Thomas Frank: The Djed Spence Snub That Unmasked Tottenham’s Deeper Problems

Tottenham Hotspur's manager Thomas Frank found himself in a deeply uncomfortable position following his team's dismal 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea. 

The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was thick with frustration and disappointment as the final whistle blew, leading to a chorus of boos from the home supporters. 

Anger spilled over into an awkward post-match encounter where two of Frank's players, Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven, appeared to openly snub their manager during his traditional lap of appreciation.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

The loss to Chelsea was particularly galling for Spurs, who recorded their lowest-ever expected-goals (xG) total in a Premier League game since the metric's inception in 2012, managing a paltry 0.05. 

As Frank made his way around the stadium, attempting to acknowledge the remaining fans, a video captured the moment Spence and Van de Ven seemingly ignored their boss. 

Spence, in particular, was seen waving his arms in apparent disgust as they headed towards the tunnel, providing a stark visual representation of the team's collective frustration.

"The players are of course frustrated. They like to do well, like to win, like to perform well, so I understand that. We can be consistent in good times and bad times – that's why I went around to the fans as I did. It's more fun when we win, I can tell you that,” said Frank after the match as per Daily Mail.

"I understand why you’re asking the question but I'd say that’s one of the small issues. Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence are doing everything they can. Everyone is frustrated. We do things in a different way. I don’t think it's a big problem."

The Tottenham manager was candid about his personal anguish regarding the team's performance. 

"I would say that of course hurt massively. I’ve never been in charge of a team that created that little in one game. Never. That of course I will look into what we can do to make it better,” he added.

"Yes, 100 per cent. We all sense the frustration and the emotions. That’s part of football. It’s extremely painful." The boos ringing out at full-time were a clear indicator of the supporters' discontent, a sentiment echoed by former Premier League goalkeeper Rob Green, who stated on BBC Radio 5 Live, "I don't think he'll have learned anything after that because it was such an abject performance on the ball. They never gave themselves a chance. They never got better. No sustained pressure at home is just not good enough."

Former Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp was even more scathing on Sky Sports, calling it "one of the worst performances I've seen from Tottenham."

 He noted, "That was as easy as it gets. If that was a boxing match I'd have stopped it. They never laid a glove on Chelsea. They made it so easy."

While Tottenham finds itself in the Premier League's top four and unbeaten in the Champions League, recent results and the mood around the club have soured. 

Their home form is a significant concern, with only one win in five home games under Frank, a continuation of a trend from the previous season. 

This poor home record, coupled with defensive errors – only Wolves have made more errors leading to opposition goals – presents a multifaceted challenge for the manager.

Frank acknowledged the need for patience, particularly with a "new front four," and expressed confidence that his team would return to scoring goals. 

"I think every team I've coached has scored a lot of goals. It will happen again in the future here." 

The upcoming fixtures against Copenhagen in the Champions League and Manchester United in the Premier League offer immediate opportunities for redemption and to appease the increasingly restless fanbase.