Lilywhite Woman

Author: lilywhite

Talking Frankly [Updated]

[Updated 24 January]

It’s been another… week at Tottenham Hotspur, ending with a pretty abysmal 2-2 against Burnley at Turf Moor. It was Christian Romero to the rescue once again, but is that enough to save Thomas Frank’s job for another round of fixtures?

Probably.

Should it?

No.

The 2-0 Champions League win in the week, showed a decent level of performance. Especially in the first half. However, not beating Burnley at home is unacceptable. It reiterates many of the points below.

Original piece:

I really wanted Thomas Frank to be the Spurs manager and was keen to see him appointed not just this summer, but a couple of years previously when Ange Postecoglou got the job. I liked him at Brentford and always thought he came over pretty well in the media.

It’s quite clear now that he cannot continue in the role.

The 1-2 defeat against West Ham is far below what is acceptable. The actual performance was even worse. This all would have been bad enough on it’s own. In the broader context of the season, it is the final straw. There are rows of empty seats every game and the players seem to be clueless.

Per the Independent‘s Miguel Delaney, discussions are ongoing. But the fans have gone. The players have gone. It’s over.

Thomas Frank Early Warning Signs

Let’s start at the beginning, with the Super Cup vs PSG. Tottenham got 2-0 up in that game and were playing very well, before being pegged back and losing on penalties. We were pegged back because Frank allowed the team to get deeper and deeper, encouraging evermore pressure. It was never going to work, and PSG inevitably equalised before winning on penalties.

I was pretty gutted after that. It was possibly a once in a lifetime chance to win that bit of silverware. Doing so would have felt very special indeed. However, I accepted that we’d been a bit unlucky against a top side.

The alarm bells probably should have been ringing even after that first game, but a few good subsequent results (Burnley, Man City etc…) allowed us to move on. Since then, there have been too many diablical results and performances. Wolves (H), Bodo Glimt (A), Chelsea (H), Arsenal (A), Fulham (H), Nottingham Forest (A)…

Game Over

West Ham are poor and Thomas Frank’s Tottenham were on top for large parts of this game. They ended up with 62% of possession, having 21 shots, six of which were on target. The reality, though, was that Alphonse Areola was hardly having to exert himself to keep the Hammers in the game. There seemed to be almost no real attacking plan from Spurs. At one moment, Spurs had the ball in possession and were trying to play out from the back as Frank pointed needlessly towards their opponent’s goal.

We all know about the infamous xG numbers. The data from Twelve Football’s Earpiece tools highlights just how badly Spurs have struggled going forward. They have been below the average in the league for almost the entire season.

The defence has kept the show on the road for most of this campaign. For a long time, it was better than under Postecoglou. (It could hardly have been worse.) There were clean sheets and everything! Now, as this data from Twelve Football’s Earpiece tool makes clear, that is trending in the wrong direction too.

As is often the case, there are moments of clarity in football. Mine came early in the game today. West Ham had just gone 0-1 up and Ben Davies was receiving extensive treatment before being stretchered off. You might think a manager would take the opportunity to gather his players and sort things out. Frank was just standing in his technical area while the players pottered around the centre circle.

I don’t know what the answer is. But, regrettably, I know it isn’t Thomas Frank.

January 24, 2026
EXCLUSIVE: Why Spurs vs Leicester in the FA Cup Was Not Free to View

Spurs Women romped through to the next round of the FA Cup last weekend, beating Leicester 3-0. However, disappointingly for those who could not attend, it was not selected by TNT Sports for broadcast. The company showed four games on fourth round weekend, a big step forward in coverage of the competition.

Having not been selected, Tottenham were allowed to show their match on the club’s streaming service SPURSPLAY. However, the arrangement meant they had to put this coverage behind the paywall.

SPURSPLAY contains paywalled and non-paywalled content. Men’s Premier League 2 games are shown live on the service. Women’s League Cup games were broadcast there too. That Sunday’s game also required a paid subscription frustrated many fans, including me. It seemed a good opportunity to show the contest for free, potentially attracting those who do not usually watch the women’s side.

Of course, the club could argue that requiring a subscription helps generate revenue. (A subscription is £45, or £35 with a season ticket.) I am unconvinced as to how many people would sign-up as a result of hitting the paywall for this particular match. It seems more beneficial in the medium to long-term to make it free to watch and try and bring in new fans. However, I accept that the case about revenue can be made.

Whatever side of the argument you take, my understanding is that Spurs were required to make this a subscriber-only event as part of the deal with the FA that allowed them to show the game.

Extended highlights are available, for free, here.

January 22, 2026
Martha Thomas and Kit Graham Leave on Loan

Anna Csiki has returned from her loan at West Ham

A flurry of incomings have been followed by some outgoings at Tottenham Hotspur Women. Kit Graham and Martha Thomas have both left on loan. They follow Ashleigh Neville, who left Hotspur Way permanently, joining Leicester.

Kit Graham has joined Ipswich Town on loan for the rest of the season. Graham came to Spurs from Charlton Athletic in 2019, becoming a member of the club’s first ever WSL squad. In total, she has made 91 appearances and scored 11 times. This includes appearing in all five games in 2024 FA Cup run that ended with her coming on as a second half sub at Wembley. Sadly, her time in North London has been scuppered by terrible injuries.

Martha Thomas, meanwhile, joined Liverpool on loan last week. She made a strong start after joining from Man Utd in 2023, scoring 10 goals in the opening season. Famously, she scored the goal that gave Spurs their first ever win in the North London Derby. She also headed in the goal that sent Spurs to that FA Cup final. However, she has been struggling for goals, scoring just 13 times in 66 appearances. Thomas scored on her debut for the Reds against London Bees.

Both this loan moves could, and should, help the players get their careers back on track. Elsewhere, Anna Csiki returned from her loan at West Ham today. She’s played 10 times for the Hammers, scoring in the team’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool last month.

January 22, 2026
What Does Signe Gaupset Bring to Spurs?

The first thing Signe Gaupset did in Spurs’ 1-0 win over Leicester City last weekend was make a bursting forward run. She followed that up by passing through an opponents legs. But the time she was fully in the game it was clear that Tottenham had signed a young star in the making.

Data from Twelve Football’s Earpiece outlines her attacking credentials. She is a highly involved midfielder who attacks the box and provides for teammates with high-quality passing.

The 20-year-old Norweigian midfielder has already played a full season for Brann in 2025. She clocked 2108 minutes in 26 matches, starting 25 of them. She netted 15 goals and provided 10 assists. It is exactly the attacking cutting edge her new team has been lacking.

Despite her attacking credentials, Gaupset is not a poacher. However, she is clearly going to be an integral part of driving her new team forward. This may help provide the likes of Bethany England and Tinka Tandberg with more chances. Too often they have had to feed off scraps, or pull of the sublime/ridiculous. (Yes, we’re still thinking of that halfway line Tandberg worldie.)

Martin Ho is clearly excited about his new arrival. Following her debut, the Spurs manager said Gaupset “was probably at 30, 40 percent today… I think once you see Signe at full tilt, you’ll see a totally different player but she showed again today, for the fans especially and for the club, what they’ve invested in and I think she’ll have many more big days here.”

Apparently Gaupset was not happy with her on performance. That could be ominous for opponents.

January 16, 2026
Ashleigh Neville Leaves Spurs For Leicester City

Ashleigh Neville playing for Spurs in the recent North London Derby against Arsenal

Keith Richards. Cockroaches. Ashleigh Neville playing for Spurs. Some things just feel like they will never come to an end. Well, today one of them has. The full-back has officially joined Leicester City, ending more than eight years in north London.

In footballing terms, this is probably the right decision for all concerned. Spurs are looking to move forward and progress as a team. Neville will clearly want to play as much as possible in the latter years of her career. However, it is a hugely emotional moment. Neville is perhaps the embodiment of Tottenham’s rise up to the top tier of English women’s football, not least because it was her last gasp clearance that helped Tottenham get a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa and secure promotion back in 2019.

Commenting on Ashleigh Neville’s departure, Andy Rogers, Managing Director of Tottenham Hotspur Women, said: “Ash’s contribution to the Club has been immense. She has been influential on our journey to establishing ourselves as a Women’s Super League team, and she departs as an undisputed Club legend.”

Rogers described Neville, rightly, as “a true pioneer of the Women’s game on and off the pitch”. He added: “Ash has always shown love and care to her teammates, staff, and our supporters. From helping us break into the top flight, to representing us at Wembley Stadium in our first-ever FA Cup Final, we are forever grateful to Ash and wish her all the best for the future. Forever a member of the Spurs family.”

Ashleigh Neville Working for Spurs on and Off the Pitch

Neville has been a huge support after Spurt LGBTQ+ supporters group, Proud Lilywhites. On Instagram, the group said: “From joining us on a lockdown Zoom quiz on her birthday to proudly posing with her own Proud Lilywhites flag, Ash consistently shows up for our community. Those moments matter. They make people feel welcome, valued and part of Spurs. We’re going to miss her hugely, not just for what she gives on the pitch, but for the presence, generosity and care she brings off it too. We’ll miss you in Lilywhite, Ash. Thank you for everything.”

The club have put out a video, saying goodbye. Tissues at the ready:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tottenham Hotspur Women (@spurswomen)

Ashleigh Neville will not be away from Tottenham long. Leicester travel to Brisbane road on Sunday. I understand a goodbye is being planned for after the final whistle. She can expect a very affectionate reaction from the fans.

January 8, 2026
Spurs Get Busy in Transfer Market With Four Major Signings
It’s been a busy few days at Spurs, at least on the women’s side. The club have announced four new signings. All of them look to be players that not only bulk out the squad, but immediately improve the first team. The developments indicate both a desire from the new leadership, headed by CEO Vinai Venkatesham, to grow the women’s team. It also suggests confidence in manager Martin Ho, after a pretty successful start to the season.

New Signings For Spurs Women

The new signings are:
Hanna Wijk – 22, defender, from BK Hacken

Matilda Nilden- 21, winger, from BK Hacken

Maika Hamano (loan) – 21, forward, from Chelsea

Julie Blakstad – 24, defender, free agent

They join Signe Gaupset in arriving at Hotspur Way this month. It is noticeable that these are young players. Ho is clearly keen to develop talent and rely on existing experience from the likes of skipper Bethany England, Molly Bartrip and Drew Spence. Indeed, Spence signed a new long-term contract back in early December.

Ho described Wijk as “a modern, athletic full-back,” while Nilden “is an exciting attacking player with the ability to operate as a winger on both sides”. Yes, she is Amanda’s sister. Hamano “is a technically gifted and intelligent attacking player,” according to the head coach. Blakstad “was a clear priority for us,” commented Ho. “Despite strong competition from a number of top clubs in England and across Europe, Julie chose Tottenham Hotspur as the best environment to continue her development.”

Ashleigh Neville Set to Depart
It seems like Ashleigh Neville will be leaving Spurs. The Guardian‘s Tom Garry reported that the long-serving full-back is set to Leicester. Ironically, the Foxes are heading to Brisbane Road this weekend, as the WSL gets back underway. The two sides also meet in an upcoming FA Cup clash. It should give the fans a chance to say goodbye to a cult hero.
January 5, 2026
Spurs Get Busy in Transfer Market With Four Major Signings
It’s been a busy few days at Spurs, at least on the women’s side. The club have announced four new signings. All of them look to be players that not only bulk out the squad, but immediately improve the first team. The developments indicate both a desire from the new leadership, headed by CEO Vinai Venkatesham, to grow the women’s team. It also suggests confidence in manager Martin Ho, after a pretty successful start to the season.

New Signings For Spurs Women

The new signings are:
Hanna Wijk – 22, defender, from BK Hacken

Matilda Nilden- 21, winger, from BK Hacken

Maika Hamano (loan) – 21, forward, from Chelsea

Julie Blakstad – 24, defender, free agent

They join Signe Gaupset in arriving at Hotspur Way this month. It is noticeable that these are young players. Ho is clearly keen to develop talent and rely on existing experience from the likes of skipper Bethany England, Molly Bartrip and Drew Spence. Indeed, Spence signed a new long-term contract back in early December.

Ho described Wijk as “a modern, athletic full-back,” while Nilden “is an exciting attacking player with the ability to operate as a winger on both sides”. Yes, she is Amanda’s sister. Hamano “is a technically gifted and intelligent attacking player,” according to the head coach. Blakstad “was a clear priority for us,” commented Ho. “Despite strong competition from a number of top clubs in England and across Europe, Julie chose Tottenham Hotspur as the best environment to continue her development.”

Ashleigh Neville Set to Depart
It seems like Ashleigh Neville will be leaving Spurs. The Guardian‘s Tom Garry reported that the long-serving full-back is set to Leicester. Ironically, the Foxes are heading to Brisbane Road this weekend, as the WSL gets back underway. The two sides also meet in an upcoming FA Cup clash. It should give the fans a chance to say goodbye to a cult hero.
January 5, 2026
Ho Ho Ho: Assessing The First Half of the Season Under Martin

It was clear in the summer that Spurs needed to move on from Robert Vilahamn. The 2024/25 season had been little short of a disaster. Tottenham only survived in the WSL thanks to the dire state of Crystal Palace. Such a shambles could not be repeated.

The question then, was not whether to reset things, but how. I confess I knew nothing of Martin Ho before he turned up at Hotspur Way, but it just a few short months he has revamped and revitalised a group of players that looked out on their feet. From the ground-out victory against West Ham and impressive away win against Everton to start the season, to the battling recent draw against Arsenal, each performance has shown us something different about the team’s development. The mood has changed and it’s clear the players are willing to give it all for the Liverpudlian. That last gasp win against Aston Villa would never have happened last season. (How many games have we said that after?)

Hold Shines, but Attacking Concerns Remain

The standout player so far has been Olivia Holdt. She has found new levels and everything good Spurs do going forward flows through her. This chart, generated using Earpiece from TwelveFootball, shows that clearly:

In Tinka Tandberg and Beth England, the team has two strikers who can both hold the ball and finish. However, it is also in attack that thing are slightly lack.

Quality, no Quanity, of Chances:

There has not been an uptick in attacking performance from last season:

Defensively things have not changed that much either:

So where have things improved? It is, in no small part, about the quality of chances. The data show that Tottenham Hotspur women are now creating 2.27 high opportunity shots per game in the WSL. With Tandberg, Holdt and England around, that can lead to goals. Last season, the team was struggling to turn possession into shots.

Collapse Against Man Utd

Which brings us to last weekend. In many ways, the visit to Man Utd typified both the good and bad of the first half of this season for Spurs. They took the chances they had, with two exceptional headers and a good hit from Martha Thomas(!!!). Once the first Man Utd goal went in, they didn’t have the defensive resilience, or the the resources off the bench, to hold back the tide.

It’s hugely frustrating. Such a win would have been a real statement. Perhaps Spurs will knock Man Utd out of the League Cup on Sunday, but a WSL win would have really demonstrated progress. It’s understandable that after getting hammered by Man City there has been a focus on defensive against “the big four”. However, in future, Ho will have to be a little braver and push his players forwards if they are going to get such a win.

Overall, it’s been a better start to the season than anyone who follows Spurs might have imagined. The mood around the team has totally changed. Martin Ho and his players can genuinely be proud of what they have done so far. January reinforcements are both expected, and needed, if things are going to kick on.

December 19, 2025
Preview: Man Utd vs Tottenham Women in the WSL – Sunday, 14 December, 2025

Spurs have made huge progress under Martin Ho, but they still lack that statement win. A victory over one of the “Big Four”. Can they change that this weekend?

Spurs were not fantastic last time out against Aston Villa, but that 95th minute Olivia Holdt winner will give them a huge confidence boost going into the game. Ho described it as “huge”. He added that “when you’re not at your best and you can win games, I think it’s the signs of a good team in the making.”

The Dane finished after a wonderful reverse pass by Drew Spence, who this week signed a new contact with the club. Ho regards the Jamaican international as one key leaders in his squad. Spence and captain Bethany England will certainly have to stand up if their team is going to get anything at the Leigh Sports Village Stadium.

The manager is clearly going into the game with a positive attitude: “If we put in a big performance, and we perform to the levels I know we can, with and without the ball, I believe we can be a match for anyone, and we’ve shown that in large spells now.”

Interestingly he said “that we go into this game with a totally different mentality in terms of how we’ve been in the previous game against Arsenal just recently.” This perhaps suggest a bit more attacking intent. However, Ho was clear that “I’m under no illusion that it’s big task in terms of when we play these teams”.

Spurs will have to get this win, and a lot of others, without Jessica Naz. The England winger has cruelly got the second ACL injury of her career and will not be back for some time. “She’s doing okay,” said Ho. He conceded that Naz “will be a big loss in terms of in and out of possession”. Molly Bartrip’s return to the heart of the Tottenham defence is timely though. However well they have been playing without her, it’s yet another senior player back in the mix.

Spurs proved recently against Arsenal that they can grind it out against the top teams. It’s been a remarkable turnaround since that early-season shambles against Man City. However, getting over the line is going to require a real creative spark. Maybe a bit of magic from the bench. I cannot quite see where that is going to come from. But Spurs barely had a sight of Arsenal’s goal in that famous derby almost exactly two years ago and, in Holdt, they have a special player who provide those standout out moments.

Man Utd vs Spurs in the WSL kicks off at 2.30pm GMT/11.30am ET on Sunday, 14th December. It is available to watch for FREE on BBC Two/iPlayer in the UK, and is on ESPN Select/Fubo in the US. If you’re away, you can still access your usual services by using a VPN. I use NordVPN.You can currently get up to 74% off with their holiday deal.

December 12, 2025
Preview: Tottenham vs Aston Villa Women in the WSL – Sunday, 7 December, 2025, team news

Spurs Women get back into action on Sunday, 7 December, 2025, following the international break. Those trips abroad have taken their toll on some. Charlie Grant, Olga Ahtinen and Cathinka Tandberg picked up injuries and will not feature again before Christmas. All three have contributed this season, but the lost of Tandberg will particularly hurt, given how she has improved the Spurs attack.

Spurs boss Martin Ho said he and his players are “under no illusions” about this weekend’s opponents. “They’re a wonderful team,” he said, noting the results Aston Villa have picked up against Arsenal and Man Utd. “They don’t concede many chances” added Ho, who said his team needs to be “ruthless” going forward. Villa have only netted nine times so far this season, but only conceded 10 times. Chances will not be easy to come by on Sunday. They cannot be wasted.

However, Ho is just as focussed, if not more so, at making sure his side is solid at the back. “I pride myself a lot on art of maybe defending,” he said. This has “maybe got lost within all the fancy side of football at the moment.” And working on this art has paid some dividends. Spurs head into this round of matches on level points with North London rivals Arsenal, against who they picked up a gutsy 0-0 draw last time out in the league.

Creativity has been a problem though. Jess Naz and Matilda Vinberg really need to contribute more from the wing. Bethany England and Tandberg linked well together earlier in the season, but more recently only one has featured at any one time. With Tandberg out for a number of weeks, there will be a lot of pressure on England to score the goals her side need.

Olivia Holdt, of course, may be the answer. She has been Spurs’ standout player during the first half of the campaign, linking with Tandberg, England and anyone else who can actually keep up with her. The Dane’s creativity is crucial, and could be the answer to unpicking the lock on Sunday.

These two sides met in September in the Subway Cup. Spurs got the bonus point, winning the penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw. A goalless encounter suits neither team this time around and would undo a lot of the good work Tottenham did against Arsenal. With just a couple of games to go before the winter break, TottenhamHotspur women cannot afford to spurn opportunities to pick up points at home.

Team News

Tottenham: Kop, Bartrip, Nilden, Naz, England, Holdt, Vinberg, Hunt, Spence, Summanen, Neville.

Aston Villa: D’Angelo, Maritz, Patten, Deslandes, Grant, Kendall, Taylor, Maltby, Daly, Salmon, Hanson.

Tottenham vs Aston Villa Women in the WSL kicks-off at 12pm on Sunday, 7th December, 2025. The game is available to watch on Sky Sports+ and for FREE on YouTube. If you’re away, you can still access your usual services by using a VPN. I use NordVPN. You can currently get up to 74% off with their Cyber Monday deal.

December 5, 2025