Former Arsenal striker Nicholas Bendtner has defended Thomas Frank and accused the Tottenham hierarchy of a lack of homework.
After a solid start at Spurs over the first couple of months of the season, the air appears to have gone out of Frank’s project at the club.
In fact, many Tottenham fans are already calling for Frank to be sacked after being left frustrated with the team’s tactical approach and the poor results over the last few months.
Reports indicate that Spurs have already started looking at other managerial candidates, but one pundit suggests that it is unfair to lay the blame on the Tottenham boss’s feet.
Nicholas Bendtner claims Tottenham have made poor decisions
Bendtner, who spent 10 years at Arsenal between 2004 and 2014, has now suggested that Frank is a victim of some of the decisions made by Spurs.
He suggested that Tottenham’s summer signings have not delivered as hoped, while also pointing out that key attacking players are missing due to injuries.
Bendtner told Stolpe Ind podcast about the Lilywhites’ struggles: “I think the problem is the DNA that was laid out at the beginning. And the way we could see how the Brentford project was brought into Tottenham. The transfers that were made and were super exciting. Xavi Simons, for example. They’ve all fallen through.
“There is no one who delivers at a particularly high level. At the same time that we have injuries to these top three of their best players, I would say: Kulusevski, Maddison and Solanke. But the way they are losing is what looks really bad.”
Bendtner questions Thomas Frank’s fit for Spurs project
The Danish striker referred to his compatriot’s impressive record at improving players at Brentford as evidence of his coaching quality.
However, he suggested that Tottenham may not have done their homework on whether Frank was the right fit for their project.
The 37-year-old added: “I also think they must have had discussions about these things before hiring him. Someone must have said, ‘We have this squad, and we can do this. I can help you with this, and I can’t promise you anything, but we have to go this way.’ And then they come out afterwards and stab him in the back. I think it seems poorly handled.
“He has been instrumental in making Ivan Toney into Ivan Toney. Mbeumo into Mbeumo and our Danish players Jensen, Nørgaard and Damsgaard – implementing them in important roles on the Brentford team. He has done some great things over there.”