Thomas Frank is confident that the Tottenham Hotspur attack can rediscover their mojo
Tottenham, under Thomas Frank, have looked defensively resolute and compact for most parts of the season so far. That is a refreshing sight to see for the fans, especially after considering how fragile the Lilywhites were at the back under Ange Postecoglou. However, in doing so, the North London club appear to have sacrificed their attacking prowess and are no more playing the free-flowing, fluid football that they were once renowned for.
Frank’s pragmatic approach has raised a few eyebrows, with some fans worried that the team is giving too much respect to their opponents by sitting back too often. That said, it’s also fair to acknowledge that Tottenham’s attacking line has yet to truly click under the Danish tactician. Aside from Mohammed Kudus, no other forward has managed to perform consistently in the first part of the campaign.
Richarlison and Brennan Johnson, who both started the season brightly, have struggled to maintain their early goal-scoring form. Meanwhile, players like Mathys Tel, Wilson Odobert, and Xavi Simons have yet to showcase their best football at N17, despite being given several opportunities to impress.
Thomas Frank ‘working hard’ to help Tottenham attackers find their rhythm
The recent results against AS Monaco and Aston Villa highlighted that Tottenham still have a long way to go before they can truly challenge the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City. The Lilywhites have struggled for consistency, and much of the blame lies with their misfiring attack. The key forwards have not stepped up when needed, leaving Frank to face the mounting pressure from both fans and the media.
When asked if the Danish tactician is doing anything behind the scenes to improve the attacking line’s cohesion, Frank said (as transcribed by Football.London),
“I think we have some very talented players who are growing. Wilson [Odobert], Xavi [Simons], I think Mo [Kudus] has been very good for us as well. And I think Richie [Richarlison] had a good start to the season.”
The Spurs boss added,
“But the reality is that we are working very hard on getting the flow with the front four. And hopefully it will be better bit by bit.”
Despite the injury crisis at the club, Thomas Frank believes he still has some talented players at his disposal. The Danish tactician praised the current frontline of Kudus, Odobert, Simons, and Richarlison for their early contributions, but admitted that the coaching staff are working overtime to improve their chemistry in the final third of the pitch.
Frank now needs his current crop of players to rise to the occasion if Tottenham are serious about competing on all fronts this season. With five games in the next fifteen days, this stretch of fixtures could prove pivotal in shaping the club’s campaign. The onus is firmly on the forwards to repay their manager’s faith and make the most of their opportunities in the coming weeks.