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Manager Thomas Frank

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Are you Frank Out or In?

  • Total voters
    623
ElTel said:
Imo he is a step up from Nuno but yeah they share the same basic conservative football principles. I think Frank has the potential to offer a bit more going forward.
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The trend isn't looking good now. The Bournemouth performance was unforgivable but I forgave it. Villareal performance was shocking but we got away with it. Now Wolves we are celebrating a 1-1 draw!

3 highly worrying performances where we were hot favourites to win all 3 games. He's changed nothing between the games either. Starting Xavi on the left yesterday was weak. We basically gave Wolves nothing to worry about in that first half. They were delighted when they saw our team sheet and knew they'd a good chance of keeping it a 0-0 until half time.

We are good away from home. So were Brentford under Frank. If teams step on us then great. But when they don't then Frank has no answers and I'm not sure our home form is going to improve. The trends suggest that nothing is changing
 
_mehstg said:
For me the biggest difference in being difficult to beat is having your best players available week in week out.
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Using the same logic it’s going to be a lot harder to score and therefore win without your best attacking players available week in week out.

No maddison, kulu, Solanke on the pitch at the same time this season yet.

Football clubs have a squad.
They have to adapt.

One game at a time is a mantra for a reason. Nobody knows who will be fit for the games a week, a month or 3 months from now.
You play who’s fit.
That’s the sport.
 
Richard Arlison said:
Can we not do this again.

Was exactly the same under Conte and then the media got wind of it, Carragher started running the “unsustainable” narrative and then Spurs fans bought in and made it a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Why can’t we just roll with it for a while and see where we are in a few months
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I refer you to my post.

We have a very deluded fanbase.
 
Don Pedro said:
The trend isn't looking good now. The Bournemouth performance was unforgivable but I forgave it. Villareal performance was shocking but we got away with it. Now Wolves we are celebrating a 1-1 draw!

3 highly worrying performances where we were hot favourites to win all 3 games. He's changed nothing between the games either. Starting Xavi on the left yesterday was weak. We basically gave Wolves nothing to worry about in that first half. They were delighted when they saw our team sheet and knew they'd a good chance of keeping it a 0-0 until half time.

We are good away from home. So were Brentford under Frank. If teams step on us then great. But when they don't then Frank has no answers and I'm not sure our home form is going to improve. The trends suggest that nothing is changing
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It's still too early, agree about starting Simons on the left was a weak choice. I think Simons himself will start to get pissed off if this continues and yesterday's performance might be a slight sign of discontent on his part

Still a big problem is urgency, we are generally slow and predictable

You will see in future games we will play exactly as we did last night but win the game 3 or 4 nill and lots of fans will lap it up and accept the style because the result was convincing. Funny ol'game
 
Richard Arlison said:
The trade off is in priority training focus and team selection.

Pretty clear Frank has put the most training focus on defending the different phases and defensive blocks. IMO we aren’t as easy to play through front to back and have a more solid mid block. Weirdly we had a solid low block last year already.

In a few months, it’s obvious to me why he’d give this the first priority. Now he can switch the priority to attacking patterns in settled play and any kind of structure at all for our counter attacks (they are one of our worst phase of play atm).

Team selection, playing 3 CMs is clearly about wanting to be solid above creativity.
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That’s all fine - as I said in another reply - defensive “solidity” may well come, but so far it hasn’t, and Frank’s Brentford weren’t particularly impressive defensively either.

We played a midfield 3 every game under Ange. That alone doesn’t necessarily say “defensive priority”.
 

View: https://x.com/AnthonyDabbundo/status/1972035291520307422?t=Xlny602VUOPF4O_RE64IGA&s=19

Sorry if posted but this is grim reading.

Basically shows that Brighton was our best performance attacking wise and we should stick to that formula so we need natural wingers in Kudus and Odobert and natural full backs in Porro and Udogie.

I think Frank will get the balance right eventually but he needs to sort that midfield out, Bent/Pal double pivot is shit and will work away against teams who come at us.
 
_mehstg said:
Context... how many of the 22 defeats did Romero and VDV start? I argue that the perceived defensive issues were down to unavailability of ker personnel and Frank hasn't done too much to make us solid. We still play a high line... we still play four at the back... and we still play a midfield 3 although 2 of those 3 are now more defensive by nature making our press a bit more effective although Wolves had no problem playing around and through it yesterday. For me the biggest difference in being difficult to beat is having your best players available week in week out.
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So we lost 4 out of our first 9 league games last season.
3 of those games Romero and VDV were our central pairing.

What’s the context there??
 
bus-conductor said:
That’s all fine - as I said in another reply - defensive “solidity” may well come, but so far it hasn’t, and Frank’s Brentford weren’t particularly impressive defensively either.

We played a midfield 3 every game under Ange. That alone doesn’t necessarily say “defensive priority”.
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That midfield under Ange had at least 1 AM, more often 2.

We are playing a DM and 2 box to box types.
 
WillWilliams said:
Using the same logic it’s going to be a lot harder to score and therefore win without your best attacking players available week in week out.

No maddison, kulu, Solanke on the pitch at the same time this season yet.

Football clubs have a squad.
They have to adapt.

One game at a time is a mantra for a reason. Nobody knows who will be fit for the games a week, a month or 3 months from now.
You play who’s fit.
That’s the sport.
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Are those our best attacking players though? We've just spent 50m on Kudus, 60m on Xavi, our leading goalscorer last season was on the bench and Richy isn't exactly chopped liver. Its not like we are going out there with Andy Booth and Gregor Raziak. I get your point but the drop off at CB last season was a chasm compared to the drop off in the forward if there is a drop off at all.
 
WillWilliams said:
So we lost 4 out of our first 9 league games last season.
3 of those games Romero and VDV were our central pairing.

What’s the context there??
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Three of those defeats were away from home, two against teams who finished in the top five... is that enough context... why did you decide not to answer the question I posed... in the 22 defeats last season, how many did Romero and VDV start in... its like you dont think not having your best CB pairing available wasnt the problem. If that is the case explain what you think was the problem... let me guess, all Ange's fault.
 
Don Pedro said:
The trend isn't looking good now. The Bournemouth performance was unforgivable but I forgave it. Villareal performance was shocking but we got away with it. Now Wolves we are celebrating a 1-1 draw!

3 highly worrying performances where we were hot favourites to win all 3 games. He's changed nothing between the games either. Starting Xavi on the left yesterday was weak. We basically gave Wolves nothing to worry about in that first half. They were delighted when they saw our team sheet and knew they'd a good chance of keeping it a 0-0 until half time.

We are good away from home. So were Brentford under Frank. If teams step on us then great. But when they don't then Frank has no answers and I'm not sure our home form is going to improve. The trends suggest that nothing is changing
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You can't criticise Frank on here...
 
Richard Arlison said:
Can we not do this again.

Was exactly the same under Conte and then the media got wind of it, Carragher started running the “unsustainable” narrative and then Spurs fans bought in and made it a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Why can’t we just roll with it for a while and see where we are in a few months
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That is exactly what's going to happen but you would expect or hope to see incremental improvement but we are not. Take Donny out and the last three home games have been underwhelming and I think its okay to call that out. Plus I don't but into the whole Frank needs time. Ange seemed to hit the ground running... and before anyone jumps on it, no, I dont love Ange.
 
Distaste for scouse said:
I tell you what would propel us forward and make our stadium a fortress, if our fans treated every home game like the NLD ans turned the place into a cauldron, that would he worth points in the bank and favourable officiating but our fanbase treats these lesser teams with contempt and sit on their hands and wait to be entertained.
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I do agree that almost everything in place to turn the stadium into a scary place for the opposition. Two things get in the way:

1. Ticket prices are almost certainly pricing out a section of the fanbase who would generate the noise and passion, replacing them with “I’ve paid my money, so entertain me” fans.

2. The players. They have to come out of the traps kicking and snarling. The first fifteen minutes of any match should be the most uncomfortable that the opponent faces all season. Unfortunately, quite often, it’s all a bit drab and this rubs off on the fans.

Do the fans effect the players or do the players effect the fans? Probably both, but we pay and they get paid, so most of the responsibility should fall at their feet.
 
Really disapointed in Frank last night.

I thought he had figured out that Xavi needs to be in the 10 and he fucking bottled it.

Home at against Wolves ffs and he decided to play Xavi left and then shoehorn Bentacur and Palhinha into the same midfield.

It's bullshit.

Drop one of them, and play a middle three of Xavi, Palhinha and Sarr. If Sarr is not fit play Berg or Bentancur in his place.

He seriously needs to get a grip and realise how to set this team up, stop fannying around with playing two DMs and Lucas. Lucas is a good young player but he isn't the answer at 10, he isn't a 10 full stop.

Yes our LW options aren't ideal but Odobert did ok against Brighton and he will offer Xavi some runners to play through to.

It's about balance and giving the 10 some options to pass to.

Honestly, last night was on Frank and a really shit team selection.
 
Aphex said:
Really disapointed in Frank last night.

I thought he had figured out that Xavi needs to be in the 10 and he fucking bottled it.

Home at against Wolves ffs and he decided to play Xavi left and then shoehorn Bentacur and Palhinha into the same midfield.

It's bullshit.

Drop one of them, and play a middle three of Xavi, Palhinha and Sarr. If Sarr is not fit play Berg or Bentancur in his place.

He seriously needs to get a grip and realise how to set this team up, stop fannying around with playing two DMs and Lucas. Lucas is a good young player but he isn't the answer at 10, he isn't a 10 full stop.

Yes our LW options aren't ideal but Odobert did ok against Brighton and he will offer Xavi some runners to play through to.

It's about balance and giving the 10 some options to pass to.

Honestly, last night was on Frank and a really shit team selection.
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I'm glad you're not sticking to your guns and calling him out, it seems like there's a section of people who won't let your have a bad thing to say about thjs manager mainly because they've gone so far in their criticism of our previous one that they'll back this one no matter what as it justifies their arguments and position.

I do like Frank and expect him to get it right but I don't like what I'm seeing at the moment and thst can be alievated by making a couple of simple switches to the team which he has field to do thus far.
 
Reluctantly I'd still play Richie at Leeds if Solanke and Muani are still out.

IMO the team has to be: (although I'd be tempted to start Kinksy)

Vicario

Porro
Romero
VDV
Udogie

Palhinha
Sarr or Bergvall
Xavi

Kudus
Richarlison
Odobert

Keep it balanced...keep it simple. Let the team build up some rhythm and attacking fluidity will grow.
 
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