Pressure Mounting on Spurs: Thomas Frank Faces Tough Test in a Difficult 2025/26 Campaign

Tottenham Hotspur’s 2025/26 season was supposed to mark a turning point. A fresh campaign, renewed optimism, and the steady hand of Thomas Frank were meant to push the Spurs back toward consistency and contention. Instead, as autumn turns into winter, the mood around north London has darkened. A run of poor results has stalled momentum, performances have dipped alarmingly, and familiar questions about direction and identity are once again dominating the conversation.

Recent defeats in the Premier League, including a 3–0 loss to Nottingham Forest, have exposed a side low on confidence and clarity. Defensive lapses, a blunt attacking edge, and an inability to control games for sustained periods have left Spurs drifting away from their early-season ambitions. Matches that once felt winnable now carry a sense of inevitability, with supporters bracing themselves for dropped points rather than expecting progress. The league table reflects that slide, and patience inside the stadium is wearing thin.

At the centre of the scrutiny stands Thomas Frank. Hired for his tactical intelligence and calm leadership, the Dane now finds himself under increasing pressure to provide answers. While injuries, squad balance, and adaptation to new ideas offer partial explanations, results remain the currency of modern football. As expectations rise and margins for error shrink, Frank must quickly arrest the decline or risk becoming the latest manager caught in Spurs’ familiar cycle of frustration. The coming weeks may define not just this season, but his entire tenure.

Thomas Frank’s Style of Play

Thomas Frank built his reputation at Brentford on clarity, structure, and maximising limited resources. His Brentford side were tactically disciplined, physically robust, and expertly drilled in transitional moments. Operating most often in compact 3-5-2 or 4-3-3 systems, they prioritised defensive organisation, aggressive pressing triggers, and rapid vertical attacks once possession was regained. Set pieces were a major weapon, reflecting a data-driven approach that squeezed marginal gains from every situation. Above all, Frank’s system thrived on collective buy-in, with clearly defined roles allowing lesser-known players to outperform expectations.

That blueprint, however, has struggled to translate to Tottenham. At Spurs, Frank is working with a squad built for possession dominance and technical freedom rather than compact, reactive football. Asking high-profile attackers to operate within rigid pressing structures has blunted their creativity, while defenders accustomed to proactive build-up play have appeared uncomfortable dropping into deeper, more conservative shapes. The balance between control and transition so central to Brentford’s success has yet to settle in north London.

There is also the issue of expectation. Brentford’s game model embraced underdog status, thriving on disruption and efficiency. Spurs, by contrast, are expected to dictate matches, break down deep blocks, and entertain. Frank’s pragmatism, once celebrated, now feels cautious in an environment that demands authority and fluency. Without the element of surprise or the unity forged at Brentford over several seasons, his methods have looked constrained, leaving Tottenham caught between identities and struggling to impose themselves consistently.

Will They Give Him Time?

Whether the Spurs board will afford Thomas Frank the time he needs is one of the defining questions of this troubled season. History suggests patience is not a luxury Tottenham have regularly extended to their managers, particularly when results begin to slide. Despite public messaging about long-term projects and cultural resets, recent precedent points towards swift action once momentum is lost.

Mauricio Pochettino remains the clearest example of this contradiction. After delivering Spurs’ most consistent era in the Premier League and reaching a Champions League final, he was dismissed at the first clear downturn in form. His departure set a pattern rather than an exception. José Mourinho, appointed to bring instant success, was removed before he could even lead the team into a cup final, despite league results that still left room for recovery.

The cycle continued with Nuno Espírito Santo, who lasted barely four months before being deemed incompatible, and Antonio Conte, whose outspoken frustration with the club accelerated an inevitable parting at the first major fracture point. More recently, even Ange Postecoglou, initially embraced for his attacking philosophy, found that early goodwill evaporated once performances dipped, and results faltered.

Going back further, André Villas-Boas’ dismissal reinforced the same theme: once Spurs hit turbulence, the board rarely waits for the storm to pass. For Thomas Frank, this context is ominous. While he was hired for stability and long-term planning, Tottenham’s recent history suggests that his first sustained struggle may also be his most decisive.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Spurs and manager Thomas Frank are currently struggling in the Premier League, sitting 11th in the table with six defeats from their opening 16 games. Whether the club chooses to give Frank time remains to be seen, but if they do, his proven quality as a manager could yet reward their patience.