TOTTENHAM players are growing frustrated with Thomas Frank’s tinkering tactics.
Sources close to the Spurs dressing room say there is increasing confusion as to what roles players are being tasked with as plans are thrown out or changed either close to kick-off or alarmingly early during games.
Frank yesterday claimed he has the support of the board after Saturday’s sloppy home defeat by Fulham but he’s under pressure going into tonight’s trip to Newcastle.
Some stars are said to be left uncertain as to what their role is during certain games, with last week’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain cited as one occasion where a late change was made to plans.
Spurs twice took the lead against the European champions but ended up conceding five and leaving the French capital with nothing.
While some players are enjoying working with Frank, there are fears the Dane could lose the majority of the dressing room if results do not improve.
Tottenham, who visit a resurgent Newcastle on Tuesday, sit 12th in the Premier League and have won just one of their last seven games in all competitions.
Frank’s side have also shipped 11 goals in their last three games, conceding twice within the opening six minutes at home to Fulham on Saturday night.
The former Brentford manager, 52, hit out at the “unacceptable” booing of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario following his mistake which led to Fulham’s second goal at the weekend as the rift between the squad and fans continues to grow.
He questioned the conduct of those he deemed “not true Tottenham fans” after the result, but was less absolute when looking back on his comments ahead of Tuesday’s trip north..
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He said: “I completely understand the frustration. If we don’t win, there will always be a frustration, so that is normal.
“We are nothing without the fans. No club is anything without the fans. Tottenham Hotspur, we are nothing without our fantastic fans. Nothing. We need each other. There is nothing we want more than making them happy in every way.
“My point was during matches that’s where we need each other. After, fair with the booing, but during, that is when I want to create a fortress.
“If any club wants to be successful, you need to create a fortress. If you want to create a fortress, it can only be together. Fans and team.”
Full-back Pedro Porro released a pointed Instagram post after the game that was addressed “to the true Spurs fans.”
He added in his caption “What I will not tolerate is hearing disrespect from the fans to my team-mates, hence my frustration at the end of the game.”
But Frank waved any concerns surrounding the post away when he told press: “The players, they are individual people that can have their own opinions.
“I think what he put out there was fair in every aspect.”
