Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe calls Thomas Frank’s Tottenham side “tactically versatile and interesting” ahead of the Carabao Cup clash
Tottenham Hotspur take on Newcastle United at the St James’ Park on Wednesday evening for a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
This will be a difficult test for the Lilywhites, who ended their two-game winless run on Sunday by smashing Everton 3-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Before that, they drew 0-0 with AS Monaco in the Champions League and were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa in north London. So, the victory at Everton would give so much belief to the boys heading into the cup tie vs Newcastle United.
A brace from Micky van de Ven in the first half and late goal from substitute Pape Matar Sarr sealed a fantastic away day victory for Thomas Frank’s side. When Tottenham have found it difficult to unlock teams with flair and incisive passing, set-pieces have come in handy for them this season. And after the win on Sunday, Thomas Frank was extremely happy with his boys for taking advantage from set-piece situations.
Eddie Howe calls Thomas Frank’s Tottenham side tactically interesting
Eddie Howe praises Thomas Frank for his early work at Tottenham
The Dane’s influence on this Spurs side has been evident. Under his tutelage, Spurs are becoming a tough nut to crack, which is the polar opposite of what it was last season when Ange Postecoglou was in charge. He has given the players confidence, brought stability and control and made the north Londoners resilient at the back.
Tottenham’s home form has been very poor, yet to find themselves third in the Premier League table above the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United shows the job Thomas Frank has been doing.
Ahead of the mouthwatering Carabao Cup fourth round clash between Spurs and Newcastle United, Eddie Howe was effusive in his praise for Frank and his coaching staff for the work they have done at White Hart Lane since taking the reins in June. The Newcastle boss has called the north Londoners “tactically versatile”, admitting they can hurt their opposition in different ways.
“Tactically, very interesting and very versatile. They build up in lots of different ways. Very aggressive off the ball. They have different ways to make things happen including set plays,” Eddie Howe said about Frank’s Tottenham in his pre-match presser (h/t BBC Sport).
“Very well organised and ultimately, set plays are a big guider of that. Credit to him [Frank] and his coaching staff to what they’re doing.”
Rotation on the cards vs Newcastle
Injuries are already threatening to become a concern once again for Tottenham. The Europa League champions currently have several key players sidelined with ongoing fitness issues, which could test the club’s squad depth in the weeks to come. Managing this hectic schedule will require smart rotation and player management to avoid fatigue and injuries from derailing the team’s progress.
Frank has hinted that he will rotate his squad against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup to avoid players from picking up injuries after they only played an intense league game on Sunday. After the Newcastle fixture, the Londoners face Chelsea, FC Copenhagen and Manchester United before the international break takes centre-stage.
So, our gaffer would have to make sure his players are well-rested and fresh for crucial games during the festive period post the November break.