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‘It’s pointless’ – Thomas Frank slammed over Fulham plans as Tottenham frustrations start to build

Thomas Frank has been told exactly what type of identity he should imprint onto this Tottenham side.

Frank has been heavily criticised for the Lilywhites’ performances in all competitions this season.

Fans thought things couldn’t stoop lower than Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea before Spurs’ 4-1 loss against Arsenal showed them what real humiliation felt like.

The Dane was blamed for both defeats, with fans eager to see a dramatic change in approach and mentality. Well, it seems as though supporters have finally been granted their wish.

Tottenham must continue attacking dynamic vs Fulham

Tottenham’s UEFA Champions League game against PSG ended in a 5-3 defeat at the Parc des Princes. Despite the heavy scoreline, Frank was praised for his energetic approach.

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For the first time since Spurs’ 2-0 win over Manchester City, fans felt they had something to root for which is a feeling most haven’t taken for granted.

As a result, speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, Tottenham expert and Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham has warned Frank that he must not slip back to his own lethargic ways against Fulham.

“If we go to Saturday and start in the double pivot at home again, with Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur, and we’re not on the front foot and we’re not attacking, I could see it being a very negative evening inside the stadium, because people are getting frustrated,” Wenham said.

“We’ve got good players. You need to set up in a way that allows them to flourish. It’s pointless. We’re not Brentford. We’re not a team that sits back and nicks the odd goal, we’re the current Europa League winners.

“We’ve already beaten Man City away this season. We need to start playing like that. We’ve got the players to play like that, and whoever we play, we need to be taking the game to them, not worrying about what they’ve got in their team, you know?”

What was the secret against PSG?

Tottenham put up an impressive attacking display against the Ligue 1 side, even if they went on to lose the game.

The introduction of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall was a huge help. The young stars brought a level of energy that Spurs have lacked when starting some of their more senior players.

Tottenham played like a team hungry to win, rather than one who had been playing not to lose.

Therefore, fans will likely want to see a similar performance when Spurs welcome Fulham to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Pape Matar Sarr was one of the biggest culprits in Tottenham’s defeat to PSG on Wednesday.

PSG beat Spurs 5-3 at the Parc des Princes in the UEFA Champions League this week, piling further pressure on manager Thomas Frank.

Randal Kolo Muani was involved in all three goals for Spurs, but even his efforts weren’t enough to spare the Lilywhites from their unwanted fate.

Cristian Romero was heavily criticised for his role in the defeat. But with all the focus on him, Sarr’s horrific display has gone under the radar.

Pape Matar Sarr’s carelessness cost Tottenham

Frank was urged to add a little more fight to his side after Tottenham’s humiliating 4-1 defeat to rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

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The Lilywhites travelled to France with a vengeance and proved a real challenge for the Parisiens.

The second half was where things went wrong for Spurs, but they could’ve gone so right:

Furthermore, Tottenham registered 1.05 expected goals to PSG’s 1.66 xG, according to Sofascore.

Frank coached a win and a performance like this against the best team in the world away from home shouldn’t be understated.

However, individual errors cost Spurs on the night with Sarr one of the main culprits behind the disappointing result.

Sarr made two errors leading to a goal in the defeat to PSG, the most of any player in a single Champions League game this season.

After such a strong start to the season, the Senegal international has struggled to maintain his excellent standards.

Fans have pointed towards his minor injury and subsequent inconsistent playing time as the reason behind his drop off.

Either way, with midfield competition at an all-time high, Sarr could find himself on the outs moving forward.

Thomas Frank has key to turn Tottenham’s season around

Sarr could very well find himself starting from the bench when Tottenham face Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.

There are suspicions that the Dane will revert back to a traditional 4-3-3 lineup, and his performance against the Ligue 1 side could cost him.

On top of this, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray were so incredible that there is little justification to drop them for the league clash.

“I think if you perform like they did against the European champions away from home, you’re ready to start in the Premier League,” Frank said in a recent press conference.

The duo brings an energy that Tottenham has lacked in the midfield this season and one that could transform Spurs’ attacking play and season.

Therefore, Frank may have finally stumbled upon the key to unlock his season, but it’s one that may come at the expense of Sarr.

Thomas Frank will look to get back on track in the Premier League when Tottenham face Fulham on Saturday.

Tottenham suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat against Arsenal in the Premier League last Sunday.

Former Tottenham target Eberechi Eze netted a hat-trick in what was a chaotic contest that didn’t surprise many.

Now ninth in the Premier League and looking to advance their position, Spurs will be hoping to issue a response against Marco Silva’s side on Saturday.

Form guide

Tottenham: L, W, D, L, L

Fulham: L, D, W, L, W

Team News

Tottenham were without Brennan Johnson in their Champions League clash against PSG after he saw red in Spurs’ 4-0 win over Copenhagen.

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However, the right-winger will be back to compete for the Lilywhites against Fulham.

Dominic Solanke is still sidelined for Tottenham with an ankle injury while fans continue to greatly anticipate his return.

Meanwhile, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski remain unavailable for the Lilywhites. Cristian Romero is unavailable due to picking up a fifth yellow card against Arsenal last week.

Radu Dragusin recently returned to training along with returnees Ben Davies and Kota Takai. However, the extent of their involvement in the Premier League clash remains to be seen.

Antonee Robinson and Rodrigo Muniz remain sidelined for Fulham with a knee and hamstring injury.

Predicted lineups

Tottenham: Vicario; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie; Palhinha, Simons, Bergvall; Kudus, Kolo Muani, Odobert

Fulham: Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon; Iwobi, Berge; Wilson, King, Kevin; Jimenez

Prediction: Tottenham 3-1 Fulham

Tottenham’s form at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been heavily criticised as of late.

For good reason, too:

However, Spurs’ 5-3 Champions League defeat against PSG showed that Frank is eager to take risks moving forward.

Starting players like Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray against the indicated that Frank favoured energy over caution.

This was likely a reaction to his overly-cautious approach against Arsenal.

As a result, fans could expect to see a more direct, energetic Spurs side and because of that Tottenham News predicts a 3-1 victory against Fulham on Sunday.

Either way, with both teams hoping to advance their positions in the Premier League, fans can expect end-to-end action from the first whistle.

Ange Postecoglou is admired by Leeds United as pressure grows on Daniel Farke at Elland Road.

The Australian has not had a good few months in football, being sacked by both Tottenham and Nottingham Forest.

Postecoglou’s reign at Nottingham Forest was nothing short of a disaster, with the manager now holding the record for the shortest time spent at a Premier League club at just 39 days.

On top of this, Postecoglou’s reputation at Tottenham continues to take hits, as many former Spurs players find form away from the North London club.

Nevertheless, the manager could soon find himself back at work in the top-flight.

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Leeds consider Ange Postecoglou

Elsewhere in the Premier League and Leeds United are struggling.

The West Yorkshire club are on a terrible streak, losing five of their last six matches.

As a result, pressure is heaping on Farke, with Leeds now in the relegation zone as their form continues to spiral.

Now, talkSPORT on 27 November has claimed that if Farke were to be relieved of his duties, Postecoglou would be considered for the role.

The report states that the Australian has “admirers” at Elland Road, despite his terrible stint at the City Ground.

Leeds are offering no assurances over their manager’s future which could open the door for the former Tottenham manager.

However, it is unclear whether Postecoglou would take the job, given that it could be his third in five months.

Postecoglou continues to attract Premier League interest

On top of Leeds, Fulham have also been linked with Postecoglou in recent weeks amid speculation surrounding Marco Silva’s future.

It is clear that the Australian is not short of potential suitors despite his quick successive sackings.

However, whether he will find success at a club like Leeds is another question.

Another failure could do irreparable damage to his reputation in the Premier League, especially if he oversees the Peacocks’ relegation.

Richarlison’s place in Thomas Frank’s starting lineup could be in doubt when Tottenham take on Fulham this weekend.

Tottenham suffered a 4-1 defeat against rivals Arsenal in the Premier League last Saturday.

Former Spurs target Eberechi Eze scored a hat-trick and a wonder goal from Richarlison in the second half wasn’t enough to keep them in the game.

After such a humiliating result, Frank will be looking to secure all three points when Spurs welcome Fulham to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Richarlison dropped despite promising performance vs PSG

Similar to the UEFA Super Cup final, Tottenham showed promise in their 5-3 defeat to PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday.

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Randal Kolo Muani was incredible against his parent club:

Furthermore, he completed 100 per cent of his dribbles and made four recoveries, according to Sofascore.

As a result, the France international should retain his spot in the starting lineup with Wilson Odobert and Mohammed Kudus alongside him.

The reintroduction of Odobert and Kudus would see Frank revert to a 4-3-3 formation. This would see Richarlison dropped despite his impressive performance against PSG, which’ll likely surprise fans.

Meanwhile, Archie Gray also looks set to return to the bench despite being another player who shone in the Champions League.

Lucas Bergvall will likely retain his spot against Fulham, with Joao Palhinha replacing Rodrigo Bentancur and Xavi Simons coming in for Pape Matar Sarr to complete Tottenham’s midfield.

Spurs skipper Cristian Romero was atrocious against PSG:

It was a performance unworthy of a captain, and after receiving a fifth yellow against Arsenal, Kevin Danso should replace the key Tottenham man on Saturday.

Destiny Udogie will likely replace Djed Spence, who was also poor, while Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro and Guglielmo Vicario could retain their starting spots.

Thomas Frank must coach a convincing win

Ironically, Tottenham’s defeat to PSG may have brought Frank a little more time with both fans and Spurs’ hierarchy.

The Dane coached a win, but the Parisians’ individual brilliance and a Romero disaster-class thwarted his efforts.

Even so, PSG are the current champions of Europe and fans were heading into the game with low expectations.

The real test will be against Fulham, who have been struggling more than the Lilywhites this season.

If Spurs were to attack similarly against Fulham as they did PSG and actually secure a convincing win, there will no doubt be a renewed sense of optimism around Frank in North London.

Thomas Frank drastically failed to improve Tottenham’s defensive woes in the 5-3 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.

Tottenham’s defeat to PSG has once again highlighted that there is plenty of work for Frank to do after another heavy drubbing in the French capital.

Despite taking the lead twice throughout the match, Spurs couldn’t hold on, with Vitinha netting a stunning hat-trick to condemn the Lilywhites to their first Champions League defeat of the campaign.

It was certainly an improved response from Arsenal’s 4-1 demolition of Spurs on 23 November, but there is plenty of concern regarding Frank’s reign.

Frank is under intense scrutiny, and he could be heading for the exit door if he doesn’t improve Tottenham’s issues at the back.

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Tottenham break awful record in PSG defeat

There were certainly some positives to take from the loss in Paris, most notably Randal Kolo-Muani’s stunning brace.

But Cristian Romero had a particularly poor game, gifting the ball to the home side for the third goal, before gifting a penalty late on.

The defeats to Arsenal and PSG marked the first time since 2003 that Tottenham have conceded four or more goals in consecutive matches in all competitions.

One of the key reasons Ange Postecoglou was sacked was because he failed to adapt his tactics to make Spurs more defensively solid.

However, Frank is experiencing the same issues, with Tottenham only winning one game at home in the league this season, and fans are already calling for him to be dismissed.

It’s expected that Arsenal and PSG would be much better than Spurs, but the lack of fight shown in the North London derby was abysmal.

Registering an expected goals total of 0.06 is an embarrassment, and despite improving their attacking threat in Paris, they failed to address their frailties at the other end of the pitch.

Frank is known for being a pragmatic and adaptable coach from when he worked at Brentford, but recent performances have shown the complete opposite.

Thomas Frank’s underlying numbers show things won’t get better

After an excellent start to the season, the poor home form and tough fixtures have soured the mood in N17.

According to Opta, Tottenham should be in 18th place with an expected points total of 12.9 due to their overperformance in front of goal.

Their clinical nature in the Premier League has masked their problems in defence, but they are now finally getting punished against top-quality opposition.

Frank’s tactics were effective in the first half of the PSG match, and there is hope that the upcoming match against Fulham could help them secure a much-needed win and clean sheet at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

However, if Spurs fail to keep clean sheets in their away matches to Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, and Crystal Palace, then his future would undoubtedly be at risk.

Thomas Frank is coming under increasing pressure at Tottenham following a miserable few days for the North London side.

On Sunday, Tottenham were beaten 4-1 by arch-rivals Arsenal in a dismal display at the Emirates.

To make matters worse, Eberechi Eze scored a hat-trick for the Gunners after snubbing a move to Spurs over the summer.

Tottenham then fell to a 5-3 loss away at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, despite the fact that they were leading the contest on two separate occasions.

Tottenham worst-ranked Premier League side for defensive stat

It’s clear that Tottenham are struggling defensively at the moment, having conceded nine goals in their past two games, against Arsenal and PSG.

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Frank’s side have been caught out at the back too often in recent times, even in possession, with individual mistakes costing them valuable points.

Currently, Tottenham are the worst-ranked team in the Premier League for errors leading to goals (3) and, more concerningly, errors leading to shots (15).

The indication is that Spurs are often being bailed out by Guglielmo Vicario, and that is backed up by the fact that the Italian has prevented 3.55 goals already in the top-flight this season.

Without Vicario, Tottenham’s mistakes would be being punished on a more regular basis, and the stats would make for even worse reading.

Thomas Frank must address issues to avoid sack

It is no secret that Tottenham fans are angry with Frank following their side’s limp showing in the North London derby.

The Spurs fans were already becoming frustrated with the Dane’s style of play, and the defeat to Arsenal has just amplified that feeling.

If Frank doesn’t address the mistakes at the back with urgency, then the situation will only continue to worsen, and his dismissal will be inevitable.

Tottenham face Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday evening, as they aim to end their three-game winless run across all competitions.

Spurs have dropped to ninth in the table as a result of their recent poor form and risk falling into the bottom half if they are beaten by Marco Silva’s side.

This embarrassment surely can’t go on any longer.

Tottenham’s misjudgement of Dominic Solanke’s injury has left Thomas Frank without the use of Mathys Tel in the Champions League.

Tel was left out of Tottenham’s 25-man squad for the Champions League, as the head coach was told that Solanke’s injury wasn’t serious.

Tottenham were beaten 5-3 by PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday, but are still in a good position to qualify for the knockout stages.

However, Frank will most likely still be without Solanke for crucial upcoming games, which leaves him a man short for the players he can use in the competition.

The depth of this saga, which includes Tel and Solanke, makes the situation even more embarrassing for the Lilywhites.

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Tottenham said Dominic Solanke’s injury was ‘minor’

Tel has started to show his worth for Tottenham, and in a time where Frank needs all the attackers he can get, he’s been let down by the medical staff.

Solanke may return to training in the coming weeks, but it’s going to take time for the striker to get up to speed.

Tel has only started three times in the league this season, but still boasts a 73 per cent pass completion and is a clear threat going forward, considering the substitute appearances he’s had.

Solanke, who completes 69 per cent of his passes, was ruled out of Tottenham’s pre-season friendly against Luton Town in July through an ankle injury, which was described by the club as “minor”.

That’s the same ankle that he has now had an operation on, which has left him nowhere sidelined for practically the entire season so far.

Thankfully for Spurs, there is a chance for them to shuffle things around at the next point of registration.

Tottenham can re-register after January transfer window

Usually, in early February, clubs are given a chance to resubmit a registration of their Champions League squad following the conclusion of the January transfer window.

Tottenham should have the chance to add Tel to the mix in February after the window closes, with potential departures also likely to make space for the Frenchman.

Tottenham’s next three Champions League fixtures:

It will give the Lilywhites a chance to register Dejan Kulusevski, who is injured at the moment, and any new signings that Frank deems good enough to make his final squad.

As for now, Tottenham will be without Tel for some more Champions League games with Solanke’s return up in the air.

Thomas Frank has spoken out ahead of the Tottenham clash against Fulham on Saturday.

Tottenham are set to host Fulham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a return to Premier League action after mid-week on the continent.

The Lilywhites faced off in the Champions League on Wednesday as Tottenham fell to defeat against PSG away at the Parc Des Princes.

Archie Gray was superb against PSG and staked a claim for his place in the Spurs side ahead of a London derby clash against the Cottagers.

Frank has now taken up media duties in N17 and has revealed the state of his squad before meeting Marco Silva in the dugout on 29 November.

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Tottenham team news emerges ahead of Fulham clash

Silva has been linked to Tottenham in the past, but will now bring his side from Craven Cottage across the capital for a North London match-up.

There may be concern from the Portuguese head coach after watching the Lilywhites in mid-week, despite falling to defeat against the Champions League title holders.

Spurs showcased moments of true quality away to PSG and will class themselves as unfortunate to have lost 5-3 in the French capital.

The Premier League will now take priority once again, with the 4-1 defeat against Arsenal still a source of huge frustration in N17.

The performance at PSG has provided reason for optimism, but a win must mark a return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Things may not be so straightforward for Frank after he confirmed the injury latest from North London, ready for the Fulham clash.

He said: “Nothing changed from the Arsenal and PSG games – obviously suspension to Cuti [Romero]. Radu [Dragusin] is not able to start yet, but he’s progressing in training.

“Yeah, he [Kolo Muani] will be fit enough to start against Fulham. I think he performed well, his best performance so far. That’s the challenge we’re embracing, three days between games, how can we find the perfect balance between games in energy, intensity, the right structure on the pitch.“

Tottenham must kickstart home form vs Fulham

The Lilywhites have been so poor at home this season and really need something to change moving deeper into the season.

Spurs haven’t secured a Premier League win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since the opening day of the season. A 3-0 win over Burnley.

Goals from Richarlison and Brennan Johnson dispatched the Clarets, but three points haven’t been secured in N17 since.

Going over 100 days without a home win is far from acceptable, and Frank needs to change it quickly.

The Dane may not get a better chance than against Fulham, even after they secured a victory over Sunderland last time around.

Tottenham fans won’t believe what Lionel Messi has just requested of ex-Spurs flop

Lionel Messi is an admirer of former Tottenham let-down Timo Werner.

Tottenham loaned Werner from RB Leipzig for a season and a half, when the forward joined the Lilywhites back in January of last year.

The German showed promise in the early days of his Spurs career, with a handful of appearances that suggested Tottenham may have made a masterstroke move.

However, this wasn’t to be the case, and Werner‘s effectiveness on the field quickly fizzled out, as the versatile attacker became surplus to requirements under Ange Postecoglou.

There’s no way that anybody from a Tottenham perspective would’ve ever imagined what footballing icon, Messi, is now wanting of Werner.

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Lionel Messi has asked Inter Miami to sign Timo Werner

Tottenham avoided signing Werner permanently this summer, and for good reason, at an unjustifiable price of £8.5million.

The forward once seemed like one of the most clinical strikers in the world when at RB Leipzig before moving to Chelsea in 2020.

The Lilywhites clearly thought they had a chance of getting Werner back to his best, but it never once looked possible in hindsight.

While Postecoglou chose to play Werner as a winger instead of a striker, he never posed a real goal-scoring threat from out wide either.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Messi has expressed his desire to Inter Miami’s hierarchy over the potential signing of Werner in January.

The German has managed to play just once this term for RB Leipzig, and with his next destination looking likely to be the United States, it’s fair to say that Spurs dodged an almighty bullet.

Werner not the only transfer blunder avoided in recent times

Werner posed a pretty easy decision for the Lilywhites to make. In reality, he was an injury problem, and lacked impact on the pitch when fit anyway.

He would have demanded high wages, and it may be one of the last good decisions that Daniel Levy made before departing N17.

However, Tottenham also missed out on the signing of Georgiy Sudakov from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Joe Lewis now has a massive job to back Thomas Frank in the upcoming January transfer window, as Spurs will continue their quest for success this season.