Tottenham legend outlines problems at Tottenham; players lack of rhythm showing

Gus Poyet says Tottenham players finding it difficult to adapt to Thomas Frank’s style of play

Ange Postecoglou was criticised time and again for employing an ultra-attacking, pressing system at Tottenham over two seasons. Under him, Spurs did create chances and score goals, but the midfield got overrun and the defence got breached multiple times. This resulted in them finishing an embarrassing 17th in the table, which prompted Ange’s sacking regardless of him ending the club’s 17-year-long trophy drought in May.

Frank’s tactics are polar opposite, emphasising on having strong defensive structures, midfield balance and quick transitions. After being a part of the team that played attacking, pressing football, it is taking time for the players to adapt to this new playing style under the Dane.

This is the viewpoint of Gus Poyet, who suggested that the difference between Chelsea and Tottenham was very evident on Saturday as the visitors knew exactly what their coach expected of them, while the home side looked disjointed and lost.

“I think Chelsea players, they are playing at the moment, like the style and the way they want to play. Spurs looked to me like they were a little bit confused, and it was difficult to get into the pace of the game, like they were never in the rhythm. Then when the best player in Spurs is probably the goalkeeper, that tells you everything about it,” Gus Poyet exclusively told Football365.

“I think the team, more or less, is the team that we were expecting. It’s just that I think Spurs are in a process of change. I don’t forget how Ange was playing in the beginning, with that incredible high line, and it was crazy. There were 3, 4, 5, 6 goals. I said at the beginning of that season, if you want to see goals, go watch Spurs. Winning or losing is another matter.

“So, any other manager coming after that, it will be a process. Obviously. I don’t think that the squad of Spurs has too much in common with the squad of Brentford. Completely different the style of a player. So, there is a little bit of adaptation both ways, from the coach to the players and the players to the coach. And I think that’s been the season so far.”

Tottenham are a team in transition

It is true that this Tottenham squad are in a transitional phase under Frank. It has only been six months in job for Frank, and in such a short span, he has done a relatively good job. He is yet to solve the club’s home record conundrum, but this Spurs team appear liberated on their travels. The 52-year-old is building something tangible at N17 and the finished article will take time to appear in front of us.

Obviously, the jump from Brentford to Tottenham is huge and Frank is slowly but steadily getting used to the pressure of managing one of the top six clubs in the Premier League. The Dane is focused on building chemistry with the squad and adding layers to the team, but has now started facing questions about his approach.

The north Londoners do not have time to dwell over the Chelsea defeat as they welcome FC Copenhagen to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Champions League on Tuesday evening. Frank and Co. face a challenging run of crucial matches over the coming weeks that will test the squad’s depth and resilience.