Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has conceded he is yet to settle on his strongest starting lineup as he prepares for an emotional reunion with former club Brentford this weekend. The admission comes amid a torrid run of home form for Spurs, who equalled a club record with their tenth Premier League defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2025 last Saturday against Fulham.
A Freak Start and a Search for Consistency
The 2-1 loss to Fulham was characterised by a disastrous opening six minutes, where Spurs found themselves two goals down. A mistake by goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario for the second goal prompted boos from a section of the home support, deepening the sense of crisis around the team's performances in N17. However, a spirited 1-1 draw away at Newcastle United in midweek, sealed by a spectacular Cristian Romero overhead kick in stoppage time, has provided a much-needed lift after three consecutive losses.
Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou last summer after a nine-year association with Brentford, has frequently rotated his squad to manage a demanding schedule. Only Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers have made more team changes in the Premier League this season. The left-sided attacking role has been a particular point of experimentation, with Brennan Johnson, Mathys Tel, and Wilson Odobert all used there, while the £51 million signing Xavi Simons has not started any of the last four matches.
"It's Not That Easy" - Frank on Team Selection
When directly questioned on whether he was still identifying his optimal team, the Danish head coach gave a candid response. "Yes, I think it's fair," Frank stated. "I've got an idea of quite a few positions. I also think there's competition so it's not that easy all the time to say: 'OK, it's just those 11,' because you need more than 11 players."
He linked the rotation directly to the fixture congestion, adding, "It's a combination also with the amount of games... definitely for the rest of the season if we do well in the Champions League there will be rotations. But it will be closer and closer until you see the main nine or 10 players that we go with."
Reunion and Resilience
Saturday's match pits Frank against a Brentford side managed by his former assistant, Keith Andrews. The Bees have struggled on the road, losing six of their seven away league games, but Tottenham's own home record offers little comfort, with their sole victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season coming against Burnley on the opening day.
Frank insists old friendships will be set aside for 90 minutes and is focused on ensuring his players show mental resilience. He addressed the calamitous start against Fulham, describing it as "a freak six minutes" but something that occurs "when things are not perfect." His message to the squad is clear: "No matter what happens, stick to the plan. No matter what happens, be calm. And then encourage each other."
Looking for a positive spark, Frank compared Simons' potential impact to that of Mikkel Damsgaard, a playmaker who flourished under him at Brentford. "That's one of the reasons why we got him here. I think he's got a very big potential to be that playmaker," Frank said, expressing unwavering belief in the Dutch midfielder's future at the club.
