Thomas Frank has guided Tottenham Hotspur to a brilliant start in the Premier League this season
Tottenham Hotspur are enjoying a promising start to the new season under Thomas Frank. Having lost just once in their opening ten matches, the Lilywhites currently sit third in the Premier League table, only two points behind leaders Arsenal. Their fine domestic form has been complemented by a strong start in Europe as well, with Spurs collecting four points from their first two Champions League group-stage games — their best opening to the competition in recent years.
Despite these encouraging results, not everything has been met with universal praise. In recent weeks, Tottenham have faced criticism for what some fans perceive as an overly cautious approach under Frank. The Danish tactician’s pragmatic approach, particularly in games where Spurs might have been expected to dominate, have left supporters divided. Many fear that an unwillingness to take risks could eventually stall the club’s momentum.
A prime example came in the recent home draw against Wolves. With the chance to go top of the league, Spurs instead played on the back foot for large portions of the game, allowing the relegation-threatened visitors to grow in confidence and claim a valuable point at N17. Critics argue that Frank gave too much respect to weaker opposition by inviting pressure rather than imposing Tottenham’s attacking strengths.
Thomas Frank needs to adapt a different approach at Tottenham
For fans accustomed to Ange Postecoglou’s “all-out attack” philosophy, adapting to Frank’s more measured, defensive-minded system has been a significant adjustment. That said, it’s clear that the new manager has brought much-needed structure and balance to the team — something Spurs lacked for much of last season. Under Frank, the focus has shifted from relentless attacking play to disciplined defending and controlled transitions.
However, Sami Mokbel believes that this approach might come back to haunt Thomas Frank once results do not go in his favour. Writing for the BBC, Mokbel said,
“I’d agree, until we have a bigger body of work to analyse, we should hold off on making definitive readings of how Tottenham are progressing. But the signs look good.”
The journalist added,
“The one factor that does intrigue me, however, is how supporters may react to the pragmatic style of football if they start to lose form. Fans have a history of turning on manager’s who employ a defensive approach when results aren’t going their way.”
As Mokbel rightly points out, Tottenham’s early progress under Frank has been clear and measurable. The club looks more organised and harder to break down, and results so far have justified the tactical shift. But the journalist’s warning also carries weight. Spurs fans have long favoured free-flowing, attacking football, and patience could wear thin if results begin to dip.
For Frank, the challenge now lies in finding the right balance between discipline and creativity. Allowing players greater attacking freedom could unlock the team’s full potential and prevent frustration among supporters. Sticking rigidly to a conservative approach may not bring out the best in certain key players. And as history has shown, the Spurs faithful rarely tolerate uninspiring football for long.
