Why Are Frank Tottenham Struggling at Home? Inside Spurs Growing N17 Troubles

Why Frank’s Tottenham Struggling at Home Has Become the Premier League’s Latest Puzzle

For a manager who walked through the doors at Hotspur Way with excitement and optimism trailing behind him, Thomas Frank is now facing the type of problem that keeps coaches awake at night. Tottenham look organised, hungry and confident away from home — yet somehow the moment they step onto their own pitch in N17, all that verve evaporates.

Sunday’s 4-1 drubbing at home against Arsenal was a painful reminder of Spurs’ fragility. Not only was it one of the most one-sided north London derbies in recent memory, but it also stretched a worrying trend: Tottenham have won just one of their last five Premier League matches. And though their midweek Champions League showing — a chaotic 5-3 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain — showcased their attacking talent, it also underlined how fragile they remain.

Now Spurs return home to face Fulham — a fixture that, for most teams, would offer a sense of comfort. But that’s exactly the problem. That comfort simply doesn’t exist for Frank’s Tottenham.

One of the League’s Best Away Records… and One of Its Worst at Home

It is genuinely puzzling. Spurs boast one of the best away records in the Premier League this season. They’ve looked organised, disciplined, dangerous on the counter and tactically sharp on grounds that traditionally drain confidence rather than inject it.

But at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium? Just one league win — on opening weekend against newly promoted Burnley — is all they have to show for six home matches.

You don’t need to be a statistician to see the contrasts, but the numbers still sting: Tottenham have scored only seven home league goals and have recorded just 18 shots on target in N17 this season. That figure is higher than only one team in the division — Burnley.

Stretch the timeline further and the picture gets uglier. Spurs have won just three of their past 20 league games at home, their worst run over such a span in 31 years. For a club with a stadium as grand, modern, and intimidating as Tottenham’s, that record is jaw-dropping.

And it is miles away from the electric atmosphere of White Hart Lane’s unbeaten 2016–17 swansong, where Spurs banked 53 points from a possible 57. This is no fortress right now. It’s more like a stage where confidence evaporates and pressure swells.

So the question is simple: why?

Creativity Crisis at Home: Spurs Look Blunt Under Their Own Lights

Most criticisms of Tottenham’s home performances circle back to the same issue: a lack of creativity.

Danny Murphy, speaking to BBC Sport, put it bluntly.

“When you look at the make-up of their team, the midfield isn’t particularly creative… none of their frontline are playing with confidence. They look lightweight.”

And when you dig into the data, the issue becomes clearer. Spurs have completed just four throughballs all season — the joint second-worst total in the league. Arsenal, by contrast, sit at 43.

Without Maddison, without Kulusevski, without Solanke — or even players operating at full sharpness — Tottenham’s attack at home looks predictable. There’s no spark, no unpredictability, no one threading that incisive pass to change the tempo.

Murphy highlighted how that deficiency becomes more pronounced at home:

“Away from home, you don’t have the expectation of 60,000 fans. You can play at your own pace. You can counter, sit in, be pragmatic. At home you need to go and win the game. Tottenham haven’t shown that intent.”

And he’s right. Spurs often look cautious and almost apologetic in possession at home. Instead of grabbing a match by the throat, they poke at it, hoping a moment of magic appears rather than forcing one.

It’s not purely tactical — confidence plays a massive role. And right now, Spurs look fearful in front of their own fans.

Carrick’s View: Injuries, Pressure, and Lack of Rhythm

Michael Carrick, another former Spurs midfielder, echoed the notion that Tottenham’s struggles aren’t confined to one area.

“It’s a whole team thing,” he said. “But missing Kulusevski, Maddison, Solanke… that’s going to make a dent.”

Indeed, losing three of your most creative players would destabilize any Premier League side. But the issue isn’t simply personnel. It’s rhythm. It’s predictability. It’s not knowing whether Frank will field a 10 behind the striker, or roll with a flat midfield three, or switch to a more robust double pivot.

That lack of consistency has seeped into their attacking patterns. Spurs aren’t fluid. They aren’t dynamic. They don’t create overloads. And at home — where opponents often sit deep — that predictability becomes glaringly obvious.

Crowd Anxiety: A Silent Opponent Spurs Can’t Seem to Beat

You can’t talk about Tottenham’s home form without addressing the elephant in the room: the mood in the stands. And frankly, it hasn’t been friendly.

Booing has become common. Groans ripple around the stadium whenever a pass goes astray or an attack fizzles out. And that tension feeds straight into the players.

Murphy summarised it perfectly:

“The anxiety of the crowd is transmitted onto the pitch… players start playing safer because they don’t want to be the one who gets the groan when they give the ball away.”

It’s a vicious cycle: players play safe → fans grow frustrated → players grow tighter → fans get louder → confidence collapses.

Spurs need a win at home not for points, but for emotional release. One or two positive results could shift everything — but until that moment arrives, the tension lingers.

Not All Doom and Gloom: Why Frank Still Deserves Patience

Despite the storm clouds around N17, both Murphy and Carrick remain optimistic that Tottenham will eventually iron out their issues.

Carrick was quick to remind everyone that Thomas Frank is still early in his project.

“He’s trying to change things. He prioritised defending better. As time goes on, they’ll improve.”

Murphy agreed, insisting that the foundations are solid.

“There’s been enough improvement overall for fans to have hope. They just need their best team back. A couple of wins can change the whole mood.”

And that’s the key. Tottenham aren’t broken. They’re bruised. They’re missing key players. They’re navigating a new manager’s tactical demands. And they’re fighting the psychological weight of a tough crowd and an unforgiving fixture list.

But with the quality they have coming back, Frank’s clarity of vision, and the promising signs shown away from home, there is every reason to believe the tide can turn.

Right now, it’s short-term pain for what Tottenham hope will be long-term gain.

And perhaps, just perhaps, a win against Fulham might finally be the moment the stadium begins to believe again.