Teacher wins £140K payout after co-worker said she 'let students down' by taking sick leave for back operation
Teacher told her sick leave 'let kids down' wins £140k payout
Spurs clearly altered approach to signing players during eventful summer window
Successor: Thomas Frank replaced the sacked Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham head coach in June
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Matt Verri
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Tottenham's head of scouting Rob Mackenzie has explained the club’s shift in transfer policy under Thomas Frank.
After winning the Europa League last season to earn their place in the Champions League, Spurs strengthened this summer by bringing in players with experience of Europe's top competition.
Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha and Randal Kolo Muani were among those added to what was a very young squad.
That in itself had been a deliberate plan under Ange Postecoglou. In the summer of 2024, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert were signed as Spurs looked to the future in overhauling their squad.
"There were a whole host of things from a strategic perspective that would enhance our ability to be successful moving forward,” Mackenzie told the TGG Podcast of those transfer windows under Postecoglou.
“At that time, with Ange as the head coach, we were definitely in a period of transition in terms of some of the more experienced players leaving.
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“So how do you regenerate a squad from an energy perspective, an enthusiasm perspective, a strategic perspective? Within that summer and in January, we signed players who would assist with our mid to long-term sustainability as a football club.”
Hitting the ground running: Mohammed Kudus has made an excellent start to life at Tottenham
Owen Humphreys/PA Wire
It was felt that approach needed to shift in the most recent transfer window to give new head coach Frank a squad capable of competing now, rather than in a couple of years’ time.
Mackenzie revealed that in future windows there will be more of a "balance" between the two strategies at Tottenham.
“It’s about getting a balance and complementing what you already have,” he said. “We were fortunate enough to have signed those young talents who not only can contribute now but also in the future.
“Then it felt natural [to] say, ‘Well. if we’ve hopefully done a solid role in recruiting some of the most exciting talents across Europe and beyond, then actually from a short-term competitiveness perspective… it felt natural to enhance the 11 in as many ways as possible and give Thomas Frank and his staff different options across different areas of the pitch.
“Because winning games is the most important thing. Any Spurs fan who was in Bilbao (will know) that winning things is the holy grail. Moving forward, we’ll look to enhance in both areas, kind of balance them both off.”
Kudus and Palhinha have arguably been Spurs' two best players this season, with Frank benefitting from the shift to signing players ready to improve the starting lineup immediately.
However, Simons has yet to hit top form and questions were raised over the decision to sign Mathys Tel on a permanent deal when he was then left out of the club's squad for the league phase of the Champions League.
Despite that, Mackenzie has seen enough on the pitch this season to convince him that it was a job well done in the summer.
“Very objectively, I think we had a successful transfer window in the summer and we’ve brought in players capable of influencing our 11 and enhancing our performance in the Premier League,” he said.
“In the players that we agreed to sign – as a collective and obviously led by Thomas – they are all playing regularly and contributing to our 11. For me, that is the best indicator that there is agreement and alignment.”
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Teacher wins £140K payout after co-worker said she 'let students down' by taking sick leave for back operation
Teacher told her sick leave 'let kids down' wins £140k payout
Teacher wins £140K payout after co-worker said she 'let students down' by taking sick leave for back operation
Teacher told her sick leave 'let kids down' wins £140k payout
Spurs head to the microstate looking for a crucial win on the road
Teacher wins £140K payout after co-worker said she 'let students down' by taking sick leave for back operation
Teacher told her sick leave 'let kids down' wins £140k payout
The record was duly corrected to "lacking some creativity in the final third" and the question continued as to how much responsibility Xavi Simons takes for that.
The £52million summer signing has now made eight appearances in a Tottenham shirt. He has not scored for the club and his only assist came on debut when swinging a corner to the back post for Pape Matar Sarr.
"Of course it will always be, let's say, the front four - today Wilson, Mo, Xavi and Mathys - that is the main guys that will be judged on it, which is fair. Other players coming on from the bench.
"I like Xavi's personality today, especially in the first half. I think he wanted to get on the ball, he wanted to create. I think he was very aggressive in the pressure. I think it was a fine game.
"I think I need to remember it myself when we judge players and they come into a new club, a new country. I know it's part of football, [but] we judge them with a very small sample of games.
“Average-plus” was a generous reading of what was a poor performance from Simons. In matches at home when Spurs have the majority of possession and need to break a team down, he should be a difference-maker. Currently, getting the best out of the 22-year-old is just another problem for Frank to solve.
The Dutchman barely had a kick in the opening 30 minutes, staying high up the pitch in the No10 role rather than dropping deep to get involved.
Spurs need Simons to take more responsibility in demanding the ball when things are not working. There is, of course, also the issue of service. Frank again opted to play both Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha together in a home match and progressing the ball up the pitch was once more a problem.
As is often the case, Spurs focused their attacks down the wings. Frank wants his sides to get crosses into the box and so both Mohammed Kudus and Wilson Odobert saw plenty of the ball.
Wing play is a key focus of Frank's teams and Kudus has been Spurs' best attacker so far this season, but it does mean Spurs rarely play to Simons' strengths. Put simply, they do not attack through the middle of the pitch very often.
Simons' best moments came off the ball, making four tackles in the first half and seemingly enjoyed the physical battle. He squared up to John McGinn after one challenge left him frustrated.
It does not feel like it is the physicality of the Premier League that is a problem for Simons. In the first half, finding Simons was the issue, but after the break the frustration was more his quality on the ball.
More than once in the second half, Simons cut in off the left and had a chance to get a shot away, but instead continued to drift inside and played a safe pass.
Away at Brighton last month, in what was Simons' best display for Spurs, he had three shots in his half an hour off the bench, running the show in midfield. He was brave and decisive and backed himself when the space opened up. In three Premier League starts since then, he has not had a single shot and his confidence appears to be dwindling.
Spurs do not need him playing those kind of sideways passes. There are plenty of others to do that, with Simons brought in to address the lack of creativity in midfield in the absence of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.
At his best, Simons is exactly what this Spurs side need. For now, though, it does not feel like a comfortable match.
Spurs added two names to the injury list as they were beaten by Aston Villa on Sunday
Injured: Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, and Yves Bissouma are all out of action
Getty / London Standard
Arthur Ferridge
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Tottenham endured a difficult Sunday afternoon as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Aston Villa and suffered two new first-team injuries.
Cristian Romero withdrew from the squad during warm-ups with an adductor injury shortly after it was revealed that Destiny Udogie had picked up a new knee issue.
The new absentees leave Thomas Frank with a worryingly thin back-line ahead of a very busy run of matches.
Here is all the latest Tottenham injury news and potential return dates...
Cristian Romero
Cristian Romero was due to start against Aston Villa but suffered an adductor injury in the warm-up and withdrew from the matchday squad, to be replaced by Kevin Danso.
Speaking post-match, Frank downplayed the injury’s severity: "Minor adductor injury. He felt a little bit the past few days. We expected him to be fine but he wasn't. I don't think it is too big."
No specific timeframe has yet been offered for his return, but Frank’s added he was unsure whether he would be fit to face Monaco on Wednesday night.
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Potential return date: Late October
Cristian Romero was due to start against Aston Villa but watched from the bench instead
Action Images via Reuters
Destiny Udogie
After he did not appear in either of Italy’s matches over the international break, Destiny Udogie was something of a surprise exclusion from Spurs’ squad to face Villa.
Speaking pre-match, Frank explained he had a minor knee injury.
"Came back from international duties and minor irritation on the knee," said the Spurs boss. "Nothing major."
The full extent of the injury is not yet clear, though Frank did not seem alarmed by his absence.
Potential return date: Late October/early November
Yves Bissouma
Yves Bissouma has not played for Spurs yet this season after he was left out of the squad for the UEFA Super Cup for disciplinary reasons.
He had been recovering from an injury and finally returned to the pitch for Mali over the international break, but was injured again moments after his introduction and stretchered off.
Frank said of his recovery: “Biss, unfortunately, had a situation with the national team, I think everyone saw that, so he got a ligament injury to his ankle that will keep him out for weeks."
Potential return date: Unknown
Dominic Solanke
Dominic Solanke was in and out of the Spurs squad in the first weeks of the season as he dealt with a persistent ankle injury, but he seems to be nearing a return.
He underwent a successful surgery in September but is yet to return to full team training.
Frank said last week he is unsure when he will be available for selection again.
He avoided giving a specific timeline for his return to play: "The good thing is it's positive, he's progressing now. But he's still training on his own.
“I don't want to be too excited or too negative either way, so I'm actually taking it a little bit day-by-day and week-by-week to see how quick he progresses.”
Potential return date: Late 2025
Dejan Kulusevski
Dejan Kulusevski is yet to appear for Spurs this season after undergoing surgery on his patella after the Europa League final.
Frank has confirmed that there was a “good chance” of Kulusevski pulling on a Spurs shirt before the year was out, adding the winger’s return was “hopefully not too far away”.
Potential return date: December
Radu Dragusin
Romanian defender Dragusin has returned to training as he continues his rehabilitation from an ACL injury.
He will be eased back into action, but Frank has confirmed he could be available for selection in “a few weeks.”
Potential return date: Late October
James Maddison
James Maddison is expected to miss most of the season after undergoing surgery on a torn ACL, sustained in a pre-season meeting with Newcastle.
Potential return date: Summer 2026
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The Dutchman struggled to influence the match as Spurs were beaten by Aston Villa
Patient: Thomas Frank will give Xavi Simons time to prove his worth
John Walton/PA Wire
Matt Verri
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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri
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Thomas Frank defended Xavi Simons, insisting Tottenham's £52million signing needed time to come good.
Simons has made eight appearances for Spurs but is yet to score and has registered just one assist, which came from a corner on his debut against West Ham.
He started in the No10 role as Spurs were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa, making it just three wins from their last 18 matches at home in the Premier League.
Simons had another quiet afternoon. His best contributions came off the ball, registering four tackles in the first half alone, but he was ineffective on the ball.
There was more than one occasion when Simons had the opportunity to shoot from outside the area but opted to play a safer pass instead.
However, Frank was reluctant to blame Simons for another ineffective attacking performance from Tottenham.
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"I think we defend with 11 players," Frank said.
"We also attack with 11 players. I think it's the whole team. Of course it will always be, let's say, the front four - today Wilson, Mo, Xavi and Mathys - that is the main guys that will be judged on it, which is fair.
"I like Xavi's personality today, especially in the first half. I think he wanted to get on the ball, he wanted to create. I think he was very aggressive in the pressure. I think it was a fine game.
"I think I need to remember it myself when we judge players and they come into a new club, a new country. I know it's part of football, [but] we judge them with a very small sample of games.
"I'm not in doubt that Xavi will be good for us. Today was an average-plus game."
Frank insisted Spurs were "excellent" defensively against Villa, who scored from their only two shots on target in the match. Both came from outside the area via wonderful strikes from Morgan Rogers and Emi Buendia.
Xavi Simons’ defensive contributions outweighed his attacking input
John Walton/PA Wire
Spurs led after five minutes and Frank felt his side deserved something from the game, describing it as a "clear draw" on the balance of play.
It is the third game in a row that Spurs have dropped points at home, following a defeat to Bournemouth and draw with Wolves, and builds the pressure ahead of Chelsea and Manchester United's visits to north London in the weeks ahead.
"I don't think it's that simple," Frank responded when asked about Spurs' terrible run on home soil.
"I think it's about looking into the performances. I think we performed well against Burnley, I think we performed well again today. I think we had one very good first half against Wolves and then we had a bad game against Bournemouth.
"So that's probably the reason I think [today] is a game that is a draw, a clear draw. And we could easily have won it instead of Villa and then it would have been a different narrative.
"So I look at the performance on the pitch - we did well - and at the bits we need to improve."
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The Spurs captain was named in the starting lineup to face Aston Villa but dropped out of the warm-up early and went straight down the tunnel.
He was replaced in the side by Kevin Danso, with Romero instead having to watch on from the bench as Spurs were beaten 2-1.
It is a busy run of fixtures ahead for Spurs, who are in Champions League action on Wednesday night away to Monaco, and any sort of spell on the sidelines for Romero would be a huge blow.
However, asked if Romero would be fit for the trip to Monaco, he added: "I don't know. He could be, he couldn't. I just don't know.
“Right now if I'm honest I had one focus. I went into the changing room, I just spoke to the players and prepared a little bit for the questions I'm going to have.
Jun'ai Byfield was the only defender on the bench against Aston Villa, though the 16-year-old is unlikely to be thrown into first-team action by Frank.
Should further issues be picked up in the centre of defence, it is likely Joao Palhinha or Archie Gray will have to slot in.
Destiny Udogie was not in the squad to face Aston Villa after picking up a knee issue while on international duty with Italy.