Tottenham Hotspur fans have serious issues with the job manager Thomas Frank is doing at the helm, and it goes beyond just the results themselves, which have been abhorrent. Spurs are not playing their best starting lineup in any given week, as Frank is leaving off some of his best performers, including stars of the future, for no reason other than playing favorites in an overly "safe" style of football that only dooms the team to losses.
Young left winger and striker Mathys Tel has come up big in recent weeks for Spurs, though he's been thrown to the side when it comes to picking the best XI. Tel won the game against Leeds and was vital to rescuing a point against Manchester United more recently. And yet Tel has not started since, even though he continues to impress in cameo appearances off the bench, including helping change the game on Tuesday night in a 2-2 draw with Newcastle.
Tottenham fans are frustrated as to why the second best striker in the healthy squad after Randal Kolo Muani is not getting any sniffs, plus Tel is one of the only two valid left winger options alongside fellow young Frenchman Wilson Odobert.
Mathys Tel can't be left out
But maybe Thomas Frank is turning the corner on Tel, based on what he said recently at a press conference after the Newcastle game. Frank said of Tel, via The Spurs Web, "The way he carries himself, the way he trains, has been very good. I'm very aware he can play off the left. The only thing that any player can do is keep training well, keep doing everything to catch my eye to make it difficult for me when I make my decision."
Frank has snubbed Tel so many times this season, and each and every time, Tel has risen to the occasion after improving. He caught every fan's eye last season by celebrating with the crowd and pushing hard for results in the clutch, showing the heart of someone who wanted to be a Spur for life. And he's only continued that this season.
Even Frank has to admit that he can't keep Tel out of the lineup, and Tottenham fans have already come to the realization that Tel is one of the best options up front and someone who can be a future star. He has earned starting reps, and now Frank is realizing that he can't keep denying him either.