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Spurs have lost their defensive stability after an impressive start to the season

Coach and captain: Thomas Frank and Cristian Romero

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Matt Verri

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The trees are going up around the country and Christmas music is hard to escape, but Thomas Frank can be forgiven for not feeling too much festive cheer.

As the pressure mounts and with headlines honing in on a strained relationship with the Tottenham supporters, a second trip to Newcastle in a little over a month is unlikely to have been high up on Frank's Christmas list.

Spurs were beaten at St James' Park in the Carabao Cup at the end of October and now return in the Premier League, looking to improve on a run of three wins in 13 matches.

There has been plenty of talk about Spurs' astonishingly poor home record this season and Frank is fully aware it stands in stark contrast to that of Newcastle's.

"Speaking about having a good home record - that's a difficult place to go to," Frank said of St James' Park at his press conference on Monday.

"Everyone knows that. I think they have won their last six home games, so perfect timing. Good but not unbeatable."

Spurs have been far from good and eminently beatable in recent weeks. A trip to a stadium they have not won at since 2021 is a daunting one. The last three seasons have brought 6-1 and 4-0 defeats to make October's 2-0 Carabao Cup exit look fairly positive.

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If Spurs are to defy form and history to get a result, the team simply must rediscover the defensive solidity that characterised the early weeks of the season.

The first seven games of the season in all competitions resulted in five clean sheets for Spurs. In 13 matches since, they have kept three.

Last week alone they conceded 11 goals and while they will be boosted at St James' Park by the return of Cristian Romero from suspension, he was in the side when Spurs conceded four to Arsenal and five to Paris Saint-Germain.

"You can say the four goals we conceded against Man Utd and Fulham is some of the goals I would like to avoid a bit more," Frank offered as an explanation of his side's defensive struggles.

"Also those two games, if you can see at the actual amount of shots we conceded, I think we conceded five shots and seven shots. It's very low.

"If you can see at the xG, you can see those games are very low, so the other stats behind it was good."

Spurs have lost their defensive solidity

Bradley Collyer/PA Wire

Bringing up xG and shot stats does not feel like Frank's best bet of a convincing argument, considering the conversations it would lead to over Spurs' attacking output.

The eye test was also enough to suggest that the Fulham match was not a good defensive performance, regardless of the underlying data.

The two goals were avoidable from a Spurs perspective but Fulham could have been three or four up at half-time. Samuel Chukwueze hit the post and only two brilliant last-ditch Micky van de Ven challenges prevented a really ugly scoreline.

A midfield that changes in terms of personnel and even system nearly every match cannot help the defence, while Guglielmo Vicario's form has just dipped after a brilliant run of performances earlier in the season.

Unsurprisingly, the drop in defensive security has coincided with Spurs' away record slipping too. It is still much better than the dismal home run, but Spurs have won only two of their last eight on the road.

There is seemingly no sign of Spurs' woes on home soil coming to an end, and so the pressure is on Frank's side to get the steel back on their travels, where talk of booing and irritated supporters can be largely pushed to one side.

The need for the defence to sort itself out again is urgent. With the attack struggling as it is, Spurs otherwise have no clear path to positive results.

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Frank opted for a system without a left winger in that match and it didn't work, suggesting it will be yet another different formation and lineup at St James' Park.

Cristian Romero will return from suspension and Djed Spence could come in at left-back in place of Destiny Udogie.

Frank has opted for a more ambitious midfield in the last couple of matches but it has not brought results and he could be tempted to return to his preferred Joao Palhinha-Rodrigo Bentancur partnership.

Xavi Simons did not start any of the three matches last week and throwing him in away at Newcastle would be a big ask. Pape Matar Sarr could come in to add further energy and physicality to the midfield.

Up front, Randal Kolo Muani was one of the few to come out of the Fulham match with any credit and deserves to keep his place if fit.

If there is a change in system, Wilson Odobert and Brennan Johnson are the most likely options on the left wing, with the Frenchman seemingly ahead in the pecking order.

Spurs were beaten 2-1 by Fulham on Saturday to make it a dismal three wins in the last 21 home Premier League matches.

Only Southampton, Manchester United and Burnley have been beaten on home soil in 2025, with the most recent of those coming in August.

Reports emerged following the Fulham match that the Spurs players held talks after the defeat to Chelsea last month over the lack of connection with the supporters.

Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence both walked straight down the tunnel after that match due to their frustration with the booing from fans, and Pedro Porro and Guglielmo Vicario are among those to have spoken out about it in recent weeks.

"To make it clear, I'm always a little bit surprised how things can get out from a meeting inside the club," Frank said when asked about the talks.

"That's always a little bit 'hmm, OK' but you guys [the press] are doing a good job because it is not coming out if you guys are not doing a good job, so well done for that. I actually mean that, it is not said ironically.

"We didn't have a meeting about the fans. We had a debrief after the game about the game as we do all the time, and it was pretty evident after that game that it was the first time there was a little bit of talk about the fans and the relationship.

The situation has since got worse, with Vicario targeted during the Fulham match after his huge mistake led to Harry Wilson firing into an empty net from 40 yards out.

The Spurs goalkeeper was booed the next two times he touched the ball and there were then ironic cheers when he cleared the ball into touch later in the half.

Frank claimed after the match that "true fans" would not do that as he criticised the Spurs supporters, comments which he further explained on Monday.

"When I said the 'not true Spurs fan', what I meant by that just to make it clear was the mocking of one of their own players," Frank said.

"He makes a mistake and there is a little bit of booing after that, as I remember it. The next ball he clears and there is like a cheering.

"You can't do that. The opponent can do that, you can't do that as a fan. That's where I would stand by what I said.

Thomas Frank is likely to keep tweaking his team as Tottenham travel to face Newcastle on Tuesday night.

Frank opted for a system without a left winger in that match and it didn't work, suggesting it will be yet another different formation and lineup at St James' Park.

Cristian Romero will return from suspension and Djed Spence could come in at left-back in place of Destiny Udogie.

Frank has opted for a more ambitious midfield in the last couple of matches but it has not brought results and he could be tempted to return to his preferred Joao Palhinha-Rodrigo Bentancur partnership.

Xavi Simons did not start any of the three matches last week and throwing him in away at Newcastle would be a big ask. Pape Matar Sarr could come in to add further energy and physicality to the midfield.

Up front, Randal Kolo Muani was one of the few to come out of the Fulham match with any credit and deserves to keep his place if fit.

If there is a change in system, Wilson Odobert and Brennan Johnson are the most likely options on the left wing, with the Frenchman seemingly ahead in the pecking order.

Porro was seen shouting at Lucas Bergvall after the match and stormed down the tunnel at the end of another miserable night for Spurs.

There were boos after the game and during it too, largely aimed at Guglielmo Vicario after his poor mistake for Fulham's second goal.

Frank criticised supporters who booed Vicario, claiming "true fans" would not do that, and Porro gave a similar opinion on Instagram the day after the match.

Porro posted: “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.

“And we will get up. We remind you, six months ago, everything was so bad. In the end, it is not how it begins but how it ends.

That was not an entirely popular message among the Spurs fans, but Frank insisted he had no issue with Porro's post.

"I think it's fair," Frank said. "I think it's fair in that sense. Again, the players, they are individual people that can have their own opinions.

"And I think what he put out there was fair in every aspect."

Porro, like Frank, has faced scrutiny for the phrase "true fans", with many unhappy with being told how they should behave during matches.

That is particularly the case considering Spurs' dire home form, which has seen them win just three of their last 21 matches in the Premier League.

However, asked if he was worried that using that phrase would further rile up supporters, Frank responded: "I don't know and you can say, how do you define a true Spurs fan?

"I think all the fantastic fans we have believe they're true Spurs fans. Some react in one way, some react in another, some are a little bit in between.

Thomas Frank has insisted that Tottenham are "nothing without the fans" as he urged them to stick with the team.

The relationship between Spurs supporters and the club’s players came under further scrutiny on Saturday night in the 2-1 home defeat by Fulham.

Guglielmo Vicario was at fault for Fulham's second goal and was booed the next couple of times he touched the ball, and there were then ironic cheers when he kicked it out of play shortly after.

Frank claimed after the match that "true" fans would not act in that manner and called for supporters to get behind the players, saving any frustration for after the game.

Asked about the need to keep the Spurs faithful on side at his press conference ahead of the trip to Newcastle on Tuesday night, Frank talked up the significance of the fans.

"As I said after the game, I completely understand the frustration. If you don't win, there will always be a frustration," he said.

"That is normal, it is part of it. 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, maybe years, maybe more.

"So the frustration grows a little bit more. That's understandable. It is my job to do what I can to make sure we are calm and look at the things in a way where we split things up in terms of performance, what is impacting it, how we try to build the team.

"We are nothing without the fans. No club is anything without the fans. Tottenham Hotspur is nothing without our fantastic fans, nothing. We need each other.

"There is nothing we want more than making them happy in every way and my point that during matches that is where we need each other."

Spurs' home form is adding to the pressure on Frank, with his side failing to win at their own stadium in the Premier League since the opening weekend of the season.

Frank and his players being booed off has become a regular occurrence but the Dane insists the relationship is not beyond repair.

Frank said: "Again, I think there's always some that shout louder than others. So I don't think fans, when you say you lose the fans, how many is that? Five per cent? 10 per cent? 15 per cent? 20 per cent? How much is it? I don't know.

"We would like to get all 100 per cent on board and there's only two things we can do. We can perform and keep connected."

Spurs travel up north in desperate need of a result

Spurs boss’ sentiment is right, but the fans’ frustration is understandable

No answer: Thomas Frank

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Matt Verri

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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

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What was it Ange Postecoglou said about turning points and false dawns?

"Every time I've seen the light at the end of the tunnel, it's usually been an oncoming train," the Australian quipped last season amid Tottenham's injury crisis.

The train for Spurs this time was not a pulled hamstring but a Fulham side arriving to pile the pressure on Thomas Frank.

After defeats to Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, it was this match that was supposed to provide some relief.

There had been better signs of attacking intent in Paris, even in a 5-3 defeat, and the idea, at least, was that Fulham's visit would offer the opportunity to kick on from that and prove a real moment for the Frank project.

Instead, it was all too painfully familiar. Fulham had not won on the road in the Premier League this season but left with all three points, seizing control with a 2-0 lead inside six minutes.

A third defeat in a week made it three wins in 13 matches in all competitions for Spurs and extended a dismal home run. They have now just won three of their last 21 home matches in the Premier League, beating only Southampton, Manchester United and Burnley in that period.

The results alone would be enough for Frank to face real scrutiny. Add in the poor performances and the fact Spurs are simply not improving under him, and it becomes a crisis.

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Speaking at his press conference last week, Frank called for some balance in the reaction to individual matches.

"Maybe not the best coach in the world after we beat Man City away, probably not the worst coach in the world after we lost the game," he said after defeat to PSG.

It is telling, though, that Frank's mind had to go back to the win over City for an example of a notable victory. That was on August 23. In more than three months since, Spurs have beaten West Ham, Villarreal, Doncaster, Leeds, Everton and Copenhagen.

Those three Premier League sides are all 14th or below in the table. Copenhagen and Villarreal sit 29th and 34th respectively in the Champions League; Doncaster are 18th in League One.

Thomas Frank defended his goalkeeper

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The early weeks of the season, including that win at the Etihad, were characterised by a newfound defensive solidity for Spurs, a platform on which some attacking patterns of play were to be built.

That foundation, though, is crumbling. Spurs conceded 13 goals in three matches last week, including four at Arsenal when they started with a back five and two defensive midfielders in front of them.

It has been coming too, with only some Guglielmo Vicario heroics stopping heavier defeats in the last couple of months.

The attack is the main source of concern for Frank. More than a third of the Premier League season has been played and the extent of the forward plans appear to be cross after cross from Pedro Porro and Mohammed Kudus.

It is not good enough. Spurs rank 18th for shots in the Premier League, averaging less than ten a match. Only Nottingham Forest have attempted more crosses than them and Frank's approach has become painfully predictable. When the set-pieces don't work, Spurs have no real threat.

Teams know to expect attacks down that right wing - Frank did not even bother playing someone on the left against Fulham.

The pressure seems to be getting to the Spurs boss. He is chopping and changing system and personnel from match to match, desperately searching for answers, but the outcome has just been more confusion.

Frank also cut an irritated figure in his press conference on Saturday night for the first time in his tenure.

When one reporter referred to Spurs being 2-0 down inside eight minutes, Frank interrupted: "Six minutes." Pointing out his team were even worse than suggested felt unnecessary.

The Spurs boss was also forceful in criticising the booing of Vicario after his error, claiming "true" fans would not do that. He emphasised the difference between booing during the match and after, insisting he had no problem with the latter.

It is impossible to separate the two, though. The fans would not have booed Vicario like that had the team been on a better run. It was, to an extent, a response to his mistake but more an outburst of despair at the ongoing shambles at home.

Frank's sentiment is right in that booing individual players when they touch the ball is not helpful. However, after yet another home defeat, he was not speaking from a position of strength in calling out the supporters.

The frustration, even anger, from fans is understandable and being told how a true supporter should act is not going to ease that. Frank's comments are likely to strain the relationship further between the fans and the team.

The Spurs boss has major problems on and off the pitch. Right now, he has no answers to either.

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Tottenham will hope to recover some injured players before the hectic festive period

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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

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Tottenham will look to get back on track when they play Newcastle at St James' Park on Tuesday.

The two sides are locked together on the same points in the Premier League table after two contrasting matchweeks.

While Spurs suffered defeats in back-to-back London derbies against Arsenal and Fulham, Newcastle beat Manchester City and then followed it up by thrashing Everton 4-1 at the weekend.

Tottenham's loss at home to Fulham, in particular, has seen the pressure increase on head coach Thomas Frank and the players were booed off by supporters at half time as well as after the final whistle.

Captain Cristian Romero will be available for selection ahead of the trip up north after suspension, but Dominik Solanke looks set to miss out once again.

With that in mind, here is the latest Tottenham injury news and return dates…

Dominic Solanke

Dominic Solanke has not been able to get going under Thomas Frank after suffering an ankle injury in pre-season.

He made brief cameo appearances against Paris Saint-Germain, Burnley and Manchester City in the early exchanges of the campaign before suffering a major setback.

Frank had said before the recent international break that he did not know whether the centre-forward would be able to play before the year was out.

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Solanke himself has refused to put a timeframe on his return to action.

“It’s been very difficult,” Solanke told The Athletic. “At first, I didn’t think I would be out for too long but we didn’t really understand the extent of the injury.

“I was trying to get back as quickly as I could but it didn’t happen, so I had to have surgery.”

Potential return date: Unknown

Radu Dragusin

Radu Dragusin is closing in on a comeback from his ACL injury to boost Frank’s options in central defence.

The Romanian stepped up his recovery during the international window last month, playing 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Leyton Orient.

Speaking after the Orient game, Dragusin said: "It felt good, first minutes in 10 months out, finally minutes in the legs and I just have to build on this."

He did not make the matchday squad against Arsenal, PSG or Fulham but could return to the matchday squad this week, potentially the home game with Brentford at the weekend.

Potential return date: Saturday, December 6 vs Brentford (H)

Dejan Kulusevski

Dejan Kulusevski may not be too far behind Dragusin with regards to making a return to first team action.

Having spent months on the sidelines with a patella injury, for which he underwent surgery after last season’s Europa League final, the Swede was back training on grass during the international break.

Frank has said that there is a “good chance” that the winger could play before the turn of the year.

Potential return date: Late December

Recovering: Dejan Kulusevski

Destiny Udodie/Snapchat

Kota Takai

Kota Takai is yet to feature for Tottenham since his arrival from Kawasaki Frontale in the summer.

Frank said before Spurs’ defeat by Chelsea that the Takai would “be training soon”, but the young defender has not make any of the matchday squads in recent weeks.

Potential return date: Unknown

Yves Bissouma

Yves Bissouma has still not made an appearance for Tottenham this season after missing the UEFA Super Cup for disciplinary reasons.

Since then, Bissouma then picked up another issue that forced him to be stretched off just minutes after his return to action for Mali while on international duty.

He has since had surgery, with Frank revealing that the midfielder had suffered ankle ligament damage.

Potential return date: Unknown

James Maddison

James Maddison is expected to miss most of the season since undergoing surgery on a torn ACL sustained in a pre-season meeting with Newcastle.

Potential return date: Summer 2026

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Spurs’ wait for a home win in the Premier League continues

Tottenham have lost three games on the bounce

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George Sessions

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Thomas Frank's Tottenham tenure suffered another setback as Fulham inflicted more home woe with a 2-1 win.

Frank watched Spurs suffer a third consecutive defeat in a horror week after they conceded twice in the first six minutes at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - the second following a moment of madness by goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

An early strike by Kenny Tete and Harry Wilson's sublime lob put Frank's team immediately on the back foot and, despite Mohammed Kudus' 59th-minute effort, Tottenham slumped to their fourth defeat in six Premier League games.

This latest bad result extended an awful run of results at home, with Spurs only winning three of their last 21 home league matches.

Those statistics, combined with a string of toothless attacking displays, mean Frank has plenty of questions to answer going into December, with scrutiny growing.

A spirited display in defeat at Paris St Germain on Wednesday had earned Frank some credit after the derby hammering by Arsenal where fans were scathing of his tactics.

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Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall provided green shoots of encouragement in Paris and Frank trusted the 19-year-old duo in what felt a significant fixture.

Yet before the highly-rated pair had even had time to make a handful of passes, Tottenham were 2-0 down in shambolic fashion.

Fulham broke the deadlock in the fourth minute when, within seconds of a poor header by Kevin Danso, the excellent Samuel Chukwueze cut inside from the left and picked out Tete, who had an 18-yard shot deflected beyond Vicario by Spurs' Destiny Udogie.

Tottenham were stunned but 136 second later conceded again in a moment to forget for Vicario.

The keeper rushed out to intercept Joachim Andersen's pass ahead of Raul Jimenez, but instead of knocking the ball out for a throw, he inexplicably cleared it infield and Joshua King teed up Wilson to curl home wonderfully.

It was a sensational 40-yard lob by Wilson, but Vicario's comical error saw him heavily booed straight after by the home fans.

Chukwueze curled against a post moments later before Danso had to block a shot by Wilson.

Tottenham's lop-sided 4-2-3-1 formation with no left forward continued to struggle to create chances and only a superb tackle by stand-in captain Micky van de Ven prevented another Fulham goal as he slid in to thwart Chukwueze, who had rounded Vicario after Pedro Porro's lapse in concentration.

It was masterful defending by Van de Ven but did not stop loud boos at half-time and, despite no changes by Frank, Spurs returned with much-needed attacking intent.

Randal Kolo Muani had an effort blocked seconds into the second period before a succession of promising openings ended with a poor Tottenham delivery.

When Porro did finally produce a quality cross, Kolo Muani sent his 57th-minute header into the side-netting.

Spurs finally had momentum, though, and the deficit was reduced with 31 minutes left when Bergvall chipped into the path of Kudus and he lashed into the top corner.

Frank immediately sent on Rodrigo Bentancur, Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons and the latter had a shot deflected over by Andersen as Tottenham pushed for a leveller.

The equaliser nearly arrived in the 67th minute when Bergvall flicked on Kudus' corner, but Jimenez brilliantly headed clear and there was no grandstand finish, with Kolo Muani sending a backheel wide as Spurs lost again at home.

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