Tottenham Hotspur fans need to avoid overreactions when discussing the latest results or Thomas Frank’s overall start to life at N17, but it is clear that there is cause for concern and a little bit of room for impatience at some rather obvious errors that need correcting soon.
In truth, Spurs were fortunate to have even drawn Monaco 0-0, as it took a literal flawless goalkeeping performance from Guglielmo Vicario to keep the French side at bay. Spurs were a clear second best in the Champions League tilt against an admittedly weaker opponent compared to the sorts of clubs Spurs aim to compete with at that level.
And as Spurs fans watch the midfield slog through these matches and the club drop points, there’s an overarching sense that Frank still isn’t maximizing this squad, nor is he selecting the right players to play, specifically in midfield.
One of the biggest and most inexcusable snubs has been Pape Matar Sarr, who has been riding the pine in the last few games. And reporters are rightfully forcing an answer out of Frank, who dropped this unwitting gem on the Sarr situation in the press conference prior to the Everton match on Sunday, via The Spurs Web:
“There is nothing wrong with him. He was a very good player for us in the first six games. We rested him as a precaution before but competition, other players have done well. He has impressed me a lot though.”
Pape Matar Sarr needs to play
OK, so if “there is nothing wrong” with Sarr and Thomas Frank is “impressed” with him by “a lot”, then why isn’t he playing? And the most hilarious part of this quote is Frank outright admitting that Sarr was key to Spurs in the first six games.
Because, uh, weren’t Spurs a lot better in those first six games than they have been in the last six? So if you stopped playing a guy who was “very good” and now you are getting worse results than you were when he was playing, then what does that tell you about your lineup selection?
Obviously, Sarr should be starting, or at least playing a lot more often than he isn’t. Tottenham are suffering without their dynamic breakout star who looked like a major bright spot under Frank to start the season, and Frank has to go back to that.
This quote is a subtle admission from Frank to both himself and the rest of the world that he is royally screwing things up with Sarr, who is an otherwise “give me” breakout star smacking him right upside the head.
