Frank’s Tottenham nightmare plumbs new depths as tempers flare in FA Cup exit to Villa || Macqathylive.com

 

Unrest among his Tottenham Hotspur squad, down to 14th in the Premier League, and now out of the FA Cup with an on-field melee on the final whistle, Thomas Frank’s nightmare week has plunged new depths.

If losing at Bournemouth and then being photographed inadvertently drinking from an Arsenal coffee cup were not enough, the best hope of silverware this season has also disappeared amid anger both in the stands and out on the pitch. A dominant first-half performance from Aston Villa, which ended with two goals and loud jeers from the Tottenham fans, ultimately settled this tie between two of the FA Cup’s most successful teams.

Yes, Spurs did rally after the break, but it was also sometimes an undisciplined performance that raises fresh questions about not simply Frank’s decisions since replacing Ange Postecoglou, but the club’s wider direction in the post-Daniel Levy era.

Club captain Cristian Romero had this week openly called out his team-mates for supposedly going missing in defeat, while Micky van de Ven was seen gesturing to fans following the Bournemouth defeat and was then involved – albeit as a peacemaker – in the post-match row with the Villa players.

It was sparked when Spurs midfielder João Palhinha took issue with Ollie Watkins’s celebrations, with Morgan Rogers rushing to support his team-mate before numerous other players, support staff and stewards became involved in a confrontation that will surely be studied by the Football Association’s disciplinary department. Frank laid the blame squarely with Watkins and denied that his players were losing control.

“I don’t think so,” he said. “The players gave everything, losing a tight game, season not going perfect... think Ollie is very provoking in the way he is going down to celebrate in front of the Villa fans. He is walking into João. He can just easily walk around. That’s difficult, that can trigger things.

“When you play with passion, sometimes you play to the line, sometimes a little bit borderline. I see players playing with passion, who want to do very well for the club.”

Unai Emery, the Villa manager, played down the confrontation but highlighted anger at how Boubacar Kamara’s match was ended after only nine minutes following Palhinha’s tackle.

Frank’s position is inevitably a matter of debate ahead of next Saturday’s home Premier League match against West Ham United. Although it was ultimately too little too late, Frank highlighted the improved second-half performance against Villa and how the fans stayed with the players. “We played with passion and intensity – the fans were very good,” he said. “We all know there is only one way to have everyone happy; that is performing consistently and winning enough games. How they feed off each other in the second half, the players and fans, was fantastic.”

The importance of the match for both clubs was earlier underlined with the respective team selections. Frank picked his best available starting XI, with Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie also returning to the match-day squad following injuries. Emery had initially rested Youri Tielemans and Watkins, but it was still a strong Villa team that emerged in front of numerous pitchside Tottenham legends. Greats including Glenn Hoddle, Pat Jennings and Cliff Jones had been invited to join tributes to the club’s legendary striker Martin Chivers, as well as Terry Yorath, who had also graced White Hart Lane as a player and died this week.

Spurs’ rich history was further evident in their plain white kit to commemorate the 125-year anniversary of the first of their eight FA Cup wins.

While Tottenham last won the Cup in 1991, Villa have to go back even further to 1957, but it was soon evident that they are better equipped for a serious tilt this year. Tielemans, who had replaced the injured Kamara, was involved in an excellent passing move for the first goal, with Donyell Malen releasing Emiliano Buendía to finish powerfully at Guglielmo Vicario’s near post.

It was a goal that sucked the pre-match optimism from the Tottenham supporters and left Frank, frantically chewing gum on the sideline, absorbing chants of “Thomas Frank’s an Arsenal fan” from the Villa supporters.

Worse, though, would follow on the stroke of half-time. Malen was again integral to the build-up, squaring for John McGinn, whose back-heeled pull-back was collected and then brilliantly converted by Rogers.

Boos rang out as the Spurs players made their way down the tunnel, with the travelling Villa support gleefully interrupting with chants at Franks of, “You’re getting sacked in the morning”. It added up to a huge test of the players’ character. And there was a genuinely spirited response. Tottenham emerged with an energy and directness that had both been lacking in the first half and which finally put Villa on the back foot.

First Xavi Simons forced a good save from Marco Bizot and then Randal Kolo Muani won the ball just inside Villa’s half before driving forward towards the penalty area and then releasing Wilson Odobert. There was still plenty to do, but Odobert’s shot across Bizot was both powerful and perfectly placed to reduce the deficit.

Spurs had hope again and their supporters audibly responded. Odobert had another sight of goal that was saved by Bizot but, with the momentum firmly against them, Emery brought on both Watkins and Jadon Sancho. It was a typically astute switch, with Villa just stemming Tottenham’s pressure to both preserve their lead and progress into the fourth round.