Thomas Frank's Positive Start at Tottenham Following Victory Against Manchester City
Thomas Frank expressed his growing affection for Tottenham Hotspur following the team's impressive 2-0 victory over Manchester City, a sentiment that is reciprocated by the supporters. The Danish manager has made an exceptional start to his tenure in the Premier League with his new club.
Saturday's win marks consecutive victories and clean sheets for Spurs, showcasing an attractive style of attacking football.
Frank, who succeeded Ange Postecoglou after the Australian coach led Spurs to the Europa League trophy last May, is quickly winning over fans in north London. His successful beginning comes amid significant discontent among supporters regarding the club's perceived shortcomings during the summer transfer window and dissatisfaction with chairman Daniel Levy.
However, bringing Frank in from Brentford may prove to be one of the club's best decisions.
A Summer of Discontent
The atmosphere at Spurs this summer has been notably tense. After the excitement of winning the Europa League at the end of last season, fans were eager for the team to build on that success following a disappointing 17th place finish in the Premier League.
Yet, the only significant new additions to the first-team squad since Postecoglou's exit have been Mohammed Kudus, a £50 million signing from West Ham, and Joao Palhinha, who has joined on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich.
During the club's pre-season tour, captain Son Heung-min bid farewell, and James Maddison sustained a knee injury that is expected to sideline him for most of the season. Supporters have also faced the disappointment of two high-profile transfer deals collapsing.
Spurs activated a £60 million release clause for Morgan Gibbs-White at Nottingham Forest, only for the England midfielder to sign a new contract with his club shortly thereafter. Additionally, a deal for England winger Eberechi Eze fell through at the last moment when he opted to join rivals Arsenal instead.
Frank commented, "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. And Palhinha, wow! Sometimes players need confidence, and they need to be on top." Club chairman Levy has faced criticism following the failed Eze deal and for the club's transfer activities this summer, with chants of "Levy out" echoing from the 3,000-strong away following at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Nevertheless, it was Levy's decision to part ways with Postecoglou and hire Frank.
'Attacking Freedom but Big on Details'
Despite finishing 17th last season, Spurs managed to score 64 goals in the Premier League, just five fewer than second-placed Arsenal. The team delivered thrilling football under Postecoglou but conceded 65 goals, resulting in a negative goal difference.
Although Frank has only overseen two Premier League matches, Spurs have displayed a solid defense, maintaining clean sheets in both games. Brennan Johnson, a new signing for 2023, remarked on the differences between the two managers, saying, "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 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 many times and conceded a lot of goals."
'Frank's Masterstroke'
One of the main criticisms of Postecoglou was his inflexibility in adapting to opponents. While his approach of "it's just who we are, mate" resonated with fans when the team was winning, it became less appealing when Spurs dropped points to teams like Ipswich and Leicester.
Frank appears to excel where Postecoglou struggled. In the recent Super Cup defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Spurs nearly secured a victory, coming within a minute of winning. Frank's tactical flexibility has been evident; he utilized a 3-5-2 formation against PSG and shifted to a 4-3-3 against Burnley, adapting the midfield composition accordingly. His strategic choices against Manchester City included reintroducing defensively-minded midfielders Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur, which was praised by Match of the Day pundit Micah Richards as a "masterstroke."
Palhinha's Role
After a successful two-year stint with Fulham, Palhinha transferred to Bayern Munich for approximately £44 million in 2024. However, within a year, he returned to England after struggling to impress manager Vincent Kompany at Bayern.
Despite questions surrounding his ability to play possession football, Palhinha has thrived at Spurs, earning the title of player of the match at the Etihad Stadium after leading the pitch in duels and tackles.
Palhinha stated, "The coach (Frank) pushed me to come here and showed me the project. 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."