Former Tottenham player Danny Murphy believes Thomas Frank has resolved the flaw in Ange Postecoglou’s team.
Postecoglou led Spurs to their first trophy since 2008 last season as the north London club won the Europa League. However, he was sacked just 16 days after due to Tottenham finishing 17th in the Premier League, their lowest ever finish in the competition.
Thomas Frank became his successor, swapping Brentford for Spurs, and in the five games he’s managed, his new club have only conceded one goal and have kept four clean sheets.
Defender Micky van de Ven earned high praise from Alan Shearer against Villarreal, as did Lucas Bergvall for his Champions League debut goal. However, Murphy thinks Spurs’ success is coming from Frank’s key change to Spurs’ game plan.
Danny Murphy thinks Thomas Frank has stopped Tottenham ‘conceding so many goals’
Speaking on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan show, Murphy – who made 29 appearances for Spurs in 2006 to 2007 – said: “He’s fixing the main problem Tottenham had last year which is why they finished 17th.
“It’s because they conceded so many goals and they were wide open. So he’s gone in there and made them better defensively first and foremost, sacrificing the creativity for a little while, which is exactly what he should do.”
This was evident against West Ham and Villarreal, with Spurs focusing on set pieces against the Hammers and having one shot on target in their Champions league clash against Villarreal.
He continued: “He’s fixed the problem of what they had and actually, some boring wins, I’m sure Tottenham fans are happy with at the moment.”
Tottenham’s ‘wheels won’t come off’ this season like Ange Postecoglou’s side’s did, says Danny Murphy
The former Liverpool man’s point was countered by talkSPORT host Simon Jordan, with the ex-Crystal Palace chairman bringing up Postecoglou’s solid start to the last campaign – which included beating Arsenal – before they fell apart and ended the season fourth from bottom in the Premier League.
“I don’t see the wheels coming off,” Murphy replied. “We know [Frank’s] Brentford side was always organised defensively. When you watch Spurs play at the moment, it’s not the way Ange played, it’s not high press, gung-ho. So I don’t think we’re going to see the wheels come off.”
He continued: “Under Frank, Tottenham’s full backs and playing like full backs. Under Ange, they just went like wingers. You’ve also got the shape of the team when they haven’t got the ball. They’ll have a press when they can, but drop into shape. It’s not the same team you watch.”
Murphy believes Spurs will suffer defeats like the 1-0 loss to Bournemouth as they did before the international break, but Frank is not setting them up to sink in league form as Postecoglou’s team did. Tottenham will be putting that theory to the test away at Brighton in the Premier League this Saturday.
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