Thomas Frank heads into a crucial week as Tottenham Hotspur head coach. On a three-game losing run, Spurs travel to Newcastle on Tuesday before Frank’s former club Brentford visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday. A home defeat to Brentford — currently above Spurs in the table — would be particularly damaging for him.
There is a growing disconnect between players and supporters, and Frank can ill afford another league defeat at home. Away form earlier in the season had been strong, including wins at Manchester City and heavy victories at Everton and West Ham, but the feeling left by the north London derby loss to Arsenal lingers. Supporters argue they travel in numbers and back the team, yet Spurs have managed only one home league win all season, against Burnley on the opening weekend.
Frank has also discovered the intensity of media scrutiny at Spurs. His comment that those who booed goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario after his error against Fulham were not “true Tottenham fans” has not landed well. Sky Sports News was told Frank was referring only to the boos during the match and that point was lost in the aftermath. He appreciates fans being disengaged in difficult moments, but there was disappointment at the reaction to Vicario’s mistake that led to Harry Wilson’s goal.
Players and staff have been trying to manage the relationship with fans. After the home defeat to Chelsea, when Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence left the field without applauding and were seen to snub Frank, the squad made a point of walking off together in later matches to project unity. The players routinely debrief after games and addressed the booing internally. Vinai Venkatesham, Spurs’ new CEO, arrives with a strong reputation for fan engagement from his time at Arsenal and is seen as someone who can help bridge the divide.
Several issues are hampering Frank on the pitch. His start at Spurs contrasts sharply with Ange Postecoglou’s early days — a period when stadium atmosphere soared and Heung-min Son took on captaincy after Harry Kane’s summer exit. Son’s absence this season has been felt both on and off the pitch. Injuries have ruled out key figures including strikers and creators: Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, and James Maddison, who may be out for the season.
Summer signing Xavi Simons, acquired for around £51m from RB Leipzig, has struggled to settle, prompting questions about recruitment. Spurs missed out on targets like Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze late in the summer window, leaving Frank with limited options. He has not leaned on injuries as an excuse in public, but the squad’s current composition and fitness issues are factors that must be acknowledged.
Frank was not an instant success at Brentford and will likely need more time and transfer windows to shape the squad. For now, he must extract better performances from the players available. Everyone at the club shares responsibility for the current malaise, and supporters chiefly want to see fight and excitement rather than a drab season. With rivals up the road enjoying strong campaigns, the pressure on Frank to deliver results and reconnect the team with its fans is intensifying.