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| Bold headline image for our Thomas Frank Series Part 2 — the predicted goal tally for Dominic Solanke at Tottenham Hotspur under the new manager. |
Dominic Solanke might be underrated, but then again he might not.
Would he have been the supporters’ choice to replace Harry Kane?
No.
One season of OK goals doesn’t make a striker for me.
Nobody questions his work rate, but I’m struggling to remember a goal that wasn’t a tap-in.
New boss, new system. How will he fare?
Brentford CF vs Dominic Solanke
Brentford’s centre‑forward play – typified by Bryan Mbeumo (and partner Yoane Wissa) – under Thomas Frank and Dominic Solanke’s role under Ange Postecoglou at Spurs have some clear stylistic differences:
⚽ Playstyle Differences
Brentford CF: Pressing + clinical finishing
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Brentford’s front trio (Mbeumo/Wissa/Schade) combined high pressing, aerial threat, and clinical finishing inside the box – best shot-on-target rate (40%) in the Premier League and scoring 54 league goals with fewer shots
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Mbeumo individually outperformed his expected xG by over 6.0, showing incredible efficiency
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Their constant movement, risk-taking, and combined attacking pressure led to eight games with four or more goals (Southampton, Ipswich Town, Leicester City x2, Wolves, Newcastle United, Brighton and Manchester United)
Solanke under Postecoglou: Big‑chance striker in a creative setup
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Under Ange, Solanke’s all-around attacking game soared: 1.27 big chances per 90, 0.65 xG/90 (up from 0.53), though conversion sat at 20% premierleague.com
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Spurs’ system created chances for him, but his job was to occupy defenders, link play, and convert those chances
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He’s praised for his pressing, hold-up play, and spatial intelligence, crucial to Postecoglou’s forward style
🔍 What it means for Solanke
Moving to a Brentford‑style front would demand more from Solanke:
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Sharper finishing: Brentford strikers average 40% shots-on-target; Solanke’s conversion would need to sharpen
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Aerial presence and physicality: Mbeumo & Wissa added goals via headers—something Solanke hasn’t been known for despite aerial ability
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Shared goalscoring load: Brentford spread goals among multiple frontmen. Solanke may need to adapt from sole‑scorer role to a more collective one, involving rotating runs, intelligent pressing, and contributing to buildup. Johnson scored more, but Solanke was the main central piece.
That said, his proven ability to press, link play, and score big chances means he could adapt well – but his goal tally will largely depend on conversion rate and integration into a multi-striker unit.
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| Goal prediction for Solanke under Thomas Frank — Tottenham Hotspur Blog News. |
📊 Expected Goal Tally for Solanke (2025–26)
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Minutes played | Likely 30–34 PL matches (2,700 min) |
| xG/90 (0.65) | 17.5 xG over season |
| Conversion rate (20–22%) | 14–16 goals |
| Spurs’ chance creation | Possibly boost xG to 0.7+ |
| Improved conversion hope | Could push to 18–20 goals |
Realistic goal prediction:
14–16 goals if his conversion rate stays steady, 18–20 if he ups efficiency.
🧭 Bottom Line
Brentford’s forward roles require:
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Sharper, more consistent finishing,
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Aerial threat and physical attacking,
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Interchanging, collective pressing.
Solanke already brings strong hold-up, press, and chance creation – but to thrive in that mould, he’ll need to increase individual shot accuracy and integrate smoothly with a front-line unit. If he does, a return of 18–20 goals is well within reach; conservatively, expect 14–16.
Tomorrow, we will look at our leading Brennan Johnson, another tap-in man.
Will he fit Frank’s system?
COYS
