Thomas Frank advised to go back to his roots as Tottenham Hotspur continue to frustrate
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is under immense scrutiny following his team’s disappointing performance against Chelsea last weekend. The Lilywhites were far from their best and were comprehensively outplayed by their local rivals on home soil, ending up on the losing side once again. Despite a promising start to the Premier League campaign, the North Londoners have now suffered three home defeats already.
Many had questioned whether the jump from Brentford to Tottenham would be too big for Thomas Frank. However, the Danish tactician silenced his critics early in the season as the Lilywhites climbed up the table and closed the gap on their rivals. That said, Frank’s men are now enduring a poor run of form, struggling to find consistency in recent games.
Thomas Frank advised to go back to his roots as Tottenham Hotspur continue to frustrate.
Thomas Frank needs to change his approach at Tottenham this season.
The pragmatic approach adopted by the Dane has not gone down well with the Spurs faithful. Supporters want their team to play free-flowing, attacking football at N17, keeping opponents on the back foot at all times. Unfortunately, that has not been the case under Frank’s management. The Lilywhites have also been overly reliant on set-pieces this season, underlining the lack of creativity from open play.
Thomas Frank needs to get the basics right at Tottenham
Brentford, under Thomas Frank, were known for their intensity and dynamic style of football. They thrived on their home form and were difficult to beat, with every player fully aware of their role. However, the same cannot be said about Frank’s Tottenham side this season. The players often opt for the safer option, clearly reflecting the Dane’s preference for a defence-first approach, rather than attacking with intent.
Renowned pundit Richard Keys has now urged the ex-Brentford boss to return to his roots and stay true to his footballing philosophy at N17. Writing on his blog, Keys said,
“Has Frank got the Spursy bug already? Has he become overawed by the tradition and history of Tottenham? I hope not because if he has he’ll go the same way as the 14 coaches Daniel Levy hired and fired before his departure. Just keep it simple Thomas. Do what you know best.”
Keys wants Thomas Frank to go back to basics and avoid overcomplicating things at Tottenham. The Danish manager should apply the same tactics that made his Brentford side so effective, built on direct, no-nonsense football. Richard Keys believes that was precisely why Tottenham appointed him, and if Frank cannot replicate that style, he risks becoming just another manager dismissed by the North London club.
The onus is now on the Danish tactician to reignite the spark within his players and bring the best out of them. Frank must ensure that his team applies pressure from the first whistle and capitalises on opponents’ mistakes. That is the only way the Spurs faithful will rally behind the team once again as they aim to build on last season’s Europa League success.