The starting eleven named by Thomas Frank against Aston Villa was largely as expected, with Xavi Simons operating in the number ten role after his impressive display against Leeds. The Danish manager retained the experienced midfield duo of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha, known for their defensive solidity, but the decision did not pay off as Tottenham once again struggled to create chances at home.<\/p>\n
However, it was the inclusion and positioning of a 20-year-old that drew surprise from two pundits. Thomas Frank has been told he is playing Mathys Tel out of position at Tottenham. The Frenchman led the line for Spurs after scoring against Leeds before the international break, but he endured a frustrating outing and missed a clear opportunity, failing to connect with a volley from a clever set-piece routine.<\/p>\n
Gary Lineker and Micah Richards both questioned the decision, insisting Tel is better suited to playing on the left wing than as a central striker. Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker said: \u201cI preferred him, perhaps, on the left-hand side when I\u2019m seeing him play there. But yeah, he wasn\u2019t making the natural runs of a striker that understands how to beat an offside trap, which is not that difficult when a team plays that high line with no pressure on the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richards agreed, adding: \u201cYeah, exactly that. I echo your thoughts as well. I like him better off the left.\u201d<\/p>\n
Frank has previously admitted that Tel\u2019s best position is on the left flank, though his recent selection may have been influenced by Richarlison\u2019s poor form and the ongoing fitness issues of Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke.<\/p>\n
Despite that, Tel\u2019s greatest strength lies in his finishing ability, which perhaps explains why Frank prefers to deploy him closer to goal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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