They lost the ball 25x: Frank must never start “garbage” Spurs duo together ever again
Tottenham Hotspur fans were made to ride an emotional rollercoaster at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as their thrilling Premier League clash with Manchester United ended in heartbreak. What looked like a dramatic comeback win turned into bitter disappointment when Red Devils defender Matthijs de Ligt powered home a last-minute header from a corner, rescuing a point for the visitors and leaving Thomas Frank’s men to rue what might have been.
For most of the evening, the North London faithful created an electric atmosphere, sensing their side could pull off another memorable home victory. Two late goals had completely flipped the match on its head, and Spurs seemed destined to claim a vital three points in their pursuit of the Premier League’s elite. But in the blink of an eye, their joy turned into deflation.
Despite sitting third in the Premier League table after eleven matches, the draw served as a sobering reminder that Spurs remain a work in progress. Frank’s side continues to oscillate between brilliance and inconsistency—capable of breathtaking attacking play one moment and defensive lapses the next. Mentally and tactically, there’s still a long way to go if Tottenham are to truly challenge for the title.
A slow start and costly lapses
Tottenham were far from convincing in the first half. Their play was sluggish, disjointed, and lacked the crispness expected of a top side. Manchester United looked more composed and purposeful, exploiting gaps in midfield and forcing Spurs to retreat deeper than usual. Although the Lilywhites improved considerably after the interval, they left themselves too much to do. Frank’s attacking changes nearly paid off, but his team’s inability to see out the result highlighted an ongoing issue: lapses in concentration at key moments.
Rúben Amorim’s Manchester United, meanwhile, continue their steady revival under the Portuguese tactician, having now gone four league matches unbeaten.
Underperformers on a frustrating night
While there were moments of excitement, the match also exposed several weaknesses within Tottenham’s lineup. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario will feel he should have done better to prevent De Ligt’s stoppage-time equaliser, while Pedro Porro struggled defensively throughout the game, allowing too much space down his flank.
Up front, Randal Kolo Muani endured a frustrating evening. The French striker was largely anonymous before being withdrawn at half-time. In his 191 minutes of Premier League football so far this season, he has registered just one shot on goal and is still searching for his first goal contribution—a concerning statistic for a player expected to provide firepower.
On the wings, Brennan Johnson once again showed flashes of promise but failed to make a consistent impact. Blessed with pace and a natural instinct for goal, Johnson often drifted in and out of the game, unable to translate his energy into meaningful end product.
The Richarlison-Spence dilemma
Perhaps the most glaring tactical issue, however, came on the left-hand side. Frank’s decision to start Richarlison ahead of Djed Spence once again proved problematic. Though the Brazilian grabbed a late goal by instinctively flicking Wilson Odobert’s shot past Senne Lammens, his overall contribution was underwhelming. His pressing was erratic, his touch loose, and he rarely linked up effectively with teammates.
Spence, playing out of position at left-back, also struggled. Naturally a right-sided defender, the 25-year-old’s discomfort on his weaker side was obvious. One analyst remarked that deploying him on the left was “killing Tottenham’s balance,” as the team found “zero fluency in possession” when building attacks through that flank.
Had Mohammed Kudus been fit to play on the left wing, Spurs might have masked that imbalance. But with Richarlison off-form and Spence awkwardly inverted, Tottenham looked clunky. Once Destiny Udogie and the impressive Odobert were introduced, the left side immediately came alive—pacy, fluid, and composed.
This performance reaffirmed one thing: Frank cannot afford to pair Richarlison and Spence on the same flank again. The combination simply doesn’t work. Richarlison lacks the technical refinement to compensate for Spence’s positional adjustment, while Spence, forced onto his weaker side, cannot provide the overlapping support a winger like Richarlison needs.
Analyst Raj Chohan bluntly described the pairing as a “garbage duo,” a sentiment many Spurs fans reluctantly echoed.
Ratings, reactions, and what’s next
According to football.london’s Alasdair Gold, Spence received a 6/10 rating and Richarlison a 7/10—scores that arguably flatter both players. Despite their efforts, Tottenham were noticeably more coherent once Udogie and Odobert took over the left-hand duties.
Combined, Richarlison and Spence earn around £130,000 per week, but on current form, neither justified their wages against United. While Richarlison might still have a role to play this season, whispers persist that he could be on his way out next summer. Spence, meanwhile, will likely set his sights on reclaiming his natural right-back spot—especially after Porro’s “disaster” of a display, as described by Polish journalist Michael Okonski.
For Thomas Frank, the draw was a stark lesson. His tactical experimentation has shown flashes of promise but also moments of costly naivety. As Spurs enter the international break, the Danish coach has time to reflect and recalibrate. With a talented squad at his disposal and a passionate fanbase behind him, Frank’s project in North London still holds immense potential—but to unlock it, he must start getting the big calls right.
Tottenham’s progress under Frank has been encouraging, yet frustrating in equal measure. Their climb up the table shows clear improvement, but the late collapse against Manchester United revealed the fine margins that separate title challengers from nearly-men. When they return from the break, the onus will be on Spurs to prove that lessons have been learned—and that the next time they take a lead in a big game, they’ll see it through.