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Dane was booed after Brentford draw, but is his side making progress
Time to deliver: Thomas Frank
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Sam Tabuteau
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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri
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Thomas Frank’s return to Brentford was always going to be an emotional occasion, and so it proved as tensions reached fever pitch in the away end at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Tottenham’s travelling support found their voice on a chilly and utterly uninspiring evening of football in west London, showering Frank and his players with boos at the end of a drab 0-0 draw in which Spurs managed just two shots on target.
This was a cold, hard reality check for Frank after the fleeting optimism of their victory over Crystal Palace last weekend.
Still, while he acknowledged supporters’ frustrations, he was quick to underline the importance of his side’s clean sheet in his post-match press conference.
“What we need to understand is the acknowledgement of the defensive side of the game, which we have done excellent today against a team that just scored three against Liverpool, three against Man Utd, so on and so on,” said Frank.
Thomas Frank insists Spurs are improving despite stalling results
Action Images via Reuters
The Dane’s assessment of Spurs’ plight this season has often been at odds with what supporters want to hear. There is a significant disconnect between where Frank believes the club currently stands and where it aspires to be.
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This means that while sections of supporters are unhappy with the pragmatic, reactive style of play Frank has introduced, he is not going to bend to the will of those calling for a more attacking philosophy.
A solid defensive base has to be the foundation of a successful side, Frank asserts. It is only from there that you can begin to play with more fluidity and freedom.
“I think if you as a team are not strong defensively, that is not the same as you can't play offensive football. It's just impossible to compete over a long season. Impossible.
“It's not that we don't want to play offensive or attacking football. I just think when we're not, how can you say, on the top of the game we would like to be, we work very, very hard on that.
“But by working hard on that, if you struggle scoring goals, let's say that, or create enough chances, you can't open up too much because then you need to score too many goals.”
Frank is playing to his strengths, coaching a reliable, solid defensive unit. But he is also playing to his squad's strengths.
Tottenham’s attacking corps is yet to properly click this season
AFP via Getty Images
The majority of Spurs’ best players are defenders, so in the continued absence of attackers Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke through injury, it makes sense for Frank to lean on what he knows best.
Flair was always going to be in short supply under Frank, so it can come as no surprise that this is the direction of travel as he tries to steady a team that lurched from Europa League glory to a 17th-place league finish last season.
Frank is reigning in expectations. The harsh reality is that Spurs are not a Champions League club, and the belief they will become one in the space of half a season is misguided. There can be no quick fix for the underlying problems at the club.
In an increasingly competitive Premier League, Spurs’ squad is some way off those teams they seek to compete with.
It is not the supporters’ job to curb their ambitions - that is Frank’s responsibility and while it may not make him popular, his words of warning are what Spurs need if they want sustained success.
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Same old issues resurface for Thomas Frank’s side on return to west London
Tottenham will not have Lucas Bergvall available as they kick off 2026 against Brentford in the Premier League tonight.
Bergvall came off just past the hour mark during Spurs’ 1-0 win over Crystal Palace last weekend with a muscular injury, but head coach Thomas Frank had been confident he will be ready for their trip to the Gtech Community Stadium.
"Lucas is okay. I'm quite positive he will be available,” the Dane said at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
“Of course, there's a small doubt, but it's quite possible that he will be available.”
Despite that confidence, the Swede will miss the match and Joao Palhinha comes back into the team against Brentford.
The Portuguese midfielder impressed off the bench as the north Londoners held on for a precious victory away at Palace.
Brennan Johnson is expected to leave Spurs after the club agreed a £35million deal with Palace on Tuesday, and unsurprisingly, he is not named in the squad.
Frank also confirmed that Spurs captain Cristian Romero, who missed the win over Palace, would be available again after his dismissal against Liverpool.
Romero, who will likely take the place of Kevin Danso, is the subject of an FA charge and could potentially face a further suspension after allegedly “failing to promptly leave the field of play and/or behaving in a confrontational and/or aggressive manner towards the match referee after being sent off”.
Frank, though, said he believed a decision on Romero’s charge would not be taken until early January.
"He's ready for the game (against Brentford),” said Frank on Tuesday. “As far as I know, it's something that will be decided in early January.”
Kota Takai and Radu Dragusin were both named in a matchday squad for the first time this season at Selhurst Park last weekend, but Takai has not made the side for the trip to west London.
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Spurs get double boost as Thomas Frank returns to former club
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London Standard
Sam Tabuteau
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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri
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Tottenham should have Lucas Bergvall fit to play as they kick off 2026 against Brentford in the Premier League tonight.
Bergvall came off just past the hour mark during Spurs’ 1-0 win over Crystal Palace last weekend with a muscular injury, but head coach Thomas Frank is confident he will be ready for their trip to the Gtech Community Stadium.
"Lucas is okay. I'm quite positive he will be available,” the Dane said at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
“Of course, there's a small doubt, but it's quite possible that he will be available.”
With Bergvall to be assessed in the lead-up to the game, Joao Palhinha could come back into the Tottenham team against Brentford.
The Portuguese midfielder impressed off the bench as the north Londoners held on for a precious victory away at Palace.
Brennan Johnson is expected to leave Spurs after the club agreed a £35million deal with Palace on Tuesday.
However, despite the 24-year-old’s Tottenham future being cast into doubt, Frank remained adamant that he would be available for selection against Brentford.
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“He contributed to a very good and important win against Crystal Palace. He trained very well today. I expect him fully to be available and able to play against Brentford.”
Frank also confirmed that Spurs captain Cristian Romero, who missed the win over Palace, would be available again after his dismissal against Liverpool.
Romero, who will likely take the place of Kevin Danso, is the subject of an FA charge and could potentially face a further suspension after allegedly “failing to promptly leave the field of play and/or behaving in a confrontational and/or aggressive manner towards the match referee after being sent off”.
Frank, though, said he believed a decision on Romero’s charge would not be taken until early January.
"He's ready for the game (against Brentford),” said Frank on Tuesday. “As far as I know, it's something that will be decided in early January.”
Xavi Simons was also sent off against Liverpool and will serve the second match of his three-game suspension as Frank travels to take on his former club.
Long-term absentees James Maddison, Dominic Solanke - who was back in team training this week - and Dejan Kulusevski remain out, but Frank was able to offer a positive update on Destiny Udogie, who has been sidelined since early December with a hamstring injury.
"He is running out there on the pitch, doing individual sessions on the pitch, so progressing going forward, that's good," Frank said of the left-back.
Kota Takai and Radu Dragusin were both named in a matchday squad for the first time this season at Selhurst Park last weekend.
The pair provide a welcome boost for Frank as Spurs prepare to play four times in the next nine days. Midfielders Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are both away at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Predicted Tottenham XI (4-3-3): Vicario; Spence, Romero, Van de Ven, Porro; Bentancur, Gray, Palhinha; Kolo Muani, Richarlison, Kudus
Injured: Solanke, Maddison, Udogie, Kulusevski
Doubt: Bergvall
Unavailable: Bissouma, Sarr (AFCON)
Suspended: Simons
Time and date: 8pm GMT on Thursday January 1, 2026
Venue: Gtech Community Stadium, London
How to watch: Sky Sports
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