The groups had not been in play for a full three minutes when the primary sign of Thomas Frank’s arrival at Tottenham Hotspur turned clear for all to see. Kevin Danso surveyed the group in Paris Saint-Germain’s penalty space, took just a few backward steps and ran again in direction of the touchline to finish the throw-in, not a single participant in a radius of some yards. The space was no problem in any respect – Cristian Romero almost linked with Danso’s throw-in as he leaped from the sting of the six-yard field to present Spurs a really early lead.
Spurs might not have scored on that chance, however they did on two others later within the match, even when they relinquished their 2-0 lead by conceding twice after the 84th minute, and went on to lose to the UEFA Tremendous Cup in a penalty shootout on Wednesday. Frank might have made an advanced first impression with the Tremendous Cup, however he additionally provided a way of on the spot gratification, be it by means of Danso’s lengthy throw-ins or the set-piece objectives scored by heart backs Micky van de Ven and Romero. The uncertainties {that a} new-look Tottenham entered Wednesday’s match with are usually not fairly there anymore, the journey to Udine providing a primary real glimpse at Frank’s plans for his new staff.
UEFA Tremendous Cup rating, highlights, takeaways: PSG beat Tottenham after dramatic comeback, penalty shootout
Chuck Sales space
It was maybe the simplest prediction to make when Frank formally bought the job, however Spurs look rather a lot like a premium model of his Brentford aspect, prioritizing alternatives out of possession to punch above their weight. A singular sport, particularly one towards arguably the most effective staff on the planet, can solely fill in so many gaps a few aspect underneath new administration, however Tottenham’s Tremendous Cup efficiency showcased a number of the staff’s new strengths – and the issues that Frank and firm might want to repair over the course of the season.
Set items and lengthy throw-ins for the win
Spurs had been comfortable to cede possession to PSG on Wednesday, holding simply 26.3% of the ball when all was mentioned and completed within the hopes of creating up the distinction in different classes. The technique almost labored – Tottenham stored busy by operating for second balls and had been very efficient doing so, taking 13 pictures to PSG’s 12 and producing 1.38 anticipated objectives to the opposition’s 1.17. They had been an ideal distinction and successfully neutralized an understaffed and underprepared PSG, getting the higher of them for 84 minutes.
Probably the most noticeable a part of Frank’s technique got here by means of set items and throw-ins, no studying curve obvious for the gamers even though these abilities had been not often a characteristic of Ange Postecoglou’s model of the staff. It helps that Frank has recognized gamers who’re pure suits for his or her new tasks – Danso maybe handed Spurs’ lengthy throw-in auditions as a result of he was a skilled rugby player for his school team, whereas van de Ven and Romero be part of a protracted listing of heart backs who’re identified for his or her set-piece prowess.
A set-piece-focused technique additionally looks like a pure first impression for Frank’s model of Spurs, particularly after the Postecoglou years. Postecoglou caught lots of flak for Tottenham’s set-piece defending however his staff was not notably efficient at scoring from them, both. Spurs had been nonetheless one of many Premier League’s finest attacking groups final season regardless of that, however Brentford truly outdid them in objectives scored and anticipated objectives utilizing this method, which gives dependable goalscoring alternatives whatever the sport state.
The price of taking part in towards PSG
PSG might not have had an actual preseason and are lower than a month faraway from their loss to Chelsea within the Membership World Cup last, however there is a motive they received the UEFA Champions League within the spring. Luis Enrique’s system is their biggest energy however theirs is a squad of gamers with spectacular particular person expertise, as Lee Kang-in’s Eighty fifth-minute aim demonstrates. It additionally exposes the good draw back of Spurs’ method towards a staff like PSG, or different comparable opponents – it dangers operating the gamers ragged earlier than the ultimate whistle blows.
Spurs’ starters regarded fatigued nicely earlier than the Eighty fifth minute, a pure consequence of nonstop operating for everything of the match. Pape Matar Sarr, who exemplified the technique with an energetic show for a lot of the match, appeared out of vitality about 10 minutes earlier than Lee’s aim and Romero pulled up with a cramp – maybe a well timed one – proper earlier than the ultimate whistle blew. It left Tottenham unable to reply to PSG’s inherent qualities, Frank’s aspect spending far more time in their very own field than any staff wish to within the dying minutes of a match. Towards Enrique’s aspect, it was a pricey technique, and Frank summarized it uniquely after the match.
“I knew we needed to do one thing a bit of bit totally different towards PSG,” Frank mentioned. “It was a particular operation. In medical phrases, the operation succeeded however the affected person died. So not that good ultimately. However we labored on a sport plan that was a bit of bit totally different and [it was] very near succeeding.”
How versatile will Spurs be?
Wednesday’s efficiency shares some commonalities with Spurs’ different preseason performances, however the throw-ins and set items provided one thing new within the early weeks of Frank’s tenure, demonstrating a persisting sense of unpredictability that’s not totally uncommon as a supervisor settles into his new job. Contemplating the caliber of Tottenham’s preseason opponents, an inventory that features Arsenal, Newcastle United and Bayern Munich, it’s truly laborious to say how Frank will method each match on the schedule this season.
Regardless of final season’s Seventeenth-place end, Spurs would be the favorites in additional of their home matches than not within the months forward. That is the good unknown of Frank’s leap from Brentford – his expertise is with a midtable staff, which isn’t disqualifying however merely signifies that a brand new set of managerial conditions and choices await. An aggressive off-the-ball method will possible not be required for a big chunk of the video games on their schedule, that are more likely to afford extra alternatives for possession and creativity in midfield. What precisely Frank does with that will probably be value keeping track of, particularly since Spurs might not be completed within the switch market simply but, hyperlinks to Manchester Metropolis’s Savinho and Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze popping up in latest days.
Frank and firm are nonetheless, understandably, taking part in their playing cards near their chest, however Ben Davies might have offered a small trace in his pre-Tremendous Cup remarks on Tuesday. “I believe we’re undoubtedly going to have a special sport plan relying on the opposition this season,” he mentioned.
