17th in the Premier League last season, having lost 22 games and conceded 65 goals, it's easy to understand why Thomas Frank has prioritised installing sturdy defensive foundations at the start of his tenure at Tottenham.
The tactically adept Danish coach has enjoyed a productive start to his reign, winning four of five games in all competitions ahead of Saturday's trip to Brighton.
Distinct improvements without the ball, as well as the availability of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, mean Spurs, after two years of porosity, have conceded just once—a deflected effort from Evanilson—this term.
And while Spurs are averaging just shy of two goals a game under the new manager, there's a sense that there are multiple levels for the Lilywhites to progress through until they're a team that, to complement their newfound sturdiness, can use the ball efficiently and create open-play chances at will.
A problem area has been the left-hand side, which hasn't performed with the degree of fluency of the right flank. Finding a superior balance down the left could be key to unlocking Spurs as a collective in possession.
Thomas Frank takes stock of left-back dilemma ahead of Brighton clash
Destiny Udogie's injury thrust Djed Spence into a starting role to kick off the new season, and the right-footed defender has appeared more comfortable on his 'weaker' side.
Individually, there has been little wrong with Spence's performances, but Xavi Simons' utilisation wide left has magnified the drawbacks of using Spence in this role.
Xavi requires an overlapper if he's to shine out wide. You can't have him wasting away on the touchline. He needs to be working infield. Width must be provided from a surging full-back, but Spence is not a natural overlapper down the left. His proclivity is to chop inside onto his stronger foot.
And with Frank recently opting for a fairly rigid 4-3-3 shape with the ball, we've seen plenty of sub-optimal passing sequences between the two players, with the pair positioned in the same vertical line. There have been plenty of times through two starts when Xavi's only option has been a bounce pass back to Spence. After Tuesday's win, Frank said the pair "played too short and into feet too many times."
🚨🗣️Thomas Frank on Udogie and Spence:
— The Spurs Web (@thespursweb) September 19, 2025
"I am privileged to have four full-backs. They are performing at a very high level. Destiny offers his left foot as a left back so that is something more natural for him. Him and Djed are a bit similar, having that physicality and ability… pic.twitter.com/fHEqDLdFQ8
For optimal balance, Udogie has to be the preferred left-back if Xavi is used out wide. Ahead of Saturday's bout, Frank noted the similarities between the Italian and Spence: "Destiny offers his left foot as a left back so that is something more natural for him. Him and Djed are a bit similar, having that physicality and ability to go at all times.
"Destiny's left foot is important, but Djed with his right is equally important," he told reporters (via The Spurs Web on X).
Udogie has been eased back in since recovering from a knee injury, making three appearances off the bench, but he's surely ready for a return to the starting XI.
The Italian may not offer Spence's standout one-on-one defensive abilities, and there will be games when the Englishman should be preferred, but if Frank wants to improve his team as an attacking unit without sacrificing Pape Matar Sarr in midfield, starting Udogie and potentially shifting to an asymmetrical shape in possession should facilitate that.
He's the width provider capable of platforming our new creative star, all while offering alternate passing angles that should spark improved build-up play down the left.