Thomas Frank makes new Tottenham vow ahead of Everton clash | OneFootball

Spurs boss ‘convinced’ his side will play with ‘top intensity’ after being ‘out of sync’ against Monaco

Thomas Frank’s Spurs face Everton in the Premier League on Sunday

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After flat performances against Aston Villa and Monaco, a vow from Thomas Frank.

"I'm convinced that we will play with top intensity against Everton," the Tottenham boss declared at his press conference on Friday. "I'm also convinced that we will perform well, very competitive."

Spurs have for the majority of this season been impressive off the ball and their defensive improvements from last term are significant.

Only poor finishing and a Guglielmo Vicario masterclass prevented a heavy defeat against Monaco on Wednesday

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Frank is confident there will be a return to those standards on Sunday for Spurs' first visit to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but there was also an acceptance that a more long-standing issue is unlikely to be solved so quickly.

He continued: "Completely free-flowing and all that? That can be maybe not."

It goes without saying that Frank must find a solution to Spurs' creativity issues. They rank 14th for expected goals in the Premier League and sustained spells of looking threatening from open play have been all too rare.

As pressing as the need to fix that is, that feels like a debate for another day. At the end of a disappointing week and with a difficult run of fixtures still to come, it is unrealistic to expect Spurs to suddenly put on an attacking masterclass against Everton.

If Spurs are to pick up three points, it will be by going back to their basics and what has been the foundation for the positive results picked up this season.

Frank's side have the best away record in the Premier League and that feels explainable. The more pragmatic approach, often relying on counter-attacks and set-pieces, is one that can jar with the wishes of home fans but it is more effective on the road.

Spurs do not need to take the game to the opposition as much and they can instead pick their moments in attack, rather than having to unpick a tightly-packed defence.

Ensuring they are once again defensively sound will be more of an immediate priority for Frank that the "completely free-flowing" football.

Even with Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur starting against Monaco, Spurs were carved open with alarming ease. The midfield offered no protection, the pressing was disjointed and only poor finishing and a Guglielmo Vicario masterclass prevented a heavy defeat.

Everton are unbeaten at home this season and will have a go at Spurs, who need the intensity and physicality that Frank has promised or they will suffer.

The attacking spark and final-third flair would be nice, but Frank's set-up is built on a defensive platform to fall back on. As seen in Monaco, it simply does not work if that is not there.

Frank knows he needs to get Spurs creating, just as he must get the best out of Xavi Simons and find a way to get by until Dominic Solanke returns up front. Those, evidently, are questions that will not get particularly quick answers.

For now, signs of progress towards a more coherent attack will do, but only if Spurs rediscover their defensive stability far more immediately.