Saturday’s clash could prove the defining moment of Thomas Frank’s Tottenham reign.
Losing at home to relegation-battling West Ham—18th in the table and winless in 10 Premier League games—would be almost impossible to justify. With West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo also under heavy pressure, Sky Sports pundit Tim Sherwood has labelled the fixture “El Sackico.”
Yet Frank’s demeanour at Thursday’s press conference suggested his position may be more secure than many assume. Rather than tension, there was confidence. He appeared relaxed, upbeat and defiant, speaking at length and smiling throughout—much like the optimism seen early in the season. The tone hinted that he may have been given reassurance, possibly extending until the end of the campaign, to steady the ship.
That positivity has been fuelled by a busy and encouraging week at the club. Tottenham completed the £34m signing of Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. A day later, they announced John Heitinga as assistant first-team coach and unveiled Carlos Raphael “Rafi” Moersen as director of football operations, a newly created role.
Moersen will work alongside sporting director Johan Lange, not replace Fabio Paratici, who is set to depart at the end of the January window, as Spurs reshape their football structure.
Frank now hopes Saturday brings another shift—this time from the stands. Boos rang out after last weekend’s FA Cup defeat to Aston Villa, Tottenham’s seventh loss in 13 matches and another game without a win in 2026. Supporter unrest has been growing, with criticism aimed at Frank’s defensive approach, some of his public comments, and recent cup mishaps. Protests are reportedly planned before kick-off, though Gallagher’s arrival may soften the mood.
Failure against a struggling London rival could turn the atmosphere inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium hostile. With the Lewis family and CEO Vinai Venkatesham in attendance, visible discontent would be hard to ignore. Frank knows only a convincing, attack-minded win is likely to ease the pressure.
Still, there is sympathy for the manager. Many believe the squad lacks elite quality, with only Micky van de Ven—and perhaps Cristian Romero—considered capable of stepping into Europe’s very top teams. Even so, fans feel the group should be doing better than 14th place. Injuries and absences to key players such as James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke have not helped, while major off-field changes—including Daniel Levy’s surprise departure in September—have added to the instability.
This week signals the start of a new chapter at Tottenham, and Frank may deserve patience as the club undergoes major transition. What he can control is how Spurs play. A more expressive, attacking style could help shift the narrative. But for now, everything comes down to Saturday—a game that feels impossible to lose.
