, and he is said to want a "stable project" for his next job. The same publication claims that this will not be an issue for either Spurs or United.

While there has been no direct contact with the Spaniard, Xavi certainly represents an attractive option.

Tottenham Should Move For Xavi

In reality, the Frank project was doomed from the start. While his Brentford teams were renowned for good, expansive football, it is something else entirely to play on the front foot, a blueprint Spurs supporters became accustomed to under Postecoglou.

Xavi would bring about better control of games and a slick passing style, which was easy on the eye in LaLiga.

Crucially, he has also proven he can win trophies, having steered Barcelona to the league title in 2022-23 despite a litany of off-field issues, including financial dire straits. If he took charge at Spurs, he would likely immediately start plotting a shock Premier League triumph, and multiple domestic gongs, as part of an ambitious multi-year plan.

As a player, he won the World Cup, four Champions Leagues and eight LaLiga crowns, and appears just as ambitious in the dugout. That bodes very well indeed for Tottenham, who were, until last season at least, starved of success.

Recent reports have suggested that Frank is losing the support of his dressing room, a toxic headache that more often than not leads to a manager's sacking. Xavi, on the other hand, would command his squad's respect, partly because of his storied playing career. He also trusts youth, having given a certain Lamine Yamal his debut at the age of 15.

Xavi's system is heavily reliant on wingers creating width and incisive attacking moves, raising the prospect that he could help to improve Xavi Simons after the playmaker's questionable start to life in North London.

Indeed, the Dutchman feels like a much better fit into the playing style of a manager like Xavi, rather than Frank.

Xavi Described as 'Best Manager In The World'

Before dismissing him at Barcelona, Blaugrana president Joan Laporta described Xavi as the "best manager in the world".

The walls already look to be closing in on Thomas Frank at Tottenham Hotspur, and now his dressing room is showing signs of turning against him, according to The Sun.

The pressure has been building on the Dane in the wake of Spurs' 2-1 defeat against Fulham last weekend, with his side having won just once at home in the Premier League all season - against Burnley in their curtain raiser.

After taking just 18 points from their first 13 games, Spurs are 12th in the table, and supporters have openly vented their frustration. Indeed, there was a tense flashpoint on Saturday when Guglielmo Vicario was booed after his mistake resulted in Fulham's second goal, leading Frank to declare that those who had jeered "can't be true fans".

Tottenham are back in action against Newcastle on Tuesday evening, and before the game, a report emerged claiming that players have become frustrated with Frank's tactics.

Spurs Players Annoyed With Frank Tinkerking

There is said to be particular annoyance at Frank's habit of changing tactics, or throwing them out altogether, close to games. This also includes the roles players are given, with the defeat to Paris Saint-Germain one example of a last-minute change.

Frank has even been accused of altering his plans close to kick-off, leaving his side confused about their responsibilities.

The Sun have claimed that "some players" are enjoying working under Frank, but there are concerns he could lose the support of the bulk of his dressing room if results don't improve in the near future.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Tottenham have won just five of their first 13 Premier League matches this season.

In the wake of the defeat against Fulham, the former Brentford boss insisted he retains the support of the club's hierarchy, but recent statistics are damning, and he is now under pressure to salvage Spurs' campaign.

Tottenham have won just one of their last seven games across all competitions, including batterings at the hands of arch rivals Arsenal in the Premier League and PSG in the Champions League.

Thomas Frank Must Unify Dressing Room

Frank arrived at Tottenham on the coattails of the popular Ange Postecoglou, tasked with stamping his own authority on the squad. So far, there are no signs that he has succeeded, leaving him in a perilous position.

However, Frank must start winning over his dressing room again, and the best way to do that, of course, is to string together several victories. This would help restore confidence and belief, and give supporters a reason to remain patient.

Ironically, Spurs welcome Brentford next weekend, and two victories against Newcastle and Frank's former club would ease the pressure somewhat. The alternative doesn't bear thinking about for the under-fire tactician.

Frank Has Tottenham Board Support

Despite the poor recent results, Frank is confident Spurs' board will stand by him in the long term.

Many fans of a Tottenham Hotspur persuasion were under the assumption that Thomas Frank, who became Ange Postecoglou's successor in the summer of 2025, would bring plenty of success – but that hasn't exactly been the case under the Danish boss. So much so that Spurs players have discussed how they can produce a united front against the 'negative atmosphere'.

Frank, following a period of seven years of punching above his weight in charge of Brentford, joined the reigning Europa League champions in July as they hoped to embark on a period of prolonged success. At the time of writing, he has accrued a points per match rate of just 1.38 after 21 matches at the helm across all competitions.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Tottenham Hotspur have failed to win at home in the Premier League since the opening day success over Burnley. The Fulham defeat was the club’s 10th at home in the league in 2025.

For those watching from the stands, it's not unfair to say things have turned sour. Boos have rung around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, at times, as they come to terms with the negative style of playing been played under Frank. Fans – evidenced by Guglielmo Vicario being the subject to boos during their recent loss to Fulham – have not been afraid to make their feelings known.

The Tactic Used by Spurs Players to Repel Negative Fans

And as a means of clapping back at the frustrated fans, right-back Pedro Porro took to Instagram after their recent all-London defeat. "Football is emotions," the 26-year-old wrote before adding: "In football, as in life, there can always be mistakes, what I will not tolerate is hearing disrespect from the fan to my teammates, hence my frustration at the end of the game.

"And we will get up, we remind you 6 months ago, everything was so bad, and in the end it it not how it begins but how it ends. To the true Spurs fan, I love you."

Behind the scenes, the Spurs players have been discussing how things can change for the better moving forwards and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium faithful were a key theme in a players' meeting after their 1-0 defeat to Chelsea at the start of November as Joao Pedro's unanswered goal opened and closed the scoring in the 34th minute.

The Telegraph, following the aforementioned loss to Chelsea when Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence failed to hide their displeasure with some fans and walked straight off the pitch, reported that Spurs have adopted a new convention, which they believe will demonstrate togetherness rather than a lack of attachment between the players.

Irrespective of the score, they have all agreed to gather around the centre circle at the end of the first half and leave the pitch together. As things stand, the Spurs players do not walk around the pitch at the end of the match to applaud the support, whether they are inside the home end or have travelled from north London, as is the custom at some clubs.​​​​​​​

Frank himself has spoken out about how frustrated Spurs fans have been getting. After Vicario was subject to a chorus of boos on Saturday, the 52-year-old said the reaction was 'unacceptable by saying the following 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. I’m fine with them booing after the match, no problem, but not during. That is unacceptable in my opinion.”

Vicario, though, is of a different belief, as the Italian goalkeeper understands that it's part and parcel of football. “It’s part of football. I am a big man, I am quite [a bit] older. We cannot be influenced by the situation in the stands," he said. "The fans have the right to do what they think… probably it is on us to stay more calm and focus more on ourselves.”

Spurs Fans Lament New Convention to Show United Front

Although, on the face of it, Spurs are doing all they can to prove they all share the same end goal, it has not gone down well with the supporters, who have done all they can to prove they are unhappy with Frank's methods – and also how poorly the players are at carrying out instructions from the ex-Brentford custodian and his team in the dugout.

"It's like they're playing against us?" one said in response to the news on X (formerly Twitter) as another one added that playing 'proper football' would be the right antidote to fan anger. "These gimmicks aren't necessary," they wrote before adding: Just play proper football." Another wrote:

"Weakest group of players ever mentally. Serve up absolute drivel week in week out and throw tantrums when fans let them know."

"Anything but actual tactics," a fourth fan wrote in disgust as a final fan claimed that such a tactic will only add fuel to the fire rather than pour water on the ever-growing issue. They wrote: "What are we doing here? Do they not realise this is going to annoy fans more when we're losing and playing garbage football. Shall we just liquidate and start the club again?"