Something that does concern me and I spotted it in previous games, but it was more prevalent at the weekend. Remember there was that game against the scum under Nuno where it was highlighted that we completely vacated the midfield. Well we did that on goal kicks a few times on Saturday. The centre of the pitch was completely open. First time the manager has concerned me. Maybe I just don’t understand modern tactics but it doesn’t seem a good idea to me.
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Manager Thomas Frank
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Agree with everything except Johnson. We will need his finishing and there are lineups where he works. When Solanke is back and Xavi is in the 10, there should be no issues with build up and plenty of space to make deep runs beyond Solanke holding the ball up.
To the Spurs fans already complaining about Thomas Frank.
* 4th in table
* 2nd best defence
* 3rd best for goals
* 6 clean sheets
* Won our first CL game
* Through in the cup
* 9 players Inj, inc Madders & Kulu
* No left Winger
He is a top coach that’s been in the job 3 months and has got a jigsaw with big important pieces missing and he has to try and make do at the same time convince fans everything is ok,fake it until you make it I guess.
The fact is we are getting results,is it great ? Hell no,but I’d rather be getting points and playing poorly whilst we improve than the opposite scenario of supposedly playing great football and losing 22 games.
#COYS
View: https://x.com/JonnyH3232/status/1972696230099558405
* 4th in table
* 2nd best defence
* 3rd best for goals
* 6 clean sheets
* Won our first CL game
* Through in the cup
* 9 players Inj, inc Madders & Kulu
* No left Winger
He is a top coach that’s been in the job 3 months and has got a jigsaw with big important pieces missing and he has to try and make do at the same time convince fans everything is ok,fake it until you make it I guess.
The fact is we are getting results,is it great ? Hell no,but I’d rather be getting points and playing poorly whilst we improve than the opposite scenario of supposedly playing great football and losing 22 games.
#COYS
View: https://x.com/JonnyH3232/status/1972696230099558405
Just watched the second half of the game again.
Wolves not getting enough credit.
They were fully at it in that half and super, super aggressive, intense and physical, fighting for their lives.
Fortunate bit of ping pong and Vic not being strong enough in his keeping, to get their goal, to begin with (and I must say, Remero a bit dozy again and slow to react to pitch in) and from then they had the bit between their teeth to try and dig themselves out of the hole at the bottom of the table.
We didn't have the quality to come off the bench and turn it instantly, but our attitude, drive and desire to get back into the game was great.
We kept pushing and pushing, never gave up and got our reward for it.
You're bringing on Johnson, Tel and Odobert to get something... not optimal, to say the least.
We desperately need a couple quality signings in January to help Frank.
We see with Kolo and Solanke out we're scratching up top.
What he's done so far with a sketchy Richie and no proper quality LWr is very impressive.
Also, the way he kept probing tactically in the game was great to see.
Bit hit and miss, but he kept pushing for a solution and eventually something clicked.
And he's learning more and more about the players.
Knicker-wetting that's been going on is waaaaaay over the top.
People acting like we had a stunning season in the league and wish it to continue.
That wasn't it tho, was it, folks.
And last season we lose that game for certain.
Wolves not getting enough credit.
They were fully at it in that half and super, super aggressive, intense and physical, fighting for their lives.
Fortunate bit of ping pong and Vic not being strong enough in his keeping, to get their goal, to begin with (and I must say, Remero a bit dozy again and slow to react to pitch in) and from then they had the bit between their teeth to try and dig themselves out of the hole at the bottom of the table.
We didn't have the quality to come off the bench and turn it instantly, but our attitude, drive and desire to get back into the game was great.
We kept pushing and pushing, never gave up and got our reward for it.
You're bringing on Johnson, Tel and Odobert to get something... not optimal, to say the least.
We desperately need a couple quality signings in January to help Frank.
We see with Kolo and Solanke out we're scratching up top.
What he's done so far with a sketchy Richie and no proper quality LWr is very impressive.
Also, the way he kept probing tactically in the game was great to see.
Bit hit and miss, but he kept pushing for a solution and eventually something clicked.
And he's learning more and more about the players.
Knicker-wetting that's been going on is waaaaaay over the top.
People acting like we had a stunning season in the league and wish it to continue.
That wasn't it tho, was it, folks.
And last season we lose that game for certain.
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Franks subs definitely helped Wolves as well. His logic was traditional left/right wingers on their natural side to go outside the wing backs and cross but he never addressed the problem in midfield that was there all game.
I agree credit Wolves but Frank said he’d learned from the midfield problems of Bournemouth but showed us his stubborn side with team selections and subs in this game.
Still 100% on board and all coaches are stubborn but we need to be honest about what a lot of us are seeing. Bergvall saying he’s converted to a 10 is an mis profile from Frank and the coaches IMO but let’s see. I hope I’m wrong.
Not sure how we can establish anything stubborn about this manager after so few games.
He's got to learn what he's dealing with and who can cope with what.
There is going to be trial and error; it's natural.
I never watched Brentford and ever thought there was a problem in the middle.
Whatever's not working he will fix - sooner or later.
Natural to ask questions and have reservations, but some have been doing way too much for no reason.
Let the damn guy get his feet in the door properly before demanding consistent banger performances.
It's diabolical.
It is and I swear some people have forgotten this squad was 17th in the PL last year. It’s as though the EL made everyone think we’re actually a great team. We’re not, we’re a very average team. Nobody is fixing this in a few months.
Precisely.
Going on like we were stunning and didn't lose 22 with a horror show at the back and massive holes everywhere.
It's wild.
Just not rational.
And we're currently missing goals and assists that were available THEN! lol
Unfortunately, I suspect some who didn't want Fatso to go want Frank to bomb.
It's very, very sad.
Why it feels so forced and artificial.
*Also, Irony is if Frank had had two seasons here with us and had the run we had in the EL, he'd have likely not lost a game and we would have finished top 6/7 in the league.
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The Nuno comparisons are a highly touchy subject on here and can make you the number 1 villain for some. But there is some similarities there in play style. While the results are good and we look solid, then its no problem. But once the results turn south and the football is overly pragmatic then it turns sour very fast.
I really hope Frank knows all this and is working on finding that attacking balance. Like you said, we were happy to play direct and long balls at home to wolves. A top team holds the ball and comes at them in waves. We need to find the balance. We can't be pragmatic and playing long balls at home every week.
I still think Frank has had a good start and has fixed some glaring issues in our team. But some of the home performances are starting to turn into a worrying trend.
What is the alternative to "pragmatic" that you would find more palatable, out of curiosity?
We take our 2 decent chances and the ref does his job and gives us a pen for the foul on palhinha first half and we probably run out easy winners. Small margins.
I wasn’t comparing the two at all really. Just that I noticed a similar peculiar tactical set up and thought it strange. Maybe Nuno still does the same thing now but I can’t remember seeing his teams do such a thing.
There is a balance somewhere between Ange ball chaos and pragmatic football. I always liked the balance of the Redknapp and Poch teams. We always played on the front foot at home but knew how to sit back and grind out results when needed.
Ange was ridiculous. We attacked every game including against the best teams in the league when missing most of our back 4! Frank is lining up with defensive teams at home to Wolves and playing it too safe.
And I must say again, Wolves came to fight for their lives.
They were properly at it and weren't just going to roll over for us.
Was very impressed with Arias.
People should watch the game again after what's been discussed here and see it in a clearer light.
Here's link to the replay:
Tottenham Hotspur Vs Wolverhampton Wanderers Full Match - Premier League | 27 September 2026
Spurs and Wolves round out Saturday Night Football in north London. For Wolves, it's five Premier League defeats on the spin as Vitor Pereira's side look to
www.footballorgin.com
For a new manager who's building resilience and fight into a team that was defensively tragic and capitulated on a dime, this game showed great signs of desire, fight and indefatigability.
Exactly the foundational traits Frank has stated he's focused on, right now.
And our intensity level was high and consistent.
Richie was awful and we had to rely on Odo, Tel, Johnson to come on and turn it around... ... ... yeah.
They hardly had an effect, but the positive intention of those subs did help to sustain our drive and we got our reward in a very tough, hard-fought game.
That's a balanced way to view what happened.
With Kolo and Solanke available, we very likely win that.
Poch lost at home to Stoke, West Brom and Newcastle, and drew with Sunderland away in his first 11 games at the club
chill out
Spot on. Its bizzare, like last season didnt happen and a lot of these players havent been letting us down for years. We managed to get rid of 1 player in the summer, Son who whilst way past his best would walk into the team at the moment which says a lot about another 'successful' summer window.
Of the 4 new signings 1 hasnt played, 1 looks way off as its early days, he's played 4 games. So basically Paulinha and Kudus have come in for Son and the frozen out Bissouma. Plus Maddison, Kulusevski and Solanke havent been available and wont be anytime soon. I havent been thrilled so far, its been pedestrian but its hardly surprising. No idea if Frank will be any good longer term but bloody hell he hasnt had a chance yet.
Now that's a fair, reasonable, rational appraisal.
The one thing I think is important that I've seen from our efforts under Frank so far is the desire AND ability to keep in the game. We wound up nicking points from two games where we fell behind. The simple act of continuing to push and not losing those games gives me hope that we're driving to something better.
Reminded me in Poch's second season when in our first 9 games we had 5 draws, 3 wins and 1 loss. Being able to take points and stay in things allowed us to push on when things started clicking better later in the fall/winter.
Reminded me in Poch's second season when in our first 9 games we had 5 draws, 3 wins and 1 loss. Being able to take points and stay in things allowed us to push on when things started clicking better later in the fall/winter.
But what do you mean by "pragmatic" football?
Pragmatism is nothing to do with being cautious or defensive.