How does Frank's start compare with Postecoglou's two seasons?

How does Frank's start compare with Postecoglou's two seasons?

A look at Tottenham's offensive and defensive stats so far this season does not paint a good picture for Thomas Frank.

Comparing his side's numbers with Ange Postecoglou - the man who was hounded out of north London because of their top poor performances in last season's top flight - he still gets beaten out by his predecessor, especially offensively.

Perhaps the most eye-watering of all is that Tottenham's 52 shots on target in 16 matches is almost half of those Postecoglou's Spurs managed at the start of both his campaigns.

Only Everton, Sunderland and Wolves have had fewer attempts on target, despite Tottenham strengthening their attack in the summer with the arrivals of Mohamed Kudus, Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani.

Even the positive-looking xG overperformance [expected goals] of +9.8 is not necessarily a positive. It means that Frank's men have scored almost 10 more goals than they might be expected to and is far superior to anything Postecoglou managed in his tenure.

However, while being clinical is obviously a good thing - and actual goal tallies matter far more than expected goals in the grand scheme of things - history tells us that this level of over-performance is not sustainable and will likely even out over time.

Thomas Frank's biggest supporters will take more comfort in looking at the numbers at the opposite end of the pitch - and yet they still suggest that there has been a regression under the former Brentford man.

Goals conceded and shots on target conceded put Frank's side right in the middle of Postecoglou's two seasons and he has kept more clean sheets than Spurs managed.

A look at the expected goals against (xGA) model tells us that Tottenham have conceded around one less goal than they should have.

This figure is much more likely to be sustained than their more stark over-performance in front of goal.

Frank cannot be blamed for five errors leading to goals but only bottom side Wolves have made more. It is an area that needs to be addressed.

It is still early days for Frank, and it is likely we will see more positive attacking numbers when his new-look attack have more time to gel.

Whether he will get that time is another question.

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