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Rejuvenated Spurs like ‘night and day’ from last season
Thomas Frank expressed his burgeoning affection for Tottenham following the team’s impressive 2-0 victory at Manchester City, a sentiment shared by the club’s supporters.
The Danish manager has enjoyed a stellar start to his Premier League tenure with the North London side.
Saturday’s result marks consecutive wins accompanied by successive clean sheets, underscored by an attractive attacking style of play.
Appointed as Ange Postecoglou’s successor after the Australian guided Spurs to Europa League glory last May, Frank is rapidly endearing himself to the Tottenham faithful.
His impressive commencement unfolds against a backdrop of widespread fan discontent regarding perceived shortcomings in the summer transfer window and disillusionment with chairman Daniel Levy.
However, securing Frank’s services from Brentford may prove to be the club’s most astute acquisition.
The atmosphere surrounding Spurs has been notably peculiar this summer.
Riding high from their Europa League triumph at the end of the previous season, supporters eagerly anticipated further progression after a 17th-place finish in the Premier League.
Yet, the only additions to the first-team squad since Postecoglou’s departure have been Mohammed Kudus, a £50m signing from West Ham, and Joao Palhinha, acquired on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich.
During the club’s pre-season tour, captain Son Heung-min bid farewell, while James Maddison sustained a knee injury expected to sideline him for a significant portion of the season.
Adding to supporters’ woes, the club witnessed the collapse of deals for two high-profile transfer targets.
Tottenham activated a £60m release clause in Morgan Gibbs-White’s contract with Nottingham Forest, only for the England midfielder to subsequently sign a new deal with his existing club.
Similarly, Spurs believed they had secured a deal for England winger Eberechi Eze, only for the Crystal Palace playmaker to opt for rivals Arsenal at the last moment.
“What is 100% sure is that we brought two top players into the club – Kudus and Palhinha – and both of them have performed very well,” said Frank.
“And Palhinha, wow. You know, sometimes players need confidence, and they need to be on top.”
Club chairman Levy has faced criticism following the Eze deal’s failure and the club’s overall transfer market performance this summer.
The chants of “Levy out” from the 3,000-strong away contingent at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium on Saturday appeared to carry added intensity.
However, it was Levy’s decision to part ways with Postecoglou and appoint Frank.
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Despite finishing 17th last season, Spurs managed to score 64 goals in the Premier League, only five fewer than second-placed Arsenal.
While the team undoubtedly played an exciting brand of football under Postecoglou, they conceded 65 goals, resulting in a negative goal difference of one.
Though Frank has overseen just two Premier League matches, Spurs have displayed defensive solidity in both, maintaining clean sheets.
When asked about the differences between the two managers, 2023 signing Brennan Johnson commented: “They are two different coaches. I’m really enjoying it. A lot of detail goes into the set-pieces, but at the same time he (Frank) gives us a lot of attacking freedom.”
“We have kept two clean sheets and against Manchester City it is not easy. I have played here a lot of times and conceded a lot of goals.”
A primary criticism leveled at Postecoglou was his perceived inflexibility in adapting to opponents.
When Spurs were securing victories, the Australian’s “it’s just who we are, mate” approach resonated with supporters.
However, it became less palatable as teams like Ipswich and Leicester departed North London with all three points.
In contrast, Postecoglou’s most significant weakness may well be Frank’s greatest strength.
In the Super Cup defeat by Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month, Spurs came within 60 seconds of beating Luis Enrique’s side.
Frank opted for a 3-5-2 formation, utilising Richarlison and Kudus in attack with an extra centre-back to nullify the threat of false nine Ousmane Dembele and suffocating the space for wingers Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
In Spurs’ Premier League opener against Burnley – when they were favourites to win and would be expected to have the majority of possession – Frank switched to a 4-3-3 formation and selected a midfield of Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Pape Matar Sarr.
Frank stuck with the same formation against Manchester City on Saturday but brought Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur – two defensively-minded midfielders – back into his starting line-up.
“The way the head coach has been able to adapt so early in his tenure – sometimes using a back four and sometimes a five – even bringing in in Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur, that was a masterstroke,” said Match of the Day pundit Micah Richards.
“Thomas Frank’s brought a knowhow of how to see games out.”
Spurs players’ average positions against Manchester City
After a successful two years with Fulham, Palhinha joined Bayern Munich for around £44m in 2024.
But within 12 months the 30-year-old found himself back in England after failing to win over manager Vincent Kompany at the Allianz Arena.
While there’s no doubting his off-the-ball work, Palhinha’s struggles at Bayern raised questions over his suitability to playing possession football
But the midfielder has impressed at Spurs and was named player of the match at Etihad Stadium after winning more duels (eight) and making more tackles (four) than any other player on the pitch.
“The coach (Frank) pushed me to come here and showed me the project,” Palhinha told TNT Sports.
“It is such a great club, and I am really glad to be in the Premier League again.
“I am so happy, me and my family. Now I want to enjoy this top club and top atmosphere again.”
Palhinha’s touch map against Man City
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