Thomas Frank reveals Brentford planned a high press vs Spurs - execution fell short

Thomas Frank confirmed post-game that Brentford came to press high at Tottenham rather than sit in a low block. The plan sounded bold, but the execution never matched the intent. On the pitch, rotations looked muddled, distances stretched, and the on-ball structure lacked support lines to sustain pressure. That disconnect between staff instructions and player decisions shaped the match. Fans questioned who was meant to jump from a back three, why outlets were missing, and why Spurs progressed too easily. As a former pro, I’ve seen this before: the idea is right, the roles aren’t clear, and good teams punish hesitation.

Post-match, Thomas Frank outlined that Brentford’s game plan at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was to be aggressive and press high. The match featured long spells where Brentford’s front line hesitated on triggers, allowing Tottenham to build calmly. With a back three starting shape and wingbacks pinned, the away side struggled to connect the first and second lines, which led to stretched transitions and limited control of territory. The talking point stemmed from Frank’s explanation that intention and execution diverged on the night.

'We tried to be aggressive to come here and press high.' Thomas Frank post-game. I knew it. Didn't see anybody else say this… everybody simply thought Frank wanted to come and defend low all game. Not the case. There was a disconnect between the coaching staff and players.

@EBL2017

Impact Analysis

I’ve been in dressing rooms where the plan is crisp on the whiteboard but foggy under stadium lights. Brentford’s choice to start high against a Spurs side that invites pressure needed three things: clear pressing references, compact distances, and immediate on-ball connections after the first duel. The back three complicates the first point. If your outside center back jumps to the fullback or the No. 8, your wingback must fold in and the pivot has to be ready to screen the lane to the striker. Miss one step and you gift the half space.

Spurs under Ange want you to bite, then play through and run at your back line. That’s why the first two passes are everything. Brentford’s front line often pressed on different cues - one went on the center back, the other held for the pivot - so Tottenham split pressure and carried out. On the ball, Brentford needed cleaner third-man patterns from the wingback into the near 8, then bounce to the opposite side. Too often the first pass stuck, and the wingback had no inside support. You can press high only if your possession after recovery relieves the next wave.

The larger impact is confidence. When players feel the structure isn’t there, they naturally drop five meters. That kills the original idea and creates a mid-block that isn’t rehearsed. The staff will see the tape and know it wasn’t about bravery - it was about synchronization. Get the distances right and Brentford can still be a nasty pressing side, but the rehearsal detail has to go up a level.

Reaction

The fan split was predictable. Some asked the simple question: where was the on-ball structure after the first win? Without outlets, the press becomes a sprint with no payoff. Others argued the players didn’t buy into parts of the plan - the set pieces and long throws chatter popped up again - hinting at a vibe issue more than a tactical one. A few defended the squad, pointing to the confusion a back three creates when identifying the extra man in Tottenham’s buildup. If the reference isn’t crystal clear - center back or pivot - you arrive late and look passive.

There was the usual North London needle too. One sarcastic comment drifted into a joke about Eberechi Eze running riot against Spurs, pure banter rather than a read on this match. Another tangent flagged Mikel Arteta’s praise for Piero Hincapie, which Arsenal fans happily spun as a sign of growing quality arms race at the top. Through it all, the core sentiment stayed the same: the plan to press high was brave, but the choreography in the middle third wasn’t there, and supporters on both sides saw the gaps in real time.

Social reactions

I listened to this but it’s hard to blame the players. With 3 centre backs i struggled to identify who they were expected to press and the players probably felt the same. It couldn’t have been any worse than what was produced but still, players will protect themselves when

Tactx (@Tactx_)

Its funny how spurs fans look at what arteta has done with this team and the quality they add every year and think we should go to their turf and beat them. Quality will throw game plan away

Emmanuel Ayeh (@eayeh49)

When the players dont get/follow the coaches Instructions that’s game over

Arsenal Gunny (@ArsenalGunny)

Prediction

Short term, Brentford double down on clarity. Expect staff to lock in pressing references: nearest forward jumps to ball-side center back, ball-far forward screens the pivot, wingback steps on timing, and the pivot sits ready to cut the return. If that timing sticks, Brentford can keep the high start without giving Spurs-like sides easy exits. On the ball, I’d expect more pre-set third-man runs and a demand that the weak-side wingback arrives early to form a true back four in rest defense. That gives the front line freedom to commit without fearing the counter.

Medium term, personnel choices matter. A more press-aggressive No. 8 who can arrive on the blindside of the pivot would add bite. At right center back, a passer comfortable breaking the first line would reduce the temptation to go long under mild pressure. Tottenham will anticipate this and try to drag the near 8 away with decoy movements from the 10, forcing longer distances again. If Brentford nail the spacing, results stabilize and the narrative shifts from disconnect to identity. Miss those details, and the team will quietly slide back to a conservative mid-block to protect results.

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Conclusion

I’ve played in teams that tried to reinvent their pressure game in one week. It rarely lands without sharp roles. Frank’s message was honest: the idea was to go after Spurs. The tape will show a team caught between intentions - half-pressing up top and half-protecting behind. Fixing that is more meetings than speeches. You set the triggers, repeat them at training pace, then go faster, then faster again. Players stop thinking and start trusting the distances.

Brentford shouldn’t bin the plan. They should refine it. Keep the high start, add cleaner on-ball exits, and build a stronger rest-defense shell. Do that and the same players look twice as brave with half the running. The disconnect wasn’t courage - it was choreography. Get the steps right and this becomes a foundation, not a one-off regret.