tottenhamhotspurnews.com

Guglielmo Vicario has continued his worrying run of form for Tottenham at Elland Road.

Spurs and Leeds United have played out some fiery encounters over the years, and that narrative has played out once again.

Mathys Tel was a surprise inclusion in Thomas Frank’s side, but gave the away side the lead before Noah Okafor equalised for Daniel Farke’s side.

However, it could have been very different because of an error Vicario made during the first half.

Paul Robinson sympathises with Guglielmo Vicario after Tottenham incident

Vicario has delivered some poor performances for Tottenham in what is becoming a worrying trend.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Last season, the Italian was known for his inability to deal with crosses, which came to the fore for Wolves’ goal in North London.

At Elland Road, a cross was sent in to the Tottenham area, with Vicario coming out and getting nowhere near it as Joe Rodon headed against the post.

Spurs captain Cristian Romero was absolutely furious with his goalkeeper, but former shot-stopper Robinson sympathised with the 28-year-old.

“It’s a set play from Leeds United, Longstaff whips it in, and it’s a lovely ball. Vicario decides to come, and he gets stuck underneath the ball,” he said while commentating on Premier League Live on 4 October.

“It’s horrible as a goalkeeper, he misjudges the trajectory and the flight of the ball, gets stuck underneath it, and there’s nothing he can do.

“Rodon should score from that angle, but he’s unlucky to hit the post.”

While Robinson may have a point, it has been a less-than-convincing showing from Vicario.

Spurs must find a Vicario upgrade soon

Frank has publicly backed Vicario, but there is only so long he will be given the support of his manager.

The Italy international enjoyed a superb start to his Tottenham career, but he is now costing his side on a regular basis.

Indeed, with the January transfer window approaching, the North London club would be wise to draw up a shortlist of potential replacements.

All of the top sides in the division have top goalkeepers, meaning that the Lilywhites could come up short this season.

Vicario may have been included in Frank’s leadership group, but he is not setting an example between the sticks.

Thomas Frank has managed to get the best out of several Tottenham players so far this season.

While recent results and performances have fallen short of standards, there have already been some standout individual displays.

Spurs’ victory over Man City was a sure sign that the Lilywhites have what it takes to beat the league’s best, while the draw at Bodo/Glimt was a concerning one.

Speaking ahead of Tottenham’s trip to Leeds United on Saturday, Peter Crouch highlighted one player who he has been hugely impressed with.

Peter Crouch praises Djed Spence ahead of Tottenham vs Leeds United

Spence received another England call-up from Thomas Tuchel, having made his debut against Serbia in September.

MORE SPURS STORIES

All Spurs supporters will be aware of the difficult journey that the defender has had, with criticism from Neil Warnock and Antonio Conte spurring him on.

This season, Spence has been a regular starter and has produced some admirable statistics from full-back.

Indeed, in six appearances prior to the Leeds game, he registered a pass accuracy of 81 per cent and contributed to a couple of clean sheets.

In an attacking sense, he’s created 1.8 chances per 90 minutes so far.

Now, Crouch, who was previewing the Premier League clash between Tottenham and Leeds, has offered him immense credit.

“He’s had such a journey and I admire it,” Crouch said on TNT Sports on 4 October.

“I had a journey myself coming through the ranks to play Premier League football to go out on loan, he went to different countries, came back here and had a difficult spell, but has then found himself at home in that Spurs side, got himself in the England squad now, and I think he’s here to stay.”

Although Spence deserves the kind words that come his way, there are areas of his game that he can still improve.

How Spence can improve his game for Spurs

Spence’s development at Tottenham has been impressive, but there are still parts of his game that he can improve.

While the England international’s early performances were encouraging, they have gradually declined in recent weeks.

Against Bodo/Glimt, the defender produced his worst performance of the season, giving the ball away way too many times.

Now, the 25-year-old must step up his performances and prove to everyone that he is deserving of retaining his place.

Tottenham are aiming to secure their first win in three games in all competitions against Leeds United on Saturday.

The Lilywhites have made a bright start in the Premier League this term, but face a tricky assignment this weekend against a team who haven’t lost in the league on home turf in over a year.

Tottenham endured a disappointing draw with Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday night, and they will be desperate to right the wrongs of that game at Elland Road.

Thomas Frank has been bold with his selection decisions in recent weeks, and one in particular has caught the eye for the trip to West Yorkshire.

Jermain Defoe ‘surprised’ as Richarlison left out for Mathys Tel

Richarlison has made a promising start for Tottenham so far this term, and has three goals from his opening six league appearances of the campaign.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The Brazilian frontman is already just one goal shy of matching his Premier League tally from the entirety of 2024-25, but he won’t have the opportunity to achieve that this weekend.

Frank has opted to rest the former Everton hero against Daniel Farke’s side, with Mathys Tel taking his place at the top of the pitch for the visitors.

The youngster has struggled badly for form since his move to Spurs was made permanent over the summer, and he is now set for just his second league start of the season.

Ex-Spurs striker Jermain Defoe has branded the decision to bench Richarlison as “strange” ahead of the game, and emphasised the huge responsibility that Tel will carry during the game.

“It’s a strange one,” the former England international said during Premier League Live’s coverage (4 October, 12:13pm).

“I think Tel’s got to mix up his movement, because when you’re playing against a team that sits in, at times you have to go over the block.

“You need to make runs in behind, and you’ve got to come and link the play. Of course, you want to go around it and get crosses in, but if you go around the block, that’s where Richarlison is at his best.

“The fact that he’s not playing, I’m surprised about that, but there are bodies that can come from the bench and make a difference.”

Mathys Tel won’t offer Tottenham enough vs Leeds United

Tel is finding life difficult at Tottenham at the moment, and another baptism of fire at Elland Road is unlikely to be a good thing for him or the team at the moment.

The starlet is clearly short of confidence of late, and he will face a battle throughout proceedings against the Whites’ backline.

Tel has won just 38% of his duels so far this term, and that will provide serious concern for Spurs that they won’t be able to use him the ball up and get up the pitch.

He is averaging just 4.8 accurate passes per game, and has not shown himself to be capable of the kind of league play that is necessary to lead the line on his own.

The numbers do not make for good reading for the former Bayern Munich star, but he simply has to find a way to be effective for his team.

Tottenham will be aiming to set an eye-catching record straight on Saturday when they travel to face Leeds United.

The West Yorkshire outfit have had a promising start on their return to the Premier League, and have now lost just one of their last four outings in the league.

Spurs are unbeaten in six games in all competitions as we head into the clash at Elland Road, although they will be desperate to get back to winning ways after a disappointing draw at Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League.

Managers typically don’t pay too much attention to strange stats in the build-up to clashes, but Thomas Frank has made it perfectly clear that he is aware of this alarming run that his men must break.

Tottenham have lost seven straight games before an international break

Tottenham will watch several of their stars head off for international duty following Saturday’s clash with the Whites, as the Premier League is set for another two-week interval.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The break should provide a vital opportunity for Frank to work with the likes of Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke, with a view to having them fit enough to be involved when domestic action returns.

However, it can be easy for teams to fall into the trap of limping over the finishing line when it comes to the game before an international break, and that is something that has plagued Spurs all too often in recent years.

The N17 outfit have lost seven straight Premier League games prior to an international break, according to The Spurs Express via their X account, and that curse could easily bite them once again this weekend if they are not careful.

Usually, managers are keen to play down strange statistics like that, but Frank is so keen to see his side snap that streak this weekend, that he is understood to have already revealed it to the players, in a bid to boost motivation ahead of the clash.

Thomas Frank has to stick with tried and tested vs Leeds

Cristian Romero’s return is a huge boost for Tottenham ahead of their trip to Elland Road on Saturday, and it is a game where Frank must surely name what he believes is is strongest team.

Their hosts this weekend haven’t lost on home turf in the league for over a year, and are still riding the crest of a wave following their promotion from the Championship last term.

With that in mind, it is certainly a potential banana skin against Daniel Farke’s side, and Frank will want to see his men get a much bigger foothold in the game than they did against Bodo/Glimt.

The Dane will hope to see his team dictate the play and get on the front foot, and as a result, he should be looking towards his most experienced and proven members of his squad to do the business.

Kota Takai could be set to leave Tottenham in the January transfer window just months after he joined their ranks.

The Japanese youngster is yet to make his debut for his new club after his signing was confirmed during the summer transfer window.

Tottenham paid £5million to sign Takai from his boyhood club Kawasaki Frontale, and the deal marked a major step in the 21-year-old’s career as he moved away from his homeland for the first time.

However, the defender is yet to play a part for Thomas Frank in the first team squad, and his situation may be about to come under scrutiny in January.

Kota Takai won’t play for Tottenham in the Premier League

Takai has been unavailable for Tottenham in the early stages of the season after an injury ruled him out of a significant portion of pre-season.

MORE SPURS STORIES

He missed the Lilywhites’ win over Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup as a result, a game which saw several fringe players and youngsters handed crucial opportunities to impress.

The starlet has also arrived in an area of the pitch where the N17 outfit are blessed with plenty of quality options, as the form of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven has even kept Kevin Danso out of the team of late.

With that in mind, iconic football commentator Ian Darke – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes that a loan move may benefit Takai, especially in the Championship.

“I’m a great believer in loaning players out, so I think loaning to a club further down in the Premier League or more probably in the Championship would only do Takai good,” Darke said.

“I’m not a great believer in young players sitting around on the bench. They’re going to learn way more in match situations at a decent level.

“He’ll play in the Carabao Cup or something like that, but that’s it, isn’t it? He’s not going to be used in the Premier League.”

Spurs need to use Luka Vuskovic example with Takai

Luka Vuksovic has been a revelation away from Tottenham in recent weeks, as he has already established himself as a key player for Hamburg.

The North Londoners need to use their deal with the Bundesliga giants as the perfect example of what can happen when you choose a sensible grounding for a loan club.

That same logic must be applied to Takai, who will desperately need football in the second half of the campaign.

The defender will need to spend time adapting to the English game, and it will likely be better for him if he does that away from the worldwide scrutiny of the Premier League.

With that in mind, a Championship stint would be ideal for the youngster, and that is something that Spurs should be looking to facilitate for him as soon as the window opens up.

Thomas Frank’s honeymoon period at Tottenham appears to be over after recent developments.

When the Lilywhites met PSG in the Champions League, there was cause for optimism, given the energy that his team showed against Europe’s best.

However, fast-forward just over a month and Spurs’ spineless draw with Bodo/Glimt was the latest worrying performance during Frank’s era.

With every one of his decisions set to come under scrutiny, questions must be asked of his most recent call.

Thomas Frank includes Guglielmo Vicaro in leadership group

Frank took a gamble in resting Mohammed Kudus against Bodo/Glimt, and it was a decision that backfired.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Indeed, the Dane is having to learn fast and is finding out that his squad is perhaps not as strong as he first thought.

One player who has continued to make mistakes is Vicario, who has made two critical errors in his last two Premier League appearances.

The Italian flapped at Yasin Ayari’s long-range effort at the Amex Stadium before parrying a corner onto Joao Palhinha, leading to Wolves’ goal.

Now, Tottenham have announced on 3 October that Vicario is part of Spurs’ leadership group, alongside Micky Van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies, and James Maddison.

While the 28-year-old does have a presence on the pitch, he is becoming a problem in North London and should be swept aside for an upgrade.

Pedro Porro a strange omission from Tottenham leadership group

Porro captained Spurs against Doncaster Rovers in a team that was lacking in natural leaders.

While Frank’s decision to captain the Spain international may have suggested that he would be a core part of the leadership group, it seems not.

The full-back has been a key member of the Lilywhites squad since he joined, with his attacking exploits garnering more praise than his defence.

However, the 26-year-old is surely a part of Frank’s long-term plans and therefore should have been given a role instead of Vicario.

Although Porro may not admit it, on the inside, he will surely be questioning his head coach’s decision.

Tottenham face a tough test of their credentials when they visit Leeds United on Saturday.

Spurs have started the season well, sitting fourth in the Premier League table, having won three, drawn two, and lost one of their six games.

Tottenham drew 2-2 with Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League in midweek, fighting back from two goals down to rescue a point.

Thomas Frank and Co. will be hopeful of securing their fourth win of the league season, but they won’t find it easy, as Leeds have picked up eight points already this season to sit four clear of the relegation zone.

Leeds vs Tottenham is a Saturday 3 pm kick-off

Spurs have big aspirations in the league this season under Frank, but can not let their European campaign get in the way as it did last year.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The Lilywhites have managed just one win at home this season, with Tottenham beating Burnley 3-0 on the opening day.

Spurs picked up points on their previous two visits to Elland Road but Leeds are yet to be beaten on home soil in the Premier League this season.

Leeds have begun life back in the top flight reasonably well, taking eight points from their opening six games, and will fancy their chances on their own turf.

The encounter between the two will kick-off at 3pm BST.

Spurs fans in the UK cannot watch Saturday’s game live

Tottenham’s trip to Elland Road to face Leeds will be viewed as the sort of fixture they need to be winning if they are to challenge in the upper echelons of the table.

With Spurs playing in the Champions League this term, Saturday kick-offs will become a regular fixture for them once again as the campaign goes on.

Unfortunately, games kicking off at 3pm BST, means that supporters in the UK will be unable to watch the game live on TV.

UK fans will instead have to wait until after the conclusion of the game to catch highlights packages from the likes of Sky Sports and the Premier League.

However, fans in the USA will be able to catch every second of the action via Peacock’s Premium channel.

Xavi Simons has endured a somewhat slow start to life at Tottenham since his move in the summer.

The Netherlands international completed his move to North London in the latter stages of the summer transfer window, after two hugely productive years in the Bundesliga.

Simons immediately became one of Tottenham’s all-time record buys when his initial £52million switch was confirmed, and that naturally means that big expectations have been attached.

However, the electric start that many people predicted for the 22-year-old is yet to materialise, and that has quickly prompted speculation as to why.

Xavi Simons positional concerns are unjustified

Concerns have already risen regarding the position that Simons is playing at Tottenham, despite the fact that he is still just games into his stint with the club.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The former PSG star’s preferred position is in an attacking midfield role, but Thomas Frank has largely opted to play him on the left wing so far.

That has prompted suggestions from some quarters that the boss is hindering his star’s performances by not accommodating him in his favoured role.

However, ex-Spurs scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes that concerns surrounding Simons’ position are unjustified, and feels that he may just be experiencing issues in terms of settling in.

“I think Simons should just be happy to be playing,” King said.

“If he’s in the starting XI, then he hasn’t got much to argue with. If he was a one-footed player and he was playing on the left, then maybe he would be upset, but he isn’t.

“A lot of players now are so versatile that they can cover different positions quite easily. These things tend to take time.

“Sometimes players find it hard to settle, and they want to impress, but things aren’t going their way. When you move to a new club, things take time, both on the pitch and off it.”

Tottenham fans need to show patience towards Xavi Simons

Mohammed Kudus has made an excellent start at Tottenham since his move from West Ham in the summer, and he is providing the perfect contrast to Simons in terms of the speed at which he has settled in.

Ultimately, every player is different, and it is up to the manager to try and help bed them in as quickly and as seamlessly as possible.

The Spurs faithful need to try and get behind their new star and instil him with as much confidence as possible moving forward.

Simons is a player of real quality, and it may only take one moment for him to shake off his early issues.

Archie Gray will be gunning for a place in the Tottenham starting XI for Saturday’s trip to face Leeds United.

The England U21 international quickly became a key player during his debut campaign for the N17 outfit last term, as injuries stretched Ange Postecoglou’s squad to the very edge of its capabilities.

However, the same cannot be said for the youngster this term, as Gray hasn’t started a league game for Tottenham since the 3-1 win over Burnley on the opening day of the season.

Saturday’s trip to Elland Road will be a special occasion for the midfielder as he returns to his boyhood club for the first time, and Thomas Frank will undoubtedly already have his team selection in mind.

Archie Gray won’t get into Tottenham midfield vs Leeds United

There is no question that Gray has a huge future ahead of him at Tottenham, but he is certainly finding it difficult to break into Frank’s plans at the moment.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The Leeds academy graduate notched 28 Premier League appearances in his maiden taste of the top flight last term, but has been limited to just a single minute of league action since the opening day victory.

Gray has quickly fallen behind the likes of Joao Palhinha in the pecking order, while Lucas Bergvall’s continued emergence is seemingly doing him no favours.

Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes that he won’t get to start this weekend either, despite the sentiment of him returning to the club where it all began.

“For me, Palhinha is basically the first name on the team sheet at the minute. I just think he makes such a difference in all aspects of the game,” Wenham said.

“But for Leeds away, I want to see us on the front foot, so I personally would be starting with Palhinha, Pape Sarr, and then Rodrigo Bentancur.

“Gray would have to come in really for one of Sarr or Bergvall, and I think that makes us a little bit more defensive than I want to see us go. I want to see us go to Leeds and dominate and win the game.”

Tottenham may have to explore Archie Gray loan move

Gray is an exciting young talent for Tottenham, but he will never reach his true potential if his struggle for gametime continues as it has of late.

The 19-year-old went from being a regular in West Yorkshire to being thrown in the deep end in North London, and although he wasn’t perfect last term, he showed plenty of positive signs for such a young player.

However, if he continues to receive little more than a handful of minutes here and there, then it surely makes sense for him to head out on loan in January.

A brief stint at the lower end of the Premier League could be ideal to help Gray get his confidence back and to ensure his development resumes effectively.

Rodrigo Bentancur has signed a new long-term contract with Tottenham Hotspur.

The Uruguayan arrived from Juventus in 2022 and has made 128 appearances for the club alongside nine goals.

After Bentancur was linked with moves away from Tottenham, he chose to remain and become a key player in Thomas Frank‘s side.

Tottenham News looks back at some of his finest moments for the Lilywhites as the 28-year-old commits his future to N17.

Late double rescues the win for Tottenham

In a seven-goal thriller against Leeds United, Bentancur was the hero as two late goals sealed a win for Spurs.

MORE SPURS STORIES

As the clock struck 80 minutes, Tottenham were 3-2 down against Leeds as they looked to slump to a home defeat.

But upstepped the Uruguayan who smashed home a quick-fire double, which instantaneously flipped the game on its head and handed the Lilywhites three points.

Captain Rodrigo Bentancur at your service

In an FA Cup clash against Burnley, Bentancur was named captain of the starting XI.

As the 28-year-old approached his second anniversary with Spurs, it was a testament to his impact on the squad after being handed the honour of leading his men out of the tunnel.

Bentancur played over 80 minutes in the game as Pedro Porro scored the only goal and Tottenham progressed to the fourth round of the cup.

Spurs’ comeback sealed by Rodrigo Bentancur

As Tottenham visited the Vitality Stadium, they started the match in terrible fashion by going 2-0 down against Bournemouth.

Ryan Sessegnon and Ben Davies levelled affairs in the second half, but Spurs continued to push for a winner as the game progressed.

After coming off the bench, Bentancur stepped up for his side deep into stoppage time and fired home the winner to end a two-game losing streak.

Europa League glory in Bilbao

Bentancur was a pivotal member of Ange Postecoglou’s side that ended Spurs’ 17-year wait for a major trophy.

The Uruguayan played in 13 out of the 15 matches for Tottenham across the competition and played the full match against Manchester United in Bilbao.

This was the 28-year-old’s first European honour, and it was his first trophy since winning the Coppa Italia with Juventus in 2021.

Rodrigo Bentancur will be an anchor in the Spurs side

Now that he has committed his future to Tottenham, the 28-year-old will have much greater responsibilities within the squad.

Bentancur suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2023, and he showed tremendous hard work in returning to the levels he showed before being sidelined.

With Tottenham at last ending their long wait for a trophy, you can expect the Uruguayan to be a key component in any future success that heads their way.