'Does not work'- Thomas Frank urged to undo perfect Tottenham tactic to exploit home advantage

Thomas Frank told how to get the best out of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur

Palhinha has been among the standout performers for Spurs since arriving on loan from Bayern Munich. He is one of the first names on Frank’s team sheet due to his experience, physicality and defensive prowess. The Portuguese may have been an effective player, but does he need another defensive midfielder alongside him?

Frank is still searching for his best XI, with Pape Matar Sarr being one of the victims of it. Fans have been frustrated seeing Palhinha and Bentancur starting together in midfield, especially at home when teams often sit back, defend in a low block and look to hit them on the break.

Now, reputable Spurs podcast Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham thinks that going forward Palhinha should start as a lone pivot in the engine room for the home games. As far as away games are concerned, Frank must rely on Palhinha and Bentancur as the midfield pairing has worked in wins over Manchester City, Leeds United and Everton.

“I think for away games, as we saw it done to absolute perfection, like Man City away, it can work an absolute treat,” John Wenham exclusively told Tottenham News.

“For the home games, though, I think moving forward, the lessons have to be learned from the first four home games where we’ve only got one win, two losses and a draw. So, the lesson has to be that this does not work in the home games.

“Start Palhinha in the home games, but put him next to Pape Matar Sarr or Lucas Bergvall, rather than Bentancur, to give us a runner in there, give us some energy, box-to-box style.

“The away games, I’m still of the opinion, that we haven’t lost a game, we’re undefeated away, aren’t we? So, I’m still of the opinion that it works in the away games. I really am.

“So for me, I’d still be going with Bentancur and Palhinha every away game, and the home games, I’d be going with Palhinha with a Sarr or a Bergvall and then also Xavi Simons in the 10.”

Frank has to be brave with team selection at home

Wenham is absolutely spot on! Palhinha and Bentancur may give physicality and protection to the backline but they are not dynamic or progressive passers of the ball. Using them together for home games, considering the quality of the opposition, should be avoided by Frank. When it comes to away fixtures, where we are surprisingly still unbeaten in the Premier League and the Champions League, this pairing should stay intact.

That said, until and unless Tottenham do not invest in a dynamic, box-to-box midfielder in January, our gaffer should pair Palhinha with either Sarr or Bergvall in midfield in majority of the games. Against Chelsea at home on Saturday, it will be interesting to see if Frank sticks with the pairing or changes things.