Why Tottenham vs Fulham is the biggest game of Thomas Frank's reign so far | OneFootball

Thomas Frank’s men finally showed some fight - now need a long-overdue home win

"We said from the beginning when I walked in the club, every decision I take is to do everything I can to win the next game," Frank said at his pre-match press conference.

"But it's for the long run. If you can't build something that lasts, it doesn't matter. I'm very aware that I need to win tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, and the day after the day, and so on."

Thomas Frank’s new system worked well in defeat

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Spurs were beaten 5-3 by PSG in midweek but there were encouraging signs and it should be a platform to build on.

Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall shone as a youthful side played with energy and fearlessness, taking the game to PSG.

Fans, on the whole, can forgive a defeat to the European champions considering the manner in which Spurs approached it. However, that will only remain the case if that attacking intent is taken into the Fulham match.

Spurs cannot go back to the more cautious performances that have become the norm, particularly at home. With so much resting on this game, Frank's starting lineup will be especially revealing as to who trusts.

He insisted at his press conference that he would have no issue starting Gray and Bergvall in midfield together, though the proof of whether that is true will come on Saturday.

Frank has too often relied on the safety blanket of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur, even when they have provided little security. It would be a mistake and a backwards step to start both against Fulham.

The sub-plot of XavI Simons is also an interesting one. The £52million signing has not started in any of the matches away from home in the Champions League and was on the bench against both Arsenal and Chelsea.

Asked how Simons had reacted to being left out of the starting lineup for a succession of big games, Frank responded: "Xavi has been fine.

Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray were superb against PSG

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"As we've seen with other players coming into the Premier League for the first time from other leagues, it's not straightforward in any way. It's a completely natural part of the development or adjustment to the league."

He added: "There's a little difference between playing Arsenal away and whatever, another team at home or PSG away."

It seems almost unthinkable that Simons will not start at home Fulham. If Frank does not trust him in that kind of fixture, it is hard to think of many other circumstances when he would.

The 4-2-2-2 shape worked well against PSG and allowed Gray and Bergvall to flourish. However, Frank was unconvincing when asked if that could serve as a blueprint for a system in the Premier League.

"I think it's fair to say it's one game away to Paris and it's a different game for Fulham," he said. He emphasised there will be "different types for different games", depending on the opponent.

Tweaks in personnel and system appear almost inevitable with Frank. The attacking intent and ambition, though, cannot be similarly inconsistent.

For all the PSG display offered reasons to be optimistic, anything other than the ending of the long wait for a home win on Saturday night would send Spurs back to square one.