The pressure on Thomas Frank is reaching a boiling point following yet another disappointing afternoon for Tottenham Hotspur. While a late surge allowed the team to scrape a 2-2 draw against Burnley at Turf Moor, the nature of the performance has left the manager’s future hanging by a thread.
Only a 90th-minute header from Cristian Romero saved Spurs from what would have been a truly embarrassing defeat against a side fighting for its life at the bottom of the table. Despite the late drama, the feeling around North London is one of deep concern rather than relief.
The match actually started with a glimmer of hope when Micky van de Ven opened the scoring with a trademark powerful left-footed strike. However, what followed was a complete defensive collapse.
Tottenham’s backline, which has been fragile for weeks, seemed to lose all composure in the Lancashire rain. Goals from Axel Tuanzebe and Lyle Foster turned the match on its head, exposing systemic flaws that Frank has so far been unable to fix.
Even though Romero eventually found the equalizer, the result does little to quiet the rumors that the board is preparing for a change in leadership.
One of the most worrying aspects of the game was the “comedy” of errors displayed by the defense. It is a strange season for Tottenham’s center-backs; between them, Van de Ven and Romero have found the back of the net a staggering thirteen times across all competitions.
Yet, while they are contributing like elite strikers at one end, they are failing to do their primary jobs at the other. In an attempt to stabilize the ship, Frank experimented with a three-man defensive line, bringing in Kevin Danso to partner the usual duo. Instead of providing extra security, the change seemed to create more confusion.
The criticism from pundits has been scathing. Former Premier League defender Ashley Williams, speaking on Match of the Day, went as far as to label the performance “comedy central.” He pointed out that the defenders looked completely uncoordinated.
Romero was criticized for his typical over-eagerness, often charging out of position to win balls he had no chance of reaching. Van de Ven, usually the most reliable player in the squad, was caught out by poor individual positioning, and Danso appeared lost within the new system. It was a display that lacked any sense of control or tactical discipline.
Kevin Danso, in particular, had a nightmare outing that might ultimately be the catalyst for Frank’s dismissal. The 27-year-old has had bright moments this season, but at Turf Moor, he was badly exposed.
He was at fault for both goals Tottenham conceded, first losing track of Tuanzebe during a set-piece and then failing to provide cover as Burnley surged into the lead. The statistics tell a grim story: in the 78 minutes he spent on the pitch, Danso failed to win a single tackle and lost possession thirteen times. For a team with Champions League aspirations, such numbers are simply unacceptable.
However, the blame cannot fall entirely on the shoulders of the newest recruit. Both Van de Ven and Romero must take responsibility for a game in which they allowed a relegation-bound Burnley to record nine shots and create three clear-cut scoring chances.
The lack of communication between the three center-backs suggested a team that isn’t being coached effectively on the training ground. When a manager changes his formation and the players look less comfortable than they did before, the finger inevitably points back to the dugout.
The psychological toll on the players is becoming visible. Following the final whistle, cameras caught Romero and other senior figures looking dejected and frustrated. There is a sense that the squad is losing faith in the current tactical direction.
Frank’s attempt to be “pragmatic” by adding an extra defender backfired spectacularly, and it has left him with very little credit in the bank. The club’s supporters, who have traveled across the country to watch a string of underwhelming performances, are also beginning to lose patience.
If Thomas Frank cannot find a way to stop the bleeding and organize his defense, his tenure at Tottenham will almost certainly end in the coming weeks. The club cannot afford to slide further down the table, especially with the financial stakes of European qualification on the line.
The “comedy central” show at the back has moved past the point of being a temporary slump; it has become a defining characteristic of this Spurs team under Frank’s guidance. Unless a drastic improvement occurs immediately, the draw at Burnley may well be remembered as the beginning of the final act for the Danish manager.
