Thomas Frank has bought himself no favor with Tottenham Hotspur supporters in the past month. The loss to Arsenal in the North London Derby will simply not be washed off the palate that easily, and Spurs fans were only sickened even more by the 3-0 drubbing at the hands of an otherwise unimpressive Nottingham Forest side.
This past weekend, Tottenham lost again 2-1 to Liverpool, and while Frank avoided another hefty dose of criticism by virtue of the two red cards that muddied the game, it is truly hard to say that there has been any tangible improvement from Spurs under this failing manager.
And what incenses Spurs supporters even more is his treatment of some of the team's most promising players, and, right now, there is no situation Spurs fans are taking greater umbrage with than the incessant benching of potential breakout star Mathys Tel.
Mathys Tel is fully COYS
The former Bayern Munich man has been COYS from day one, and he has scored some important goals this season as a striker, too. Tel was vital against Leeds United and then Manchester United off the bench, and when he does play, even when it is as a substitute, he shows a real spark and a level of class above that of his teammates athletically and in his desire to get after goal.
And yet, Thomas Frank has inexplicably left Mathys Tel on the bench in every Premier League game since Oct. 19 against Aston Villa. That means it has been more than two months since Tel last started in the league, even though he has literally been playing well and showing a lot more short term and long term value than schlubs like Richarlison.
Tottenham fans are growing tired of the same excuses, the same tired lineups, and the weekly cowardice exhibited by Frank. He left Tel to rot on the bench again in the loss to Liverpool, only bringing the Frenchman on for peanuts in the previous game against Nottingham Forest for 10 minuts with Spurs already dead to rights. And nothing, not even a second on the pitch, in the loss to Liverpool with nine men out there.
This is not how you treat rising stars. Tel has done literally everything right and holds a lot more long term value to this club than Richarlison, who ideally will not be in the squad at all when the 2026/27 season kicks off. As Spurs think about signing a new winger, maybe they should actually give Tel a dang chance.