Thomas Frank must consider change to Tottenham approach after cautious selection highlights shortcomings | OneFootball

Tottenham’s 1-1 draw at home to struggling Wolves served as a reality check to new head coach Thomas Frank

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

Sign up

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Thomas Frank has got very few things wrong in the opening months of his Tottenham tenure.

Wolves went into the match having not picked up a point in the Premier League this season, but the Spurs boss still went for the safety blanket of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur in front of the defence.

"I think it's fair to say both Rodri and Joao have been very good for us so far in the season," Frank said as an explanation for his selection.

"And Lucas [Bergvall] has been fantastic so you like to keep your players that are a little bit in the flow."

Joao Palhinha celebrates with Rodrigo Bentancur

Getty Images

Frank is right that Bentancur and Palhinha have proved an extremely effective partnership at times this season, but that has been in a certain type of game.

The pair were superb away at Manchester City and in the Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain. It also made sense to play both away at Brighton, with Frank understandably keen to opt for that extra security.

However, particularly at home, the shortcomings have also been clear. In last month's defeat to Bournemouth the midfield was not progressive enough and Spurs struggled to create through the middle of the pitch. It was not quite so bad against Wolves, but the issues were similar.

Asked after the match whether he might reflect on the starting lineup as a mistake, Frank said: "I will always look back at it but a good, old coach told me once that the line-up you picked, you did that for a reason and you don’t know what would happen if you pick the other one.

"Maybe you would have lost 2-0. So, I need to go with what I believe in of course. That is not to say I am not watching the game back and not reflecting and thinking about hmm, could we, should we, you never know?

"I actually think first half was quite good and we created enough. We would like to create a bit more, yes but actually after I took Rodri out, you could say it didn’t work because we lost the structure, so who knows?"

Starting only one of Bentancur and Palhinha, and on current form it would surely be the latter, would allow Xavi Simons to play in his more natural No10 role.

I will always look back at it but a good, old coach told me once that the line-up you picked, you did that for a reason and you don’t know what would happen if you pick the other on

Thomas Frank

It is, of course, too simplistic to say that will be an immediate solution to Spurs' problems. Simons started centrally against Doncaster and was quiet, and did little in his brief spell at No10 against Wolves either.

His best moments in a Spurs shirt have come in the middle of the park though, in a bright cameo against Brighton. Lucas Bergvall has shone in a more advanced role but he will still be able to provide his power and drive from a deeper position.

In matches where Spurs are expected to dominate possession, a midfield three of Palhinha, Bergvall and Simons would also allow a more natural winger to come into the side on the left.

Frank's instincts are perhaps to opt for something more cautious, but there is already enough evidence to suggest a rethink is required.