Being shit with intention + plan and being shit + clueless is vastly different.
-
The Fighting Cock is a forum for fans of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Here you can discuss Spurs latest matches, our squad, tactics and any transfer news surrounding the club. Registration gives you access to all our forums (including 'Off Topic' discussion) and removes most of the adverts (you can remove them all via an account upgrade). You're here now, you might as well...
Manager Thomas Frank
- Thread starter The Fighting Cock
- Start date
Latest Spurs videos from Sky Sports
Enjoyed this. I don't think Fabregas is an option but it looks like Xabi might get sacked soon so that could be a good shout.View: https://youtu.be/_nKld7Pp3Mg
Summary
The core of the conversation focuses on the tactical failings of Thomas Frank's tenure at Tottenham Hotspur and the broader philosophical differences between managing clubs at the bottom and top of the league.
Critique of Frank's Tactics and Style:
- System Failure [03:19]: The team’s switch to a 4-2-2-2 system is criticized for failing against Fulham. The guest argues that the system is not creating a good enough platform for the defense to work to, noting that attack and defense are interconnected [05:00].
- Crossing Obsession [12:49]: Frank's perceived over-reliance on crosses and building exclusively down the flanks is deemed a predictable, low-percentage approach that doubles down on current issues rather than finding solutions.
- Misunderstanding Flexibility [09:34]: The hosts argue that Frank is an inherently "reactive" manager whose flexibility works for a team like Brentford (who destabilize opponents) but is unsuitable for Spurs, which should be the dominant, controlling side. They suggest elite flexibility involves subtle, structural tweaks within a core game model, not constant formation changes.
- Spectacle and Momentum [01:09:05]: The style is criticized for being "turgid" and "not football," with too many stop-starts due to long set-piece setups, which kills the team's momentum and the overall spectacle [44:50].
- The hosts agree that the problem lies with the manager, not the squad, which they consider to be a top-six side with high potential [48:00].
- They discuss the importance of hiring a coach who can maximize the value of the technical players in the squad, comparing the process to "maturing assets" [49:41].
- A selection of potential replacements are evaluated, including:
- Julian Nagelsmann and Xabi Alonso: Described as immediate, elite hires who are modern coaches capable of raising the quality of the squad [01:09:43].
- Areola: Seen as a high-risk gamble who is currently a "destabilizing" coach but could potentially coach control [01:02:17].
- Fabregas: A sensible risk for a club looking for a young, modern coach who understands flexibility [01:05:11].
- Rinia (Strasbourg): Highly praised for his strong man-management skills and modern, culturally aware approach to coaching, making him a worthwhile gamble [01:16:05].
He wouldn’t come and we’d never accept him.Of course Fabregas is not an option man!!......
Franks entire management history has been coaching low block football where low % crosses are the main way of creating chances, that's what he's trying to implement here. '
Poch had a history of coaching a high press and had a clear possession model, buildup through the centre, repeatable ways of creating chances and entering the final third that aren't just pinging the ball up the channels.
He was trying to do that even in the early days, just like Frank is trying to implement his hit and hope football now.
Also, from gameweek 12 under Poch we started to look alot better and went on a pretty good run of results, he started to drop senior players for technically weaker but more energetic players like Mason and Bentaleb.
I just don't think the 2 scenarios are comparable.
It's hard to argue with their critique, a lot of good points
Yeah but that isnt what I'm asking. He needs to get the fans on side. One easy way of doing that is playing a few home grown and Scarlett is a most ready (and probably the only one). We dont have the quality of Kane etc of course but is Scarlett that much of a drop off from Richy. I think it worth finding out. Trouble is we will probably lose tonight and so Saturday is a must win for Frank. He wont take any chances, however, he should roll the dice.
I mean, I dont think we should sack Frank, but if Alonso becomes available we go for him. Have to.
Well this is it. The Club will want to give Frank time to navigate through this but sometimes changes are all about timing.
He loses another few and Alonso becomes available....there's the timing.
Imagine Alonso coming in and first game is Liverpool lol
Such an odd situation with Frank. I want him to do well but I’m more worried about these quotes in the press conferences than the performances. They reek of small time, 5 months in and already looking to deflect the blame from himself and back into the club.
He’s been given more quality (and his whole back room) than many previous managers and is naming us look like a national league side.
For me he needs a desperate change, a sliding doors moment. Rip up the rule look and trust the kids maybe. We will lose tonight regardless
He’s been given more quality (and his whole back room) than many previous managers and is naming us look like a national league side.
For me he needs a desperate change, a sliding doors moment. Rip up the rule look and trust the kids maybe. We will lose tonight regardless
What worked for Poch was basically shifting out all the senior players who were stuck in their bad habits and refusing to do the work required to make his system work. This was a revolution led by the younger players (Kane amongst others) who wanted to drive standards.
It helped that Kane turned out to be a superstar but the driver of change came from within the playing group itself. Do we have that within this squad? Perhaps with Bergvall and Gray etc...
I'm not sure, he plays academy kids and it doesn't work out then everyone will be demanding to know why he's chucking the kids in. It's a big gamble which probably doesn't get the fans onside anyway
Just read this on dailymail.com
'I'm very confident,' said Frank ahead of Tuesday night's game at Newcastle.''
www.dailymail.co.uk
Surely he's the only person very confident about that in the world of football as a whole.
'I'm very confident,' said Frank ahead of Tuesday night's game at Newcastle.''
Thomas Frank risks wrath of Tottenham fans AGAIN
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has again risked infuriating fans by insisting the club have not earned the right to serious expectations.
Surely he's the only person very confident about that in the world of football as a whole.
Why should we lose tonight?
This is the losers mentality festering within the club from the top right down to the fanbase.
Were level on points. Technically the bigger club. With the bigger ground and the bigger fanbase...The 'Big 6' side in the fixture......
Having said all that, yeah, we'll probably lose tonight.
Also what worked for Poch is that his system scaled much higher than franks. Putting in Bergvall and Gray won’t solve our issues if they are just going to play deep, risk averse football.
Not true!
Brentford played a lot of high possession football in the Championship.
High line, high tempo, aggressive press, quick transitions.
When all you have is a hammer...
Your last statement, I more or less agree with. But recycling managers is not the solution to me.
I get the people saying Frank needs more time at this stage. But the reality is he won't get the time unless he turns around results.
My feeling is he isn't looking or sounding like a manager of a top club, let alone a Spurs manager. His quotes are worrying and the fact is, he isn't showing any evidence that he is implementing a style of football or philsophy that will make him a success here.
This playing for set pieces, and just pinging crosses in every game is not going to cut it. If we get a hammering tonight the noise will grow louder.
My feeling is he isn't looking or sounding like a manager of a top club, let alone a Spurs manager. His quotes are worrying and the fact is, he isn't showing any evidence that he is implementing a style of football or philsophy that will make him a success here.
This playing for set pieces, and just pinging crosses in every game is not going to cut it. If we get a hammering tonight the noise will grow louder.
I think he looks a tad lost and who can really blame him as whatever he’s tried the players fail to deliver.
I think he’s underestimated the problem we have.
If I was him I’d be trying something radical and binning off a lot of underachieving senior pros and seeing who’s up for it within our academy.
I think it’s going to take a step change to get us out of this funk.