TBR Football

Tottenham Hotspur are enduring an entirely different campaign to the hardship that they suffered last season under Ange Postecoglou.

New boss Thomas Frank has come in and completely transformed their squad by making Tottenham hard to beat in the Premier League. With just one defeat in seven games, it’s a far cry from last season where they had three losses at this stage.

The worst was evidently yet to come, but it appears that the players are now on board with the Danish boss’ ideas by also remaining unbeaten in the Champions League.

Stars such as Micky van de Ven, Joao Palhinha and Mohammed Kudus are in rich form, thanks to the former Brentford gaffer. But one star may not be happy with his boss, with teenager Archie Gray having reason to be upset with Frank after an incident on Saturday afternoon.

The England youngster arrived at Tottenham last summer in a £40million deal from Leeds United, where he burst onto the scene at Elland Road with some mightily impressive performances, becoming one of the most coveted young players in the country.

Archie Gray may be unhappy with Tottenham boss Thomas Frank after Leeds United snub

Gray was thrust into action last season, albeit at centre-back during a massive injury crisis at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, coinciding with an underwhelming run of results.

And this season, with returning players and new signings, he’s struggled for game time. That could have changed away at Leeds, and Gray will have wanted to make an impression at his former stomping ground after being at Elland Road for ten years.

Unfortunately for the versatile star, that wasn’t to be the case as he remained on the bench.

For a homecoming and the chance to prove himself against a newly-promoted side, Gray will probably be incredibly disappointed at not playing, though he still received a strong reception from the home support at the end of the game.

With Leeds now back in the Premier League, he would undoubtedly be playing for his hometown side in the top-flight, and a lack of minutes will be somewhat frustrating despite his experiences in the Europa League last season.

Thomas Frank’s Archie Gray Tottenham snub makes no sense after last summer’s transfer window

With the Whites failing to earn promotion to the Premier League last summer after a Championship play-off final defeat to Southampton, it was clear that Gray had honed his craft in the second tier but was destined for the top level. That saw Tottenham land his talents.

But strangely, it was Brentford who had first agreed a fee with Leeds for Gray’s services, and he looked set to make the move to West London, where Thomas Frank was manager.

For some reason, that transfer didn’t transpire, and the two have ended up together in North London anyway.

Strangely, Gray would have been Frank’s most expensive career signing at the time, and he would have been one of Brentford’s key players.

That makes his lack of game time even more strange, with just 80 combined minutes in the Premier League and Champions League. That may change in future months but Gray will be annoyed it didn’t start in West Yorkshire.

Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur’s partnership has been a hot topic for discussion at Tottenham Hotspur and Joe Hart has just made a very interesting point about the pair.

Tottenham Hotspur’s mixed start to life under Thomas Frank has seen the team draw a fair amount of criticism and the midfield pairing are two players who have been questioned.

Many supporters have questioned whether Spurs’ lack of creative spark has been down to playing two rather defensive-minded midfielders in a double pivot.

Now, Hart has been discussing the pair in the middle of the park for the Lilywhites and his assessment makes for rather fascinating reading.

Peter Crouch and Joe Hart hail Tottenham signing Joao Palhinha

Peter Crouch and Joe Hart were both full of praise for the arrival of Joao Palhinha at Tottenham and believe he is exactly the player they needed.

TBR Football understands that Tottenham have been so impressed by Palhinha and are already keen to make his move permanent in January.

Hart told TNT Sports: “Top signing, he’s really got that steel and is the kind of player who’s going to thrive under Thomas Frank.

“Big clutch moments for him, battle in the middle of the park in the Premier League and Champions League is always going to be important.”

“I love him as a player, I genuinely do. I just absolutely love his aggression; he’s found himself going forward now and getting higher up in the top end of the pitch,” added Crouch.

“But this is what he’s good at, just breaking up play, he can play, he’s got a good brain. But the aggression in the midfield, I think that’s what’s been lacking in the midfield for a number of years, really, and this is what he brings.”

Joe Hart assesses Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur’s partnership

Hart does not agree with the notion that Palhinha and Bentancur playing together ruins Tottenham’s creativity in the middle of the park.

The former Spurs goalkeeper is backing the pair to build up their relationship over time and believes they can help the team in a very physical league.

Asked about whether the pairing hinders Spurs’ creativity, Hart claimed: “It doesn’t hinder, they’ve just got to learn to play together, it’s early on in the season. Two top players, and they’re going to try and bounce off each other.

“But him (Palhinha) getting forward, he’ll be one of the two, but you need that strength in midfield, it’s such a physical league with so much going on, relationships need to develop, and he’s got a real opportunity to make himself a big name at Spurs.”

The North London rivalry runs deep, as very few players decide to cross the boundaries between Arsenal and Tottenham.

Only Noni Madueke in the Arsenal current squad has some affiliation with Tottenham, having come through their youth ranks before moving elsewhere.

The rivalry runs deep, with the Gunners having the better of the more recent encounters with Spurs in the past few years.

One of those who knows plenty about the North London derby is Jack Wilshere, who played in a fair few during his time at Arsenal.

Now he is in the world of coaching, the question surrounding those Arsenal and Tottenham ties have been placed on him.

Jack Wilshere claims he would turn down a Tottenham coaching job

Jack Wilshere is one of those former players who is truly Arsenal through and through, having been a star since his academy days.

While it’s been a few years since he last featured in a North London derby, the former midfielder was questioned as to whether he would cross the divide in his coaching career.

Speaking on TalkSPORT, he was asked: “Okay. If the phone rang and you got offered an unbelievable job with great money, but it was Spurs, would you go?”

Wilshere responded with a short, sharp: “No.”

It shows that the 33-year-old is firmly on the side of Arsenal, even while he is out of a coaching job as it stands.

Wilshere was most recently at Norwich, taking part in their backroom staff before becoming interim manager for the final few games of last season.

Since his exit there, he is on the search for new opportunities.

It remains to be seen where that could be, but one certain thing is that it won’t be at Tottenham.

Jack Wilshere actually rejected Arsenal return with under-21s

While Jack Wilshere is currently out of work on the coaching front, there was an opportunity to actually return to the club earlier this season.

Arsenal were on the lookout for a new under-21s boss, following the exit of Mehmet Ali, who joined Brentford’s coaching team.

The Gunners offered the job to Wilshere, but it turns out that he actually rejected the opportunity.

Instead, his focus appears to be on senior management and coaching roles, as he continues to forge his path forward.

TBR Football understands that a number of Premier League clubs are closely watching Lazio’s star defender Mario Gila, with Tottenham Hotspur being the latest side to join the race for his services.

The former Real Madrid stopper has emerged as one of Serie A’s top defenders since moving to the Italian capital in 2022, making over 60 league appearances and seeing 20 European outings after his debut in October of that year.

We can reveal that Tottenham are watching Gila – whose contract at Lazio expires in 2027 – to come into their defence, potentially bolstering their ranks as backup for mainstay duo Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.

However, there is also interest from fellow Premier League sides Crystal Palace, Brighton and Everton, who are all keen on bringing the Spaniard to the top-flight after some impressive performances under former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri.

Gila is yet to win a full cap for Spain, but was called up to the full squad earlier this year for their Nations League clash with the Netherlands in March.

Exclusive: Tottenham join race for Mario Gila, but they face Premier League competition

TBR Football can also exclusively reveal through chief correspondent Graeme Bailey that Bournemouth held talks for Gila in the summer, as they considered him as a potential replacement for Real Madrid-bound Dean Huijsen and new Paris Saint-Germain defender Ilya Zabarnyi, who both departed the Vitality Stadium after a solid year under Andoni Iraola.

With the Cherries having made their advances, that could throw a spanner in the works for Tottenham in their bid to land Gila, who made two appearances for Madrid in La Liga in the 2021-22 campaign.

Bournemouth have a superb track record of developing defenders, with the likes of Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez and Nathan Ake to name but a few learning their craft on the south coast. Gila could be next, and their success in the defensive department is a strong sign that he could be the next man to fill in.

But that would be a blow for Tottenham boss Thomas Frank, who is keen to add the 25-year-old into his ranks after a solid start to the campaign.

Whether Spurs could offer Gila first-team football remains to be seen, but with interest there, they could be ready to step up the chase for the nine-time Spain under-21 international.

Tottenham’s superb form could see Mario Gila opt for Champions League move over transfer rivals

Tottenham’s solid start to the Premier League campaign was extended on Saturday after a 2-1 win over Leeds United at Elland Road, and there is growing confidence that they can qualify for the Champions League next season.

Goals from permanent summer additions Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus cancelled out Noah Okafor’s equaliser for the Yorkshire outfit, moving Tottenham into third place in the league, just two points off top and with one defeat to their name in seven matches.

It’s been a great start to life for Thomas Frank, as his side remain unbeaten away from home in the top-flight, as well as failing to lose in the Champions League.

If that form continues, it will see the North London club feature in Europe’s premier cup competition once again next season, and that could see Gila opt for a Spurs move over the likes of Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Everton, despite each club starting the season relatively well.

A top four finish will be vital to Tottenham’s chances of attracting top talents and Gila would be no different.

James Maddison was rather proud of the prediction he made about Mohammed Kudus and has taken to social media to share what he told the winger.

Thomas Frank’s side secured a vital three points heading into the international break as they defeated Leeds United 2-1 at Elland Road.

It was goals from Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus which earned Spurs the win in West Yorkshire and which saw them climb into third place in the Premier League.

After the game, Maddison sent a clear message to Kudus after he netted his first goal and claimed that the 24-year-old just proved him right.

James Maddison made Mohammed Kudus goal prediction

James Maddison has insisted that he kept telling Kudus his first goal would finally come after an impressive start to his Spurs career.

Kudus scored his first Tottenham goal against Leeds, as the winger finally opened his account for the North London club.

The former West Ham player latched on to Pedro Porro’s wicked pass, cut inside and then found the bottom corner from just outside the penalty area.

After his first goal in Spurs colours, Maddison took to Instagram to write: “Told you it was coming brother!!!! My guy Mohammed Kudus”.

Maddison is currently injured, but would surely love to be playing with a winger like Kudus at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Wayne Rooney is also excited about Kudus and is backing him to explode under Frank this season.

Meanwhile, Peter Crouch also hailed Kudus, claiming that it’s near impossible to take the ball off of him and against Leeds, he proved just that.

Mohammed Kudus gives Brandon Austin credit for his first Tottenham goal

Kudus has given Brandon Austin credit for his first Tottenham goal, having been practising the same shot with him in training.

Kudus told Spurs Official: “Yeah, so Pedro got the ball and then I went deep, he played the ball in behind, but sometimes it’s not always getting the first ball. I was just reacting to the second touch from the opponent.

“When I went inside, I went near the corner, and it’s something I’ve been practising all week with (Brandon) Austin, and I’m glad that it went in. I’m happy for my first goal, and I hope it opens doors for more goals to come.”

Tottenham will be hoping that Kudus’ goal against Leeds will now help to open the floodgates moving forward.

TBR Football can exclusively reveal how Thomas Frank is feeling about keeping Guglielmo Vicario as his number one shot-stopper at Spurs.

It has not been an easy start to the season for Vicario, who has come under big pressure from Tottenham Hotspur supporters.

The Italian goalkeeper was poor against Bodo/Glimt and against Leeds, he parried the ball into the path of Noah Okafor, who levelled the game.

Following the win over Leeds, there have been question marks raised as to whether the 28-year-old remains good enough to stay as Frank’s first-choice keeper.

Exclusive: Tottenham have no plans to replace Guglielmo Vicario

Sources have informed TBR Football’s chief correspondent, Graeme Bailey, that Tottenham and Thomas Frank have no plans to replace Guglielmo Vicario anytime soon.

Tottenham fans want Vicario dropped after his poor mistake against Leeds, which gifted Okafor the equalising goal at Elland Road.

Meanwhile, Darren Ambrose thinks ‘teams are targeting’ Vicario, especially at set pieces, and this should be a concern for Spurs.

But on the flip side, Daniel Farke thought Vicario was the match-winner for Tottenham against his Leeds side, as he made several key stops.

But, Spurs remain faithful to the Italian international for now and also have Antonin Kinsky backing him up as second choice.

Speaking about the goalkeeper situation, Bailey told TBR Football: “Vicario has taken criticism from the fanbase, but it is not seen as an area of huge worry – that is not to say Spurs aren’t keeping abreast of goalkeeping options, but he really isn’t seen as a major weak link at this point. Like with every position, they will continue to assess, but it is not a concern for them.”

Paul Robinson hails Guglielmo Vicario’s display vs Leeds

Rather than highlighting his mistake, Spurs’ former shot-stopper Paul Robinson was full of praise for Vicario and especially for a save he made later in the game.

Speaking to Premier League Live, Robinson said: “Really good stop. Comfortable stop from one you’re expecting him to make, it was within his range.

“What he did well was the big strong hand, and unlike the goal he conceded, he didn’t push it into a decent area, but this one was a decent strike by Piroe, too close to him, but what he does well is put a really big hand on it and shovels it away.

“Helped out by Udogie, if one of the Leeds attackers would have put that in, and maybe we’re having a different discussion, but it was a really good save at a key moment in the game.”

Alan Shearer was so impressed with one Tottenham Hotspur player after the North London club returned to winning ways against Leeds United.

Thomas Frank’s side secured a much-needed win as they defeated Leeds United 2-1 at Elland Road, heading into the October international break.

Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus were the players who got themselves on the scoresheet in West Yorkshire to secure a vital three points.

Speaking after the win, Alan Shearer highlighted one player who really impressed him and who proved a point to his manager.

Alan Shearer has been so impressed by Mathys Tel’s ‘great attitude’ at Tottenham

Shearer admitted he has been so impressed by Tel’s ‘great attitude’ at Tottenham after his goal against Leeds.

Tel was omitted from Tottenham’s Champions League squad, but the former Premier League striker has hailed his response to the bad news.

The Frenchman netted his first goal for the North London club after Kudus sent him through on goal, and he unleashed a wicked effort which sailed past Karl Darlow.

Shearer told BBC MOTD: “They were under pressure at times from Leeds; there was always going to be a really tough game there. But I thought that, particularly on the turnover, the transition, once they won that ball, their attitude to get the ball forward as quickly as possible has ultimately helped them win the game.

“That’s the reason why they won the game, their forward players I thought were very good, and this is a great example of winning the ball back and straight away a forward pass into the final third and saying to forward players, ‘Go and do your stuff’.”

“Tel does exactly that, what a great attitude after he’d been left out of the Champions League squad to prove a point today that his attitude was absolutely right.”

Tottenham paid £30m for Tel to make his move from Bayern Munich permanent over the summer, but it’s not been easy for the youngster.

Now, Frank could be left rueing his decision on Tel as the youngster showed his potential at Elland Road on Saturday lunchtime.

Mathys Tel on what he’s been doing in Tottenham training

Tel revealed that he has been working hard on his finishing in training this week, so he was delighted to be rewarded with his first goal of the new campaign.

The 20-year-old also explained that he hopes it will be the first of many this season, and he wants to contribute more to the team moving forward.

“I worked this week a lot on my finishing, and today I scored this goal, so I am very happy for me and I hope to help the team more and keep going,” Tel told TNT Sports.

His teammate Kudus also hailed him, adding: “Big credit to all the team today and I think everyone put a lot of effort, and I want to give Mathys big credit because it’s tough not playing as a player.

“But how he carries himself in training and getting ready to score like he did today, so it’s a big, big applause to him.

“I’m a big fan of how he composed himself and trains every day, even though he’s not playing. I’m happy he got his first and many more to come.”

It’s been a brilliant week for Yang Min-hyeok, as the Tottenham Hotspur youngster has finally announced his arrival in the Championship with a bang.

Since Yang made the £3m move to Tottenham back in the summer of 2024, it’s not been easy to start life in England for the youngster.

Last season, the teenager spent the season on loan at QPR, where he made 14 appearances, and now he is at Portsmouth, where his fortunes are starting to change.

Speaking after Pompey’s win at Fratton Park, John Mousinho was full of praise for the South Korean international and Tottenham Hotspur will be delighted.

John Mousinho hails Yang Min-hyeok as ‘very, very impressive’

Portsmouth boss Mousinho has admitted that Yang Min-hyeok has been ‘very, very impressive’ this week on the South Coast.

Yang scored his first Portsmouth goal in a 2-2 draw with Watford during the midweek, before adding to his tally in the 1-0 win over Boro.

The Pompey manager spoke about the need for ‘patience’ with the young South Korean, and he’s thankful he did after his two goals this week.

Moushinho told the BBC: “Yeah, it’s about a number of things. I think patience first and foremost, we’ve spoken about that in the press, recognising that Min-hyeok has been in the country for less than a year, still learning the language, he’s been down in Portsmouth for eight weeks. It’s a baptism of fire when you come into the Championship.

“He had that exposure with QPR for January onwards. I’m not sure he started two games on the spin, so he’s started three games on the spin this week. He’s improved in every single one of those games. Thankfully, we’ve stuck with him, and I thought he was very, very impressive again today.”

Following a thoroughly impressive week, the youngster will now be hoping he can use his two goals to kick on at Fratton Park.

Yang Min-hyeok receives a great reception from Portsmouth fans

After the huge win, Yang received a great reception from the Portsmouth fans, with excitement growing as to what the winger can help them achieve this season.

Portsmouth fans were unsure on Yang at first, but following a short bedding-in period, the teenager is proving himself on the South Coast.

Fellow countryman and Spurs legend Son Heung-min is a big fan of Yang and backed him to do well at Tottenham in the future.

Now, the teenager is showing signs of why Spurs were so keen to bring him to North London in the first place, and this could be the moment he finally steps up.

Tottenham Hotspur picked up three points against Leeds United, and Graham Roberts was impressed with two players in particular.

Mathys Tel opened the scoring for Tottenham, and while Noah Okafor equalised for the hosts, Mohammed Kudus won Spurs the game with his first goal for the club.

The victory wrapped up this football period positively for Spurs, heading into the upcoming international break, ensuring the squad will return with confidence.

Tottenham’s strong squad effort ensured their fourth win of the season, and Roberts had two players in mind for praise afterwards.

Graham Roberts was impressed by Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons

Tottenham have made an impressive start to life under Frank, with 14 points gained from their first seven Premier League matches.

Leeds United pushed Spurs at Elland Road, especially as Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a chance to equalise in the second half.

However, Tottenham legend Roberts admitted he was impressed by what he saw from Kudus and Xavi Simons in his post-match analysis.

Both men made a significant impact in Tottenham’s win, and gave Spurs fans a glimpse at how attack-minded the squad can be throughout this season.

Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons both made an impact against Leeds United

Kudus and Simons’ performances were brilliant, with the two fast-paced attackers showcasing their capabilities.

Kudus now has five goal contributions for Spurs in the Premier League this season, as he adjusts to life at the Lilywhites.

The former West Ham United winger was given the Player of the Match award for his performance, as he continues to showcase that last season was just a personal blip for him.

Meanwhile, Simons has easily adapted to the Premier League, as he continues to provide moments of magic for Frank.

Tottenham Hotspur returned to winning ways against Leeds United, and Wayne Rooney was so impressed by one player.

Thomas Frank’s team won their first Premier League match in three attempts as they defeated Leeds United 2-1 at Elland Road.

Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus found themselves on the scoresheet in West Yorkshire to secure a vital three points.

Speaking after the win, Wayne Rooney highlighted one player who seriously impressed him and who he is backing to kick on in North London.

Wayne Rooney backs Mohammed Kudus to kick on at Tottenham

Rooney is now backing Kudus to kick on at Tottenham Hotspur after scoring his first goal for the club.

Peter Crouch also hailed Kudus’ performance against Leeds, as the Ghanaian international scored and assisted in the win.

The winger managed to latch on to Pedro Porro’s pass, cut inside and found the bottom corner from just outside the Leeds penalty area.

Rooney told BBC MOTD: “I think he’s been a breath of fresh air, you look at the stats from the game, he’s first in everything, duels won, successful dribbles, shots, touches in the opposition box, sprints and he’s had a real impact for Tottenham this season.

“He’s got four assists this season, joint first in the Premier League; he’s by far had the most successful dribbles in the league. So, all that was missing was the goal. I think that goal today will push him on that next step. He’s been a real top signing.”

Against Leeds, Kudus won ten duels, completed six successful dribbles, had three shots, four touches in Leeds’ box and made 20 sprints.

Alan Shearer names Mohammed Kudus as Tottenham’s ‘best player’

Alan Shearer was also very complimentary of Kudus and named him as Tottenham’s ‘best player’ so far this season.

“Kudus gets his goal, he’s made a great start to his Spurs career, and he deserved this goal because he’s been Spurs’ best player this season,” claimed Shearer.

After the match, Frank showed his delight for Kudus’ first goal by celebrating with the winger and showing his excitement.

Spurs will now hope that after finding the back of the net for the first time, Kudus can now kick on at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.