Tottenham Hotspur experienced an embarrassing blow on Saturday as they welcomed Bournemouth to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. That match served as the perfect capstone of confidence for new Tottenham head man Thomas Frank. In fact it was his first Premier League defeat in charge. Bournemouth went on to secure a narrow 1-0 win. This victory ended a stellar beginning to the season for Tottenham following their dominant performance against Manchester City.
The other story to the game was the Spurs attacking impotence, limited by Bournemouth’s physical and organized defense from the first whistle. Ultimately, it was the home side that felt the pinch of some notable absentees. Dominic Solanke missed out with a slight ankle concern and new club-record signing Xavi Simons (£51 million) was absent. Tottenham only designated three substitutes to the game. In goal, they deployed Vicario, supported by defenders Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, and Spence. The midfield was protected by Palhinha and Bentancur, and the attack featured Kudus, Sarr, and Johnson playing wide with Richarlison down the middle.
Missed Opportunities for Tottenham
Even with their deep roster, Tottenham couldn’t finish on opportunities. The USA team countered with a furious assault in the last quarter hour of the game. They were unable to breach Bournemouth’s resolute defense. The pain for Spurs supporters was widespread, with one fan shouting “Same old Spurs” as the final seconds ran off the clock.
In his post mortem of the match, Thomas Frank conceded that they simply didn’t cope with Bournemouth’s game plan. One thing that struck him, he said, was Tottenham’s lack of attacking prowess, especially in terms of finding quality answers to break down an opposition defense.
“On the offensive side, we struggled to find a good enough solution to get through phase one and two, so we could get up there and put a bit of pressure on them. We only did that in the last 15, where we put good pressure and we could have equalised, but I think over the game it was fair that Bournemouth won.” – Thomas Frank
The 8-0 defeat is a most extreme wake-up call of the difficulties awaiting them every week in the Premier League. Frank lamented the loss but gave credit where credit is due on the offensive skills of the opposing team.
Bournemouth’s Tactical Mastery
Bournemouth were well drilled in their setup and knew exactly how they wanted to play. They did a fantastic job limiting Tottenham’s chances and taking their shots when they came. The win was one of the biggest ever obtained by Bournemouth. Beyond that, it highlighted their overall capability to pose a threat to the best teams in the league.
…as a really, really good opponent – a top opponent. He claimed there wasn’t a team in the league that wasn’t challenged by them. Perhaps more encouragingly, he acknowledged that Spurs just did not rise to the occasion.
“I think we clearly didn’t perform well today. I think we played against a very good Bournemouth team that we know can make it difficult for any team in the league.” – Thomas Frank
As the game went on, Bournemouth brilliantly displayed their solid defensive shape. So many shots by Tottenham were expertly blocked every time they threatened to get at goal. Their smart and disciplined conservative play earned them a glorious victory, one they sorely deserved.
A Reality Check for Thomas Frank
This defeat marks the end of an era for Thomas Frank. Up until that point, he enjoyed a remarkable, unbeaten run as Tottenham’s head coach. The loss hits especially hard for Frank and the team. Ever the positive side, they’re looking to jumpstart their season with some strong performances in the next few matches.
In an interview on ESPN this summer, Frank admitted that the expectations for his team were very toxic. Obviously fans are disappointed and I can’t blame them, after a performance like this… .”He made clear that support is preferable to being booed, but just as clearly he knows that the supporters demand more.
“I prefer them not to boo, but I understand it was not a good performance today and they have high expectations, which is absolutely fair.” – Thomas Frank
His statements imply that he understands his team’s need to improve. Lastly, Frank made a point about the unpredictability of football. As an example, he pointed out that dominating play in a game doesn’t mean you’ll win.
“Let’s say we performed even better but we could still lose a football match. Today, I don’t think we hit the level we should.” – Thomas Frank
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