Key Points
- Thomas Frank was appointed Tottenham Hotspur manager in the summer transfer window of 2025, with high expectations due to his overperformance at Brentford.
- Frank’s tenure has been described as a “huge failure,” with Spurs amassing only 29 points in the Premier League as of early February 2026, placing them six points clear of the relegation zone.
- Tottenham have won just two of their last 11 league games, with a current winless run extending to eight matches following a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on 7 February 2026.
- Pedro Porro, the £40m signing, has contributed to the team’s recent demise and is performing worse than teammate Cristian Romero, prompting calls for him to have no future at the club.
- Porro missed the last three matches due to a hamstring injury sustained in a 2-2 draw at Burnley, ruling him out for four weeks.
- The 52-year-old Dane’s side sit precariously in mid-table, with recent results including draws against Manchester City (2-2 on 1 February) and losses stacking up.
North London (North London News) Football FanCast February 10, 2026 – Pedro Porro, Tottenham Hotspur’s £40 million right-back who has underperformed compared to centre-back Cristian Romero this season, faces mounting pressure with suggestions he should have no future at the club amid the team’s perilous Premier League position.
- Key Points
- Who is Thomas Frank and Why Was He Appointed at Spurs?
- How Has Frank’s Tenure at Tottenham Unfolded?
- What Recent Loss Exposed Tottenham’s Struggles?
- Who is the £40m Star Under Fire?
- How Does Porro Compare to Cristian Romero?
- Why Might Porro Have No Future at Spurs?
- What Lies Ahead for Tottenham Under Frank?
Who is Thomas Frank and Why Was He Appointed at Spurs?
Thomas Frank joined Tottenham Hotspur as head coach on 12 June 2025, signing a contract until 2028, as announced on the club’s official website. The Dane replaced Ange Postecoglou after his sacking despite winning the Europa League, with Spurs preparing for Champions League football, according to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol.
As reported by Tottenham Hotspur’s official statement,
“Thomas has extensive experience in English football having joined Brentford in 2016 – since becoming one of the longest-serving current managers in the Premier League. During his time at Brentford he transformed the Club, moving them up from the Championship to an established Premier League side, consistently and significantly outperforming expectations for an extended period of time.”
The club highlighted Frank’s progressive style:
“In Thomas we are appointing one of the most progressive and innovative head coaches within the game. He has a proven track record in player and squad development.”
He was joined by staff including Justin Cochrane, Chris Haslam, Joe Newton from Brentford, and Andreas Georgson from Manchester United.
How Has Frank’s Tenure at Tottenham Unfolded?
Frank’s appointment brought real expectation that he would take Spurs to the next level, given his Brentford success, but his time in North London has been labelled a “huge failure” by Football FanCast analyst Sean Kearns. The 52-year-old has amassed only 29 points from 25 Premier League games, leaving Spurs 15th and six points above the drop zone, as noted in a Chosun Ilbo report.
Tottenham’s form has plummeted, winning just two of their last 11 league outings.
Their winless run hit eight matches after a 2-0 loss at Manchester United on 7 February 2026, where goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes sealed the victory for the hosts under Michael Carrick, per ESPN UK match summary.
Earlier results paint a grim picture: a 2-2 draw with Manchester City on 1 February, contributing to seven straight winless league games before the United defeat. Wikipedia confirms Frank’s first competitive game was a UEFA Super Cup penalty loss to PSG on 13 August 2025, followed by a 3-0 league win over Burnley.
Fans48 analysis shows Spurs averaging 1.22 points per match from 23 games (28 points), a “quite bad” position for Thomas Frank’s side.
What Recent Loss Exposed Tottenham’s Struggles?
The 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford on 7 February 2026 extended Spurs’ misery. ESPN detailed the timeline: United struck in the 27th and 81st minutes, with Tottenham reduced to 10 men. PA reporter covered:
“Manchester United’s revival under Michael Carrick rolled on against Tottenham with goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes piling more misery on Thomas Frank’s Spurs.”
This left them without a win in seven consecutive Premier League matches pre-loss, dropping to 15th, per Chosun English sports desk. Sky Sports fixtures confirm the sequence: 2-2 vs Man City (1 Feb), then the United humbling.
Who is the £40m Star Under Fire?
Pedro Porro, signed for around £40m from Sporting CP, is the player singled out. Football FanCast’s article states:
“One player has no doubt contributed to the recent demise in North London over recent weeks, with the manager certainly needing to reevaluate his current position in the squad.”
Porro has been “worse than Romero,” with the headline explicitly arguing he “should have no future at Spurs.” Prior to injury, his form left much to be desired. He picked up a hamstring issue in the first half of the 2-2 Burnley draw, withdrawn at half-time and replaced by Destiny Udogie, as per a club statement cited by FourFourTwo.
FourFourTwo quoted:
“Pedro hasn’t travelled, unfortunately he’s picked up a hamstring injury, so he’ll be out for four weeks.”
This is a “big blow” for Tottenham under pressure.
Earlier, Goal.com reported Porro calling out teammates after a Monaco draw:
“‘We don’t have the right mentality!’ – Pedro Porro calls out Tottenham team-mates for slumping to Monaco draw as right-back bids to avoid ‘bad situation’.”
How Does Porro Compare to Cristian Romero?
Porro’s defensive shortcomings stand out against Romero. Football FanCast implies Porro lags in key metrics, contributing to goals conceded. UEFA stats show Porro with 6 matches played, 0 goals, 5 tackles, 1 yellow; Romero’s comparison highlights defensive edges.
Older data from Andrew Hagedorn’s site (adjusted for context) showed Porro at 2.58 points per game vs Romero’s 1.29 in FPL terms, but recent form reverses this, with Porro’s errors and possession losses higher per FootballCritic: 1.3 errors creating chances per 90, 4.7 possessions lost.
One-vs-One metrics give Porro a slight 1v1 score edge (60.92 vs Romero’s 58.77), but 116 defensive touches for Porro don’t translate to solidity. Reddit discussions note Romero’s contributions, like a goal vs PSG.
Why Might Porro Have No Future at Spurs?
With Spurs in relegation peril, reevaluation is urged. Football FanCast argues Frank must act on Porro’s underperformance versus Romero. Injury absence (three matches missed) underscores squad depth issues.
Historical links show Spurs eyed alternatives like Vanderson pre-signing, hinting ongoing right-back concerns. Porro’s mentality call-out shows frustration, but poor results demand change.
Thomas Frank needs to address this to halt the slide, as Yahoo Sports previews a “pivotal bottom-half battle” vs Newcastle on 10 February 2026.
What Lies Ahead for Tottenham Under Frank?
Spurs face a relegation scrap, with Rooney warning of battle per Chosun. Frank’s innovative approach hasn’t clicked yet, but his player development record offers hope.
All eyes on recovery post-United, with Porro’s return questionable amid calls for squad overhaul.
