Spurs’ Christmas Wish List: Simons to ignite, a striker signed, and Romero calm to rescue Thomas Frank

Tottenham have stumbled into the festive stretch after a lively start to life under Thomas Frank, and that Europa League triumph back in May already feels a lifetime ago. The Dane succeeded Ange Postecoglou, got Spurs humming early doors, then saw creativity dry up, the back line wobble, and the connection with the stands fray. With a trip to Selhurst Park on Sunday, December 28 to face Crystal Palace, he’ll be hoping Santa’s sack is stuffed with solutions.

Frank’s festive must-haves: a run of results, Romero’s restraint, public backing from the board, Xavi Simons catching fire, and a bona fide No 9 through the door. Deliver those, and this campaign can be salvaged before the New Year hangovers kick in.

A run that changes the mood

Two wins in nine across all competitions is the sort of sequence that squeezes any manager, never mind one still bedding in his ideas. It’s not just the numbers, it’s the bruises: setbacks against Arsenal, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool have dented belief and invited noise. The next six — Palace, Brentford, Sunderland, Bournemouth, Aston Villa in the FA Cup and West Ham — present a chance to reset. Avoid defeats, stack clean sheets, and the temperature around the club drops fast. If you’re judging momentum like the traders at the best betting sites, this is the moment to stop the bleed and turn the corner.

Romero: keep the bite, lose the brain fades

Cristian Romero is the right captain and an elite defender on his day, but the red mist keeps gatecrashing the party. That sending-off at Liverpool — two yellows, one for mouthing off and another for a needless swipe at Ibrahima Konaté — underlined the issue. Frank needs the full-blooded duels and leadership, not the walk-of-shame to the tunnel. Channel the aggression, cut the daft moments, and Spurs instantly look steadier.

Back him, then back off

The summer recruits haven’t exploded yet, but that’s precisely why the board’s support matters now. Give Frank the public vote of confidence and the space to refine his patterns rather than managing for the next result. He was hired for a long-term build; let him build. With time on the grass and clarity off it, those signings can come to life.

Simons has to be the spark

Xavi Simons arrived as the headline act after a late swerve to north London, yet the numbers so far — two goals and three assists in 22 outings — tell a stop-start tale. The red card at Liverpool stalled momentum just as he’d begun to purr, with two goals and an assist in the three matches prior. After suspension, he must become the difference-maker again: receive on the half-turn, commit defenders, and lift the tempo in the final third. If Simons pops, Spurs purr.

Get the No 9 sorted — early

Randal Kolo Muani’s deadline-day loan was a swing; he’s produced two in the Champions League but none in the Premier League. Richarlison remains the most dependable finisher when fit, yet his availability and all-round hold-up work fluctuate, while Dominic Solanke has scarcely been seen due to injuries. A proper centre-forward is priority one in January. Tottenham are exploring a move for a 26-year-old striker — make it swift, make it decisive, and spare everyone the deadline-day drama.

Selhurst, then the springboard

Beat Palace and you start to feel the breeze at your back before Brentford, Sunderland, Bournemouth, Villa (FA Cup) and West Ham. More front-foot intent, more conviction in both boxes, and that strained bond with the supporters repairs itself in a hurry. Do the simple things well, tidy up the discipline, and let Simons and a new No 9 carry the threat. That’s the route from a sticky December to a purposeful New Year for Frank and Tottenham.