Manager Thomas Frank

[AberdeenYid]

I am all for giving managers time. But there has to be something there. Otherwise you just confine yourself self to two or three years of dross.

If we are still playing this kind of football in 6 months time - and are something like 8th - I would have no problem getting someone else in


There is just a strong gut feeling from a lot of fans that he will never be better than mediocre. That can only change by him playing better footbal - not from wishful thinking.
It's for him to prove the perception wrong.
And for that he does require some time

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I think we’ve been sold a pup here. Great at a certain level, but not at the level we want to be. Same as the last guy, I suppose.

However, we should give him the season. Let’s be honest, this season is already a bit of a write off, as things aren’t suddenly going to click. We’ve had a look at what’s on offer and it’s not going to change substantially. Even for those who are convinced that the made of paper Maddison, Kulu and Solanke are going to make a marked difference if or when we ever see them at again.

But, World Cup coming up, some decent managers may be on the market in the summer, so let’s just bite down on something and take what’s coming to us until then.

 

[Aphex]

Frank came here with the reputation of a flexible tactician and it’s his job to work these problems out. Simon’s can’t play every match?

1. Play Kudus there.
2. Don’t play with a 10. Go 442 and launch it.
3. Don’t play with a 10. Go 532 and get creative width from the wingbacks.

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1. Kudus isn't a 10. He isn't a passer and holds on to the ball too long anyway. And then who plays on the right?

2. I don't think 442 and long ball is the answer. Fans wouldn't accept it anyway.

3. Who on earth will play left wing back? Spence? he has absolutely zero creativity. Udogie is perma crocked.

Your suggestion to play 532 doesn't even get off the ground.

None of these are serious solutions.

 

[manmountainbutters]

I give up with our fanbase.

Good luck with your quest to bin off another manager and start this merry go round again... absolute mugs.

Meanwhile up the road you can see actual evidence of what happens when you stick with a manager through a lot of thin and back him over a few windows.

The answer is right there staring you all right in the face.

Who on gods green Earth thought that Frank would come in, wave a magic wand and have us competing with this squad and with most of the goals and creativity from last season stripped out of the team?

clueless doesn't cover it.

EDIT : I can see a few sensible people who realise this squad isn't good enough right now so that gives me a bit of hope.

Poch, Mourinho, Conte, Nuno, Ange, Frank. We've tried every single flavour of manager at this point. And people STILL convinced the answer is to sack another.....

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Very true.

Frank is a highly competent manager who is having a difficult period.

The key test is whether, over a season, there is material improvement. I believe Frank will deliver that. Despite some poor performances, I think he's already delivering that tbh.

We are still several players short. Our CF situation is a joke. Xavi needs to start delivering quickly. Kudus and JP have been really good signings.

But even with being several players short, we will I believe see substantial progress vs the team we had last year. If he comes top 8 then he deserves another season and deserves to be backed.

Sentiment on this board swings around wildly depending on the latest result.

 

[Aphex]

I think we’ve been sold a pup here. Great at a certain level, but not at the level we want to be. Same as the last guy, I suppose.

However, we should give him the season. Let’s be honest, this season is already a bit of a write off, as things aren’t suddenly going to click. We’ve had a look at what’s on offer and it’s not going to change substantially. Even for those who are convinced that the made of paper Maddison, Kulu and Solanke are going to make a marked difference if or when we ever see them at again.

But, World Cup coming up, some decent managers may be on the market in the summer, so let’s just bite down on something and take what’s coming to us until then.

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I think there is almost zero chance Frank goes anywhere before the middle to end of next season at the earliest, and even then it will have to be Ange like disaster where we are down at the bottom getting battered every week.

 

[Shadydan]

Who else can play 10 if not Bergval though? Simons isn't at it and can't play every game. This is the thing, Frank is a bit stuck with the options at the moment.

Sarr isn't a 10 either.

You say Sarr has been dropped but he was injured. We don't know how much impact that has had and may be a reason he's not featured much recently. Although I agree that he needs to be put back in the starting 11.

I agree that Gray needs to be given a chance in midfield.

I think some of Franks decisions are odd, but I also think his current options are pretty shit.

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I hear it but he can alieviate a lot of issues by making some tweaks to it, he's not helping himself.

 

[Aphex]

I give up with our fanbase.

Good luck with your quest to bin off another manager and start this merry go round again... absolute mugs.

Meanwhile up the road you can see actual evidence of what happens when you stick with a manager through a lot of thin and back him over a few windows.

The answer is right there staring you all right in the face.

Who on gods green Earth thought that Frank would come in, wave a magic wand and have us competing with this squad and with most of the goals and creativity from last season stripped out of the team?

clueless doesn't cover it.

EDIT : I can see a few sensible people who realise this squad isn't good enough right now so that gives me a bit of hope.

Poch, Mourinho, Conte, Nuno, Ange, Frank. We've tried every single flavour of manager at this point. And people STILL convinced the answer is to sack another.....

Click to shrink...

I can't believe how many clowns in our fanbase actually are salivating at the idea Frank will fail. They are so keen for it to happen, they aren't even waiting for Frank to fail, or even get close to failing, they are going at him for getting a point and a clean sheet away in the CL. Even City only drew there.

I mean, it's fucking ridiculous. He's lost two competitive games since he's been here. People want good performances? well sorry, but you can't turn it on like a tap. This squad stunk it out for two years unde the previous clown. It will take more than 3 months and loads of injuries to key players for Frank to get a tune out of them.

I tell you what it is. So many fans were burnt and embarassed by Ange, and they've been totally shown up as being clueless, that they want Frank to fail to try and get their own back. They want Frank to fail so they can turn around and say that Ange wasn't actually that bad, and he won a trophy after all. They care more about that. The fanbase is still full of Ange cultists who never wanted Frank, so for him, they'vr already made their mind up about him. Espcially as the majority of the people who wanted change and a new manager, were of course ones who wanted Ange sacked.

So everything is measured against that. For them, unless Frank comes in and we play like peak Barcelona immediately, then we were wrong to sack Ange, because Frank is no better.

It's not even here, but mostly on X. The whole place is awash with Spurs fans saying that suddenly this football is unacceptable, Frank out, the same people who were willing to give Ange a third season after finishing 17th. Who were willing to bend over backwards and make excuses for Ange, even after seeing us get battered every week at home by Leicester and Ipswich. But no, now some average performances and 2 league defeats under Frank in 3 months is not acceptable.

It's laughable.

 

[AberdeenYid]

1. Kudus isn't a 10. He isn't a passer and holds on to the ball too long anyway. And then who plays on the right?

2. I don't think 442 and long ball is the answer. Fans wouldn't accept it anyway.

3. Who on earth will play left wing back? Spence? he has absolutely zero creativity. Udogie is perma crocked.

Your suggestion to play 532 doesn't even get off the ground.

None of these are serious solutions.

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1. He thinks he is.

View: https://x.com/__gdz/status/1840843952221503649
2. And we should accept what we are seeing presently?
3. Spence is more than capable of galloping forward and passing the ball inside, surely? If not, VDV and his snappy hammies? Maybe one of our dubiously talented wide attackers could benefit from having a bit more grass in front of them?

I mean, I’m not being paid millions a year to sort this out and come up with a plan, just pointing out that our manager is.

 

[Richard Arlison]

The prem is absolutely feasting on foreign teams 99% of the time lol. By far the highest coefficient numbers.

PSG and Bayern play in soft leagues where they can rotate prior to every CL game. Barca don’t dominate everyone in their path.

It’s working. No team in Europe wants to play most of the top English teams. They probably dread Woolwich.

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Who cares?

It's absolute dirge to watch and PSG won the CL anyway.

Nobody wants to watch bureaucracy ball. The PL has become the LinkedIn of major European leagues. Loads of huge claims about how amazing it is, but when you really look at what it is, it's not that much fun.

 

[Deuterz]

Who cares?

It's absolute dirge to watch and PSG won the CL anyway.

Nobody wants to watch bureaucracy ball. The PL has become the LinkedIn of major European leagues. Loads of huge claims about how amazing it is, but when you really look at what it is, it's not that much fun.

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PSG are a state backed team in a one team league and they just won their first ever CL. Hardly a counterpoint.

The Prem has by far the best depth and achieves by far the most consistent results across competitions. 2/3 European comps were won by English teams.

It doesn’t always have the best team because other leagues are set up around/built to support one or two sides.

 

[Richard Arlison]

PSG are a state backed team in a one team league and they just won their first ever CL. Hardly a counterpoint.

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Who cares who backs them. If the PL style of play was so great, why aren't PSG doing it if they have all the resouces in the world?

The Prem has by far the best depth and achieves by far the most consistent results across competitions. 2/3 European comps were won by English teams.

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Again, who cares when it's become so shit to watch.

It doesn’t always have the best team because other leagues are set up around/built to support one or two sides.

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If those leagues are building around one team and the PL style is so great, why aren't those teams playing the PL style?

 

[Notabadsquad]

I can't believe how many clowns in our fanbase actually are salivating at the idea Frank will fail. They are so keen for it to happen, they aren't even waiting for Frank to fail, or even get close to failing, they are going at him for getting a point and a clean sheet away in the CL. Even City only drew there.

I mean, it's fucking ridiculous. He's lost two competitive games since he's been here. People want good performances? well sorry, but you can't turn it on like a tap. This squad stunk it out for two years unde the previous clown. It will take more than 3 months and loads of injuries to key players for Frank to get a tune out of them.

I tell you what it is. So many fans were burnt and embarassed by Ange, and they've been totally shown up as being clueless, that they want Frank to fail to try and get their own back. They want Frank to fail so they can turn around and say that Ange wasn't actually that bad, and he won a trophy after all. They care more about that. The fanbase is still full of Ange cultists who never wanted Frank, so for him, they'vr already made their mind up about him. Espcially as the majority of the people who wanted change and a new manager, were of course ones who wanted Ange sacked.

So everything is measured against that. For them, unless Frank comes in and we play like peak Barcelona immediately, then we were wrong to sack Ange, because Frank is no better.

It's not even here, but mostly on X. The whole place is awash with Spurs fans saying that suddenly this football is unacceptable, Frank out, the same people who were willing to give Ange a third season after finishing 17th. Who were willing to bend over backwards and make excuses for Ange, even after seeing us get battered every week at home by Leicester and Ipswich. But no, now some average performances and 2 league defeats under Frank in 3 months is not acceptable.

It's laughable.

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Could Frank be doing better? Maybe, but unless we had won every game this far there would be quipping.pathetic and boring.

Are we missing players who would be starting the majority of games? Yes.

Is Frank getting used o the squad and vice-versa? Yes.

Is there perspective on this forum? Fcuk no

Let's see how we go. We were lucky yesterday but thats how it goes.

It was never going to be a quick fix.

'Decent managers out there' - FFS.

I want it to be better but know it won't be easy and neither is it guaranteed to happen under Frank but give him a chance at least.

 

[citizenabel]

We should've lost that 4-0 too of it wasn't for a wonder game from Vic. This myth that we're hard to beat is hilarious.

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Using a game we should have lost (and didn't) 4-0 as an example of it certainly made me chuckle.

 

[Tomo]

Needs to sort out the midfield balance. Backline is fine, Romero out and Danso can come in. Front line with be better hopefully with Muani and Solanke coming back. Midfield doesn’t look right and you can’t win or control games without that resolution.

 

[White Van Jan]

Needs to sort out the midfield balance

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towards the end they were slicing through us in MF as if it were non-existant

strange game at the end, their defence started to look very dodgy and it annoyed me that Xavi and Djed didnt twig

 

[_mehstg]

I give up with our fanbase.

Good luck with your quest to bin off another manager and start this merry go round again... absolute mugs.

Meanwhile up the road you can see actual evidence of what happens when you stick with a manager through a lot of thin and back him over a few windows.

The answer is right there staring you all right in the face.

Who on gods green Earth thought that Frank would come in, wave a magic wand and have us competing with this squad and with most of the goals and creativity from last season stripped out of the team?

clueless doesn't cover it.

EDIT : I can see a few sensible people who realise this squad isn't good enough right now so that gives me a bit of hope.

Poch, Mourinho, Conte, Nuno, Ange, Frank. We've tried every single flavour of manager at this point. And people STILL convinced the answer is to sack another.....

Click to shrink...

Genuine question. Did you want Nuno to have 1, 2, 3 seasons? I don't see how Frank is any different from Nuno... good for teams who see 12th as a decent finish but no good when that ceiling is much higher...

 

[Tomo]

towards the end they were slicing through us in MF as if it were non-existant

strange game at the end, their defence started to look very dodgy and it annoyed me that Xavi and Djed didnt twig

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When you combine injuries with a new manager I don’t think Frank knows his best team yet. If everyone was fit I could see something like the below working. My god we miss Maddison, someone who can put his foot on the ball and run things.

Vicario
Porro Romero VDV Udogie
Gray Palhinha Maddison
Kudus Solanke Odobert

 

[_mehstg]

Very true.

Frank is a highly competent manager who is having a difficult period.

The key test is whether, over a season, there is material improvement. I believe Frank will deliver that. Despite some poor performances, I think he's already delivering that tbh.

We are still several players short. Our CF situation is a joke. Xavi needs to start delivering quickly. Kudus and JP have been really good signings.

But even with being several players short, we will I believe see substantial progress vs the team we had last year. If he comes top 8 then he deserves another season and deserves to be backed.

Sentiment on this board swings around wildly depending on the latest result.

Click to shrink...

You think he is delivering material improvement??? Jesus Christ... I've seen the opposite of improvement... dull, boring, low risk, attritional bollocks... sorry but if we spend 200m on new players next summer you'll be blaming them... we have 20+ internationals in this squad and if you added up their international caps it would be well over 1,000... these players are not the problem. They are being setup to play a flavour of football that died a death in the late 80s. If he doesn't get Champions League football next season then he has failed. No if's no but's... that's the barometer every Spurs manager should be measured against. I cannot for the life of me understand why parts of our fanbase are wetting themselves with an 8th place finish. It's fucking bonkers!!!

 

[PatagoniaPhil]

He can certainly play more positive midfields than Palh-Benta double-pivot.

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Maybe. But put in who? Bergvall? He aint all that.

 

[Jaynola]

Absolute zero nuanced understanding or context of the position that Spurs is in.

You are expecting miracles... Me, I don't care about this season, the squad is f**ked, been whole sale changes from top to bottom, outside of the squad, we have very little going forward, and trying to compete in the PL and CL, with half a squad and zero depth, and very little to rotate with.

You are completely devoid of any kind of sense of reality of what position we are in and where we are as a club.

We almost got relegated last season, Levy got sacked because of the years of Spurs being a shit show, wake the F up.

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Pal, yes context is important, yes we need to be patient, he's been in the job all of 5 minutes and all that.

But if you expect...1/ ENIC to back him with proper elite players...2/ Frank to turn into a daring, attack-first manager with better players...then I'm afraid you're dreaming, lad.

We're just slightly less shite than the Spammers when it comes to spending money on newbies. We ain't all of a sudden gonna become a shrewd operator...especially with a Goon, a crook and a creepy geek at the helm. How long you been a Spurs fan seriously?

As for good ol' Thomas, he's over 50, always played that way, that's what's brought him success and the Spurs job (and fat wage that comes with it). What makes you think he's gonna change? Ange didn't. Neither did Conte, Jose , Poch...

So yeah, patience is a virtue and all that, but it's pretty obvious how the story's gonna end based on the previous 25 years...even now the evil dwarf got sent packing.

 

[Jaynola]

I think CM football is a massive issue for us.

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