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Thomas Frank’s sacking at Tottenham is inevitable as appalling stat emerges, only Wolves and Burnley are worse

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Tottenham have had the third fewest shots in the Premier League this season, as pressure heats up on Thomas Frank.

The Dane came into the North London club with a big reputation and got off to a great start.

However, recent weeks have seen the results turn sour, with Tottenham’s defeat to Fulham on the weekend resulting in further criticism.

Frank is now under heavy pressure at Tottenham, with Spurs’ lack of attacking outlet being a huge problem.

Tottenham are simply not shooting

Tottenham’s terrible attack under Frank has been consistently criticised.

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There have been multiple occasions this season where Spurs have simply sat off opponents and offered little to nothing up top, with the Chelsea game being one of the best examples of this.

Now, Opta on 1 December insists that Tottenham have only had 124 shots in the Premier League this season.

This is a damning stat, with only Wolves, at 122, and Burnley, at 104, having less.

The fact that Spurs are still so high up in the league is down to the fact that they have overperformed their xG by 8.98.

Therefore, this, combined with their terrible shot count, suggests that Frank’s sacking is inevitable.

Teams simply cannot keep getting results without scoring, and now that the points are starting to dry up, a change may well be needed.

What has Thomas Frank said about Tottenham’s recent form

Tottenham’s recent form has been dire in the Premier League.

Spurs are now without a win in four matches, a run that includes a 4-1 hammering against Arsenal.

Ahead of Tottenham’s game against Newcastle, Frank spoke to BBC Sport on 1 December and discussed their recent fall off.

He said: “This result leaves us in a place where we have lost another game. Every game has a single story, this game we lost in the first six minutes.

“We just need to keep working. The second half was much better and hopefully something we can use to learn.”

Thomas Frank ‘on very thin ice’ at Tottenham after ‘golden rule’ is broken

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Thomas Frank has been warned against being “bolshy” when his position is under pressure at Tottenham, by Alan Pardew.

Tottenham lost 2-1 at home to Fulham on Saturday night, with Guglielmo Vicario’s glaring error to allow Harry Wilson to score the second after just six minutes causing boos towards the keeper from the home fans.

Following the final whistle Frank called out the response from the stands, branding those involved as “not true” Spurs supporters.

But while ex-Newcastle and West Ham boss Pardew can see where the Dane is coming from he doesn’t think the Tottenham manager currently has a leg to stand on.

Alan Pardew warns Frank to be careful at Tottenham

Spurs haven’t won at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League since conquering lowly Wolves on the opening day of the season.

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And Pardew says that, with Frank’s job increasingly under pressure at Tottenham, he can’t be throwing his weight around when he isn’t getting his side to deliver in front of the home fans.

Speaking live on talkSPORT the former Crystal Palace and Charlton manager said: “[Booing] is part and parcel of the thing. I can understand him trying to protect his players a little bit and being bolshy. Is that a word I can use? Yeah, being a bit bolshy. He’s the manager saying, ‘I don’t like it, I don’t want it’.

“He ain’t in a position to do that at the moment, and he’s on very thin ice I think… and I go by the people I know that love Spurs.

“It’s that home form. That’s the golden rule. You’ve got to win your home games. You’ve got to send the punters home happy.”

Toxic atmosphere may be too much for Frank to recover from

The age-old debate about whether fans can boo their own team or not always boils down to the fact that yes of course they can as long as they aren’t veering into abuse.

They are paying customers and boos are the way that performers are shown the dissatisfaction from their audience.

But whether they should do so or not is another question, since most supporters who regularly attend games would consider themselves part of the match in that their presence and support is supposed to provide an advantage to the home side, and booing the players necessarily makes it harder for all involved at Spurs to succeed.

So both sides are right to a degree, but that probably won’t matter if Frank keeps up the way he is going currently, because few managers last if the fanbase turns against them.

At this stage it is going to take the former Brentford boss and his players turning things around on the pitch first to get the fans back onside, and they will simply have to do that in spite of whatever is happening in the stands for now.

The issue is that the product on the pitch seems to be getting worse rather than better after three defeats in a week, and if the reaction from the stands continues to follow it might be irrelevant who is right or wrong when a new face and a new start might become the only way to change that.

Tottenham takeover saga not yet over? Spurs-linked businessman has just landed at Heathrow

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Tottenham’s takeover could be back on the cards.

Tottenham fans are growing frustrated with the direction of their club, and while Thomas Frank has shouldered some of the blame, a lot of it still stands with Levy.

Spurs supporters have been waiting for the day they have a new man in charge, though chances of that happening seemed to crash when Brookly Earick pulled out of a deal.

However, that takeover could be back on the cards in the near future if his latest Instagram story is anything to go by.

Brookly Earick spotted in Heathrow as Tottenham rumours grow

Earick was accused of using Tottenham to build up his own reputation, as opposed to holding a genuine interest in taking over.

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The American businessman was very loud on social media about his interest, but very little surfaced in the end, with the rumours then just completely fading away.

However, Earick posted an Instagram story on Monday showing him landing at Heathrow Airport, which could be an indication that a potential deal is not over yet.

Whether it is related or not remains to be seen, but if Earick is back in contention to take over, the interest needs to be backed up with evidence, and not just claims posted across social media.

It emerged in September that Earick wanted to buy Tottenham for a world-record sum of money, and that could be back on the cards ahead of Christmas.

John Wenham has already warned Tottenham of potential issues

Earick recently founded Redacted RnD, which is a company that focuses on technology, media and sport, alongside an investment fund called Algorith Capital.

He also has a background in blockchain investments, which are commonly associated with high-risk, high-reward situations.

Ultimately, this was the warning sign for John Wenham back in October, when his interest was made to look serious.

Speaking to Tottenham News, he said: “Honestly, he looks like someone who’s got way too much money too soon from Bitcoin or something.

“I can imagine him being an absolute disaster. It sounds awful to say, but just look at the pictures of him, and you’ll see what I mean.”

After the whole debacle over the last two months, it remains to be seen whether Tottenham would even listen to the interest, or whether it is even there anymore to start with.

Guglielmo Vicario ‘unhappy with Tottenham training’ as dramatic exit claim made

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Training conditions could be to blame for Guglielmo Vicario’s shocking form at Tottenham.

Vicario made a huge error against Fulham as Thomas Frank’s side fell to yet another defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Italian didn’t cover himself in glory as Vicario was slammed in the Fulham defeat as he struggled outside of his early error.

Tottenham fell to defeat against Fulham, sparking unsavoury scenes in North London that players in N17 have since slammed.

Vicario was arguably to blame for the 2-0 loss, but it could be the antics of training down Hotspur Way that are having a negative impact on the Lilywhites.

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Tottenham training sessions blamed for Guglielmo Vicario form

Frank is facing the pressure of the sack at Tottenham after a hugely frustrating start to life since his cross-capital move from Brentford.

The Dane has generally struggled to get the best out of his new side, with Spurs’ home form being a particular concern in recent months.

The head coach can’t advocate for errors like that of Vicario, as he rushed out of his goal and ultimately handed Harry Wilson an empty net to aim at.

He was quick to blame the defenders in front of him, with former Tottenham scout Bryan King suggesting this could point towards frustration emerging from training sessions in North London.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, King said: “I don’t think they’ll move him on yet.

“They brought Kinsky in, who looked like he could be a decent replacement, but he started making mistakes. I think you’ve got to look at the goalkeeper work, to be honest.

“What kind of training are they doing?

“Vicario is a goalkeeper who, especially last year, has made great saves and can keep his team in the game, but there’s always a mistake in him.

“He’s not good from crosses, and some of his decision-making has been poor.

“He has a great tendency to blame defenders when goals go in, but he should look at himself in the mirror because it’s becoming too regular now.

“To me, it doesn’t look as though he’s enjoying training or playing matches. He’s conceded nine goals in 11 games, that doesn’t look to me like part of a settled team.“

Tottenham to stand by Vicario after Fulham mistake

There are calls for the ex-Empoli man to be replaced in between the sticks, with the January window fast approaching.

Frank already has Vicario and Kinsky at his disposal, and it can be argued that funds would be better spent elsewhere in the squad.

The Italian made have been at fault for both goals against Fulham, but that doesn’t look likely to be enough to bring in a winter replacement.

Should he continue to drop clangers, Frank will have no choice but to make a change, although he may have to look closer to home if he is to find the route of the problem.

Ange Postecoglou in surprise running for Liverpool job after Arne Slot sack latest

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Ange Postecoglou still appears to be in the running for nearly every single Premier League job.

Despite Postecoglou being sacked by Tottenham after a horrendous league season, the Australian is still fancied by many who face trouble.

Nottingham Forest turned to Postecoglou at the start of this season, but he was also sacked after a dismal start at the City Ground, where Sean Dyche is now in charge.

Postecoglou is fancied by Leeds, but intriguing developments at Liverpool could see everything change.

Arne Slot under real sack pressure at Liverpool

Many thought Arne Slot was defending Postecoglou during his time at Spurs last season, with Liverpool picking up a 6-3 win in North London.

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The shoe is now on the other foot, though, with the Reds growing restless over the Dutchman.

Liverpool beat West Ham 2-0 on Sunday, and it was desperately needed after heavy defeats to PSV Eindhoven, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City.

Slot was facing boos with some even saying he should be sacked.

Major bookmakers have even started taking money on who could replace the Liverpool boss if he were sacked, with Postecoglou sixth-favourite at 14/1.

As shared by Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher warned Slot before Liverpool’s win over West Ham that he had a week to save his job, with seven points needed.

The Reds take on Sunderland and Leeds United next.

Could Liverpool appoint Ange Postecoglou?

In short, anything can happen in the Premier League.

Postecoglou will always be remembered fondly at Tottenham, with Spurs lifting the Europa League to end a 17-year wait for major silverware under his watch.

Liverpool still appear to have faith in Slot, but sitting eighth in the Premier League will not be accepted for much longer, so Slot will be on red alert.

Postecoglou being fancied by Fenway Sports Group appears highly unlikely, though crazier things have happened in the Premier League before.

Destiny Udogie dropped as key star returns – Tottenham predicted XI vs Newcastle United

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Thomas Frank needs to secure a win more than ever as Tottenham travel to Newcastle United on Tuesday.

Tottenham suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday, with fans far from happy in North London.

This comes after Spurs were smashed 5-3 by Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League just days before.

With six defeats in their last 10 games, Frank is under huge pressure at Tottenham to deliver results.

And this makes Spurs’ upcoming trip to St James’ Park all the more important on 2 December.

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Xavi Simons benched for the fourth consecutive time

Cristian Romero will likely replace Kevin Danso after he was sidelined against Fulham for accumulating too many yellow cards.

Meanwhile, Djed Spence should come in for Destiny Udogie after a lacklustre performance on Saturday.

While Guglielmo Vicario was at fault for Spurs’ second goal, he admitted his mistake after the game, which will likely go down well with Frank.

As a result, he, along with Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro, should retain their positions.

Xavi Simons came off the bench against Fulham for the third consecutive time.

Tottenham signed Simons from RB Leipzig over the summer, but the attacking midfielder has been sparsely used by Frank.

Despite this, the Dane could opt to keep Simons on the sidelines in favour of starting a midfield of Lucas Bergvall, Joao Palhinha and Archie Gray once again.

Wilson Odobert could replace Richarlison, who was uninspiring against Fulham, while goalscorer Mohammed Kudus and Randal Kolo Muani will likely start at Newcastle.

Tottenham should not make this mistake against Newcastle United

Tottenham’s last encounter with Newcastle ended in a 2-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup back in September.

There were many things the Lilywhites got wrong that game, but the biggest was failing to convert their chances.

Yet Spurs failed to score a single goal while their opponents netted two.

It was an abysmal display, and if Tottenham want to have any chance of advancing their Premier League position, they must be as clinical as they are creative.

Gabby Agbonlahor slams Tottenham fans in full-blown Guglielmo Vicario rant – ‘I didn’t like it’

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Gabby Agbonlahor still can’t wrap his head around Guglielmo Vicario’s terrible mistake against Fulham on Saturday.

Tottenham lost 2-1 at home to Fulham in the Premier League on 29 November, gifting the Cottagers their first away win of the season.

Fulham were 2-0 up after just six minutes had been played, with Harry Wilson curling the ball into an empty Tottenham net from range when Vicario bizarrely gave the ball away.

Thomas Frank is under increasing pressure at Spurs, as the blame cannot only be directed at Vicario.

Agbonlahor has now expressed he “didn’t like” Tottenham fans booing Vicario, but blasted the ‘keeper in a fiery rant, with everything appearing to go wrong.

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Gabby Agbonlahor wasn’t impressed by Tottenham fans singling out Guglielmo Vicario

Frank criticised his home supporters for booing Vicario and got his message across about everyone needing to stick together.

Pedro Porro has also taken to social media in the defence of his Italian goalkeeper, as tensions continue to grow around N17.

While speaking on talkSPORT on Monday, former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor detailed his disappointment with Spurs supporters and highlighted what Vicario should have done.

Agbonlahor said: “They’re gonna be frustrated, but I didn’t like the booing of just one player.

“But that goal, one, clear it into row Z and get back in position. Two, why are you jogging and not sprinting to get back to your goal, Vicario? Three, why are you screaming at Bergvall?”

With January around the corner, Tottenham may have a huge decision to make with Frank.

Tottenham will most likely replace Vicario in January

A defence starts with the goalkeeper, and for the most part, Vicario has been good.

The Italian is known for his shot-stopping abilities, but teams constantly target him for his weakness in commanding the box from set-pieces.

The 29-year-old is supposed to be at the peak of his powers, but it looks like he’s far from that at the moment.

Tottenham have been linked with Marc-Andre Ter Stegen from Barcelona, and the German could be seen as the perfect replacement for Vicario.

Spurs’ number one has already shown his true abilities, and the writing is most likely on the wall for Vicario now, with a January move looking best for all parties.

'Thomas Frank is doing this better than Ange Postecoglou, it benefits Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven'

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‘This is what Thomas Frank does better than Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham, it benefits Cristian Romero and Van de Ven’

Thomas Frank’s tactics are at the core of the improved fitness of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero at Tottenham this season.

Frank has come under pressure at Tottenham due to a mixed set of results in recent weeks, with another home defeat against Fulham last time out.

Some fans have even begun reminiscing about the high-intensity attacking football Spurs played under Ange Postecoglou.

However, the Postecoglou era wasn’t the sunshine and rainbows that some supporters have convinced themselves it was.

Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven’s fitness levels have transformed

Tottenham fans saw the Romero and Van de Ven pairing just a handful of times in the Premier League last season, with injuries taking over.

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But other than a couple of games this time around, Romero and Van de Ven have been Tottenham’s starting centre-back duo.

For Tottenham expert and Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham, speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, this change has been one of the positives of the Frank era.

“Because we’re playing the defence deeper than under Postecoglou, and not having to run back on the turn quickly, which in turn means we’re not picking up sudden hamstring injuries,” Wenham said.

“This means that they’re actually playing together all the time. I can’t remember a period where we’ve had them together, Romero and van den Ven, for such a consistent period of time and obviously, we look best with our two world-class centre-backs on the pitch.”

Tottenham has not been a defensive powerhouse

Guglielmo Vicario has been behind Tottenham’s defensive form in the Premier League.

Indeed, the Lilywhites have conceded the sixth-highest expected goals in the league this season.

Meanwhile, Vicario has prevented the third most goals in the Premier League this period. This comes after his mistake during Tottenham’s 2-1 home defeat to Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.

The goalkeeper has received most of the criticism for Spurs’ defensive woes, but without him, the Lilywhites’ position on the Premier League table does not bear thinking about.

While this could stem from both defenders needing time to flesh out their partnership, if not solved soon, it could be costly for the Lilywhites.

‘Writing is on the wall with this Tottenham rising star who hasn’t fulfilled his potential’

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Jamie Donley likely wouldn’t have had many opportunities under Thomas Frank if he remained at Tottenham rather than going on loan to Stoke City.

Ashley Phillips and Donley were loaned to Stoke to further their development over the summer.

While Phillips has been flying with the Championship side, Donley has played just 77 minutes in the league.

As a result, Tottenham have faced calls to recall Donley and send him elsewhere. But that may not be the best choice without a clear plan of action.

Bryan King: Jamie Donley not good enough to stay at Tottenham

Donley is considered one of Tottenham’s brightest youngsters, which is why fans view his treatment at Stoke as bizarre.

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But while his treatment seems unfair, speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, Bryan King believes he’d be a regular on Spurs and Stoke’s first teams if both clubs deemed him ready.

“I don’t know where Spurs would use him,” King said.

“If you’ve got a young player and you potentially think that he’s first-team material, then surely it would have been far better for them to have kept him, and he could have trained with the first team.

“Being with Stoke, they’re a side who have improved vastly under Mark Robins and they’re fighting for promotion at the moment. Is he going to get a chance with them? He’s only played 70 minutes, and the writing is probably on the wall there.

“Is the Championship a step too far for him at the moment? It all depends on what the loan deal is. He certainly hasn’t fulfilled the potential that Spurs obviously thought he would because otherwise he’d be a regular at Stoke.”

Tottenham must avoid another Dane Scarlett situation

Dane Scarlett was Jose Mourinho’s shining star when he was climbing the ranks of Tottenham’s academy.

But several years and failed loan spells later the striker is a shadow of the talent he once was.

One of the biggest reasons behind this was how the Lilywhites organised and handled his loan moves.

Tottenham recalled Scarlett from loan prematurely in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, despite starting regularly for Oxford United during the latter season.

However, the forward was played only a handful of times upon his return which stunted his development.

Therefore, if Donley is to return from Stoke, it should be only in the case that another loan move is lined up.

Thomas Frank destined for Tottenham sack if clear issue isn’t addressed instantly

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Thomas Frank will be set for the sack if he doesn’t fix Tottenham’s first-half woes with immediate effect.

Tottenham were beaten 2-1 by Fulham on Saturday evening in a dismal display that left supporters furious with both the players and the manager.

Frank is under increasing pressure in North London with Spurs now on a run of three straight defeats across all competitions.

Spurs are quickly slipping down the Premier League table and must address their lack of threat early on in games to arrest the slide.

Tottenham toothless in first half of games

Tottenham haven’t scored in the first half of their last four Premier League games, and they have a real issue with starting matches slowly.

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Spurs were 1-0 down at the break against Chelsea and Manchester United, and 2-0 down in their most recent outings against Arsenal and then Fulham.

It’s not as though they have been unlucky either, recording just one first-half shot on target across all four games, proving that they are simply not creating anything before the break.

To make matters worse, their total xG in the first half for that quartet of matches totals just 0.28, an abysmal effort for what is 180 minutes of football.

Tottenham have been improving in the second period, but apart from their comeback draw against Man United, they have failed to take anything from the games.

Thomas Frank under real pressure at Tottenham

If Frank can’t address Tottenham’s first-half struggles, then their disappointing form looks set to continue, which would see the Dane lose his job very quickly.

Spurs’ run of games before Christmas will be critical in determining whether the former Brentford boss is given more time to turn things around.

Tottenham travel to Newcastle United in midweek, before welcoming Brentford to North London four days later.

Frank’s side then face Slavia Prague in the Champions League, before games against Nottingham Forest and Liverpool before Christmas.