How do Spurs respond to Derby Day Demolition?

Karan Ahgun

— 2 min read
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How do Spurs respond to Derby Day Demolition?

Sunday's North London Derby defeat was Thomas Frank's worst day in charge of Tottenham Hotspur so far. The performance from Spurs was utterly spineless and left fans furious with what they had witnessed, especially given the magnitude of the game. Spurs have been hit-and-miss so far, with their home form being very disappointing whilst their away form is the best in the league. Thomas Frank now has to find a way to pick his players up and move on, making considerable progress along the way.

The biggest gripe Spurs fans have had with their team so far this season has been the obvious lack of creativity. From a statistical point-of-view, Spurs have been very efficient in front of goal without being overly creative. They've scored the 4th most goals but are 19th in shots taken across the league. Clearly, this is unsustainable and it's something that fans are calling on Frank to change. Currently, the Dane's preferred midfield pairing on Bentancur and Palhinha have struggled to knit together the offensive play, despite the latter having already scored a couple of goals in the league. If Frank was to change one of these for someone like Sarr or Bergvall, it could help to progress the ball quicker and more effectively as these players possess greater dribbling abilities and are better at passing progressively. A change in the midfield dynamic could also help Xavi Simons be more effective for Spurs. Simons has struggled with the physicality of the Premier League, but maybe the proposed change in the midfield will allow Simons to start from a more offensive position where he can pick out a pass or take a shot to make a greater impact.

Spurs' most frequent route of attack is through crossing. This is something we're familiar with from Frank's time at Brentford. Frank wants his players to overload the box when they're in good crossing positions, and it also allows Spurs to keep the pressure on their opposition if they are able to clear the ball. Richarlison's goals against Burnley in the first game of the season are prime examples of Frank's crossing play in action, but with Spurs' current lack of top quality in the attacking positions, it is difficult for the team to capitalise on these opportunities. It is clear to see that Spurs' possession-based game needs massive improvement, fans will hope that this improvement comes with time, investment and the return of players from injury.

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