Spurs rescued a point against Wolves on Saturday night, but fans aren’t thrilled over the result.
And why would they be? Spurs are the first team not to win against Wolves this season.
And it wasn’t like Wolves will be running home thrilled with the result. They were the better team.
The manner in which they performed, outplaying Spurs on their own turf, has led many fans to call out a certain line-up choice they feel won’t work moving forward.
Fans have seen enough of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha together
Joao Palhinha ended up the hero, grabbing an injury-time equaliser with a well-placed strike from the edge of the box. He was the best player on the pitch for Spurs, but that isn’t saying a whole lot.
Most fans will agree that Palhinha won this point through his own heroics, but that hasn’t prevented some criticism from being thrown in his direction.
It’s regarding him and his fellow pivot, Rodrigo Bentancur.
Fans just don’t see the duo working together, as this frustrated Spurs supporter outlines: “I don’t ever want to see Bentancur and Palhinha start together again.”
He isn’t the only one, either, as this fan joins in: “To me it just seems Bentancur and Palhinha don’t work together.”
For some, the pairing can work, but it screams a lack of ambition that Spurs should have against an opponent like Wolves.
As this fan puts it: “Frank did the exact same thing with the midfield against Bournemouth. I don’t wanna see that again at home against lesser teams.”
“Frank has to choose between Bentancur and Palhinha. I understand it against big teams, but that is not what’s needed in games like this.”
It’s not that Spurs fans don’t think the two are effective, but playing them together limits Frank’s options.
This fan says: “Please ask Thomas Frank why he played Palhinha and Bentancur together and Xavi on the left, thanks.”
Between the two midfielders, this fan’s statement sums up what the overall base seems to be thinking right now: “Need Xavi centrally and Porro on the right. Bentancur and Palhinha doesn’t work, and unfortunately for him, Bentancur is the one who has to go.”
The midfield Frank needs to try
Palhinha and Bentancur are too similar to work together in games where Spurs are on the front foot.
Considering this side will want to be on the front foot as often as possible, a more balanced midfield three needs to be found.
Xavi Simons has looked toothless on the left, but when he operates in the 10 space, he’s a real threat. Next to him should be the engine, Lucas Bergvall, who can play the eight role while also posing threat in and around the box.
Finally, the man of the moment, Palhinha. He is your traditional six, unreal in the tackle and able to give protection to the back line.
6, 8, 10. It’s that easy. Spurs need to up the creativity. They have been so solid, but if the goals don’t start flowing, this kind of result could become far more frequent than is desirable.
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