Toxic atmosphere at Spurs highlighted by home loss to West Ham amid pressure on Thomas Frank

Tottenham’s home defeat by West Ham exposed a toxic atmosphere at the club, the Guardian reports, with about 100 fans staging a pre-match protest, sustained boos at full time and growing pressure on manager Thomas Frank. The piece says dissent inside the ground felt more widespread than West Ham’s frustrations, which the article describes as largely aimed at the board over the move to Stratford in 2016.

Change for Tottenham organised the protest, voicing concerns about transfer strategy, injury problems, recent results and high ticket prices, and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham’s programme column promising greater spending did little to settle the crowd once Spurs fell behind. On the pitch West Ham took the lead when Mateus Fernandes released Crysencio Summerville, whose shot went in off Micky van de Ven, and Callum Wilson came off the bench to score an added-time winner after Ollie Scarles’ corner, the article says.

Spurs were criticised in the piece for sloppy play, over-reliance on crosses and set pieces, and a lack of ideas in open play, with allowances noted for the absence of Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison. The Guardian’s assessment is stark: it says fans “have had enough” of Frank and that “it will not be long before the board’s patience with the Dane ends,” while adding that whether sacking the manager would change anything in north London is unclear.

Key Topics

Sports, Tottenham Hotspur, Thomas Frank, West Ham United, Vinai Venkatesham, Callum Wilson