Football Daily Monday Night Club with Mark Chapman
Aug 25, 2025
Mark Chapman welcomes an impressive panel: Steph Houghton, former captain of England Women; Theo Walcott, ex-Arsenal and England forward; esteemed correspondent Rory Smith; and Rob Green, former England goalkeeper. They dissect Tottenham's tactical resurgence and the emotional intelligence behind their gameplay. Rob defends young goalkeeper James Trafford and discusses set-piece challenges. Excitement builds for Arsenal's rising star Max Dowman, and the team shares their admiration for Jack Grealish's recent renaissance at Manchester City.
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Frank's Clear Principles Transformed Spurs
- Thomas Frank rapidly improved Tottenham by enforcing clarity, intensity and adaptable principles rather than a fixed formation.
- That emotional intelligence and focus on 1v1 battles turned Spurs into a more competitive, direct and energetic side.
Directness Backed By Tactical Patterns
- Tottenham's plan versus City combined pressure down the line with quick flips into space to exploit the high line.
- Players like Kudus and Paulinho provided both energy and tactical impact to make the system work.
Move The Ball To Avoid Pressure
- Goalkeepers must judge angles and keep the ball moving rather than stopping it under pressure.
- Anticipate opposing presses and move the ball across the body to preserve passing options and avoid punishable turnovers.