Gary Lineker and Micah Richards have opined that one Tottenham star is struggling to make an impact in the position that he is being used by Thomas Frank.
The starting eleven named by Frank against Aston Villa was on the expected lines, with Xavi Simons starting as the number ten on the back of his excellent performance against Leeds.
The Dane stuck with his experienced and defensively solid pairing of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha in the base of the Spurs midfield, but one can argue that his selection did not work, with the Lilywhites once again failing to create many chances at home.
However, it is the selection of a 20-year-old that has left two pundits very surprised.
Thomas Frank told he is playing Mathys Tel in wrong position at Tottenham
Mathys Tel led the line for the North Londoners after finding the back of the net against Leeds before the international break, but he did not get much joy.
The Frenchman fluffed one clear-cut chance, failing to even make connection with a volley after a smart set-piece routine.
Both Lineker and Richards believe that the former Bayern Munich man is more suited to the left-wing role than he is to leading the line.
Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast about Tel: “I preferred him, perhaps, on the left-hand side when I’m seeing him play there. But yeah, he wasn’t making the natural runs of a striker that understands how to beat an offside trap, which is not that difficult when a team plays that high line with no pressure on the ball.”
Richards responded: “Yeah, exactly that. I echo your thoughts as well. I like him better off the left.”
Frank’s Tel decision may have multiple reasons
Thomas Frank himself previously admitted that Tel’s best position is on the left, but the Spurs boss’ hands may have been forced by Richarlison’s poor form and the fitness struggles of Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke.
Additionally, Tel cannot beat a man one-v-one as consistently as Wilson Odobert, which means that Tottenham will be even more reliant on Mohammed Kudus to offer them penetration if the former Bayern man plays on the left.
Tel’s best attribute is his finishing and one can thus understand why the Dane is keen to play the forward close to goal.