Particular person errors, poor passing, dropping duels and the squad’s incapacity to reply accurately to setbacks had been among the many causes Tottenham boss Thomas Frank listed for his facet’s 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest.
The Spurs head coach mentioned there was “a hurricane inside me” as he described how he was making an attempt to include his feelings after a “burning annoying performance” led to a nasty loss.
That frustration boiled over throughout an interview with Sky Sports activities’ Pat Davison, the place Frank snapped again that Guglielmo Vicario’s error in opposition to Fulham final month shouldn’t be in comparison with Forest’s first aim, which he blamed on Archie Grey taking a contact from the goalkeeper’s go earlier than being dispossessed.
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Thomas Frank snaps again at Sky Sports activities Pat Davison for suggesting the primary aim by Nottingham Forest was the same error from goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario in Tottenham’s Fulham loss
Whereas Tottenham got here into the sport on a three-match unbeaten run throughout all competitions, defeat on the Metropolis Floor means they’ve made their worst begin to a Premier League season in 17 years.
After ending seventeenth final season underneath Ange Postecoglou, Spurs are within the backside half once more, sitting eleventh.
‘No fast repair’ and an ingrained problem
In his post-match press convention, Frank was requested if he’s assured he’ll be given time to get the membership again on monitor.
“I think it’s pretty evident, if no one gets the time, no one can turn this around,” he mentioned. “This is not a quick fix.”
Throughout his dissection of the efficiency, Frank made references to long-standing points inside this group, which struggled so badly within the league final season, regardless of their Europa League win.
Tottenham captain Cristian Romero and team-mates in the course of the defeat at Nottingham Forest
Frank believes Spurs’ response to conceding targets is an issue ingrained within the squad. “These setbacks can’t affect us that much. It can’t be one goal that makes it so disjointed,” he mentioned, when explaining how his facet misplaced their manner after Forest went 1-0 up.
“That’s part of ‘keep the structure, keep the gameplan, keep doing the right things’. That’s not the first time we’ve seen that, this year, last year, whatever.
“That is one thing ongoing [he is working on with the squad], being extra constant in that.”
Sloppy Spurs
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Nottingham Forest take the lead on the Metropolis Floor after a catastrophe on the again from Spurs.
Grey’s mistake was the fifth time a Spurs participant has made an error straight resulting in an opposition aim within the Premier League this season. Solely bottom-club Wolves (seven) have made extra. Spurs have additionally made probably the most errors resulting in opposition pictures (20).
Spurs’ sloppiness was a theme all through the sport on Sunday. Their passing accuracy of 79 per cent was their fourth-lowest complete within the league this season.
That contributed to Spurs managing to carve out simply 0.37 value of Anticipated Objectives and striker Richarlison having simply two touches within the opposition field all recreation. Spurs had only one shot heading in the right direction.
“With all due respect, we’re in it together, we win together, we lose together… But they need to be able to hit each other,” mentioned Frank about Spurs’ passing. “That’s nothing to do with structure.
“Easy passing. I feel we misplaced the ball 20 occasions [from a] easy go.”
A lack of intensity
Out of possession? “We did not win sufficient duels,” said Frank.
Certainly, Forest won the intensity battle. “Go, go, go” was how two-goal Callum Hudson-Odoi described his team’s approach to the match. They blitzed Spurs in running metrics, with the visitors posting figures which ranked among their lowest of the season.
The attitude of the Spurs squad – not for the first time this season – was also brought into the spotlight by Djed Spence’s less-than-impressed reaction to being substituted.
Saturday twentieth December 5:00pm
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Frank did not see that – however he was clear on the general image.
“It’s a step back today,” he mentioned, lamenting his facet’s incapacity to construct on current encouragement from video games with Newcastle, Brentford and Slavia Prague.
There at the moment are six days to handle the big selection of issues earlier than Spurs host Liverpool on Saturday. No fast repair? Frank wants to search out options quick or Spurs’ inconsistency may derail one other Premier League season.
