Pape Matar Sarr struggles in deep midfield role in Tottenham loss, but Thomas Frank should have seen this coming

Tottenham Hotspur crashed out of the League Cup with a whimper, losing 2-0 to Newcastle United.

Spurs were outrun and outplayed by the reigning champions, leaving Thomas Frank’s side to rue a missed opportunity to make a mark in cup competition.

Without Joao Palhinha in the engine room, Tottenham lacked dominance in the middle and struggled to come to grips with the game.

Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr were forced to operate in a double pivot for Spurs. The latter did not particularly cover himself in glory with his performance.

Sarr struggled, unsurprisingly playing deeper in midfield. He is much better in advanced positions, and it showed yesterday.

Sarr failed to provide the control Tottenham needed in the middle, allowing Newcastle to dominate and kill the tie.

Football London gave Sarr a 5/10 rating, saying, “Ghosted through large spells of the match.

“Did force brilliant save from Aaron Ramsdale on hour mark. Has craved a starting berth but failed to make an impression.”

Frank should have known that Sarr does not work in a pivot

Frank should have known that playing Sarr in the pivot, against this Newcastle side that overwhelms the middle, was a recipe for disaster.

The young Senegalese midfielder has the energy and drive to influence games, but his qualities shine far brighter in a more attacking role.

As the forward midfielder, he can press, create, and burst forward rather than sit deep and dictate play.

Asking him to anchor the midfield stripped Spurs of their natural rhythm and left them vulnerable in transition, which Newcastle ruthlessly exploited.

Frank must take note that Sarr’s best work comes when he’s closer to the final third, not bogged down by defensive duties.

Tottenham have already seen flashes of his brilliance when given freedom to roam, and that’s where he must stay.

Spurs cannot afford to repeat this tactical misstep. Sarr is an energetic No. 8, not a holding midfielder. The experiment failed, and it shouldn’t be revisited.

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