Thomas Frank thinks his first north London derby is prone to be akin to a visit to the ‘madhouse’. As supervisor of Tottenham for the final three months, he should understand how that feels by now.
In any case, attempting to make sense of Spurs is a path which solely results in madness.
The Dane has Tottenham 4 factors off third-placed Manchester Metropolis with a sport in hand and but the Frank period is but to ignite or encourage and the brand new man went into the worldwide break with the sound of Spurs followers booing his substitutions ringing in his ears.
Now, he travels to his membership’s fiercest rivals, the league leaders Arsenal, and to a stadium through which his facet have gained simply as soon as within the league of their historical past and never in 15 years.
It’s a very good job, maybe, that the present thriller surrounding Spurs is why they’re so devasting on their travels but when taking part in in entrance of their very own followers, go away them both bored, booing or each.
The distinction is staggering. Spurs sit high of the ‘away desk’ with 4 wins and 13 factors from their 5 video games on the street. In contrast, they lie second from backside on the ‘dwelling desk’ with only a single win and 5 factors from six matches. Solely winless Wolves have a worse dwelling file so far.
The omens are unhealthy for Thomas Frank at Arsenal this weekend – Tottenham haven’t gained on the Emirates Stadium for 15 years
Defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha struggles to interrupt down deep defences on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – however he offers them extra solidity on the street
The very first thing to level out, in fact, is that this isn’t only a Frank drawback. It was an Ange Postecoglou drawback too ultimately. Spurs have gained at dwelling simply thrice since November final yr however Frank is but to discover a method to repair it.
‘I do know at dwelling you might play in a selected manner, and different groups are taking part in in a selected manner towards you, in comparison with while you go away,’ mentioned Frank final month.
‘After which the crew opens up a little bit bit extra, so you’ll be able to hit them a little bit bit extra on the counter, so that you don’t need to create the whole lot from scratch and (face) 11 gamers behind the ball.’
It’s that creating from scratch that continues to carry Frank’s Spurs again. With out the injured James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski within the coronary heart of midfield, and Xavi Simons struggling to adapt to the tough and tumble of the Premier League, Spurs lack a participant by the center that may accumulate the ball, flip and decide gaps in deep-lying defences.
The meat-and-potatoes pairing of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur present first rate power and stability however wrestle to interrupt down defences when Spurs have extra of the ball and wish to begin selecting locks as a substitute of pockets.
Take the house defeat by Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s facet had been glad to take a seat of their mid-block and let Spurs attempt to play by them. That’s while you want your midfielders to work their magic. This, nevertheless, is the go map of Palhinha (6) and Bentancur (30). Facet to facet and down the perimeters however hardly ever, if ever, by the guts of Villa’s defence.
Towards Aston Villa, Palhinha (No6) and Rodrigo Bentancur (No30) struggled to go by the strains, going sideways as a substitute, as this go map demonstrates
Take the identical go map from the house defeat by Bournemouth, the place Spurs had 61 per cent possession, and you’ll be forgiven for considering the hosts had been attacking from proper to left.
They weren’t. They simply occurred to play extra passes into their very own space than the Cherries’.
It was an analogous story within the 1-0 loss to Bournemouth, the place the midfield pair accomplished just one go into the Cherries’ field between them
This sport was solely the second time since 2003 that Tottenham didn’t have a shot within the first half of a house Premier League sport.
Throughout everything of the season each dwelling and away, Tottenham have performed simply 4 defence-splitting by balls – that’s the fewest within the division and a minimum of half as many as every other facet. Arsenal, in contrast, have performed 40. Declan Rice has performed 4 on his personal.
Tottenham common extra possession, extra passes, and extra passes within the last third at dwelling than they do away however have fewer touches within the field and try fewer photographs.
Spurs followers have grown drained and annoyed at seeing their facet go frequently in that horseshoe form across the penalty space with out taking part in an incisive ball into the field. Solely Burnley have tried fewer photographs in dwelling video games this season. Spurs have fired 54 photographs on objective, Manchester Metropolis and Chelsea are each within the nineties.
Of their dismal dwelling loss to Chelsea, Spurs racked up an anticipated targets tally of simply 0.05, their lowest in a league sport on file.
You will get away with taking part in that manner at dwelling to Chelsea while you’re in control of Brentford. You possibly can’t while you’re Tottenham supervisor. You possibly can’t when followers maintain up items of card to spell in gigantic letters ‘To dare is to do’.
Spurs have had way more pleasure away from dwelling than on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – reminiscent of their 3-0 win over Everton courtesy of two set-piece targets from Micky van de Ven (pictured)
Frank’s model of play ought to permit for profitable counter assaults away for dwelling, utilizing proficient attacking midfielders like Mohammed Kudus
Whereas Frank proved at Brentford to be a sensible, versatile supervisor capable of change between completely different kinds, a lot of their success got here by his facet’s capacity to get the ball ahead rapidly to speedy extensive gamers like Bryan Mbeumo and Kevin Schade.
That’s the place he’s had essentially the most pleasure for Tottenham, too. His Spurs facet are higher after they play a bit extra like Brentford. Earlier than this weekend’s motion, solely his previous membership, Wolves, Manchester United and Bournemouth had tried extra lengthy balls this time period than Spurs.
That fits them higher on the street the place groups, usually, permit them more room. They’ve gained all three of the video games through which they’ve had the least possession.
Away from dwelling to date, Spurs have gained the ball far much less excessive up the pitch, allowed their opponents extra passes earlier than attempting to win again possession, however are having fun with double the variety of counter assaults.
They’re at their most harmful when they can minimize out the midfield solely. For his or her opening objective towards Manchester Metropolis, it’s a protracted ball from deep that’s flicked on by Pape Sarr into Richarlison’s path earlier than crossing for Brennan Johnson to attain.
You possibly can see from the photographs under that Spurs’ midfield is nowhere to be seen.
Tottenham are at their most harmful after they bypass their midfield, as evidenced by their opening objective towards Manchester Metropolis
Richarlison (on the shoulder of the final defender) runs onto a protracted ball from deep – he later crossed for Brennan Johnson to attain
It’s the identical for this nice probability for Mohammed Kudus towards Leeds. Spurs want to play it down the channels and miss out the midfield solely. Not that there’s one there to play to in any case.
Spurs’ lack of high quality passers in central midfield means they’re stronger after they play down the channels
It was by that method that they cast a terrific probability for Kudus away at Leeds in October, in a 2-1 win for the guests
When there’s area to run into, it really works. Regardless of their glorious away begin, nevertheless, whether or not it’s sustainable can be a query. Spurs have nonetheless conceded a better xG than they’ve created on the street, too. They nonetheless face extra photographs than they take.
It’s a good job their 22 per cent shot conversion fee on the street is best than every other crew’s within the division. The 5 per cent conversion fee of their opponents can be the bottom.
It’s an method, too, that has additionally obtained Spurs in hassle on a number of events – and will once more towards Arsenal. With out a midfield that may play by a press, Frank’s facet solely have one method to go: extensive and lengthy.
On this instance towards Chelsea, Sarr comes brief to obtain a go. There isn’t a one forward of him so he can not flip and play ahead into midfield. He knocks it out extensive to Pedro Porro, whose solely possibility is to knock it down the road, solely Alejandro Garnacho cuts it out and Chelsea miss a terrific probability.
Spurs’ extensive and direct method does not come with out danger although – and Chelsea exploited it of their 1-0 win on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Spurs regularly gave the ball away inside their very own defensive third within the build-up to Joao Pedro’s opener too.
This lack of a midfield capable of progress the ball upfield continues to catch them out. They had been pressed to dying towards Bournemouth too. Just one facet within the division has misplaced possession in their very own third extra this season than Spurs. They’ve made essentially the most errors resulting in the opposition having a shot.
None of this bodes properly for the north London derby, does it?
Properly, perhaps. If there may be one slight dint in Arsenal’s titanium hull it’s the place Spurs most prefer to assault.
Clear sheet machines Arsenal have confronted, unsurprisingly, the fewest photographs within the division, a minimum of 20 fewer than anybody else. And but they’ve conceded the second most photographs within the league from quick breaks. If you may get at them, get them on the counter.
Manchester Metropolis obtained at them that manner for Erling Haaland’s early objective. Manchester United exploited that area in behind the left full again regularly, too.
Manchester United proved that if there may be one method to get at Arsenal, it is on the counter – that ought to be encouraging for Tottenham followers
With Gabriel dominated out injured and full again Riccardo Calafiori a doubt for the sport, Arsenal may have an unsettled duo down that facet that Kudus might have the ability to exploit.
No participant has tried to dribble previous his opponent extra typically this time period than £55m summer season signing Kudus.
Spurs simply want to have the ability to discover him. You possibly can’t simply hit and hope towards Arsenal, you need to assault with goal.
Whereas their central midfielders will wrestle to take action, Frank does possess one participant with the vary of passing to choose him out: Pedro Porro.
The complete again has performed essentially the most progressive passes of any Spurs participant this time period. He’s performed greater than double the passes into the ultimate third of any of his team-mates.
Frank must discover a method to get him on the ball, even in central areas, and discover Kudus – simply as he did for a terrific probability within the defeat by Villa.
Pedro Porro is the one out there Spurs participant with the vary of passing to select Kudus, as he proved towards Villa
If Spurs are going to face one of the best probability of their second win on the Emirates, that is the blueprint.
That’s, in fact, if Rice hasn’t overrun Frank’s midfield first.
