The Premier League season is a long and demanding journey, and for any manager, finding a consistent and reliable formula is the key to success.
For Tottenham Hotspur’s new boss, Thomas Frank, the early part of the campaign has been largely positive. The team has shown resilience and sits in a respectable position with only one defeat in his first nine matches.
However, as the team prepares for a tricky away fixture at Leeds United’s famous Elland Road, a familiar problem has emerged that needs a solution.
The team’s attack, which started the season with a burst of goals, has begun to sputter, and the focus has fallen on the central striker role.
The player currently occupying that position is Richarlison. The Brazilian forward began the season with a great deal of promise, scoring twice in the opening match.
That performance created a wave of optimism, suggesting that he could finally be the consistent goal threat Spurs have been searching for. But in the weeks that have followed, that early excitement has faded.
While he has added one more goal to his tally, his overall contributions have been worryingly minimal. In the recent Champions League match against Bodo/Glimt, his performance hit a concerning low.
He was on the pitch for the entire ninety minutes but managed only ten touches of the ball. To put that into perspective, that is an incredibly small number for a starting striker.
His involvement was so limited that he completed only two passes and lost possession five times. This means that every other time he touched the ball, he gave it away to the opposition.
Perhaps most frustratingly, on the one clear chance that did fall to him, he was unable to convert, missing a big opportunity that could have won the game for Tottenham.
For a team that relies on its attacking players to be decisive, this kind of ineffectiveness is a major problem.
It feels as though the team is playing with ten men when their central striker is so isolated and unproductive.
This situation creates a difficult decision for Thomas Frank. Does he persist with Richarlison in the hope he recovers his early-season form, or does he make a change?
Fortunately for Spurs, they have other options waiting for an opportunity. The most experienced of these is Dominic Solanke. Just last summer, the club broke its transfer record to sign him for £65 million, and he responded with a solid 16-goal haul in his first season.
However, an ankle injury has disrupted his start to this campaign, limiting him to just a handful of substitute appearances.
He is a proven Premier League goal scorer who knows the club and the system, and his return to fitness offers Frank a ready-made alternative.
The other, more exciting option is the young French forward, Mathys Tel. The club showed significant faith in him by making his loan move permanent for £30 million, a clear investment in his future.
At just 20 years old, he is a player with immense potential, blessed with explosive pace and technical ability that has drawn comparisons to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry from former Spurs striker Jermaine Defoe.
While his playing time has been limited this season, the statistics from his appearances paint a picture of a dynamic and involved attacker.
The table below highlights Tel’s per-90-minute contributions in the Premier League this season, showing a level of all-around involvement that the team is currently lacking:
| Metric (per 90 mins) | Tally |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 4 |
| Minutes Played | 104 |
| Starts | 1 |
| Pass Accuracy | 83% |
| Crosses Completed | 0.9 |
| Dribble Success | 67% |
| Duels Won | 6.9 |
| Recoveries Made | 2.6 |
These numbers reveal a player who is constantly involved in the game. He is not just a finisher; he is a contributor.
His 67% dribble success rate shows he can take on and beat defenders, while winning nearly seven duels per game demonstrates his competitiveness and strength.
He also makes an effort to contribute defensively, with over two recoveries per match. This all-action profile is a stark contrast to the passive performances seen recently.
Dropping a player of Richarlison’s stature is never an easy decision, and it may be unpopular with some. However, football is a results business, and the current setup is not yielding the desired outcomes in attack. Giving Mathys Tel a start against Leeds could provide the team with a new spark.
His direct running, pace, and willingness to engage in all phases of play could unsettle a Leeds defense that has looked improved in recent weeks. For Thomas Frank, this is a pivotal moment.
Does he stick with the known quantity who is out of form, or does he turn to the exciting young talent in whom the club has invested so much belief?
A change could not only win Tottenham the game but could also unlock the next phase of their development under their new manager.
