Thomas Frank under pressure as Spurs’ passive style raises major concerns

When Thomas Frank first walked into Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in July and famously said, “To not take a risk is also a risk,” supporters expected a new era of proactive, front-footed football. After Sunday’s humbling 4–1 defeat at Arsenal — and the worrying pattern that preceded it — the only risk now is that Frank rapidly loses the fanbase.

This was supposed to be the type of game Frank thrives on. His tactical ambushes against PSG and Manchester City in August showed a Spurs team capable of unsettling the elite with intensity, belief and clever structure. Instead, Tottenham approached the North London derby like a lower-league side hoping to survive a cup tie.

Spurs have won at Arsenal just once in the Premier League. Expectations were low — yet Frank’s set-up made the gap feel even wider. Seven defensive players, time-wasting throw-ins from the first minute, centre-backs going up for free-kicks deep in their own half, and Guglielmo Vicario launching hopeful balls forward. It was a passive performance that sent a damaging message: Spurs felt they couldn’t hurt Arsenal.

Frank had spoken pre-match about winning the set-piece battle, but Tottenham spent so little time in Arsenal’s half that the idea became irrelevant. Even referee Michael Oliver had to warn Cristian Romero about the team’s deliberate slowing of play.

The plan backfired early. Once Leandro Trossard made it 1–0, the match felt over. The 4–1 scoreline was not flattering — it was fair. Spurs’ xG of 0.07 was the lowest recorded by any Premier League team this season. The second-lowest? Tottenham themselves, against Chelsea.

The style matters at Spurs. It always has. Supporters endured the execrable football under Nuno Espírito Santo precisely because it made them feel nothing. Frank is unintentionally revisiting that same territory — football that is safe, predictable and joyless.

Frank will rightly point to absences: Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke and James Maddison would improve almost any side in the division. But what makes fans uneasy is that Spurs have regressed sharply even in matches where their big names were also missing earlier in the season.

Against PSG and Manchester City, Spurs pressed high, suffocated transitions, and played with ambition. Against Arsenal? A total retreat. Injuries influence performance — but they do not explain a complete change in mentality.

If a system featuring five defenders plus João Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur still produces heavy defeats, then Spurs are not just lacking players. They’re lacking direction.

Tottenham have not won a Premier League match at home since the opening weekend. Away results have masked the slide, but supporters inside the stadium have watched the football deteriorate weekly. For a club built on identity as much as results, that combination is volatile.

The ownership situation only adds uncertainty. It is unclear how patient the younger members of the Lewis family will be during a season of rebuilding. Spurs finished 17th last year yet still delivered a trophy — supporters were taken on a journey. Right now, they feel nothing of the sort.

Having covered Tottenham throughout multiple managerial cycles, the pattern is becoming familiar. In our view, Frank’s biggest misstep is not tactical conservatism — it’s emotional disconnect. Spurs supporters will forgive mistakes and inconsistency if they feel the team is building towards something. What they will not tolerate is football that feels resigned, fearful or flat.

Although some argue Frank simply needs time to embed his structure, other indications point differently: the performances are getting worse, not better, and the worst displays have come in the biggest games. This seems optimistic for a coach known for innovation at Brentford, but Tottenham require more ambition and less caution.

From experience covering managers under pressure, once fans stop believing in the direction — not the results — the relationship rarely recovers.

Spurs face PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday, but it is Saturday’s home match against Fulham that may define the tone of Frank’s tenure. Spurs need a win, but more importantly, they need a performance that gives supporters something to believe in again.

Right now, Frank is playing a risky game. But it’s not the one he promised — it’s one that threatens to lose the fans entirely.

Spurs host PSG on Wednesday, then Fulham on Saturday in a pivotal week for both results and morale. The performances — not just points — will shape Frank’s early reputation at Tottenham.

👉 Spurs fans — is this simply a rough spell under a new manager, or are the warning signs too big to ignore?