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Some Tottenham Hotspur players shone while others faltered as Thomas Frank’s team secured a first point in almost a month against Newcastle.

It looked as though Tottenham Hotspur were heading for another defeat, with Newcastle United twice taking the lead during Tuesday night’s fixture.

However, Cristian Romero returned from his suspension in style as he scored the initial equaliser and did so again in stoppage time.

The Argentine can be proud of his attacking contributions, and there were other players who had an impact, although not always for the right reason. Here are the three winners and losers from Tottenham’s 2-2 draw at Newcastle United.

Cristian Romero is competing with Micky van de Ven

Romero and Micky van de Ven work as a team when it comes to defending. However, in bizarre fashion, the pair look to be challenging each other to be the club’s top scorer at the end of the season.

It was the Spurs captain’s night against Newcastle as he levelled the score with a fine header. This was a significant moment for Romero, who has struggled to find the target with some of his aerial shots this season, unlike van de Ven, who cannot stop scoring.

Tottenham fell behind again, only for Romero to respond once more, and this time he was even more impressive. The World Cup-winning defender attempted an overhead kick, and while his contact with the ball was not the cleanest, it did the job. He can sleep well tonight knowing he did everything in his power to drive Spurs towards victory.

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Mohammed Kudus got another Tottenham goal contribution

Mohammed Kudus was one of a very small number of players who delivered when Spurs were defeated by Fulham last Saturday. He scored a very good goal, and so it was no surprise when he was named in the starting lineup against Newcastle.

The right winger did not have his strongest performance by any means, as he struggled to cause the home side any problems for much of the game.

This changed towards the end of the game as Kudus played a really nice cross to Romero to get Tottenham their opening goal. It is encouraging to see him being involved in goals more frequently.

Guglielmo Vicario is no longer the talking point at Tottenham

There have been some low moments for Guglielmo Vicario during his time in North London, and Saturday provided one of the worst yet. The Spurs shot-stopper made a schoolboy error and was berated by his own team’s supporters.

Although the Italian conceded the same number of goals against Newcastle as he did in that game, there are positives to be taken.

Vicario was not responsible for either of the two goals, with one being the result of poor defending and the other a penalty kick. He will be glad that the dialogue around Tottenham has drifted elsewhere as he looks to get back in form.

Now, let’s take a look at the three losers from Newcastle 2-2 Tottenham…

Pedro Porro was off the pace against Newcastle

Vicario was the most unpopular player at Spurs on Saturday night, but Pedro Porro was a close second after he appeared to react in anger at the supporters following the game.

Frustration towards Vicario might have calmed down, but there will be no love lost between Porro and the Tottenham fans after a poor display from the defender.

His lack of pace proved costly as he was beaten in a footrace, which led to Newcastle’s opening goal. Porro was just as poor at the other end of the pitch, successfully completing just one of his seven crosses. It was an unconvincing performance from the Spaniard.

Rodrigo Bentancur almost cost Tottenham a point

Say what you want about the VAR decision to send Thomas Bramall to the pitchside monitor, but what was Rodrigo Bentancur thinking?

The midfielder had no intention of attempting to win the ball, and it seemed he had already given up on winning an aerial duel against Dan Burn. As a result, he put his arms around the England defender and gave VAR the opportunity to make a decision against him.

Plenty has been said about Joao Palhinha being a duel winner and not a possession-based player. However, it is hard to see how Bentancur is any better at bringing control to Tottenham. He has been shocking this season and is continuing to be handed starts because of who he is, rather than what he actually offers to the team.

Destiny Udogie still has a point to prove

The final player to complete the losers section is Destiny Udogie. The left-back did not have as many responsibilities as Porro on the opposite side of defence, but he still struggled with the task at hand.

Udogie won two of his nine overall duels, and his defensive contributions were lacking in every department except for recoveries.

The Italian did nothing at the other end of the pitch and has not done a good job at convincing Thomas Frank that he should start ahead of Djed Spence.

Cristian Romero was the star player for Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night as a 2-2 draw was secured against Newcastle, but previous results have been far less acceptable.

Tottenham Hotspur made the long trip to Newcastle for the second time this season with hopes of improving on a 2-0 defeat suffered there in the Carabao Cup.

Cristian Romero was back in the team after serving his one-match suspension, and he got off to a sloppy start. However, the Spurs captain came through for his team, scoring a header to draw them level with 12 minutes remaining.

Despite Tottenham falling behind for a second time, Romero found the net again, with an impressive overhead kick which slowly made its way past Aaron Ramsdale.

Cristian Romero claims Tottenham have not previously been good enough

Romero was in good spirits after his two goals saw Spurs receive a much-needed point in the Premier League. The centre-back even revealed that his second goal was inspired by his international teammate Lionel Messi.

However, Romero did admit that Tottenham have not been good enough in recent matches, while commenting on the team’s improved mentality on Tuesday night.

He told Sky Sports: “The first goal was very important. In the last three or four games, the team weren’t good enough. It has been a difficult time, but especially in this game, I love the mentality.”

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Speaking about his second goal, Romero added: “Every day with Lionel Messi in the national team, I watch him, and it is a beautiful goal.”

Spurs must build on their performance against Newcastle

Tottenham did show heart by coming back twice to get a draw against Newcastle, and of all the grounds in England, St James’ Park is usually one of the toughest places to get a result.

Yet the point still remains that Spurs are 11th in the Premier League table and are without a victory in the English top flight since October.

Character has been shown against Newcastle, but Tottenham must now show they are capable of securing a victory. It would be a big step in the right direction if they can take the lead against Thomas Frank’s former club on Saturday and hold onto it for the remainder of the game, rather than leaving things until the last minute.

Tottenham Hotspur shared the spoils in a frantic 2-2 draw at St James’ Park to bring their run of three defeats in all competitions to a halt.

Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from Newcastle 2-2 Tottenham:

Cristian Romero delivers a captain’s performance for Tottenham vs Newcastle

The pressure was definitely on Tottenham Hotspur coming into their encounter with Newcastle United today, as Thomas Frank’s side needed to avoid defeat at St James’ Park to reduce some of the heat the manager was getting from his own fans.

Frank made some changes, and amongst them was the return of Cristian Romero to the Tottenham side after serving his one-game suspension for picking up a booking.

Surprisingly, it was the Tottenham captain who proved to be the game-changer for Spurs, as he was immense in the opposition box.

The Argentine pulled Tottenham back into the game twice in spectacular fashion, first with a flying header and then with an overhead kick late in the game when the three points looked destined for Newcastle.

Romero definitely spared Frank’s blushes as he put in a proper captain display, leading from the front.

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Spurs escape with a point despite Newcastle dominance

Of course, when a defender is the one dragging you from the brink of defeat, then that often tells the story of how the game went.

In all fairness, Tottenham will count themselves lucky to have come away with a point, as Newcastle were the better side statistically.

Eddie Howe’s side started the game with intent and looked like the team interested in winning tonight, playing total football and dominating Spurs, managing 19 shots, seven on target, while registering an xG of 1.96.

The Magpies also created good chances and were denied by the woodwork at times, while Spurs did not manage to hit the target until the 78th minute through Romero’s opener, and the fact that their only two shots on target were the goals sums up how fortunate the point ultimately was.

VAR penalty decision adds to Premier League inconsistency

The officiating in the Premier League this season has been chaotic to say the least. The referees lack consistency of any sort, and we have already seen the confusion around offside when players are in the eyeline of goalkeepers.

Today brought another example, as Newcastle were handed a soft penalty for holding in the box, which is a complete lottery given how often these incidents are overlooked in the league.

It was a poor decision that put the Magpies in front, leading to more questions over the use of VAR in the Premier League, given the lack of consistency involved when the technology is used.

Xavi Simons benched again as Tottenham selection questions grow

Frank made big decisions tonight, and many fans will have been surprised by the lineup the manager went with.

Indeed, the Dane might have had in mind the need to deal with Newcastle’s physicality, which made the inclusion of Pape Matar Sarr understandable.

Maybe height played a role in Johnson and Bergvall’s involvement. However, Xavi Simons being benched for the fourth game running is strange given how much he cost Tottenham this summer.

Frank already stated that he believes Simons needs to adapt, but it is difficult for a 22-year-old to do so without any game time.

Tottenham have Brentford next, and it will be interesting to see if the Dutchman is handed a start there.

Guglielmo Vicario responds strongly after recent Tottenham error

Last time out, Guglielmo Vicario’s howler made the headlines, and rightfully so, as it cost Tottenham a goal.

Despite that, he was once more handed a start tonight, which is not surprising as he often gets the nod even after poor displays.

The Italian is definitely a big character, and his display tonight showed that he was not flustered by the error and was willing to move on from it quickly.

He was crucial for Tottenham, making several important saves to keep them in the game, while also coming up with some strong high claims when Newcastle looked to threaten from set pieces.

The Tottenham number one on his day is a very good shot stopper, but his problem is inconsistency. You just never know when he will have a down moment, which are often very costly.

But tonight, he deserves his flowers for how well he bounced back.

The full-time whistle has blown between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in the Premier League, and the player ratings are in.

Tottenham full-time player ratings vs Newcastle

Guglielmo Vicario – A much better display than at the weekend against Fulham. Vicario made several good saves to keep Tottenham Hotspur in the game and avoided giving the ball away in dangerous areas. There was nothing he could do for Newcastle’s opener, and he was well beaten from the spot for the Magpies’ second. 6.

Pedro Porro – Far improved in the second half compared with the first, where he was more conservative and offered little attacking threat. After the interval, he found the right balance, choosing sensible moments to join the attack while also sticking tight to his man. 5.

Kevin Danso – The centre-back focused on the basics, keeping things simple at the back. He offered his usual threat with long throw-ins, although they did not help Tottenham register a shot on target before the equaliser. 6.

Cristian Romero – Picked up a booking and kept Woltemade quiet for long spells. Crucially, he scored Tottenham’s first goal with the team’s first shot on target, guiding in a cross from the right from Mohammed Kudus. However, by getting tight to Woltemade in the box earlier, he allowed Bruno Guimaraes to take an unchallenged shot on goal, which led to Newcastle’s opener. The captain then rounded up a top display in the opposition’s box with a lovely overhead kick to draw Tottenham level. 9.

Destiny Udogie – Had a difficult task dealing with Jacob Murphy throughout the match. Eddie Howe later introduced Anthony Elanga, and Udogie held his own against both wingers. There was little he could have done for the goal, which did not originate from his side. 5.

Rodrigo Bentancur – A solid display overall from the Uruguayan, who had the tough task of matching the physicality of Newcastle United’s midfield. However, he gave away the penalty that put Spurs behind. It was a soft decision, as Dan Burn had him pinned under his arm with no way to move. Prior to that, he had performed well, aside from the earlier moment when Guimaraes was allowed to shoot without pressure. 5.

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Lucas Bergvall – The Swede had a good chance in the first half, but his improvised effort did not test Aaron Ramsdale. He struggled to influence the match and rarely saw enough of the ball to affect proceedings. 5.

Pape Sarr – Offered solidity in midfield, staying close to Bentancur to help shield the back line. His role was largely defensive. He did try to get in the way of Bruno Guimaraes’ strike, but it was a powerful and well-hit shot. 5.5

Mohammed Kudus – Not always tidy in possession and gave the ball away a few times, inviting pressure on the Tottenham defence. However, he did provide a moment of real quality with the cross from the right that set up Romero’s goal. He did not trouble Lewis Hall consistently but contributed to the key equaliser. 6.

Randal Kolo Muani – Tottenham did not manage a shot on target until Romero’s goal, but the Frenchman showed plenty of fight and desire, often trying to make things happen when the ball reached him. 6.5

Brennan Johnson – Offered little attacking threat. His best moment came during a first-half counter, but his final pass was cut out by Hall. He spent more time defending than influencing the match in the final third. 5.

Substitutes

Xavi Simons – Has not started the last three games for Tottenham, but he got his chance off the bench in the final ten minutes after replacing Lucas Bergvall. N/A.

Richarlison – The Brazil international came in for Kolo Muani and went straight into the number nine position. N/A.

Mathys Tel – Replaced Brennan Johnson and went to the left of Spurs’ attack. N/A.

Wilson Odobert – Came on for Mohammed Kudus as Tottenham pushed for an equaliser after Anthony Gordon’s penalty. N/A.

The half-time whistle has blown between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in the Premier League, and the player ratings are in.

Tottenham half-time player ratings vs Newcastle

Guglielmo Vicario – The Italian has had to make only one save despite Newcastle United’s pressure. He has made no errors so far after a tricky week on and off the pitch. 6.

Pedro Porro – Almost played Tottenham Hotspur into trouble when he attempted a back-heel while defending. It was intercepted, leading to further pressure on Spurs’ defence, although Newcastle United failed to capitalise. He has also been more conservative here, not going beyond Kudus. 5.

Kevin Danso – A quiet display from the centre-back, who has been handed another start with Micky van de Ven dropping to the bench. He has kept things simple and stuck to the basics well. 6.

Cristian Romero – The Tottenham captain has already received a booking, but he has held his ground against Woltemade, winning a few aerial duels. 6.

Destiny Udogie – The full-back has not made many overlapping runs, largely due to Newcastle United’s dominance limiting Tottenham’s possession. He has, however, stayed tight to Jacob Murphy, allowing him very little space. 5.5.

Rodrigo Bentancur – The Uruguayan has looked as aggressive as possible in the tackle. He has put in several challenges and won the ball cleanly more often than not. That level of aggression is important against Newcastle United’s robust midfield. 6.5.

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Lucas Bergvall – The most advanced of Tottenham’s midfield three, although the Swede has seen little of the ball. He did have a good late opportunity, but his improvised effort from a Mohammed Kudus cross went over the bar. 5.5.

Pape Sarr – A quiet midfield display, as Sarr is operating as the second pivot in Thomas Frank’s set-up. He has been more focused on defending and has offered no attacking thrust. He has, however, held his own against a physical Newcastle United midfield. 6.

Mohammed Kudus – Lewis Hall has largely had the better of him, with Kudus struggling to beat the young full-back. He did create Spurs’ best chance of the half when his cross found Bergvall, but the youngster could not convert. 5.

Randal Kolo Muani – He has not had a clear sight of goal, but he has been a willing runner, working the channels and trying to involve himself in the play. 5.

The Tottenham Hotspur team selection for the Premier League fixture against Newcastle United has been announced.

Tottenham will be hoping to kick off their December run of fixtures with a victory, after a barren run in November saw them go the entire month in the Premier League without a win.

A stern opponent awaits in Tyneside, as Newcastle welcome Tottenham to St James’ Park with Eddie Howe’s side coming into this fixture in good form.

Two wins in a row have seen the Magpies draw level with Spurs on points as they sit in 13th place, while Tottenham occupy 12th.

A victory tonight could see one of these sides go up into seventh in the Premier League table before other teams have a kick of a ball.

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Cristian Romero returns for Tottenham

Thomas Frank gave a positive injury update ahead of tonight’s encounter, with all of his fit players from the last game against Fulham fresh and ready to go.

Cristian Romero is back in the starting XI after having served his one-game suspension in gameweek 13 of the Premier League, following five bookings in his first 12 matches.

This is the Spurs team which takes to the field at St James Park tonight:

NEWCASTLE UNITED XI: Ramsdale; Livramento, Thiaw, Hall, Burn; Miley, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Woltemade, Barnes.

Subs: Ruddy, Schar, Gordon, Elanga, Willock, Murphy, Guimaraes, Ramsey, Neave

TOTTENHAM XI: Vicario; Pedro Porro, Romero, Danso, Udogie; Bentancur, Sarr; Kudus, Bergvall, Johnson; Kolo Muani.

Subs: Kinsky, Palhinha, Simons, Richarlison, Tel, Gray, Spence, Odobert, Van de Ven

Thomas Frank is a man under pressure

Frank is under pressure following Spurs’ poor run of results, which has left fans frustrated with boos ringing more often than the manager would love.

A victory here will go a long way in easing some of the heat on the Dane, who is quickly finding out how tough it is to make the step up from Brentford to a big six side.

Newcastle have ambitions of their own as they are fighting for a Champions League spot, just like Tottenham, making this game a big one for both sides.

Tottenham Hotspur fans will be surprised by how highly Thomas Frank ranks in the list of the highest-earning Premier League managers.

The Tottenham boss is now under immense pressure after a difficult start to his career in North London.

In fact, many Spurs fans have already called for Frank to be sacked, being left frustrated with the team’s results and the Dane’s negative approach.

However, reports indicate that the Tottenham board intend to give Frank time to turn things around and view this as a long-term project. It also turns out that sacking the 52-year-old will be extremely costly for the Lilywhites.

What wage does Thomas Frank warn at Tottenham?

GiveMeSport have now revealed that Frank is the third-highest-paid manager across the Premier League. The former Brentford boss is on a sizable £8m-per-year contract at the North London club.

While Pep Guardiola is at the top of the tree by a big margin, making £20m per season at the Etihad Stadium, Mikel Arteta is the only other manager who earns more than the Spurs boss, with the Spaniard taking home £10m.

Unai Emery is tied with Frank at £8m, while the top five is completed by Arne Slot, whose contract at Liverpool is worth £6.6m per year.

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Spurs will hope they have not made a costly mistake

Frank is not only one of the highest-paid managers in the Premier League, but is also on a three-year deal, which runs out in 2028.

That means that Spurs may have to pay a big compensation to the former Brentford boss if they do decide to sack him.

Tottenham Hotspur have identified an experienced Serie A centre-back as the ideal fit for Thomas Frank’s system.

Despite having Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin at his disposal, Frank is thought to be keen on adding another top-class centre-back to his squad.

One highly-rated Juventus star, who has missed much of this season through injury, is thought to be admired by the North London club.

Last week, it was reported by TuttoJuve that Fabio Paratici wants to raid his former club for Gleison Bremer in January, and it appears that Tottenham may be ready to step up their pursuit of the Brazilian.

Gleison Bremer is now emerging as a primary target for Tottenham

CaughtOffside have now revealed that the Spurs hierarchy have decided that defensive reinforcements would be the club’s top priority in January.

The Lilywhites are ready to make a ‘major statement’ by pushing ahead with a move for Bremer, who is now emerging as one of Tottenham’s ‘primary targets’, according to industry sources.

The 29-year-old is seen as the ‘ideal’ option for Thomas Frank’s system. While Spurs are reviewing several options, the Juventus man’s physical dominance, aerial power, and composure on the ball appeal to them.

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However, both Man United and Chelsea are also closely monitoring Bremer’s situation at the Allianz Stadium.

Spurs would have to make an ‘irresistible’ offer for Bremer

CaughtOffside say that the centre-back is one of the Bianconeri’s prized assets and is contracted to the club until 2028.

The Old Lady are under no financial pressure to sell Bremer, and sources in the club say it would take an ‘irresistible’ offer for them to part ways with the defender.

One of Thomas Frank’s habits has caused frustration among the Tottenham squad over recent weeks.

Frank’s popularity is very low among the Tottenham fan base at the moment, with the Dane having a lot of work to do to win over the supporters.

Despite the growing frustration of the fans, it has been reported that the Spurs board are ready to give Frank time to turn things around.

However, it has now emerged that it is not just the fans who are annoyed by the Dane’s methods, but also members of the Spurs squad.

Tottenham players frustrated with Thomas Frank’s tinkering

The Sun have now claimed that there is frustration among the Spurs squad with Frank’s tendency to tinker with his tactics until the very last moment.

The outlet claims to have heard from sources close to the Tottenham dressing room that there is increasing confusion about the roles that the players are tasked with.

This is primarily because tactical plans are suddenly abandoned or changed either very close to kick-off or early on during matches.

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As a result, some players are said to be uncertain about their roles in certain matches, such as last week’s 5-3 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, where Frank allegedly made a late change to his tactical plans.

Is Frank in danger of losing the Spurs dressing room?

The Sun claim that some Tottenham Hotspur players are enjoying working with the 52-year-old and his staff.

However, there are said to be fears at the club that Frank could lose the majority of the dressing room unless the team’s results do not improve.

Tottenham are chasing a striker who has found the back of the net seven times in the Premier League this season, and they will be very interested in the latest update on the player’s future.

Experienced strikers such as Dusan Vlahovic and Ivan Toney have been mooted as targets for Spurs ahead of January.

However, it has been suggested over recent weeks that Tottenham Hotspur could look closer to home to strengthen their forward line in the upcoming transfer window.

Tottenham have been backed to try again to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta in January after failing with a move for the Crystal Palace star late in the summer window.

Tottenham receive good and bad news in Jean-Philippe Mateta pursuit

Last week, it emerged that Palace are worried about losing Mateta after failing to tie him down to a new contract.

A new report in BBC Sport has now confirmed the same information, stating that the two parties are not close to finding a resolution in their contract talks.

The outlet says that the discussions have now stalled, with the 28-year-old now facing a very uncertain future at Selhurt Park.

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However, the bad news for Spurs is that Mateta is not thought to be considering a January exit. The striker wants to get into France’s World Cup squad and assess his options after next summer’s tournament.

Crystal Palace are still hoping to hang onto Mateta

BBC Sport say that the striker is hopeful that a good showing in North America next summer would put him in a strong position to make a big transfer, as he would have only one year left in his contract at the South London club.

However, Palace have not given up hope of tying Mateta to a new contract and want to continue the dialogue with the Frenchman in the hope of finding a resolution.

The outlet adds that a number of European clubs have shown interest in the former Mainz man, including Serie A side Atalanta.