Football FanCast

Tottenham Hotspur have been put through the wringer once again this season, with Thomas Frank struggling to get a tune out of the north London squad.

Sunday's dour defeat against Nottingham Forest underlined the many issues that had already been written down, with errors rife and players bereft of confidence and coherence.

The indelibility of Spurs' European triumph does not overrule the many problems that have stifled progress in recent months. Frank remains steadfast that he is the man for the job, but many of a Lilywhite persuasion are harbouring doubts, and that's only going to intensify if an upswing is not found soon.

Why Frank's job is at risk

Following the defeat at Nottingham Forest, Frank was adamant that it would take time to get his Tottenham project up and running, with reporter Matt Law saying "Spurs have no identifiable culture", thus making managerial merry-go-rounds ineffective, as we have seen over the past ten years down N17.

But Frank's job is nonetheless at risk. Spurs are mired in 12th place in the Premier League, and with just one win from seven games, the gap between those in Champions League contention is beginning to widen.

The old boss, Ange Postecoglou, didn't leave the most stable foundations, but Frank has taken the reins of control in north London and his pragmatism and reworked tactical style have depleted Tottenham of their attacking sparkle without establishing real green shoots.

This is painfully evidenced by the club's dismal playmaking numbers in the top flight this season. Neither James Maddison nor Dejan Kulusevski has kicked a ball due to injury, but the blame still lies with the manager. He has talented options at his disposal.

Take Xavi Simons, for example. The young Dutchman hasn't had it all his way since signing, but he has the trappings of an elite attacking midfielder, and a new manager could help bring him up to his potential.

Spurs lining up Frank upgrade

According to Spanish reports, ENIC Group are growing wary of Frank's progress since being appointed during the summer, and are believed to 'want' former Barcelona boss Xavi as their replacement.

This is not believed to be a short-term fix, but rather, a willingness to appoint a tactician for the long haul, bringing a proactive and intelligent system to the team.

The 45-year-old, who speaks fluent English, has even said in the past that he "would love to work in the Premier League". It might just be a match made in heaven for a Spurs side craving an attractive footballing identity.

Much has been made of Hansi Flick's success at La Blaugrana since arriving in 2024, but pundit Thierry Henry is of the opinion that it was Xavi's work beforehand that has created the pillars of this thrilling Spanish squad, suggesting he is "up there with Pep" in terms of how he sees the game.

Hailed as a "world-class" manager by journalist Maynard Manyowa, Xavi didn't have it all his way in the Catalan capital, but he did win La Liga, infusing his team with trademark passing dominance. It was a barnstorming season of success in 2022/23, so much so that club president Joan Laporta said, "We have the best manager in the world".

Barcelona have always been interlinked to their ball-playing culture, and Xavi - who prefers a 4-3-3 system - embodied that from the dugout after so many years of orchestration from the centre of the park.

His desire to see his players get on the ball and be enterprising in possession could bring the best out of Simons, who has endured a tough start in Tottenham but, frankly, walked into a system that struggled to establish creative patterns as a collective.

Still, he ranks among the top 9% of positional peers in the English top flight for passes attempted, the top 2% for progressive passes and the top 8% for ball recoveries per 90, data via FBref.

A pass is considered progressive if the distance between the starting point and the next touch is at least 10 meters closer to the opponent's goal or any completed pass into the penalty area.

The nifty Dutchman has proved already his quality on the major stages, and the flashes seen in the Premier League thus far suggest that he could lead the attack from number ten in Xavi's system.

Hailed as a "difference-maker in big games" by analyst Ben Mattinson, the technical skill and completeness this rising star has projected are elements that Xavi would harden and shape into something world-class.

Tottenham's new playmaker did ply his youthful trade in Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, and in this, he could thrive as Xavi's new protege.

Tottenham Hotspur are not in crisis mode, but there's a sense that Thomas Frank is a man who needs to create an upswing in results and performances quickly.

Sunday's 3-0 loss at Nottingham Forest was, by the Danish coach's own admission, a "disjointed" performance, doing little to ease the encroaching flames from fans who are getting fed up of the side's lack of positive, fluent play.

The usual culprits this season, the likes of Pedro Porro and Guglielmo Vicario, were at fault once again, and the goalkeeper in particular is beginning to look like a man on borrowed time.

Vicario is playing himself out of a job

When Tottenham signed Italian goalkeeper Vicario from Empoli for £17m in 2023, it was felt that Ange Postecoglou had landed a shrewd deal at the start of his reign.

But Vicario has ebbed and flowed, alright, and he's been culpable for more than a few frustrating moments this season.

The 29-year-old has been error-prone and unconvincing, albeit having lifted his Premier League save percentage from 64% last season to 70.4% this term, as per FBref.

But having made eight errors since his debut in England's top flight, Vicario is not the long-term solution for a team crying out for stability. Football Insider understand the Lilywhites are getting ready to sign a replacement at the end of the campaign.

However, Vicario is surmounted by a leaky backline, lacking synergy and strength against the tide of the division's attacking lines.

There are one or two larger problems under Frank's management, one of whom simply isn't cut out to lead the line consistently and over the next few years.

Spurs' bigger problem than Vicario

If ever there was a player prone to blowing hot and cold, Richarlison would be that player. The Brazilian forward has scored a few goals recently, but his overall play leaves much to be desired, and his display against Forest brought any positivity crashing back to earth.

This season, the Brazil forward has scored seven goals and supplied two assists across 25 matches in all competitions.

He has enjoyed some standout moments, scoring a brilliant strike against Arsenal and a highly-charged late goal against Manchester United, but even these peaks were clouded over by circumstance: Spurs were thrashed by their rivals, and the Red Devils levelled out Richarlison's goal with a last-gasp equaliser.

Frank needs a more refined and commanding centre-forward. With Dominic Solanke's injury record torrid down N17, recruitment might be the route to go down, especially since Richarlison, 28, is into the penultimate year of his £90k-per-week contract.

Criticised for an "inexcusable" miss in the Champions League last week by writer Simon Yemane, Richarlison needed to put in a big performance at the City Ground, but he

To say he toiled would make a deceitful comment on his work-rate and focus against Sean Dyche's well-drilled side. Football.london criticised his hold-up play and movement, branding him with a 3/10 match rating and writing that it was 'like playing with a wall up front'.

There simply isn't enough on show, and there hasn't been from the first time he donned a Lilywhite shirt.

The difference between Richarlison and his former teammate Harry Kane is stark. No one ever expected him to emulate the club's greatest-ever striker when he completed his £60m move from Everton, but the clue is in that sentence: Richarlison cost £60m, more than a sizeable outlay, and he hasn't been good or consistent enough. In the words of Gabriel Agbonlahor, he is "one of the worst signings in Premier League history."

Tottenham need to sort it out. Poor strategising over the past several years has guided the club down a slope, and while a Europa League title has been claimed along the way, it is clear that the silverware will gather cobwebs without upgrades on such players being enforced in 2026.

Thomas Frank is finding out the hard way just how challenging managing Tottenham Hotspur can be.

He could have been told that for free by the likes of Ange Postecoglou, Nuno Santo, or even some of the greatest managers of the 21st century, in the form of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

The early days of Frank's reign promised calmer waters. After finishing 17th in the Premier League under dear old Ange, they needed a bit of stability and they got that.

During Frank's first seven games in charge, excluding the Super Cup, they conceded just three goals. The negative turn things have taken, therefore, is quite staggering.

The Lilywhites ended a run of five straight games in all competitions without winning by defeating Brentford, but they were up to their old tricks again when they visited Nottingham Forest on Sunday, losing 3-0.

So, a change in the dugout could be on the cards.

The latest on Spurs' managerial situation

After Spurs suffered a disastrous loss on the road last time out, Frank's future in north London was thrown further into the spotlight. If the Dane wasn't already feeling the pressure, then he certainly will be now.

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that a number of top names are in the club's crosshairs should they decide to get rid of Frank, including the likes of Barcelona legend Xavi and Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner.

However, according to CaughtOffside, a leading contender for the job has now emerged in the form of Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine is currently gearing up to lead the United States at the home World Cup next year and therefore, an exit feels unlikely.

Yet, Pochettino is one of very few managers to get the most out of Spurs in the last couple of decades, guiding them to a Champions League final.

Perhaps more realistic options are the aforementioned Glasner and Marco Silva. The same report suggests that the two Premier League bosses are on ENIC's managerial shortlist.

Why Silva could be Spurs' new Pochettino

Cast your mind back to the year 2014. Poch has just left Southampton behind and taken on the Spurs job.

With the Saints, he made them an established top-flight side, finishing eighth in 2013/14, the South Coast's side's highest ever finish in the football pyramid.

He did so by playing a progressive and attractive style of football. At his disposal, he had the likes of Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw, two players he helped become England regulars. At Spurs, it was a similar story. Dele Alli, Harry Kane and Co all owe Pochettino a great deal of gratitude for how he developed their careers.

Well, it feels as though Silva is cut from a similar cloth. Now, we all know that Spurs have tried and failed with the proven Premier League manager strategy before. Nuno Santo didn't last long in the capital and now Frank is enduring a difficult time.

However, prominent names in the form of Mourinho and Conte hardly drove Spurs to newfound success either. In Silva, they could find their new Pochettino. Like the Argentine, he has been recognised as one of the most underrated the English top-flight has to offer.

Fulham defender Calvin Bassey has even heralded the Cottagers' boss as "one of the best managers in the Premier League."

As Pochettino did with Saints, Silva has firmly established Fulham in the Premier League. Having guided the Londoners out of the Championship back in 2021/22, they have never finished below 13th place. They even finished in tenth during their maiden campaign back in the big time.

So, other than doing well with mid-table sides, how else are they alike? Well, both prefer proactive, attacking football rather than sitting back and soaking up pressure. There is a lot to like about the way Spurs played under their former boss.

Silva isn't quite as full-throttle as Pochettino was and still is. That said, Fulham tend to defend in a midblock, rather than a low one, enabling them to turn the ball over higher up the pitch like a Poch side would do. So far this season, Fulham rank sixth in the Premier League for percentage of high turnovers (18.84%) that lead to a shot.

They also rank seventh in the division for PPDA (Passes Per Defensive Action), which measures how many passes a team allows in the opposition’s defensive and middle thirds before making a defensive action like a tackle, interception, foul or pressure.

Pivotally, however, is the comparison in developing players. The likes of Christian Eriksen, Kane and Dele all became genuine superstars under Pochettino.

While Fulham don't have any truly elite global stars in their team, Antonee Robinson has become "one of the best left-backs in the world" in the words of Sky Sports' Dougie Critchley and Harry Wilson is now in the form of his life under Silva's guidance, scoring four goals and registering three assists in his last seven matches for Fulham.

"I believe this is going to be the best season for him in terms of numbers," the Spurs-linked boss said about Wilson at the weekend.

So, while there are some differences between the two managers, the similarities could well mean he's perfectly suited to this Spurs team. After all, they are a young side and they need a manager capable of extracting their potential.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has revealed he will speak to Djed Spence about his negative reaction to being substituted in the 3-0 loss at Nottingham Forest, four years after Neil Warnock's infamous criticism of the defender's attitude.

Spence in the spotlight as Spurs defeated at Forest

The England international was seen gesturing and shaking his head when his number came up during the second half at the City Ground.

Spence was replaced on the hour mark after a Callum Hudson-Odoi double put the hosts in complete control, but Ibrahim Sangare’s wonder goal sealed Spurs' fate in a dismal afternoon which saw them drop further behind the European places.

“I didn’t see it,” Frank said. “Of course I will look back to be aware of it.

“I think there can be three reasons. He can be disappointed with his own performance, the team’s performance, he can be disappointed with being subbed off. I’ll ask him about that.”

It is not the first time Spence has shown dissent towards his manager after he appeared to snub a handshake after the defeat to Chelsea.

Spence has been one of Tottenham's best performers this season, something Frank alluded to after the incident following the defeat to Chelsea, but it's not the first time his attitude has been under the spotlight.

What did Warnock say about Spence?

After making his senior debut in 2018, Spence was fast-tracked into the first team at Middlesbrough under Jonathan Woodgate and eventually his successor, Neil Warnock.

The young defender's playing time plummeted in the second half of the 2020/21 campaign, when Warnock revealed his attitude could prevent him from fulfilling his potential.

"There are not many players where you can say it's all up to them personally how far they go - it's what's between the ears. He could be playing at a top club in England or in non-league in five years, I don't know.

"Application, dedication, all these things come into it. He's got the tools, there's no doubt about that."

The England international was loaned out to Forest, and was part of the Reds team who won promotion back to the Premier League, after which he couldn't resist a jab at his former boss on Twitter.

Warnock responded again, congratulating the full-back on taking his advice.

The 77 year-old is not the only boss to take issue with Spence either, as Antonio Conte pinned the blame for his signing on the Tottenham board during his time in North London, referring to the youngster as "club signing".

Since then, a resilisent Spence has not only earned his place in Frank's best XI but also potentially in Thomas Tuchel's, racking up three senior England caps.

And while it seems unlikely Warnock's "non-league" prediction will come true in the next 12 months, it is certainly fair to suggest the defender has used two of his three strikes when it comes to causing Frank headaches at Tottenham.

There have definitely been flashes of progress at Tottenham Hotspur over the past few weeks, but the 3-0 hiding handed by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on a chill Sunday afternoon has served Thomas Frank a sobering reality check.

At the weekend, Tottenham knew there was a chance to step up and make real headway in the Premier League by recording a statement win over Forest, having ended a six-game winless run in the division the match before, against Brentford on home turf.

Positivity was short-lived, though, even after beating Slavia Prague 3-0 in the Champions League in midweek. This system is riddled with problems, and the manner in which Spurs were beaten by Sean Dyche's relegation-threatened side has enraged and dismayed a fanbase who have been crying out for coherence and focused creativity all season.

Frank's post-match comments were bleak, but he couldn't have stood in front of the cameras and lauded effort, drawn solace from moments.

It is clearer than ever that ENIC Group's decision to attack the January transfer market is a just one.

Spurs planning for January additions

The Forest defeat was one to forget, but it wasn't an outlier for the Lilywhites this season, and that makes putting it in the background difficult.

Tottenham came undone in the first half when Guglielmo Vicario put Archie Gray under pressure. The 19-year-old then lost possession cheaply, and Callum Hudson-Odoi scored.

This microcosm of Spurs' season widens to a gloomier landscape, and it's understandable that signings are anticipated. This is a squad who need improvements across different positions. Gray, it seems, isn't ready for a starring role, playing as an anchor week in and week out.

Perhaps that's why ENIC are lining up a move for Atletico Madrid star Pablo Barrios. In fact, Spanish media are under the impression that the Londoners have already tabled an opening €70m (equating to £61m) offer for the 22-year-old midfielder. That fee, should a deal get done, would be one of the most expensive in the club's history, surpassing the £60m they paid for Richarlison but falling £4m shy of Dominic Solanke's deal.

The Spaniard's versatility and physical attributes make him an ideal fit for the Premier League, but Atletico won't let their prize leave easily. Spurs' interest is very real, but landing his signature will prove a hard task.

Why Spurs should sign Pablo Barrios

Gray's blunder at the weekend can happen in football, but it's symptomatic of a wider struggle at Tottenham right now. More experience and dynamism are needed in midfield, especially with Yves Bissouma ostracised and Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha offering limited skillsets.

Here Barrios would raise Spurs' level. He is athletic and fleet-footed and confident in the duel. He has been hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his "Iniesta-esque magic" on the ball, and so would help the manager establish fluid passing patterns from midfield, flowing into the final third.

Winning duels is a core part of the midfield game, and this Gray is struggling to do. In fact, the England U21 international's lack of success in tussling against opponents is preventing him from establishing fluency in the Tottenham midfield.

There is no such issue for Barrios, who is still young but strong and powerful enough to hold his own against any opponent.

Barrios would help steer Spurs back onto more stable ground. Not only is the Spanish star been tempered in the furnaces of Diego Simeone's steely system, but he's positive and proactive on the ball. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 5% of centre-midfielders across Europe over the past year for successful take-ons and the top 14% for interceptions per 90.

A successful take-on is recorded when a player beats their opponent by directly carrying the ball past them while retaining possession.

There is every reason for Spurs directors Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici to complete this deal. Gray is an exciting talent who may yet take a talismanic role in Frank's set-up, but he's not there yet.

The problem is that Gray's peers have hardly covered themselves in glory this season either, and a change is now needed, with plenty to play for this term.

Tottenham Hotspur's inconsistent form came back to bite them on Sunday afternoon.

Despite going into their Premier League game away to Nottingham Forest off the back of a draw away to Newcastle United and a win at home to Brentford, Thomas Frank's side looked second-best from the first minute to the last.

The North Londoners were unable to keep the hosts at bay, unable to create decent chances for themselves and generally looked bereft of ideas.

There were poor performers wherever you looked for Spurs, but two really stood out, one of which was Guglielmo Vicario.

Vicario's poor performance vs Forest

Vicario is a particularly frustrating goalkeeper: in one game, he can look like one of the best in the league, pulling off sensational saves, and the next game, he can look like one of the worst.

Unfortunately for Frank and Co, Sunday's match against Forest most certainly fell into the latter category.

For example, while he is not entirely blameless for the first goal, most of the blame for the hosts' second should fall at his feet.

If the Italian were better positioned for Callum Hudson-Odoi's audacious effort, then it would have been a relatively straightforward stop, and the Lilywhites would've still been in the game.

Unfortunately, the former Empoli man got it all wrong, and while he made some saves after the fact, it was too little too late.

It wasn't just his shot-stopping that was poor either, as in 96 minutes of action, the 29-year-old completed just 21 of 31 passes, was accurate in just three of his 12 attempted long balls and managed to lose the ball ten times despite taking just 39 touches.

In all, it was a truly terrible showing from Vicario, but while the media are mainly focusing on him, one of his teammates was arguably just as bad.

The Spurs dud who was as bad as Vicario

The bad news for Frank and Spurs fans is that you could realistically make the case for any number of players being the worst on Sunday, from Richalison to Mohammed Kudus and even Micky Van de Ven.

However, when it comes to the outfield player who was as disappointing and as detrimental to the side as Vicario, it is impossible to look past Pedro Porro.

The Spanish full-back is enormously talented, and at his best can be far more of an attacking outlet than most others in his position.

Unfortunately, he's not been anywhere near his best for some time, and was arguably at his worst on Sunday.

The former Sporting CP was entirely ineffective in attack, a massive liability in defence and, unsurprisingly, the watching press were not impressed with what they saw.

For example, the Standard's Matt Verri awarded the full-back a 2/10 match rating, writing that he was 'shocking defensively' and that he 'frustrated throughout.'

This may all sound a little hypobolic, or unfair, but the 26-year-old's statistics prove otherwise.

In his 96 minutes on the pitch, the Spaniard produced an expected assists figure of just 0.04, lost four of his six ground duels, committed two fouls, failed to play a key pass, failed in 100% of his dribbles and took 81 touches, but lost the ball 23 times.

Ultimately, Sunday was a terrible day at the office for the entire Spurs' squad, but Vicario and Porro were particularly poor, and Frank should really be looking to drop them.

With a draw and two wins in their previous three games, there was a sense that Tottenham Hotspur had turned a corner in recent weeks.

Unfortunately, their dire display away to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League made short work of any such optimistic ideas.

From practically the first minute until the last, Thomas Franks' side were outplayed and on another night could have lost by more than three.

There were terrible performances across the pitch for the North Londoners, including from one starter who ended up taking fewer touches, Guglielmo Vicario.

Spurs' poor performers against Forest

Starting in defence, it was a poor showing from the usually brilliant Micky Van de Ven against Forest.

The Dutchman looked panicked in possession, playing more than a few loose passes, and was really quite passive in defence, making just one tackle and losing two of his four ground duels.

Likewise, the immensely talented but often frustrating Pedro Porro was another issue for the Lilywhites.

For example, while he took 81 touches and tried to make things happen, he lost the ball 23 times and failed to play a key pass or create a single big chance.

It was more of the same further up the pitch, as while Mohammed Kudus was busy, he was entirely ineffective, coming off in the 80th minute after misplacing eight of nine crosses and losing the ball 23 times.

Last but not least, it's impossible not to mention Vicario.

Yes, the first goal feels more like an Archie Gray mistake, but much of the blame for the second goal has to fall at his feet.

After all, he appeared to be positioned all wrong to deal with it, and had the hosts not scored at that point, Spurs might've found a way back in.

With all that said, there was a starter who was even worse than the Italian, someone Frank should not start again.

The Spurs flop Frank must drop

Now, the unfortunate reality is that you could probably make the case for a number of Spurs players being axed from the team after that performance.

However, when it comes to the starter who offered the least of anyone on that pitch, it's impossible to ignore Richarlison.

The Brazilian forward was, at times, utterly anonymous and at others a genuine hindrance to his team.

When he wasn't offering any attacking threat whatsoever, he was losing the ball.

For example, in his 96 minutes of inaction, the former Everton ace registered an expected goals figure of just 0.11, failed to take a shot on target or play a key pass, didn't even attempt a dribble, took 16 touches - 23 fewer than Vicario -, and completed just two passes all game.

It was genuinely one of the worst centre-forward displays all season across all teams.

That might sound hyperbolic, but it's an opinion shared by the Standard's Matt Veri, who gave the Brazilian a 2/10 match rating, writing that he was 'abysmal' and 'spent far too much time complaining.'

Ultimately, while the entire team were poor, Richarlison was truly terrible for Spurs against Forest, and as a result, Frank should drop him from the team.

Tottenham Hotspur now hold serious interest in signing a "relentless" Premier League star, who has been outscoring Richarlison.

Spurs keen on new striker despite Richarlison's resurgence

Richarlison has received plenty of criticism during his time at Tottenham, but the Brazilian has been impressive in front of goal so far this season, scoring seven goals in 25 matches across all competitions.

Thomas Frank has been left impressed by the striker, saying after the 3-0 victory against Burnley: "He deserves a lot of praise. He was very good against PSG and today he was exceptional, with his work-rate, driving the team, link-up play, hold-up play, just dominating and then the two finishes."

That said, the 28-year-old hasn't exactly been prolific during his time in north London, scoring 27 goals in 114 outings for Spurs, while Dominic Solanke has struggled injury-wise, being limited to just two Premier League appearances this season.

With that in mind, it could make sense to bring in a new striker in January, and Tottenham now hold serious interest in signing Brentford star Igor Thiago, but there could be competition for his signature, with Aston Villa and Newcastle United also keen.

Thiago has a price tag of around £70m, so Spurs may have to shell out a club-record fee to get a deal over the line, and Brentford are reluctant to sanction a January move, which could be an obstacle.

As such, a winter departure is unlikely to be on the cards for the Brazilian, but strong offers are expected next summer, and a move to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium could be tempting.

Frank is an admirer of "relentless" Thiago

Frank spent time working with the centre-forward during his time with the Bees, and the Dane made it clear he is a big admirer, saying: "Thiago is a very exciting striker who fits the role in our team. He is hard working and a very good pressing player. He is also a physical presence, very good in the box and can link the play."

Since then, the 24-year-old has really kicked on, scoring 12 goals in 16 matches across all competitions this season, vastly outscoring Richarlison, and he received high praise from Sky Sports' Dougie Critchley, who described the Brentford star as "relentless in his work rate."

That work rate has been on display regularly over the past year, with the Gama-born striker exhibiting a real willingness to pitch in defensively.

Thiago has been fantastic so far this season, and Tottenham should monitor his performances between now and the end of the season, given Brentford's reluctance to sanction a January move.

It's never easy being manager of Tottenham Hotspur, is it? Just ask Ange Postecoglou.

The Aussie won an elusive European trophy for Spurs but after a dismal domestic campaign where the Lilywhites finished 17th, he was given his marching orders.

League proceedings threatened to get better during the early stages of Thomas Frank's reign. Spurs were more organised and looked compact at the back.

How quickly things change. Last weekend, Frank's side ended a run of five straight games in all competitions without winning by defeating Brentford. They won again in the Champions League in midweek but were brought back down to earth when they visited Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Spurs were pulled this way and that by Postecoglou's former employers. With Sean Dyche now at the helm, he more than got the better of Frank who saw his side slip to a dire 3-0 loss.

What went wrong for Spurs at Forest

During the first few weeks of the new regime at Spurs, they looked far better at the back but that solidity appears to have alluded them in recent weeks. They have kept just two Premier League clean sheets in their last eight games to really hammer home the pressure on Frank.

At the City Ground, things didn't get much better and they had Guglielmo Vicario to blame.

The Italian has made a number of crucial interventions in Spurs colours this season but arguably turned in one of his worst performances for the club in Nottingham at the weekend.

For the opener, Vicario played a very sketchy ball into the path of Archie Gray who was under pressure. He was ultimately caught in possession and Forest ended up finding the net.

Then, for the second, Hudson Odoi appeared to aim a cross into the area but it ended up goalbound and soared over Vicario whose positioning was all wrong.

While the goalkeeper did not help matters, even when Spurs had the ball in the final third they did not do an awful lot with it.

Striker Richarlison managed just two shots, none of which were on target. He also completed a dismal two passes during the game.

As for Mohammed Kudus, he could only carve out one key pass and didn't manage a shot on target either.

Truth be told, Frank looks out of his depth. His tactics are limited and it may well be time for a change in the dugout.

The man to replace Thomas Frank at Spurs

The Dane may well have only been in charge since the summer but it's time for a replacement. Frank did a wonderful job at Brentford but for a club that wants to be challenging for honours, they need someone progressive, someone with a better style of football.

Enter Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. Daniel Levy allegedly interviewed the Spaniard at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, as per TalkSPORT, who confirmed a few weeks ago that he has his sights set on a move up the Premier League, although with the caveat that he wants to see out the season.

Well, if Spurs play their cards right, that time could be now. Hailed as "the best coach in the Premier League" by European football expert James Horncastle for his exploits on the South Coast, the Cherries manager looks ready to be an elite name in the sport.

Since taking over at Bournemouth, he has turned them into a top-half club. They finished ninth in the table last season, just nine points off a European spot.

It was a brilliant accomplishment for such a small club, but like Iraola, they are growing in stature with the Basque-born coach in charge.

Frank has been accused of playing rather boring football since moving to Spurs. It's the opposite of Postecoglou's reign. That's a positive for sure, yet there also has to be a level of ambition to their play. That's where Iraola could come in.

Bournemouth writer, Sam Davis, once noted that 'we were told that we would see "rock and roll" football and "organised chaos" when the new boss joined the ranks at Vitality Stadium - they weren't kidding!'

On that evidence, he could well be the perfect hybrid between Ange and Frank. Structure and organisation to the defence but crucially, a desire and ambition to attack and play free-flowing football.

Spurs must look away from Frank and roll their dice on Iraola; it could be a match made in heaven.

Tottenham Hotspur are now pushing hard to sign an "unpredictable" midfielder, having submitted an opening offer of £61m.

Spurs looking to strengthen in midfield

Tottenham are looking to strengthen their options in the middle of the park, amid Joao Palhinha receiving criticism for some of his performances this season, with Jamie Carragher left unimpressed by the Portugal international's display against Chelsea.

At one point in the disappointing 1-0 defeat, Palhinha opted to play the ball backwards, rather than into an attacking area, which irritated Carragher, who said: "Now, we’ve spoken about courage, now we can talk about quality. Palhinha hasn’t got the quality.

"For me, for a player playing in central midfield for Tottenham, that is a pass you have to be able to make. He can’t make it, so... he goes back."

Palhinha has remained a key player for Thomas Frank, but Yves Bissouma's career at Spurs could be coming to an end, with the north Londoners deciding to sell the 29-year-old, as a result of an off-field incident.

Consequently, Frank may need to bring in a new midfielder in the near future, and Tottenham are ramping up their pursuit of Atletico Madrid star Pablo Barrios, according to a report from Spain,

Indeed, the Lilywhites are now pushing hard to sign the central midfielder, having submitted an opening offer of €70m (£61m), although it could be difficult to get a deal over the line, given that the Spanish club are unwilling to sanction a departure.

The 22-year-old has a €120m (£105m) release clause included in his contract, and they are not willing to sell him for less, so Spurs may have to increase their offer significantly to get a deal done.

"Unpredictable" Barrios catching the eye in La Liga

Scout Ben Mattinson has given an overview of the Atletico star's key strengths, describing him as an "unpredictable creative passer", whose "weight of pass is top", while also praising his ability to score goals.

Not only that, but the Spaniard is also skilled at winning back possession, averaging 1.38 interceptions per 90 over the past year, which places him in the 86th percentile, when compared to other midfielders.

The four-time Spain international has been a key player for Atletico this season, making 22 appearances across all competitions, and he recently put in an impressive performance against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, picking up an assist in a 3-2 victory.