The key challenges facing Thomas Frank as he bids to steady the ship at Spurs

It would be stretching it to say that Tottenham Hotspur are in the midst of a mini-crisis – but after just one win in their last five they are certainly starting to wobble.

Ahead of tonight’s must-win Champions League  home clash with Copenhagen, Thomas Frank’s problems have started to pile up.

Here, DAZN News analyses the challenges facing the Dane as he looks to win over a number of doubters amongst the Spurs fanbase.

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Time needed to bed in new players

Tottenham spent around £170million on seven signings in the summer but their recruitment has looked hit and miss so far this season.

Mohammed Kudus arrived from West Ham for £55million and Mathys Tel for £30million while a whopping £51million was lavished on Xavi Simons.

Joao Palhinha and Randal Kolo Muani both arrived for loan fees of £4.3million each plus Spurs also paid £21million to make Kevin Danso’s move permanent.

Yet the impact of the summer signings has been decidedly mixed so far – and it has showed in recent results.

Dutch playmaker Xavi is one player who has come in for criticism and has already been written off as a flop by some pundits.

The 22-year-old has undeniably looked lightweight and was subbed off as a substitute during Saturday's dreadful 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea.

Yet Frank argued: “I’m in no doubt that Xavi will perform very well for us. That is down to him, me, the team, to everyone to get it done.

“The one thing you don’t have in football is time, but it will take time. It’s completely natural.”

Injuries hurting Spurs

Having a number of key players sat on the sidelines is certainly not helping Tottenham’s cause.

James Maddison sustained an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury to his right knee late against Newcastle United during a pre-season game in Seoul.

It remains to be seen if the popular midfielder will play at all this season while Dejan Kulusevski is also currently sidelined with a knee injury.

He is hoping to be back in action next month but there is no doubt his unavailability has hampered Spurs.

It has also raised questions as to whether the club should have done more during the summer to bring in creative reinforcements.

Key centre-back Cristian Romero also had almost a month out with an adductor injury before returning as a substitute in the weekend 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea.

That game saw highly-rated teenager Lucas Bergvall forced off with a head knock after just seven minutes, ruling him out of action until after the international break.

Dominic Solanke is yet to start a match under Frank after he picked up a niggling ankle injury in pre-season.

Archie Gray, Radu Dragusin and Kota Takai have also been sidelined through injury but all three could return to action this month.

Still trying to find his best XI

It remains relatively early days in the season with only 10 Premier League games played, but Frank has yet to settle on his strongest line-up.

His cause has not been helped in that regard by injuries but he is clearly still deciding who he can trust and who deserves a place in his side.

Saturday’s loss against hated rivals Chelsea was the worst performance of Frank’s brief reign and left Spurs fans furious.

Tottenham have won just once at home in the Premier League this season and Frank said: “I have never been in charge of a team that has created that little in one game.

“I will look into what we can do to make it better. That is one thing but I think everything is linked.”

Defensive approach a problem with some fans

Ange Postecoglou’s style of play at Tottenham was gung-ho and all about going out to win at all costs.

It earned him the glory of winning the Europa League last season as Spurs lifted their first trophy for 17 years.

It also earned him the sack as the Australian was thrown out after guiding the Lilywhites to their worst-ever Premier League finish.

The contrast in styles between Big Ange and his successor at Spurs could hardly be greater.

Frank is far more cautious and that has rankled with some fans at a club who expect their team to play adventurous, winning football rather than the dull, unimaginative style seen at times this season.

 Player dissent must be quelled quickly

After Saturday’s home defeat by Chelsea – and with boos ringing out around the home stands – came a moment of huge concern.

As he does after every home game, Frank encouraged his players to do a lap of appreciation around the stadium.

Yet Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence were caught on camera snubbing their manager and going straight down the tunnel.

It was a bad look all round but Frank has since spoken with the pair in a bid to clear the air.

The Spurs boss said yesterday: "They care about the team, the club and in this case me. I am happy with that.

"Then we just had a good talk about a lot of things and like everything we keep it internally.

"It would be very, very, very unusual if I would ever throw a player under the bus. We are all human, but I will always protect them."

 

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