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From chaos to control: How Brazilian target could anchor Tottenham’s new identity under Frank – Opinion

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Jainil Shah | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 9:50 AM ET

The North Londoners are preparing a proper restructuring of the tactical identity of the side with Thomas Frank set to take charge of the proceedings at Hotspur Way, and this means that the Lilywhites will play in a structured framework. But to implement that at Hotspur Way, Tottenham Hotspur also need players who are capable of playing in a certain manner, and this is why the club have started planning for the longer term given that they look to sign Vanderson for the right back role where Pedro Porro has been featuring in an attacking bound role in the position.

While Porro has been exceptional with his attacking capabilities, he has not been very sound on the defensive side of things, and when you complement that with links with a possible exit, which could materialise this or maybe next summer, then the need to bring in a defensively disciplined and pass-first player who has that tactical dependability increases.

And Tottenham will need someone that complements the structured and possession-led mid-block style that Thomas Frank is expected to implement at Hotspur Way, and this is where Vanderson enters the channel of possibilities, given that the Brazilian right-back has been displaying a raw athleticism as well as maturing positional game for his current employers. But in a way the 24-year-old has that kind of control complemented by his occasional burst that the full-backs would need to succeed in the tactical structure of Thomas Frank.

How can Vanderson tactically fit under Thomas Frank?

Thomas Frank will want to place a solid first-phase structure where the right back will be tasked with intercepting press triggers without compromising on the build-ups, and this is where Vanderson excels, given his excellent reading of the game on when to stay connected at the back and when to burst forward, which avoids him being pulled out of structure.

And he is not your purely explosive fullback that will just run forward like Pedro Porro and keep his defensive duties as secondary; instead, he likes to play overlaps intelligently and has a balanced recovery ability, which makes him ideal for tight Premier League transitions and European nights.

Moreover, he consistently contributes to the defensive side of things, which makes it ideal that he can handle the grind of playing in mid-blocks and being a cover in high-risk zones.

There is also Spence…

When I think about Spence, he gives you that raw pace and then a sense of dynamism on the flank, but with Vanderson you get positional understanding, which keeps him a calm figure when playing in a structured framework.

Strengths

He is quite good at the defensive side of things whilst also boasting a decent amount of final third output. And he comes in ready to play in a structured role that Thomas Frank is set to implement at Tottenham.

Weaknesses

He may not end up giving you that offensive flair and one-on-one ability of Pedro Porro.

Author Opinion

Vanderson looks nothing like splash or flair singing but instead someone who will be more of a structured upgrade that brings a sense of stability in the right full-back role while allowing the North Londoners to have more control in midfield and more cohesion when it comes to attacking sequences.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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