While Ange Postecoglou did eventually adapt his style at Tottenham in their run to Europa League glory, his lack of tactical flexibility was a major issue behind the decline in Premier League form that led to his downfall. But that won’t be the case with Thomas Frank.
“Adaptability or tactical flexibility is something I believe a lot in,” said Frank during his seven successful years in charge of Brentford.
Frank favours a possession-based style of football but the Dane is willing to switch his tactical approach in different scenarios and against different opponents.
Brentford played expansive, front-foot football in the Championship but went with a more pragmatic approach after they were promoted to the Premier League.
Frank has used a number of different formations at Brentford. Here, Standard Sport looks at how Spurs could line up under their new head coach.
4-2-3-1
This was a formation Brentford used frequently as they secured a top-half finish last season.
Right winger Bryan Mbeumo and striker Yoanna Wissa excelled in the system, scoring 39 Premier League goals between them.
But Mikkel Damsgaard was the real star as the No10 and was voted the Supporters’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year at Brentford’s end-of-season awards.
If Frank is to use such a formation at Spurs then it could play into the hands of James Maddison, who would surely relish a role like Damsgaard’s.
Maddison has shown flashes of brilliance during his time at Spurs, but he has failed to consistently recreate the form he showed at Leicester.
A creative No10 could also help bring the best out of Dominic Solanke upfront and Heung-min Son on the flanks.
Possible line-up: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Bergvall; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Solanke
3-5-2
Frank was more than happy to use a back-three at Brentford, especially when he wanted to frustrate teams.
The Bees would play direct and hit teams on the counter, utilising the pace offered by the likes of Kevin Schade and Mbeumo.
Tottenham have the personnel in their squad to play with a back-three and it could also allow help Frank get Archie Gray into the team.
Brentford tried to sign Gray before he joined Spurs last summer and the teenager, or more likely Kevin Danso, could line up in a back-three alongside Cristian Romero (if he is still around) and Micky Van de Ven.
Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro are both suited to playing as wing-backs, which is another plus of Frank using a 3-5-2 formation.
The biggest question would be who partners Solanke upfront, but Son has played through the middle before and a change in position could help him after a mixed season.
Possible line-up: Vicario; Gray, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Kulusevski, Bentancur, Bergvall, Udogie; Solanke, Son
4-3-3
Brentford shifted from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-3-3 system at times last season, and to good effect.
When playing with three forwards, Frank often fielded the pacy trio of Mbeumo, Schade and Wissa.
A similar set up with Spurs would suit someone like Brennan Johnson, another player Frank tried to sign for Brentford.
Johnson is an ideal fit for a wide spot in Frank’s counter-attacking 4-3-3 system because of his pace.
It would also play into the hands of Wilson Odobert, who has only shown glimpses of his potential so far since moving to Spurs.
The biggest debate in such a system would be who lines up in midfield for Tottenham if they are not playing with a conventional No10.
Dejan Kulusevski may find himself as one of two No8s given his athleticism, while Lucas Bergvall could thrive in a similar role after a strong first season.
Possible line-up: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Bergvall; Johnson, Solanke, Odobert.
