“I have massive respect for Ange” – Brentford boss Thomas Frank previews Spurs clash
Brentford boss Thomas Frank will be hoping his side can build on their 2-1 away win at Crystal Palace when they face Ange Postecoglou’s out-of-form Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday.
Brentford come into this game in mixed form, having only won two of six games this calendar year so far and none of their last five at home despite being indomitable at home in the early stages of the campaign.
Yet that is nothing compared to Spurs horrendous form. They’ve only managed one win in the league since beating Man City at the Etihad 4-0 in November as they sit 19th in the form table only above Southampton by virtue of winning against them.
It’s going to be a battle of a team who currently can’t win at home versus a team who can’t win in the league period. Despite this, it’s still set to be a spectacle as both teams play expansive, attacking football that goes extremely easy on the eye.
Team news
For Brentford, the team news is relatively positive, in stark contrast to Spurs’ current injury crisis. Christian Norgaard and Kevin Schade, both doubts, have been passed fit for Sunday’s clash, and they’ll be welcome inclusions in Frank’s team.
As well as this, Jamaican defender Ethan Pinnock also makes a return to the team for the first time since December. Mads Roerslev will not be available after his loan to Wolfsburg until the end of the season was made official earlier this week.
As well as this and frustratingly so, Rico Henry misses out after only returning a few weeks ago as he has a hamstring issue. Frank said of Henry “Not a big one – he’s out running again. He will not be involved at the weekend. We are looking at weeks.”
The biggest news surrounding this game’s team selection, however, will surely be the impending debut of new signing, Italian right-back Michael Kayode. Brentford signed him on loan until the end of the season from Fiorentina last weekend.
“He is a young man, full of optimism and power and willingness to play and run,” said Frank. “I like his approach a lot. He could be involved.” Not necessarily a replacement for Roerslev, Kayode will add welcome cover at full-back for the Bees.
Alongside those already mentioned, Aaron Hickey, Gustavo Nunes, Igor Thiago and Josh Dasilva all remain out as longer-term absentees.
Tottenham’s form
A lot has been made of Tottenham’s dreadful run of form over recent months. They have a goal difference befitting of a top half side at a minimum and have scored the third most goals in the league, yet they sit all the way down in 15th position.
They are closer to the relegation places than even to the top half of the table and could slip to 16th if Everton win their game in hand, although it is against table-topping Merseyside rivals Liverpool.
Despite this, they come into this game off the back of their best performance in at least a few weeks. They emphatically dispatched of Swedish Elfsborg in the Europa League 3-0, with three academy boys scoring their first goals for the club.
Combine this with the long-awaited return of key man Micky Van de Ven, who will have a lot to do on Sunday against the pacey Brentford attack and Spurs can be quietly optimistic for their first league win in over six weeks.
Spurs won the reverse fixture 3-1 despite Brentford going ahead in the first minute through Brian Mbeumo and Brentford will be looking for another fast start without the capitulation that followed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Over half of Spurs’ starting XI from that game are injured, however, including all three goal scorers. As well, key men like Cuti Romero and Vicario won’t feature this time around, which will give Brentford a boost going into Sunday’s match
Frank on Ange
Despite being opposites this weekend, Thomas Frank was full of sympathy when it comes to the predicament Spurs currently find themselves in, saying he has “massive respect for Ange … He’s done very well to keep going and keep believing.”
Brentford endured a similar injury riddled period this time last season, a fact which Frank is fully aware of. “We were also hit very hard by injuries last year so, from that perspective, I understand the situation Ange is in now at Tottenham.”
“When results are also not going your way, that’s tough. They’re things we need to deal with as managers and I’m convinced that Ange is doing that well and he will get through it … He doesn’t need advice, but he just needs to trust his own processes.”
Despite this, Frank is expecting an exciting and open game. “I expect a game between two teams that want to attack, so it could be open at times. We need to be the team that controls an open game, which is difficult.”
After this game, Spurs are in action on Thursday at Anfield for the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg whereas Brentford have two weeks rest before playing West Ham on the 15th.
