Tottenham Hotspur have experienced all the emotions over the past several years, and the plan is that Thomas Frank will instil stability and a winning culture over the years at the helm.
However, the Danish coach has been through some turbulent waters across his first several months in the dugout, with attacking play far from fluid.
Creativity has been at a low ebb in the Premier League, and while neither James Maddison nor Dejan Kulusevski has kicked a ball this season due to injury, Frank will be expected to spark more fruitful playmaking returns going forward.
(1) Man City
2nd
29.1
(2) Man United
6th
26.8
(3) Arsenal
1st
25.4
(4) Chelsea
5th
24.7
(5) Crystal Palace
4th
24.3
(17) Tottenham
11th
14.8
We have seen green shoots in recent weeks, Spurs currently riding a two-match winning run, but the squad need to kindle some new talismanic figures, with the absence of the likes of Heung-min Son keenly felt.
Why Spurs are missing Son
Tottenham have markedly failed to replace Son and Harry Kane after the respective superstars’ sales in recent years, and though the South Korean was on the decline last year, he still posted 23 goal contributions across all competitions.
That’s natural potency you just can’t teach, only guide in the right direction. The 33-year-old is now playing over the pond for Los Angeles FC, but Frank could certainly do with a new superstar to emerge and prove themselves in Son’s stead.
His leadership and devastating ability were something shared with Kane, but stripping it further back, Christian Eriksen too.
For sure, the Lilywhites would benefit from the Dane’s creative flair right now, especially with Maddison and Kulusevski both out of action. Eriksen notched 69 goals and 88 assists across 305 games for the north London club, and former Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy marvelled at his “world-class” quality while at White Hart Lane.
It would be easy to turn toward the transfer market for solutions, and though Frank needs to find a formula that creates a natural well of creativity and coherence in offence, he may actually have two new recruits who are well on their way to emulating the likes of Son and Eriksen before them.
Spurs' new Son and Eriksen duo
Eriksen and Son were instrumental parts in creating a Tottenham team, led by Mauricio Pochettino, that was among the most feared and entertaining on the continent.
It was always going to be a struggle to replace such players, but in Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons, Frank might just have the tools to resculpt the aforementioned.
Simons, 21, has endured a tough start to life down N17, but with two goals from two matches, the Dutch number ten is beginning to show why ENIC Group paid north of £50m to bring him over from RB Leipzig during the summer, beating Chelsea in the transfer battle.
He has been hailed as a “superstar” of a talent by analyst Ben Mattinson, and he ranks among the top 3% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref, emphasising that Eriksen-esque passing range that will only develop further over the months and years.
Kudus might not be cut from the same cloth as Son, but he certainly has that wow factor about him, capable of doing things with a football that those around him and against him simply can’t match.
Mohammed Kudus
14
6
Bruno Fernandes
15
6
Rayan Cherki
10
5
Jeremy Doku
15
5
Seven players…
n/a
4
The fact that the former West Ham winger sits as the Premier League’s joint-top assist maker this season says much of his ability. Analyst Raj Chohan has even hailed Simons’ “game-changing” ability, suggesting he has more in his locker than the still-impressive Kudus.
Perhaps the most exciting part is that the best is yet to come. After all, Son took a while to get going after joining Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, while Eriksen needed Christmas to come and pass before uncovering a Midas touch in the final third in 2013/14, when he joined from Ajax.
We must be patient, but there’s no denying that Tottenham have signed several forwards with the capacity to stand out not just among their peers but against anyone in the Premier League.
Tottenham haven’t clicked into gear yet this season, but there have been plenty of positives to take as Frank navigates through the first months of this post-Ange Postecoglou era.
And with Simons coming into his own and Kudus showing off his skilful qualities, the Londoners have all the tools they need to reach the next level when the different parts all come together.
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