Hotspur HQ

Another game, another Xavi SImons snub. At this point, Thomas Frank's treatment of the biggest Tottenham Hotspur signing of the summer 2025 transfer window is bordering on managerial malpractice, and as Spurs continue to lose games and look like a unit bereft of any productive attacking ideas, Frank's almost personal vendetta against the Dutchman looks increasingly ridiculous.

Tottenham were beyond hopeless against Arsenal last weekend without Simons in the starting lineup, and if you take out the fact that Randal Kolo Muani contributed to literally every single one of the three goals Tottenham scored in their 5-3 loss to PSG on Wednesday night, they weren't all that much better at creating chances without him again in the Champions League, too.

So when Frank left Simons out of the starting lineup entirely yet again on Saturday night in what was obviously a must win fixture against Fulham in the Premier League return after the North London Derby debacle, you could hear the collective groan from the Spurs supporters scrolling social media as they saw that news.

Tottenham aren't any better without Xavi Simons

Predictably, Tottenham were dreadful without Simons. Aside from Pedro Porro spamming useless crosses and Mohammed Kudus practically falling over himself by doing too much in a game with his worst West Ham tendencies, the lone Lucas Bergvall assist was the only real moment of creative brililance from this Tottenham team.

Spurs are clearly not better without Simons in the starting lineup. Yes, Simons has been disappointing compared to his price tag and the quality he showed at RB Leipzig and PSV before this big move to Spurs, which he chose over London rivals Chelsea.

And you have to wonder if he is regretting that decision at this point as Frank either starts him in an isolated role where he has no prayer of succeeding or simply eschews him without explanation entirely. Frank has no idea how to manage an elite team or how to come up with creative attacking solutions within a structure, and him simply giving up on Simons is a very biting sign of his own limitations.

On paper, Tottenham Hotspur right back Pedro Porro should be one of the best players in the Premier League at his position, and, therefore, an invaluable player to Spurs. He should be considered one of the top, top players in the league, and while he has all the tools on both ends of the pitch and is a nailed on starter for Spurs, it never feels like he is accepted as a top class player.

And that's because there is always something missing with Pedro. He works hard, he wins the ball, he puts in crosses, he creates chances, but at the end of the day, he is a regular starter on a losing team and never has the same importance in games as the true core of Tottenham players like Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.

In Saturday's 2-1 loss to Fulham, Porro proved why Tottenham fans just can't trust him as a core player or consider him anywhere near world class, even if he is a very talented player and statistically a great right back.

Pedro Porro is a stat padder

Because, once again, Porro had the statistics. He had three key passes, three tackles won, and three interceptions for Tottenham. And what did those statistics mean for Tottenham on Saturday night against Fulham? Absolutely nothing. They were empty calories and emblematic of Porro's playing style. Selfish, focused on his own numbers, and with no regard for the team.

Porro is a player who makes basic positional errors and sacrifices stability tactically in order to win the ball to pad his stats. He focuses more on spamming crosses instead of focusing on precision or waiting until there is someone available to receive in the box. And his shots from outside the box? They are basically a gift to the opposition, not even worth trying.

Compounding all of that, Porro has a serious attitude problem. After a game in which he had 3 of 16 accurate crosses and made defensive lapse after defensive lapse off the ball, he decided to throw a tantrum and make Lucas Bergvall a target of his ire. Bergvall, who has far more talent and team spirit than Porro, actually played a decent game and was interacting like a normal, reasonable person with the fans after a tough loss. Porro decided to scream at him and hurry down the tunnel like a petulant child.

Mad about a loss? That's perfectly fine. Yelling at a young star a few years your junior? Unacceptable and a clear sign that Porro is not a leader. At the age of 26, you have to expect more maturity from Porro, but immaturity is exactly what Spurs have come to expect from the Spanish international, whose stat padding over the last couple of seasons has belied the fact that he is a very average player with the ego and attitude of a Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Cristiano Ronaldo.

The fallout from Tottenham Hotspur's latest entirely unacceptable loss has yet to truly conclude, and things figure to reach a boiling point soon as Thomas Frank continues to antagonize fans with poor results on the pitch and even more cowardly football that is simply not what Spurs supporters have come to expect from their teams.

Compounding matters is Frank's bizarre, passive aggressive attitude at press conferences that strike a level of obliviousness that is concerning and runs counter to the style of manager that usually succeeds at a bigger club like Tottenham - as opposed to, ahem, a mid table side that Frank is more accustomed to managing.

Following last weekend's humiliating 4-1 North London Derby vs. Arsenal, Frank was stunned again by a London rival. Spurs were down 2-0 within 10 minutes to Fulham at home and never looked like getting back into the game, creating a paltry 0.01 xG in the first half - an indictment of how woeful Frank's attacking tactics have been.

Thomas Frank is coming off clueless

During the game, the entire team, particularly Frank, were serenaded with boos, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario specifically targeted after yet another inexcusable individual error to effectively doom Spurs to a loss right as the game was getting under way.

Frank was well within his right to defend his veteran goalkeeper, but the way in which he did it will not go over well with Tottenham supporters at all. The manager said to the fans, via The Spurs Web, "That's not a true Spurs fan".

Now that will absolutely make Spurs fans blood boil. The people in the crowd haven't necessarily been the most supportive this season, true, but they are also working people who pay hard earned money to watch their team play and have understandably grown tired wtih a manager and group of players who make the same basic errors over and over again.

They booed Vicario out of frustration with a player who has made repeated mistakes and yet immediately yells at his own teammates as his first reaction. And they booed Vicario as part of a collective response and rebellion against a manager and team that has continually let them down to the point where a feeling of apathy feels almost inevitable at this point.

Who on earth is Frank, a new comer from Brentford with no real coaching pedigree to speak of, to say who is or isn't a true Tottenham fan? How can a failing manager be so oblivious as to adjudicate which paying members of the audience are valid or not? The more Frank opens his mouth, the more clueless he sounds at this point.

Tottenham started about as badly as could be imagined. The defending will rightly get criticism, but it is the lack of creativity yet again that is the major cause for concern.

GK Guglielmo Vicario

Produced the most memorable moment of the match but not for the reasons the home fans wanted. Vicario did not do well with the first goal but at least can point to a deflection. The second is unexplainable. Coming for a through ball and clearing into the stands is common for keepers and has been regularly, long since the phrase “sweeper keeper” was fashionable.

Vicario typically does this, too. Today, with us already 1-0 down he decided to try something different, and it did not go well. Â Taking a touch while well out of his goal and under pressure, shielding the ball, and then scuffing a clearance along the ground was clearly not in the plan. However, given the multiple opportunities Vicario had to clear, it is difficult to understand what the aim was. Inevitably the ball ended up chipped back into the empty net from long range. Good finish from Harry Wilson but it was a gift. Vicario did not have much to do in the second half, and did not make another error, but had done enough in the first to put us up against it. Â Rating: 2

RB Pedro Porro

The team as a whole struggled to pass today, but Porro’s crossing was extremely poor.  This has become a theme in recent weeks and is concerning given it is usually a strength. Time after time, Porro found Fulham players with his delivery. Was beaten easily on the right side for the first goal. Was also caught out midway through the first half as his indecision on a long ball allowed Samuel Chukwueze in on goal. Only a great Micky van de Ven tackle stopped him making it 3-0. Plenty of effort as usual from Porro, and he created a couple of chances in the second half, but we lose so much when his attacking play is struggling that we need a return to form quickly. Rating: 3

LB Destiny Udogie

Although he had more success than Porro on the other side when coming forward, this was not Udogie’s greatest game. Often had the right idea and was in good positions but a poor touch let him down. Unusual for Udogie who usually complements our attack well on the left. Thomas Frank may need to decide on which two of our three full backs will start consistently as it seems the frequent rotation is not helping and instead contributing to disjointed performances in these areas. Rating: 4

CB Kevin Danso

In for the suspended Christian Romero, Danso started slowly along with the rest of the team. Needed communication with Micky van de Ven when Vicario raced out and did not clear the ball for Harry Wilson’s goal. Seeing an empty net and yet neither Danso or van de Ven moved back onto the line was an error and we were punished when the obvious long chip sailed over their heads and in. In the second half he defended well enough but was not quick enough on the ball to help instigate attacks. Rating: 4

CB Micky van de Ven

Like Danso, Micky should have taken charge of the situation before the second goal and organized himself or Danso to cover the goal. Apart from that he played well, including an amazing tackle on Samuel Chukwueze  to prevent a certain third Fulham goal. Also tried to inject some drive into our attacks in the second half though too often his positive runs ended up with his teammates passing the ball backwards. A frustrating day for one of our best players. Rating: 6

CM João Palhinha

Playing against his former side, Palhinha was not as effective defensively as usual. Seemed to be caught out of position more often than is typical. Put in challenges when needed but offered little when we were attacking and slowed the game down too much which suited Fulham. After a great start to life at Spurs, Palhinha has had a downturn in performance for the last few weeks. Another player we need back on form. Rating: 4

CM Archie Gray

Perhaps a surprise inclusion but deserved after his performance in midweek. I’m not convinced the club know Archie Gray’s best position but there is potential in central midfield. Did show more urgency than Palhinha and was one of the few in the first half who was trying something different. Very little came off for him unfortunately and, while he will get other chances, starting Gray in midfield when we are struggling so much is not proving effective. Rating: 5

RW Mohammed Kudus

Another for whom very little seemed to go right for the first hour. Kudus overhit several crosses and could not take defenders on as he usually does. Definitely needed the goal and took it very well when the chance came. Improved after the goal for the final 30 minutes and was unlucky with some other through balls and runs, including a corner that almost led to a Bergvall equalizer. A fantastic piece of skill on 70 minutes to volley the ball, control it, and then backheel to Bentancur had no impact on the game in the end but was at least something that got the fans up. A clear talent and we need to build attacks around him. Rating: 5

LW Lucas Bergvall

Although he struggled in the first half, we do look better when Bergvall plays. He brings intensity and energy and the ability to pick a pass. His passing particularly improved after the first half an hour and he played a good ball to set up Kudus for our only goal. Could have scored himself from a corner and I was surprised when he substituted. On a poor day all around, Bergvall was one of our better players. Rating: 6

CF Richarlison

After scoring 2 goals in his last 2 games, Richarlison deserved to start and I like playing two strikers. Richarlison’s link play and ability to hold the ball had improved in midweek against PSG as well, but today we saw familiar struggles in that area. Richarlison could not get involved as much and was substituted after an hour. Another frustrating game and our lack of attack is costing us on a regular basis now. Rating: 3

CF Randal Kolo Muani

 After getting off the mark in the Champions League, Muani did look sharper today. Our attacking play was still weak, but what few chances we did have seemed to come from Muani’s work. Was unlucky not to score in the second half and although there is more to come, it was good to see an improved performance today. Rating: 6

Substitutes: Xavi Simons, Mathys Tel, Wilson Odobert, Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur

Thomas Frank’s substitutes could do little to change the flow of the game today. Sarr coming on was a good ideachrisbatty2000 although replacing Bergvall did not seem like the move to make. Sarr kept us moving in midfield and switched the ball quickly enough, though in general both him and Mathys Tel could not get too involved. Tel was only given a few minutes and is another where Thomas Frank seems unsure how best to use him.

Thomas Frank knew that he had to get things right on Saturday night in front of his own fans when Tottenham Hotspur returned to Premier League action for another London Derby against Fulham. And while a casual observer could have written this game off against the Cottagers as lesser in importance to the North London Derby that preceded it, given how badly Spurs were battered by Arsenal, the game against Fulham was, in fact, just as crucial in order to gauge Frank's response.

While Tottenham showed signs of improvement in a 5-3 loss to PSG - a game they were almost certain to lose anyway - Saturday's dismal showing against Fulham was a clear reminder that there is something very visibly broken about this Spurs side under Frank.

Yes, Frank did make a big adjustment, continuing his wise decision to start young midfielders Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray. But the rest of his ideas were horribly wrong. Fulham jumped out to a 2-0 lead within the first 10 minutes, and while you can say that Frank can't be blamed entirely for errors that the likes of Pedro Porro and Guglielmo Vicario were making, you can most definitely apportion a significant amount of the blame on him for a 0.01 xG in the first half against a mid table side.

Tottenham were horrid against Fulham

Frank benched Xavi Simons again. His team sucked. He got booed out of the building. Rinse and repeat. That's what it feels like every week in the Premier League, and after throwing Ange Postecoglou under the bus last week by stating he inherited a team that finished 17th in the league last season - as if that were any way to excuse a blowout loss in a North London Derby after a summer of notable transfer investment from Big Ange's squad - Frank now has to face the full wrath of the fans.

Judging by the raucous chorus of boos and the just as fervent criticisms flying wildly online, Frank has lost the fan base. That's what happens when you continually get pantsed by all the other teams in the city. Getting embarrassed by giants like Chelsea and Arsenal is bad enough, but getting pounded this badly by Fulham at home when you KNEW coming in that you had to win, well, that's a huge problem.

Tottenham have fired better coaches than Frank who were performing better at the time of their dismissals and didn't regret a single one of them. Not since Mauricio Pochettino have Spurs had a great manager, and as the likes of Frank pass through, the yearning for Poch becomes more and more wistful. Frank isn't out yet, but with the highs of the 3-0 over Manchester City well in the rearview mirror, the new manager is one more cataclysm away from the supposedly more ambitious Tottenham management kissing his behind ciao.

Thomas Frank has already played for silverware, travelled to the Etihad and overseen a North London Derby, yet a home game against Fulham has suddenly become the most significant fixture of his tenure so far.

The Dane has scuppered two huge opportunities to assert himself in N17 by overseeing victories, or at least admirable performances, in the pair of outings that matter most to the fanbase.

However, the brave, canny and courageous displays many believed Frank would facilitate when we encountered Chelsea and Arsenal were nowhere to be seen. Instead, Spurs produced the two worst attacking showings of the Premier League season so far, with the manager overemphasising the nullification of the opposition.

You don't quite get the feeling that Frank has left Brentford yet. The 52-year-old is still operating as if he's managing a club of, with all due respect, the Bees' aspirations. Now, their west London rivals, Fulham, have the chance to put serious pressure on the Dane when they visit N17 on Saturday night.

Clash with Fulham could be make or break for Tottenham boss

There's no overlooking just how chastening an experience last Sunday's North London Derby defeat was. Of course, Spurs were dire, but for some supporters, they came to a harrowing realisation that this Arsenal team may well do something special this season, having emerged as the Premier League's perpetual bridesmaids.

When we were meandering through our post-Mauricio Pochettino instant gratification identity crisis, the Gunners' woes supplied solace. Now, though, Mikel Arteta's side struggle to lose games of football, and that makes our current malaise much harder to stomach. For local supporters, the unbearable Gooner lurks with intent on piling on the misery, while the ubiquitous medium of social media means we're subject to the thoughts of those supporting our bitterest rivals from across the globe against our will.

Arsenal's success thrusts a feeling of impatience upon us, ironically so given the rebuild Arteta had to undergo in order to lift the Gunners into their current position.

The harsh reality is that Frank is unlikely to get the time that was afforded to Arteta, who coached through the bleakest part of his tenure while there we no supporters in stadia across the country due to Covid.

Frank is instead subject to fierce judgment from a home faithful that demands to be entertained, akin to the Romans who enjoyed days out at the Colosseum. The majority would be all too keen to deliver a thumbs down (if we were living in Ridley Scott's idea of gladiatorial times) in the manager's direction, with the primitive and insipid performances the Lilywhites have produced in N17 hardly worthy of mercy.

Spurs are still without a Premier League win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since the opening weekend of the season, and the failure to secure a second this weekend will undoubtedly feel like the end times.

The stars are aligning for a diabolical evening, with Fulham winless on the road, but a spirited showing in the week against Paris Saint-Germain should at least spark some optimism. Sure, it ended in a 5-3 defeat, but that felt like Frank at his best: adaptable and aggressive.

One-off ploys aren't sustainable, though, and the manager desperately needs to impose a style that ensures games such as Saturday night's duel aren't miserable slogs reliant upon variance pulling in our favour. His squad isn't perfect, but there's talent at his disposal that hasn't been maximised yet, with risk-aversion and apparent defensive security undermining the potential fun elements of this Tottenham team.

Playmakers haven't yet come to the fore, while youth has either been used sparingly or erroneously.

Still, there's no reason why the "intelligent" Frank can't evolve. He's been a disappointment so far, but the Dane deserves a little more time to at least attempt to put things right, and implement ideals that are capable of appeasing a fanbase that's seemingly never wanted to endure the "painful rebuild" Poch warned about all those years ago.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank shocked fans by benching arguably his most talented player and inarguably his most expensive summer signing, Xavi Simons, in two of the most important games of the season back to back. Frank, out of nowhere, discarded Simons against both Arsenal and PSG, with the Lilywhites losing both games by a combined score of 9-4.

Now, obviously, losing 5-3 to PSG is a lot better than losing 4-1 to Arsenal, and Spurs were lined up much better against the Parisians with Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, and Pape Matar Sarr all getting starting opportunities against the reigning Champions League and Ligue 1 winners.

However, Spurs clearly missed Simons in both games. Maybe they could have beaten PSG with that extra attacking oomph from their main central playmaker, and they probably would have created significantly more against Arsenal with Simons in there, too.

Thomas Frank hasn't been doing what's best

Granted, Simons hasn't done much this season with no goals and a measly assist in the Premier League, but he's still adjusting. He's not someone Spurs can, should, or can even afford to give up on, given what is invested in him and he the game breaking talent he has.

Frank seems to have a vendetta against Simons and isn't using him correctly, instead benching him in the big games as opposed to facilitating tactics to bring this unique weapon into the game. But as he told reporters ahead of the upcoming Premier League rivalry clash against London side Fulham, Frank isn't chalking up Simons as a flop, but rather a Premier League newcomer who is still adjusting.

The Danish manager said, via The Spurs Web, “Xavi has been fine. As we’ve seen with other players coming into the Premier League for the first time from other leagues, it’s not straightforward in any way. It’s a completely natural part of the development or adjustment to the league. Different games, different abilities, so yeah.”

In the same time span that he has struggled with Spurs, Simons has played very well for the Netherlands national team. And he was an exceptional player for PSV and RB Leipzig in all the competitions he played in, including the Europa League and Champions League. So the idea that he isn't good enough for the Premier League is a complete fallacy.

As with Florian Wirtz in Liverpool, Simons just needs a bit of time. He will come good. And Frank can help that by giving him the ball more and not isolated him tactically, as opposed to benching him. Frank sounds like he is on Simons's side, and it also sounds like he's ready to give the Dutchman another run in the starting lineup again, which Spurs fans will hope to see.

Tottenham Hotspur didn't score an upset win over PSG on Wednesday night in the Champions League, but they looked much more lively and like an actual, competent team against the reigning champions in a fiery 5-3 defeat that could have actually been a win if it weren't for a few sloppy, surprising defensive errors.

Randal Kolo Muani was obviously the star man for Tottenham as a whole with two goals and one assist, leading the attacking line with aplomb against his parent club as he made his strongest bid yet to be the new permanent resident at the No. 9 position at the N17.

But behind Kolo Muani were the young midfielders Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, who were welcome additions to the Tottenham starting XI in the aftermath of Sunday's North London Derby debacle. Frank had to respond with real changes to the lineup and his tactical system after such a 4-1 flop defeat to Spurs most hated rivals, and for months, Spurs supporters were clamoring for the high upside duo of Gray and Bergvall to get their shots.

Tottenham's lineup vs. Fulham should be obvious now, too

After missing a bit of time with injuries, the Swedish and English internationals stepped in and vastly upgraded the team, showing that they are both the future and present of the team - and not the slow moving tandem of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha.

Following the PSG game and with another local rival on the horizon in the Premier League in Fulham, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank simply had this to say about the young, rising double pivot of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, via The Spurs Express, when asked about them starting together in league action: "I think if you perform like they did against the European champions away from home, you're ready to start in the Premier League."

Yeah, no kidding. Gray and Bergvall were always ready to be the main options as a 6 and 8 pairing - or even as dual 8's. Bergvall is the best dribbling progressor on the team and Gray the best passing progressive midfield. Gray is everything Bentancur isn't in terms of being a passing anchor, while Bergvall brings much more attacking quality and dynamism than the highly defensive Palhinha.

If Bergvall and Gray could then prove their meddle against arguably the best midfield in European football, led by Ballon d'Or candidate Vitinha, then you had better believe they are going to be the best options for Spurs going forward and have the quality to boss a team like Fulham.

Randal Kolo Muani was the man of the hour on Wednesday night in the Champions League, and while Tottenham Hotspur fell 5-3 to reigning champions PSG, who had already beaten Spurs this season in the Supercup, the match itself was honestly a positive response from the horrid and entirely unacceptable 4-1 North London Derby loss to Arsenal.

If it were not for a litany of uncharacteristic defensive errors, Tottenham may have very well pulled off an upset victory against the Parisians. Kolo Muani was clearly the star man and main catalyst of that effort with two goals and an assist against the club that is his parent club.

Tottenham have been begging for someone to rise up above the fray as the solution at the striker position, and Kolo Muani, for this game, did just that. He's always looked a cut above the other options all around; he's just a better footballer in terms of his hold up play and creativity.

Randal Kolo Muani just needs the consistency

On Wednesday night, Kolo Muani showed that ruthless finishing Tottenham need from him, and manager Thomas Frank was filled with praise - and also gave the Frenchman some additional verve to show that level for Spurs consistently going forward.

Frank said of Kolo Muani, via Lilywhite Rose, "It was exciting. You just see the link-up play last night. The exciting thing was around the first goal, the vision with the header towards goal for Richy. His first goal, quick reactions and finishing. Then showed the pace and clinical in the finish. Now it's about doing it consistently, every game."

The big key that Frank highlights is the link up play, because Spurs need to see their striker do more to bring the wingers into the game and score goals. Kolo Muani up top with Richarlison proved to be a huge boon for the Tottenham offense, and while Richy will get credited with yet another goal, this was a perfect example of the assist provider being the real creditor of that goal.

Since he's been dealing with a dead leg and a jaw injury, Kolo Muani hasn't been able to get on the pitch enough to show that consistency, but if he can stay healthy and keep playing like this, the striker job is his. And when Dominic Solanke comes back, it could be a matter of Kolo Muani and Solanke co existing together as a striker duo, lifting each other up in the starting lineup rather than competing.

No matter what, Brennan Johnson will always live on in Tottenham Hotspur history and in the hearts of the fans for scoring the decisive goal in Bilbao to grant Spurs their first Europa League title in 41 years. That timely strike against Manchester United was worth a whole lot, but on the strength of his entire play, Johnson hasn't quite been worth the 47.5 million pounds the club paid to Nottingham Forest for him.

Johnson is great at scoring goals and poaching them, and you won't find many wingers on this planet who are as good at being in the right place at the right time to bungle one home. And even recently for the Welsh national team after being benched for poor play, Johnson came right in and smacked a banger to remind fans that he has real quality with that left boot of his.

The problem is that Johnson can't get games in the starting lineup consistently because when he does play, he struggles at everything else a winger needs to do. He can't defend, he can't take players on enough, he doesn't progress the ball, and he doesn't create chances at a high enough clip. Johnson shows flashes of the one-on-one ability and chance creation, but, too often, his head is in the clouds.

Thomas Frank is a fan but...

Tottenham fans have been saying this for a while, and now their manager, Thomas Frank, told reporters, via Lilywhite Rose, this truth out loud for everyone to hear:

"I'm very aware that Brennan has got some very good qualities, scoring goals running in behind, arriving in the box, I really like everything about him. So it's all about how you create that team where we perform, how do we get the best players in, what type of player do we play in positions to make it click, we also need that little bit of depth to keep the freshness and energy. That's the challenge."

Coming into the season, Tottenham fans were excited to see how Frank could help Johnson develop, as he was very high on the Wales international as a potential Brentford transfer; it's just that the Bees couldn't make a competitive enough offer to beat Spurs to the punch.

But now that Frank has Johnson at his disposal, nothing is developing positively for him. As Frank says, he's wanting to get Johnson games, and while he is a fan of his, Frank is basically saying that in trying to get the best players on the pitch and fill a cohesive squad that can do all the things to win games, Johnson often doesn't fit in the balance because of his deficiencies.