Thomas Frank spoke to the media at Hotspur Way on Monday, ahead of our Carabao Cup fourth round tie against Newcastle at St James’ Park on Wednesday evening (8pm UK).
Here’s what he had to say...
Any fresh concerns from Everton? Can we get the latest on Dominic Solanke, Destiny Udogie and Cuti Romero?
Thomas: “It's all good from the guys who played on Sunday. Dominic - steps forward, it's step by step. Cuti is on the pitch, no timeframe, but on the pitch. Destiny is on the pitch as well, so, three steps forward."
You’re top of the league in terms of away form - why do you think it’s so different away compared to at home this season?
Thomas: “It’s still a relatively small sample. Hopefully, at the end of the year, the stats are fantastic away and fantastic home. It's a new team, but still a team that needs to find each other. And how I see it, the way we've chosen to build it. I think we now have nine Premier League games, 14 games in total and we had one bad performance against Bournemouth, second half against Wolves, second half against Monaco, a bad performance. So, I think in general, we're building.”
Were there discussions when you joined the club about winning trophies?
Thomas: “I think it was very clear that we're in this game because we love it and if you are in a club like Tottenham, we would like to do whatever we can to win. I said from the beginning, I'd like to be able to compete in every tournament. We have an opportunity in a tournament where we play, not tomorrow, but Wednesday, against a very strong team. The holders. They have done very well, a very difficult place to play but we will go out there and do everything we can to compete and win and progress.”
How much time do you spend on set pieces? What about the change in style of play in the Premier League?
Thomas: “Yes, Andreas (Georgson, assistant coach/set pieces) is doing a top job. The players are doing a top job. They're on board. They are really committed to it. For me, I think every phase in the game, we need to be good at if we want to build a top team. But set-pieces, obviously, I think it's a third of all goals, something like that, is from set pieces. So, not to use time on it and super focus on details, do the right thing, construct a team so you can defend them, but definitely attack them. I think that's a major strength. I'm very happy with how we are at the moment with that.”
Is a more direct style of football being implemented now?
Thomas: “I haven't seen every game, every league, or at least just the top five leagues. If you just focus on the Premier League, then you can say that. My feeling is also, maybe the feeling was also a stat, that we have more goals this season from set pieces so far, definitely more long throws in general from a lot of teams. So, that's definitely a clear example of more focus on it. Every manager wants to compete and it's about finding the small margins. I think the success that we had at Brentford, maybe not as fancy because it was a smaller club, but also that Arsenal picked it up, I think Liverpool two years ago was extremely good as well. So, the top clubs also picked it up (and thought) probably need to do this if you want to be able to compete or raise the bar to be even better. So, I think that's probably the reason.”
Is it more economical to play like that?
Thomas: “As I said before, you need to be good in all phases. For example, yesterday in the first half, I think we were very good in building from the back. You also need to be in control of the ball in the middle of the pitch sometimes. It's all about what kind of strategy and style you have. A big part of it is definitely to be good at set pieces.”
It is true what they say that once you’ve won a trophy, more will follow?
Thomas: “I think you can put it in two ways. I think it's to get to win that trophy, that's very difficult, but to sustain it is probably even more difficult, but that's the aim. We have some players here that had a fantastic experience last year, winning the Europa League final. And they're very eager to win more trophies and would like to compete and win. So, we are definitely going for it for tomorrow.”
What does Kevin Danso offer to the team and how do you think he’s performed in Cuti Romero’s absence?
Thomas: “He definitely deserves praise. He's stepping into the defence and needs to help the team. Every coach will love him, he’s a fantastic character and personality. I think yesterday he was very good. I think he was good and calm on the ball. I think he had some strong battles with Beto and Barry up front. From crosses, but especially from set pieces in the second half, where they bombarded us a bit, it was like he had a magnet head. So, everything went to him and he cleared it well. He did well.”
What was the reasoning behind Mo Kudus playing more centrally, and what do you think he offered in that role?
Thomas: “I think I sometimes try to change it a little bit, tweak it a little bit in the game. I wanted to have Brennan Johnson, who's very good from the right, his ability to run in behind and produce crosses as well. Having Kudus a little bit more in the middle together with Xavi could create a little bit of an overload. I thought there was elements of something good, especially in the first half. So, I think it's not like it's going to be a definite and he’ll play there all the time, Kudus, but I think those bits in it I liked.”
Have you ever experienced a player who is desperate to leave (your club) and been quite vocal about it? How do you deal with that?
Thomas: “Yes, I've experienced it before. That's very tricky. It's very tricky in general. I think it's important always to try to see it from both perspectives. We always, as I say, give the example and analogy that you look from your side of the elephant. It's difficult to look on the other side of the elephant because you stand on one side. As a person myself, I think I try to do things the right way. But on the flip side, you only have one life yourself so at a certain stage maybe you need to do something. There's also that you signed a contract. You were very happy to sign when you signed it. And part of signing a contract is that there's a contract and a club are paying you money. Same for me in Brentford when I had to leave and had the opportunity to leave to come to Tottenham. So, I think it's very complicated. I prefer that it goes smoothly. But it's all about communication and, yeah, it's tricky.”
You’ve tied down Romero and Bentancur (to longer-term deals) - is Micky van de Ven next?
Thomas: “Yeah, very happy with Micky. I think he's been brilliant for the club since he signed. I think I said it yesterday as well, I think he's taken some steps up this season. I think he actually defended even better. I think he's still very good on the ball. I think he added the goals, the headed goals, which I'm very happy with. He's a threat on set pieces. Character, leadership also growing. So, as far as I know, we have a good contract with him but definitely a player I see a big future in here in the club. I think he's happy here. That's very important. We are happy with him. Let's see what happens in the future. But I think the most important thing is, I agree, it looks like he really enjoys his football. He really enjoys his time here. I'm very happy with him. Everyone is happy. So, that's a good start.”
In an ideal world you’d maybe want to rest van de Ven and a few others - it’s also a competition where you win three games and you’re in the semi-finals - is that the dilemma you’ve got?
Thomas: “Yes, that’s the challenge and the dilemma. Of course, now it's a cup tournament. It's one game. So, it's a little bit more at stake, you can say, but it needs to be the same mindset. So, I changed four players from Monaco to Everton and three from Villa to Monaco. So, of course there will be a little bit of rotation, like I’ve basically have done from game to game, because we played every third or fourth day, you need to do it. Every club does it. If you want to compete, that's the next thing. So, if you want to compete over 60 games, you can't play the same 11 for 60 games because risk of injuries and fatigue and lack of performance, that will just naturally happen. So, it's that fine balance to try to manage that, but that's what we're up for. That's one of the beauties of being Head Coach and sleepless nights to try to figure everything out. That's part of the good fun.”
