Total Football Analysis Magazine

Tottenham Hotspur have been spending heavily this summer to keep up with the rest of the traditional Big Six.

Thomas Frank needs reinforcements in this midfield as they switch tactically, and they may have found the perfect midfielder for him in João Palhinha.

João Palhinha was the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League two years ago, earning a big-money move to Bayern Munich.

Things did not go well for him in Munich last season, as he saw very little playing time.

It was a mixture of injuries and his skill set not matching Vincent Kompanys tactics.

Now he gets a fresh start back in the Premier League with a manager who will, without a doubt, get the best out of him.

In this article, we will examine what Palhinha brings to Tottenham and how he fits Thomas Frank tactics at Spurs.

João Palhinha At Bayern Munich 2024/2025

João Palhinha completely lost a season at Bayern Munich during the 2024/2025 season.

At 29 years old, it looked to be his last chance to make a move to a big club.

Bayern Munich spent €51.5m to acquire him from Fulham to be a cornerstone in the middle of Vincent Kompanys midfield.

He made only six starts and 17 appearances in the Bundesliga, most of which came at the beginning of the season.

In November, he suffered a muscle injury and had an illness that forced him to miss 12 matches.

He recovered from that injury, but over the final six matches of the season, when Bayern Munich pretty much had the title wrapped up and you expected him to get playing time, he only accumulated a total of 14 minutes.

What you have to know about Palhinha is that he is one of the best pure ball-winning midfielders in world football, but hes not elite on the ball.

Bayern Munich averaged 67.9% possession and a 76.2% field tilt, which was the highest among Europes top-five leagues.

Vincent Kompanys 2-4-4 build-up system requires his double pivot to play higher up and in the centre of the pitch, overloading opponents and playing right through the middle.

This didnt really fit Pahlinhas strengths, so Kompany trusted the trio of Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlović, and Leon Goretzka instead.

That is not a knock on Palhinha; it was simply a terrible fit between player and club.

Following the sacking of Ange Postecoglou and the appointment of Thomas Frank from Brentford, Tottenham Hotspur are undergoing a series of summer transfers ahead of the upcoming 2025/2026 English Premier League season.

The latest Spurs transfer to North London is the exciting West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus, who came up through the Right To Dream Academy in Ghana.

Although the UEFA Europa League champions have decent squad depth, Tottenham will aim for the best in this summer transfer window to ensure their return to the top half of the Premier League table.

Despite their European success, Spurs were dissatisfied with their domestic campaign, where they finished 17th in the EPL, just one position above relegation.

To get back to a Top 6 finish where they once belonged, Thomas Frank tactics will need to overhaul the teams incisiveness, versatility, and dynamism in attack.

On paper, Mohammed Kudus is the perfect candidate to fulfil those requirements.

In this scout report and player analysis, we will dive into how Mohammed Kudus style of play will fit in at Tottenham Hotspur tactics and the different roles he can play under Thomas Frank management.

Mohammed Kudus At Spurs 2025/2026

Mohammed Kudus is a dynamic left-footed attacker who can play as a left-winger, right-winger, attacking midfielder, and false nine.

His time at Ajax is a key factor in his versatility.

The Ghana International spent three seasons in the Eredivisie before making the switch to the Hammers in 2023.

He has been an exciting figure in attack ever since.

For Spurs, he will likely play a similar role to Dejan Kulusevski on the right side.

However, he might also be deployed at times as an attacking midfielder in place of James Maddison.

Similarly, he can also play as a striker when Dominic Solanke is rested or unavailable.

This will add a new dimension to Thomas Frank’s side as Kudus will play relatively deeper when operating there.

Looking at the style of play and referring to player profiles, Kudus can be compared to Kulusevski.

Mohammed Kudus Vs Dejan Kulusevski Stats

Both are at par in terms of dribbles per 90 minutes.

However, Kudus ranks significantly higher in touches in the opponents penalty box and receiving passes in progressive positions.

Although

After a mixed season, Tottenham Hotspur fired head coach Ange Postecoglou.

A 17th-place finish was far too unsatisfactory for the eventual UEFA Europa League winners.

After his admirable stint at Brentford, Thomas Frank takes over as the new Spurs head coach.

While it is a surprising turn of events, it is an intriguing avenue for the North London side.

In this article, we explore how Tottenham could set up next season.

For this analysis, we will reference how Brentford operated under Thomas Frank.

Thomas Frank Background

Thomas Frank initially joined Brentford as Dean Smith’s assistant in 2016.

He inherited the head coach post in 2018 when Smith left for Aston Villa.

As their head coach, Thomas Frank led Brentford to Premier League promotion in 2021 by clinching the EFL Championship play-offs.

Over the years in the top flight, Frank has solidified the Bees as a mid-table team.

His side was known for their adept recruitment, resilience, and tactical discipline.

The Danish coach is well-respected for his calm demeanour, emotional intelligence, and ability to set a positive tone.

Brentford’s gameplay has evolved owing to Frank’s liking for analytics and data-driven approach.

He is also known for improving players and often getting the best out of them.

Apart from the tactics, he prefers utilising set-pieces to their full potential.

Attacking throw-ins are one of the most common features of Thomas Frank’s set-piece play.

Here, we can see an example of Brentford executing an attacking throw-in.

How Brentford Operate Under Thomas Frank

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