Tottenham Hotspur

Adwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham supporters chanted "boring, boring Tottenham" during their side's goalless draw against Brentford last week.

At the weekend, they applauded the Spurs players at half-time against Sunderland before booing them off after dropping more points.

It perfectly summed up Thomas Frank's tenure at Spurs, that has been characterised by a lack of consistency, with Spurs showing flashes of brilliance but only to be overshadowed by their overall struggles - particularly in the final third.

It was more of the same from Tottenham at Bournemouth on Wednesday as they fell to a 3-2 defeat - despite taking the lead through Mathys Tel early and levelling the score at 2-2 through Joao Palhinha with only 12 minutes left.

After the final whistle, Palhinha and defender Micky van de Ven were seen talking to the frustrated travelling fans while Pedro Porro was guided away by goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario after having an argument with a section of the crowd.

Frank would have hoped to escape the south coast with a point when Palhinha scored, having also seen Richarlison hit the woodwork and Van de Ven have a header saved by Djordje Petrovic.

But in the end, they were once again made to pay for their lack of cutting edge - registering just four shots on target in 16 attempts.

Spurs look like a squad in desperate need of investment but with the manager usually the first to be sacrificed, Frank will surely feel the heat.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank, speaking to BBC MOTD: "That's football unfortunately. It's extremely painful to be on the Tottenham side after the game. We put everything into the game, the boys worked really hard, the staff worked hard to come down here and try to get a result.

"We went 1-0 up, conceded two second-phase goals - especially the second one, we have to do much better. Then in the second half, the character and mentality, the focus to stay in the game and keep going against a difficult counter-attacking team, was very pleasing to see.

"I thought we were closer to winning than Bournemouth were."

On the penalty that was awarded to Tottenham and then overturned: "I think it was a 50-50 situation."

On the January transfer window: "We are very much in the market and working very hard to do what we can to improve the squad. January is a tough window and we only want to get players in if they improve the team."

Tottenham's Joao Palhinha, speaking to Sky Sports: "The fans are showing their frustration. We understand that. We are trying to get victories we deserve, in my opinion. It's tough to speak a lot about momentum because when you lose it just sounds like words.

"I just want to say keep supporting because the victories will come. It's frustration, as I said. I felt we were the best team on the pitch. We were the only team on the pitch that wanted to win the game. Football is like that. Tomorrow is another day. We need to keep pushing. We have been working hard to get wins.

"We came here to win. Today and tomorrow, probably the hangover is going to be really tough, but in football we cannot think too much about what happened."

Did you know?

• For the fourth time since the start of 2025, Tottenham scored first in a Premier League game but still trailed at half-time - that is as often as it happened to Spurs between 2010 and 2024.

• Since the start of last season, only Wolves (36) have suffered more Premier League defeats than Tottenham (30 - level with West Ham and Southampton).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Bournemouth's performance

What did you make of Tottenham's display?

Come back on Thursday for a selection of your replies

Antoine Semenyo starts for Bournemouth in what could be his final game for the Cherries, with the winger expected to complete his Manchester City transfer this week.

Andoni Iraola makes two changes to the side that were beaten 3-2 by Arsenal with Eli Junior Kroupi and Lewis Cook coming in as injured Justin Kluivert and David Brooks drop out.

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Truffert, Cook, Senesi, Scott, Evanilson, Tavernier, Jimenez, Kroupi, Hill, Semenyo.

Subs: Forster, Soler, Brooks, Smith, Diakite, Adli, Unal, Milosavljevic, Rees-Dottin.

Mohammed Kudus is out injured for Tottenham but Xavi Simons returns to the starting line-up after a three-match suspension.

It's one of the five changes that Spurs boss Thomas Frank makes as Randal Kolo Muani, Djed Spence, Lucas Bergvall and Joao Palhinha are also back in the starting 11.

Tottenham XI: Vicario, Palhinha, Simons, Tel, Bergvall, Romero, Porro, Spence, Bentancur, Van de Ven, Kolo Muani.

Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Danso, Richarlison, Gray, Odobert, Davies, Scarlett, Williams-Barnett.

There are eight games in the Premier League on Wednesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Bournemouth v Tottenham

• Brentford v Sunderland

• Crystal Palace v Aston Villa

• Everton v Wolves

• Fulham v Chelsea

• Manchester City v Brighton

• Burnley v Manchester United (20:15)

• Newcastle v Leeds (20:15)

Kick-off times 19:30 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Martin Chivers was a potent combination of power, skill and marksmanship, possessing such quality that Tottenham Hotspur manager Nicholson paid a then British record £125,000 to sign him from Southampton in January 1968.

Nicholson already had Jimmy Greaves and Alan Gilzean at his disposal, but felt Chivers was the perfect addition and complement to the subtlety the pair provided - and so it proved as he became the Spurs spearhead.

Chivers was occasionally accused of lacking devil in his play, but the statistics and his successes suggest otherwise as he became a striker defenders feared, forming a formidable partnership with Gilzean.

He was a key figure in an era of success for Spurs, the high point coming when he scored a header and a magnificent 25-yard strike in the first leg of the 1972 Uefa Cup final against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, Nicholson's side eventually winning 3-2 on aggregate over two legs.

He was the player for the big occasion, also scoring twice when Spurs beat Aston Villa 2-0 in the 1971 League Cup final at Wembley. He picked up another winners' medal in the competition two years later.

Chivers was a fixture in Sir Alf Ramsey's England side in the early 70s, winning 24 caps and scoring 13 goals, but his international career was left unfulfilled when they failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, the striker playing in the 1-1 draw with Poland at Wembley in November 1973 that led to their exit.

Read more about Chivers here, who has died at the age of 80

Image source, Getty Images

A Tottenham supporter group says the club "has to be bold" this transfer window as they also ask for more "clarity" on long-term footballing strategy.

Change for Tottenham (CFT), who staged a number of protests last season against then chairman Daniel Levy and the club's board, have issued a statement with January transfer window now open.

Having questioned the club's strategy for buying and selling players previously, the supporters' group called for "proper investment" in strengthening Thomas Frank's squad this month.

"This is a defining window for the club," they said. "After finishing just above the bottom three in the league last year, it was clear that the squad needed serious investment.

"The Lewis Family Trust, Vinai Venkatesham, Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici have told supporters that they were ready to be ambitious and prioritise trophies after Daniel Levy stood down. During the past, we have too often failed to capitalise on the summer or January transfer window, so a change in strategy was welcomed by the fanbase."

In the summer, Spurs brought in eight players for a total spend of more than £170m as well as bringing in new head coach Frank.

However, one of those new signings - Mohammed Kudus - is now injured, while Spurs have been hampered by long-term absences of other key attacking players such as James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke.

"The club has to be bold this window and we are yet to see that," the group added.

"Fans also desperately need to hear more about the long-term footballing strategy.

"We will be planning action if the club fails to deliver again."

Spurs are currently 13th in the Premier League and face Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium on Wednesday night.

Embattled Tottenham boss Thomas Frank takes his side to the south coast with boos from his own supporters still ringing in his ears after the draw with Sunderland.

His side actually started Sunday's game with the kind of attacking verve and endeavour that their fans had been crying out for. But they failed to capitalise on an opening 45 minutes in which they had eight shots, four of which were on target.

Instead, they reverted back to the attack-shy side that has frustrated their fanbase under his management and led to chants of "Boring Boring Tottenham" in their 0-0 draw at Brentford.

Their season's average of just 9.9 shots per league game is the only campaign on record from 1997-98 onwards that they have averaged below 11 per match.

Spurs will again fall back on their strong away form, which can only be surpassed by leaders Arsenal this season. They have kept clean sheets in five of their 10 matches on the road, already exceeding last season's tally of four, and in both of their past two games at Crystal Palace and Brentford.

However, they will try to rectify their terrible record of failing to win any of their past 10 league fixtures played on either a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday (drawn three, lost seven), dating back to January 2024.

One such defeat came at Vitality Stadium last season.

Bournemouth desperate to end their winless run

While not under anything like the same sort of pressure as Frank is, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola will be feeling the heat after their winless run stretched to 11 matches (drawn five, lost six). It is their longest streak without a victory within a single top-flight campaign.

They put in very spirited performances in both the draw with Chelsea and defeat to byArsenal, but were again porous at the back.

They have let in 14 goals in their past five league matches with the form of new recruits, signed after they lost three of their back four and their goalkeeper over the summer, deserting them somewhat.

But anyone watching the Cherries this season cannot claim they are not getting value for money. Their league games have contained a total of 69 goals (31 for and 38 against), which is five more than other top-flight side.

One huge frustration for Iraola is that his side have scored at least twice in eight different league games in which they have failed to go on and win, including each of their past two against Chelsea and Arsenal.

Despite only just passing the halfway point of the season, it is already a new club record and there have only been a total of 11 instances of a team doing so more in Premier League history.

Bournemouth have gone 11 league games without a win but they have been unfortunate not to get over the line in a couple of those matches.

I always think the Cherries have got a goal in them and they showed that when I watched them draw 2-2 with Chelsea last week, then again against Arsenal on Saturday - albeit in a 3-2 defeat.

The Antoine Semenyo situation is fascinating, because we all know he is joining Manchester City this month but, after facing the Gunners, will he get another game for Bournemouth here?

Whether Semenyo plays or not, it is hard to back Tottenham at the moment.

It is also difficult to make a case that Spurs have really improved under Thomas Frank this season.

They are 13th at the moment and, when they were struggling under Ange Postecoglou this time last year, they were a place better off after 20 games and he was getting panned.

For whatever reason, it has just not clicked for them in the final third under Frank and I don't see that changing here.

Bournemouth won this fixture 1-0 last season, and also won 1-0 at Spurs in August. One goal should be enough for them this time, too.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Tottenham are looking at signing a forward in January as the injury suffered by Ghana international Mohammed Kudus, 25, is worse than they initially thought. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Spurs could rival Newcastle United for the signature of Wolves' 25-year-old Norway striker Jorgen Strand Larsen. (ChronicleLive), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Ali Speechly
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

No matter what side of the Thomas Frank debate you sit on, Sunday's performance had something for everyone.

While the first half offered glimmers of hope and indications of what he is trying to build with a squad of mostly average players, the second half confirmed that significant changes are required for the future to look anything other than bleak.

No doubt Frank will be looking nervously over his shoulder at developments in west London and Manchester, but it is our squad which requires an upgrade more than our coaching department.

Granted, things are not clicking for Frank at Spurs yet. It is unclear what his strategy is, particularly regarding creating and scoring goals. Even so, chances were created but could not be finished against Sunderland, and that speaks to a lack of quality players, not coaching style.

The reality is we are sorely missing our most creative and attacking players through injury, and the ones we had brought in to fill the gaps are either absent through suspension, such as Xavi Simons, or simply not good enough, such as Randal Kolo Muani.

Losing Mohammed Kudus to injury in the early stages of the game on Sunday has just added to those woes.

It is more important than ever that the club's owners invest in quality players. We are currently a mid-table team playing mid-table football, yet our aspirations are far higher and so, naturally, tensions arise.

Yes, this is more or less the same squad which won the Europa League, but it is also a team that finished 17th in the Premier League last season.

As much as it hurts to admit it, out of these two results, the trophy is the anomaly.

If we want things to improve, our club must act ambitiously with player recruitment.

Find more from Ali Speechly at Women Of The Lane, external and on Instagram, external

Tottenham have held talks with Santos over a deal for their 19-year-old Brazilian left-back Souza, 19, who is also interesting Newcastle. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium (kick-off 19:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Mohammed Kudus had a scan on Monday so is expected to be unavailable.

• Destiny Udogie "is training and looking better", but Frank could not say for certain whether he will be fit enough for Wednesday's game.

• Frank says Dominic Solanke will be back "in the near future", but after six months sidelined "it will take time" for him to get back to his previous level.

• On Brennan Johnson's £35m move to Crystal Palace: "There was an opportunity to sell him now and give him the opportunity to try something else, and that was the right decision."

• Frank said "it's fair to say we are short of offensive options" so is hopeful to solve that issue in the January transfer window.

• He confirmed the club have appealed against Cristian Romero's red card against Brentford.

• On opponents Bournemouth: "They're a very good team. I know they haven't won as much lately but they are very competitive. The game against Arsenal [on Saturday] was very tricky and they could have got something out of [it]."

• He said the FA Cup "is very important" and the third-round tie against Aston Villa on Saturday is "as important" as Wednesday's Premier League game. Frank added: "If there is rotation, it will be for freshness and energy."

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League match between Tottenham and Sunderland.

Here are some of your comments:

Tottenham fans

Michael: A better performance by Spurs first half, but they became nervous and lost their shape and discipline again when Sunderland had a go second half. That must be so frustrating for any coach. It's the attitude and self discipline that they lack - I don't think a coach can do much about that except get players with a better discipline.

Pete: Disappointing once again. I expected Thomas Frank to make the team structure more robust and hard to beat, but going forward there is no imagination or skill. We can't keep relying on defenders to score our goals. Spurs have become insipid, bland and, dare I say, boring.

Norman: Oh dear, another agony watch. Decent first half but, once again, we could not find the final ball. What has happened to our finishing? Surely Frank is near the end of his reign. Bring back Pochettino and exciting football.

Sunderland fans

Jack: I'd have taken a draw again before kick-off but was disappointed when we went behind to a soft goal. I always have a feeling that Regis le Bris can turn things around and he did as Sunderland lived up to their slogan of Til the End! Great result away from home.

Ken: A great fightback. A good point for Sunderland considering the players looked tired after the Manchester City game. Could have been a lot worse after horrendous defending for the Spurs goal.

Bob: Poor first half. Too many players off the pace. Second half much better and in reality could've won it. Happy with the draw and 30 points reached.

Tottenham sent scouts to watch French winger Maghnes Akliouche, 23, feature for Monaco against Lyon on Saturday. (Teamtalk), external

Spurs have turned their attention to Udinese's French defender Oumar Solet, 25, but face competition from Chelsea and Crystal Palace. (Caught Offside), external

Egypt winger Omar Marmoush, 26, is attracting interest from Tottenham and Aston Villa but wants to stay and fight for his place at Manchester City. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Pundits Shay Given and Gary O'Neil join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Fulham 2-2 Liverpool

• Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland

• Everton 2-4 Brentford

• Newcastle 2-0 Crystal Palace

• Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Spurs were comfortable as they dominated Sunderland in the first half of a largely undistinguished encounter, but they failed to fully capitalise on their superiority.

Ben Davies' goal was a deserved reward, and it looked like Spurs would enjoy the luxury of a rare home victory to ease some of the ill-feeling towards Thomas Frank in the aftermath of the Brentford stalemate.

Instead, their slender lead became a burden as tension increased around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Sunderland sensing the chance to exploit the nerves.

Spurs created opportunities after the break but were wasteful, leaving the door open for Sunderland to record another fine result in their excellent return to the Premier League.

Joao Palhinha's late header flew agonisingly wide for Spurs, leading to more loud jeers at the final whistle, the sound of frustration.