Football FanCast

Tony Cascarino has claimed Tottenham Hotspur would be "better off getting rid" of one of Thomas Frank's key players, who has a "terrible" attitude.

Spurs down to 15th after Man Utd defeat

After finishing 17th in the Premier League last season, Tottenham would've been hoping for a much-improved campaign, but they are currently sitting in 15th place, just six points above the relegation zone, after falling to defeat against Manchester United last time out.

Spurs succumbed to a 2-0 loss against Michael Carrick's side, with Cristiano Romero's first-half red card proving to be a real turning point, and Frank has confirmed the captain has taken responsibility for the dismissal.

The Dane said: "Cristian, first and foremost, there is no intention of doing the follow-through and getting a red. He clearly goes for the ball. Unfortunately, the way the rules are, it becomes a red. Cristian apologised to his team-mates in the dressing room.

"But it is what it is. We need to deal with it. I think a big area we've been working hard on is resilience."

The Argentinian now faces a four-game ban, meaning Frank will be even lighter on options over the next few weeks, during which time his side will face some tough tests, taking on the likes of Newcastle United and Arsenal.

Cascarino has clearly seen enough, with the talkSPORT pundit recently saying: "I just think Tottenham are better off getting rid of him at the end of the season if they can because someone will pay good money for him, and I think they should move on."

The former Chelsea man also added: "Sometimes you have to let good players go, because I'm not questioning his ability, Cristian Romero's ability, I think he has a terrible attitude sometimes and he's incredibly reckless on the football field. That's what he does."

Romero needs to put things right after suspension

It is a little harsh to call for Tottenham to offload the centre-back, considering he has been one of their better performers in the Premier League this season, averaging a FotMob match rating of 7.04, the joint-highest in the squad.

The £195k-a-week defender has averaged 1.5 interceptions per game, the most of any Tottenham player, while an average of 2.8 tackles per match ranks him in second place, with Joao Palhinha way out in front.

The 27-year-old has even proven his worth in the opposite box, scoring four goals in Premier League outings, and even finding the net with a bicycle kick against Newcastle United.

As such, Romero deserves time to put things right, but he needs to improve his discipline and put things right by putting in some top performances upon returning from suspension.

Tottenham Hotspur are now targeting a Premier League star, who blew Thomas Frank away earlier this season.

Spurs looking to bring in attacking reinforcements

Prior to the 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford on Saturday, there were some indications Tottenham had started to turn the corner, given that they picked up victories against Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.

However, the same problems were on display in the loss against Manchester United, with Michael Carrick's side limiting Spurs to an xG of just 0.49 across the entire match.

In fairness, Frank's side were playing with ten men for the majority of the game, with Cristian Romero being dismissed in the first half, but the Dane refused to single his captain out for heavy criticism, saying: "If you look at how many red cards he's had in his career [Romero's], it's not like he's had that many. He plays with passion, and he plays with aggression, and there's a fine line."

Considering the Lilywhites have collected just 29 points all season in the Premier League, and currently sit in 14th place, European qualification is looking increasingly unlikely, which will have a major bearing on the calibre of player they are able to attract in the summer.

However, Tottenham still have lofty ambitions, as they are targeting Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Speaking on his YouTube channel (via GiveMeSport), the transfer expert said: "I'm sure Chelsea are still tracking Morgan Rogers as one of the most talented wingers in the game at the moment.

"So Chelsea are still very attentive. For Tottenham, [he] is a dream target, for sure, but at the moment, again, the player was not available last summer. So it was not possible for Tottenham to proceed."

"Unstoppable" Rogers could be statement signing for Spurs

Speaking after Rogers scored in Villa's 2-1 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in October, Frank said: "If you said to me before the game, ‘they will shoot from there, Rogers and Buendia’, from that situation, I would say, ‘of course, it’s not dangerous’, but fantastic quality shot from Rogers.

"In those very little moments, they had more quality in the end."

The England international is enjoying a brilliant campaign in the Premier League, having already matched his record goal tally in a single top-flight season, most recently netting in his side's 1-1 draw against AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has also been left very impressed by the Aston Villa star, describing him as "unstoppable", and at 23-years-old, he still has plenty of time to develop even further.

Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero has been making headlines this week, and for all the wrong reasons at that.

In the build-up to Spurs' defeat at Manchester United's Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, the Argentina centre-back's captaincy was questioned, given his statement after last weekend's draw to Manchester City, criticising the 'disgraceful' board for allowing Thomas Frank's squad to become so depleted.

This one isn't on Frank, but it's the latest in a long line of disappointments, and there are many of a Spurs persuasion who feel the Danish coach's position has become untenable.

The latest on Thomas Frank's Spurs future

ENIC Group and the Lewis family were forced to review Frank's position in the Tottenham dugout during the January transfer window, a matter of months after sacking Ange Postecoglou and shaping a new era.

In many ways, Frank will feel hard done by, but his pragmatic tactics and a general absence of creativity and inspiration have seen the fanbase's mood soured, and many indeed feel he is already on borrowed time.

If Tottenham are forced into making a change, it goes without saying that their course of action needs to fall on fruitful ground; honestly, the fans are fed up of inconsistency and ineptitude.

According to TEAMtalk, the powers that be are showing interest in USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who has already said 'yes' to the idea of making a sensational comeback at N17.

If Tottenham are serious about re-appointing Pochettino to put their woes to rights, they wil not land him before the conclusion of the forthcoming World Cup.

Regardless, the interest in the Argentine is understandable. John Heitinga is the frontrunner to lead Tottenham until the summer, should Frank be sacked.

There are other options on the market, but perhaps Poch is worth waiting for.

Why Poch could revive Spurs and Romero

Angeball captured the awe of the Tottenham fanbase for a time, but it's hard to argue against Pochettino instilling the most attractive style and identity at the club for many years. Even though he failed to secure any silverware, the 53-year-old's tenure is remembered fondly.

Not only did he lead the Lilywhites to a Champions League final and sustain a top-four Premier League finish across four campaigns, finishing 2nd with 86 points in 2016/17, but he did so with a beautiful and coherent system, with Dele Alli once marvelling at the manager's "amazing" tactical knowledge.

With this in mind, Poch could be the man to rekindle this current Spurs side; not only does he know the club, but he brings a balanced identity that would get the fans back on board.

He could be the man to revive Romero, who is ostensibly angling for the exit but might be tempted to stay with Pochettino at the helm in place of Frank.

Despite his flaws, Romero is still one of the most talented centre-backs in the world. Indeed, when you compare his stats against those of his partner, Micky van de Ven, you begin to see how much he brings to the table.

Pochettino knows a thing or two about creating a strong and dynamic backline; Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld are two of the greatest Spurs defenders in modern times, after all. It was they who were the bedrock of the team when they reached the final of the Champions League and they were also imperative as Spurs challenged at the end of the table. Perhaps the same could occur here? Van de ven and Romero are both good enough to replicate that partnership.

From a technical standpoint, Romero is possibly the cream of the crop of all of those names. Linked with a moveto Madrid for a reason, the 2022 World Cup champion could finally return to his finest form under Pochettino's wing.

Of course, there's the small matter of his future, with recent reports suggesting - prior the recent defeat to Manchester United - that he's unhappy amid strong interest from Spanish suitors.

But the Argentine star is contracted to north London until 2029, and the Lewis family are not going to short-change themselves by accepting any old offer.

Tottenham are believed to be eyeing up the opportunity of signing a summer free agent who cost his current club a whopping £130 million, according to a fresh report.

On the pitch, Spurs' miserable campaign hit a fresh low at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon as a 2-0 defeat to Man United left Thomas Frank's struggling side flirting with the relegation scrap.

Captain Cristian Romero's reckless first-half dismissal proved the turning point, with the Argentine receiving a straight red card for a dangerous studs-up challenge on Casemiro after just 29 minutes.

The sending-off came mere days after Romero sparked controversy with an Instagram outburst blasting the club's transfer policy, ironically highlighting the squad depth issues he subsequently worsened.

Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes condemned ten-man Spurs to their seventh consecutive Premier League match without victory, a catastrophic run that has plunged the north London outfit into genuine danger.

Frank's side now sit 14th in the table, just six points above the drop zone, with their campaign threatening to unravel completely.

The four-match suspension handed to Romero for his second red card of the season means Spurs will tackle crucial upcoming fixtures without their defensive lynchpin, including the North London derby against Arsenal alongside clashes with Newcastle, Fulham and Crystal Palace.

Romero apologised to teammates in the dressing room following his costly mistake, though the damage to Tottenham's Champions League qualification hopes may already prove irreparable.

Tottenham eye Dušan Vlahović on free summer transfer

Following the Argentine's outburst over Tottenham's transfer policy, a new report has claimed that Spurs are exploring a sensational free transfer swoop for Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović ahead of the summer window.

The Serbia international becomes available on a Bosman when his Turin contract expires in June, with renewal negotiations having completely broken down.

Vlahovic currently earns around £202,000-per-week at Juve and has rejected the club's demands he accept a significant wage reduction.

According to Foot Mercato and journalist Valentin Feuillette, Vlahovic has cost the Old Lady a whopping £130 million, including transfer fee, bonuses, salary, and agent fees, but he is now poised to leave for nothing this year.

The same source claims multiple Premier League clubs are circling, with Tottenham and Chelsea both eyeing a summer move for Vlahovic after Borussia Dortmund made a January approach.

The striker has scored six goals across all competitions this season despite limited opportunities recently, showcasing the clinical edge Spurs desperately lack.

His physical presence and technical quality would provide a real goalscoring threat for Frank, with Richarlison's long-term future uncertain and Randal Kolo Muani likely to return to PSG.

Tottenham are at risk of waving goodbye to a 'top talent' who's thinking about leaving, according to reports this week, with the player receiving 'several' proposals in January.

Following Thomas Frank's lacklusture debut campaign in the Spurs dugout, we've already seen multiple claims in the last few days that a few key names could depart N17.

Spurs' already catastrophic season threatens spiraling into further chaos following alarming reports suggesting that captain Cristian Romero has decided to quit the club this summer.

Argentine journalist Gaston Edul dropped a bombshell earlier this week claiming the World Cup-winning defender will definitely depart north London when the transfer window reopens in June.

Interest from La Liga remains strong, with Barcelona and Atlético Madrid both reportedly keen on securing the 27-year-old's signature.

The centre-back publicly criticised the hierarchy for failing to adequately address the club's crippling injury crisis during January.

Spurs managed just two senior signings throughout the entire window — former Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher arriving from Atlético alongside young left-back Souza.

That minimal recruitment has left Frank's squad woefully short despite injuries decimating the squad.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich continue circling Croatian teenage sensation Luka Vuskovic, who has enjoyed a sensational loan spell at Hamburg this campaign.

The 18-year-old centre-back has started 17 Bundesliga matches whilst scoring four goals, including a spectacular header against Bayern themselves last weekend.

Vuskovic represents a potential ready-made replacement should Romero depart, though Tottenham face a significant battle convincing the teenager that opportunities await him at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

As well as Vuskovic, Spurs are now apparently flirting with the prospect of losing another rising star.

Tottenham at risk of losing Tynan Thompson after 'several' January bids

That is according to journalist Pete O'Rourke, who wrote via X that N17 sensation Tynan Thompson is now considering his future at Tottenham.

The England Under-18 international was subject to 'several' rejected offers in January, so he's a young star in high demand, and he is apparently thinking about quitting the club.

Thompson has emerged as one of the brightest prospects within Tottenham's academy setup, catching attention from multiple clubs eager to secure his services.

The 17-year-old left-winger joined Spurs' youth ranks from Lambeth Tigers and has progressed impressively through the age groups.

Tottenham's decision to block his departure in January despite receiving concrete offers has left Thompson questioning whether genuine opportunities exist for him in north London, but it shows how highly the club rate him.

The situation mirrors concerns plaguing numerous academy graduates who have struggled to break into Frank's first-team plans.

Losing Thompson would represent another blow for Tottenham's youth development pathway.

The club have invested significant resources developing the London-born talent only to potentially watch him walk away frustrated by lack of senior opportunities.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is under mounting pressure after a dismal first campaign in charge which sees the Lilywhites languishing in midtable, and Spurs are believed to be weighing up his future behind-the-scenes.

The former Brentford boss arrived at N17 last summer with genuine optimism that he could restore Spurs back amongst the Premier League elite.

Instead, the 52-year-old has presided over what ranks amongst the most miserable seasons in recent memory for the fallen giants.

Tottenham currently lie 14th in the table, closer to the relegation spots than a place in the top four, which is a catastrophic outcome for a club that demands European qualification at an absolute minimum.

The gap between Frank's struggling side and those coveted Champions League spots looks increasingly unbridgeable with each passing week.

Last weekend's credible 2-2 stalemate against Man City offered brief respite from the negativity swirling around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. However, one decent result against Pep Guardiola's side cannot possibly disguise the underlying mess Frank has created.

The upcoming fixture schedule offers precious little encouragement for the embattled manager either.

Upcoming clashes against Man United, Newcastle and fierce rivals Arsenal represent potential banana skins that could accelerate Frank's exit from the club.

Tottenham failed to back Frank with a proven new forward in January too, only adding to the Dane's woes, with Spurs instead settling on deals for Conor Gallagher and young Brazilian left-back Souza.

Behind closed doors at Tottenham, patience amongst the hierarchy has worn dangerously thin.

Whispers suggest that another string of poor outcomes would trigger Frank's immediate dismissal, bringing a swift conclusion to what's been an ill-fated marriage between manager and club.

Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, who guided them to successive top four finishes with barely any transfer backing and spearheaded a Champions League final place in 2019, is a rumoured candidate to succeed Frank.

Mauricio Pochettino 'would unequivocally accept' Tottenham job

TEAMtalk have shared a fresh update on this, and it appears the USA manager is very keen on the possibility of a reunion.

United also remain keen admirers of Pochettino amid their own ongoing manager hunt, but an inside source is quoted saying Spurs' pull is "too strong to ignore" for the ex-Southampton, PSG and Chelsea boss.

According to TT, Pochettino 'would unequivocally accept' the Tottenham job if offered it after the World Cup this year, where he is set to lead the USA as they host the tournament on home soil.

In the meantime, it is believed that John Heitinga has emerged as the leading candidate to step into the role on an interim basis, should Frank get the chop before summer arrives.

The Dutchman already works within Frank's coaching setup at Tottenham, making him the logical stopgap appointment until better options materialise.

Pochettino departed Spurs abruptly back in 2019 despite guiding them to a Champions League final just months earlier.

That sense of unfinished business has never truly left the 52-year-old, who retains enormous affection for the club where he enjoyed his greatest managerial success.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank could be missing as many as 11 senior players for the trip to face Manchester United on Saturday.

Spurs criticised for lack of top level recruitment

Tottenham legend Chris Waddle told Football FanCast this week that the club should be challenging the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City for the highest level players in the transfer market, not struggling to keep hold of their best.

"Tottenham’s a business. Tottenham sometimes look more interested in the NFL, in boxing, music. It’s a business,” he said.

"That stadium is unbelievable. It’s probably the best stadium in the world. They’ve got the best training ground in the world, but they haven’t got the best team in the world. Was Tottenham thinking we want to buy a business all along and get NFL, get rugby, get music?

"It’s a money-business stadium, we know that. But at the end of the day, there’s 60k fans who turn up every week wanting that team to do well. I think they’ve got away from being a football club and I think it’s become a business."

Cristian Romero appeared to slam the hierarchy for their lack of activity in the January transfer window recently, claiming the state of the squad for the Manchester City clash was "disgraceful".

And things could be about to get worse for the Argentinian, who has now been added to the list of doubts to face Manchester United.

Man Utd vs Spurs team news

Tottenham will definitely be without nine senior players at Old Trafford - Pedro Porro, Kevin Danso, Ben Davies, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison.

However, there are also now questions about whether Frank will select Romero after his outburst last week.

On top of that, full-back Djed Spence is touch and go, meaning the Lilywhites could be incredibly light in defence.

Manchester United will be missing two defenders of their own, with Matthijs de Ligt and Patrick Dorgu both out long-term, albeit the Denmark star was thriving in a more advanced role before pulling up in the win over Arsenal.

In an exclusive chat with Football FanCast, Chris Waddle shared insight on the business side of Tottenham Hotspur.

On the pitch, the last 18 months have been saved by the fact that Tottenham ended their trophy drought by winning the Europa League. But even that may not be able to hide their problems in the Premier League if things don't change under Thomas Frank.

Once again, the Lilywhites sit deep in the bottom-half, rooted to mid-table with little end in sight. Frank, who achieved so much at Brentford, has struggled to make the same impact after taking a big leap in the summer, though he hasn't been helped by mounting injury issues.

Away from the pitch, meanwhile, Tottenham have been forced to deal with Cristian Romero's comments after he called the lack of squad depth "disgraceful" following last weekend's 2-2 draw against Man City.

When asked about that comment, Frank told reporters earlier this week: "Sometimes when you are like that, sometimes there can be an outburst, which happened this time. It is something we have dealt with and dealt with internally."

Whilst Frank insisted that Spurs have dealt with it internally, it has begged several questions for the ENIC, who Waddle believes are "more interested in the NFL".

Waddle slams Tottenham: They're "more interested in the NFL"

In a passionate response to Tottenham's current problems, Waddle exclusively told Football FanCast that he believes the club have become a business, rather than a football club since the opening of the new stadium.

"Tottenham’s a business. Tottenham sometimes look more interested in the NFL, in boxing, music. It’s a business.

"That stadium is unbelievable. It’s probably the best stadium in the world. They’ve got the best training ground in the world, but they haven’t got the best team in the world. Was Tottenham thinking we want to buy a business all along and get NFL, get rugby, get music?

"It’s a money-business stadium, we know that. But at the end of the day, there’s 60k fans who turn up every week wanting that team to do well. I think they’ve got away from being a football club and I think it’s become a business."

The home atmosphere has undoubtedly turned toxic in recent months, with fans starved of quality and moments to savour. In fact, in 2025, Spurs lost 11 home games - the most in the club's history. It's no wonder fans are turning.

Other projects are, therefore, not helping. From a business standpoint, welcoming boxing and NFL to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be applauded.

But from the fans' perspective, the fact that they're more likely to see a home victory from a boxer rather than their own players will always be far from ideal.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has paid tribute to Michael Carrick for his great start at Manchester United but insisted comparisons between the two clubs are unfair.

Frank reveals Man Utd advantage over Spurs

Fourth-placed United have been revitalised since former Spurs midfielder Carrick took over last month and claimed maximum points from his three matches in charge, including a 3-2 win at Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Spurs make the trip to Old Trafford in 14th and have so far failed to build on last May’s victory over Man United in the Europa League final. Whilst Frank’s injury-ravaged team are unbeaten in four games, they have won only two of their last 15 league fixtures and are 12 points behind the Red Devils.

“It is maybe a nice little context to say that Man United don’t play European football,” Frank pointed out.

“I think we can all acknowledge there is a little bit (extra). It is an extra challenge, (but) something we embrace and we are happy with.

“I think let’s judge us when we are on the same challenges. The ambition is that we want to do very well and carry on with the good performances and beat Man United.

“I think (Carrick) has had a great start. It seems like there was injected a little bit of energy into the team. I think it looks like some of the players are in a good place.

“We know the threats they pose before from Bryan (Mbeumo) Amad, (Matheus) Cunha and Bruno Fernandes is getting this team ticking. He has done that the last, I don’t know, four or five years. It has been incredible.

“It is a threat, it is a challenge, but we are looking forward to it.”

Spurs are set to be boosted by the availability of Micky van de Ven after a minor issue but all eyes will be on whether Cristian Romero is selected after a latest social media outburst this week.

Chris Waddle: Romero "never really wanted to be at Tottenham"

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Tottenham legend Chris Waddle delivered his verdict after Romero said it was "disgraceful" how few senior players were available for their draw against Manchester City.

Tottenham Hotspur legend Chris Waddle delivered a damning verdict about one Spurs star who has stolen the headlines lately.

Cristian Romero slams "disgraceful" Tottenham squad depth

Despite coming from behind to salvage a shock 2-2 draw against Manchester City last weekend, the headlines remained negative as far as Tottenham are concerned, courtesy of captain Cristian Romero.

The Argentine didn't hold back on social media at full-time even after the Lilywhites made such a stunning comeback in front of what were disgruntled fans in the first-half. He took to Instagram after the game to slam Spurs' recruitment, or lack of it, on a day that Thomas Frank had limited options available.

"Great effort from all my teammates yesterday, they were incredible.

"I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn't feeling well, especially since we only had 11 players available – unbelievable but true, and disgraceful.

"We'll keep showing up and taking responsibility to turn this around, working hard and staying together. All that's left is to thank all of you for being there and for always supporting us, the fans."

It's not the first time that Romero has spoken out and Frank was forced to respond ahead of Tottenham's game against Manchester United this weekend, claiming that the centre-back is a "very passionate character".

The outburst has certainly raised questions about Romero's future and Waddle has even gone as far as to suggest that the defender "never really wanted to be at Tottenham".

Waddle: Romero "never wanted to be at Tottenham"

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, the Tottenham legend delivered his verdict on Romero: "He likes to say what he thinks about Tottenham at times, but as a captain, you’ve got to be a bit of a diplomat. Captains in the past have tried to play it down a bit and say we’re trying to get there.

"The manager always gets the blame, but there’s not really one player who can really hold his head up high and say ‘well I’ve been playing well’. They’ve all been inconsistent.

"They’re not gonna win the league this year, I’m sure they’re gonna finish a lot higher than where they are at the minute. They’ve got a massive squad when you look at it on paper. Whether it’s good enough is a different reason. In my eyes, it’s not good enough.

"Cristian Romero has always been outspoken. It’s looked to me like he’s never really wanted to be at Tottenham. I was very surprised he signed a four-year contract and they made him captain. I think he thinks he’s better than what he is at times, but that’s the way he is."

As reports persist that Romero could leave Tottenham this summer, Waddle's verdict suggests that the North London club must find a captain who is a "bit of a diplomat".

Replacing the Argentine would be no easy task, but there's no denying that his recent outbursts are not helping Frank to turn his tenure around.