“Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven should be dropped for snubbing Thomas Frank after Tottenham Hotspur’s latest defeat.”
Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven should be dropped from the Tottenham Hotspur squad for their actions following the club’s recent home defeat to London rivals Chelsea, according to talkSPORT reporting. The incident, which occurred at full-time on Saturday, saw the duo appear to snub a handshake from manager Thomas Frank as he attempted to direct them towards the home supporters.
The players were observed heading down the tunnel instead of applauding the crowd. Frank, who took over as Ange Postecoglou’s successor in the summer, played down the incident, explaining: “All the players are of course frustrated. They would like to do well, they would like to win, they would like to perform well, so I understand that.”
However, talkSPORT’s Hugh Woozencroft, Micky Gray, and Perry Groves collectively agreed the actions were “disrespectful” and required firm action. Woozencroft stated, “Honestly, for me, if I was the manager, they wouldn’t be starting, they wouldn’t be playing midweek or at the weekend against Manchester United.”
Groves urged Frank to address the “lack of respect” privately with the players, advising: “So Thomas Frank… he’s got to bring in Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven individually… and say to them, ‘if I ask you to do something, you don’t question me. You just do it.'” Gray admitted that while action is necessary, the players’ importance leaves Frank with a dilemma, though he needs to “have a stern word with them.” Spurs are back in action against Copenhagen on Tuesday night.