Manager Thomas Frank

[BJK]

Dire football is dire by the way, throwing a quality attacker or two into the mix won't change the fundamental nature of the football being played.

See AVB-Bale and JM- Kane & Son

The attackers that are currently missing can't hold a candle to these guys anyway; so it's a moot point.

This constant yearning by some for a post-ACL Maddison, a one year wonder in Solanke and another average player in Kulusevski is one giant red herring. It's a bigger cop-out than attributing every glaring issue to the absences of Romero and VDV that was also quite popular here last year.

 

[ChrissyWaddleShares]

are you thick? have you not watched VDV with the middle aged white man? VDV confirmed what anyone with half a brain cell thought, the players won that europa by going against what postecoglou wanted! keep up boy! youre looking stupid.

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And playing a style remarkable like Frank’s?

 

[malin]

At this point no matter what he says during press conference - people will find reasons to go after him given current circumstances.

At least this time he didnt attack fans so there is progress there.

Like he said, win games and then you will have fans with you. But here you had to win at least with some style. And that part is probably new for him.

 

[Brian Fantana]

At this point no matter what he says during press conference - people will find reasons to go after him given current circumstances.

At least this time he didnt attack fans so there is progress there.

Like he said, win games and then you will have fans with you. But here you had to win at least with some style. And that part is probably new for him.

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Yep. Those complaining about what he says keep posting what he says to moan about what he says. If people don’t like it then don’t listen! I get bored of new manager’s press conferences after about a month of them being here. It’s always the same old shit unless they are talking about trains and cows or rightfully calling out the owners and players at the club.

 

[_mehstg]

You have to earn the right to continue.

It’s been months. We should see patterns of play emerging. Tactics being implemented. However what we see is a continuing decline in our ability to play football. Lowest amount of through balls, no shots from distance, barely a shot on target as the man in charge is so obsessed with stats he only wants us to cross. Flip that round, and we continually conceded from range as statistically those shots are less likely to go in. However all of that understanding misses the actual context of football.

We then get the pleasure of being told we will lose games and that’s ok. Small time manager, focussed on the wrong things, with a squad and fan base who clearly do not believe in him. He needs to go ASAP.

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Get the terminology right... it's layers... patterns are for knitting...

 

[_mehstg]

At this point no matter what he says during press conference - people will find reasons to go after him given current circumstances.

At least this time he didnt attack fans so there is progress there.

Like he said, win games and then you will have fans with you. But here you had to win at least with some style. And that part is probably new for him.

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Only progress we've seen under him on or off the field...

 

[Harrier]

You and I spent most of last season making the “stick don’t twist” argument for Postecoglu. But I’m seeing nothing this time to give Frank any rope. Nothing at all.

Sticking is right when it’s the right guy. Whilst we were in Europe last season and looking good to win it, we had to stick. This season is fucked already. Quicker we accept that the better.

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I get where you and others are coming from, but with the injuries we have and the mediocre players left at the top of the pitch I think Pep would struggle.

The bit I don’t get as I’ve said before is you’ve got a much lauded coach that within a few months is being deemed shite. Look what JD said about TF and Justin Cochrane. He’s seen enough decent coaches to know what he’s on about.

I want to give Frank some time with the return of some talent and the purchase of some decent recruits before I’m prepared to condemn him.

If we’re still producing the dross we did last night with better players available, then I’d endorse getting shot. I do think we need to wait to the summer though if change is to be made. Frank will have been given time and also any potential candidate will see he wasn’t fired the minute it got sticky, as well as a better pool of potential coaches being available.

 

[1882]

At this point no matter what he says during press conference - people will find reasons to go after him given current circumstances.

At least this time he didnt attack fans so there is progress there.

Like he said, win games and then you will have fans with you. But here you had to win at least with some style. And that part is probably new for him.

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Yes to an extent, but I've just read what he said at this afternoon's PC, and to be honest, even though English isn't his first language, it reads like a list of random words from a dropped Scrabble set!!

I think for me to name a position where we should end and want to end, there are so many things you don't control in that aspect. I promise that we are very ambitious, we know exactly where we want to go but I think it's about improving next step in front of me. Make sure that we come out flying Sunday against Sunderland. To look more in sync, I think the reality is it will not be perfect, but can we see good glimpses of more offensive attacking threat and get the win. That would be a step forward."

On what success looks like?

"I think what I am one hundred per cent sure will happen is that I know we will be able to score a lot of goals and I know we will be much more dominant in a lot of games, but with the current situation with too many of the top players out, playing a lot of games that just make it more tricky, also with no time to train, just reality. I think there's not one coach that will not say that. Then we need to manage everything between that and that is just small steps in the right direction every day.

"Keep walking forward, keep improving and then things will take care of itself. Probably answer a few more questions in press conferences like this, improve a little bit, get the wins and then it will be forgotten because it goes like this. Right now it's the talk of the town, fair enough. Tomorrow, (it) will be forgotten, it will be a new thing and we just behind the scenes need to be calm, work on the things very hard and keep improving."

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Make it make sense??

 

[Harrier]

At this point no matter what he says during press conference - people will find reasons to go after him given current circumstances.

At least this time he didnt attack fans so there is progress there.

Like he said, win games and then you will have fans with you. But here you had to win at least with some style. And that part is probably new for him.

Click to shrink...

TBH having just watched the press conference I don’t think anything was said to get knickers in a twist about.

If anything he seems to have identified exactly what needs addressing. He paused significantly when asked about the style of play - I think his answer was very measured!

Let’s hope he gets the tools to accomplish that.

 

[ElTel]

This guy is George Graham but without the trophies

 

[_mehstg]

Dire football is dire by the way, throwing a quality attacker or two into the mix won't change the fundamental nature of the football being played :

See AVB-Bale and JM- Kane & Son

The attackers that are currently missing can't hold a candle to these guys anyway: so it's a moot point.

This constant yearning by some for a post-ACL Maddison, a one year wonder in Solanke and another average player in Kulusevski is one giant red herring. It's a bigger cop-out than attributing every glaring issue to the absences of Romero and VDV that was also quite popular here last year.

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I know... there is a few on here going all in on Frank and trying to defend him because of not having 3 players who were cunted off for long periods last season. They even rant on about Son being missed even though he was finished as a top player last season.

I even see some on here counting up the 32 missing goals - Solanke (9), Maddison (9), Kulu (7), Son (7) but refusing to count the 23 inherited from Simons (10), Kudus (5) and RKW (8) which were scored in their respective leagues last season. I hate this fucking argument. It's pointless but if you are going to make it then at least off set with the inherited goals... leaving him with just 9 to find which anyone with a semblance of football knowledge could find. Trust me, what you will see in response to this post is the Franatics arguing that the 23 inherited goals don't count because you need time to settle and they were scored in a farmers league.

 

[CJJ]

Quite a lot there and my concentration levels aren’t really up to scratch today.

Wasn’t a dig at you, as I know you weren’t here. Pretty sure I welcomed you back when you did come back, so no gripe there.

I would suggest that an attack of RKM, Richie and Kudus is much better than a defence of Kinsky, Gray and Davies. It just is.

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But it isn't. It's very simple:

• We have a deficit of nearly 30 goals per season missing - even compared to a shit 17th place season - with Solanke, Kulusevski, and Maddison injured, and Son gone. That's not even including assists.
• Tel and Richarlison are already out-performing their stats for last season
• RKM, Simons, and Kudus are effectively being relied upon to bridge 30 goals between them. RKM is absolutely turd and isn't even matching Tel's contributions, and Simons is a huge disappoinment, however...
• For those players to actually replace Maddison, Solanke, Son and Kulusevski - just for last seasons numbers alone, and not a great season by all means, they'd have to have the best seasons of their career.

If there were a number to quantify the injuries Ange had to deal with (maybe, as @bonaspur says, of his own making) compared to Frank’s and the depth and quality that they were left with, Ange had it worse. Not even close.

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As of last night we were missing:

• Sarr (AFCON)
• Bergvall (Knock)
• Solanke (injured)
• Maddison (injured)
• Udogie (injured)
• Kulusevski (injured)
• Bissouma (nobber)
• Simons (suspended)

That's excluding missing Son, who has not been replaced directly in the squad.

How is that just something you can brush off as being 'not a factor'? It's 8 players, swapping Son for Simons, that would have all been in a fully-fit match day squad last season, and even against bournemouth away last season (when Kinsky, Davies and Grey kept a clean sheet) you had Son, Kulusevski, Bissouma, Sarr, and Bergvall in the match day squad.

 

[malin]

TBH having just watched the press conference I don’t think anything was said to get knickers in a twist about.

If anything he seems to have identified exactly what needs addressing. He paused significantly when asked about the style of play - I think his answer was very measured!

Let’s hope he gets the tools to accomplish that.

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Had a similar - slightly positive/neutral feeling - after reading his quotes, but then I came here and saw couple people that are negative about what he said. And to be honest, i understand some of their points.

So yeah, less talking at conferences, let football speaks itself. That will decide whether he will succeed or fail.

 

[bonaspur23]

Arteta. Pep. Unai. Slot. Le Bris. Moyes. Glasner. Silva. Howe. Hurzeler. Iraola. Dyche. Nuno...that's 13 PL managers who are undoubtedly better than Frank.

Probably can add Maresca and Amorim to the list, though Chelsea & especially United aren't what they used to be, but I think it's mostly on the execs at them clubs.

Think Frank is down there with Andrews (who is a newbie), Scotty Parker (who has no money) and Farke.

Rob Edwards is probably the only manager he's ahead of, but then again the guy's only managed Luton & Wolves in the PL...and both squads were so short on quality.

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I see 3 good managers there, and then the next 10 are unknowns with potential or solid, yet unspectacular. Le Bris is better than Frank? For having sunderland at 7th after matchweek 19? Frank did the same with Brentford and then did it for another few years. Iraola is leaking goals. Dyche and Nuno are Frank level. Maybe better, maybe worse.

If Frank had stayed at Brentford and had them in the same spot, and we had someone else who had us in the current position, I'm sure Frank would be on your list as being undoubtedly better than the current option. Fact is, we don't know what most of these managers look like in different situations. Frank is certainly not impressing here, but he's not significantly worse than those other options.

 

[_mehstg]

At this point no matter what he says during press conference - people will find reasons to go after him given current circumstances.

At least this time he didnt attack fans so there is progress there.

Like he said, win games and then you will have fans with you. But here you had to win at least with some style. And that part is probably new for him.

Click to shrink...

Rightly so, I want this man to feel every bit of anger cast in his direction until he fucks off out of my club.

 

[_mehstg]

But it isn't. It's very simple:

• We have a deficit of nearly 30 goals per season missing - even compared to a shit 17th place season - with Solanke, Kulusevski, and Maddison injured, and Son gone. That's not even including assists.
• Tel and Richarlison are already out-performing their stats for last season
• RKM, Simons, and Kudus are effectively being relied upon to bridge 30 goals between them. RKM is absolutely turd and isn't even matching Tel's contributions, and Simons is a huge disappoinment, however...
• For those players to actually replace Maddison, Solanke, Son and Kulusevski - just for last seasons numbers alone, and not a great season by all means, they'd have to have the best seasons of their career.

As of last night we were missing:

• Sarr (AFCON)
• Bergvall (Knock)
• Solanke (injured)
• Maddison (injured)
• Udogie (injured)
• Kulusevski (injured)
• Bissouma (nobber)
• Simons (suspended)

That's excluding missing Son, who has not been replaced directly in the squad.

How is that just something you can brush off as being 'not a factor'? It's 8 players, swapping Son for Simons, that would have all been in a fully-fit match day squad last season, and even against bournemouth away last season (when Kinsky, Davies and Grey kept a clean sheet) you had Son, Kulusevski, Bissouma, Sarr, and Bergvall in the match day squad.

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Simons, RKM and Kudus scored 23 league goals last season for their respective clubs and Kudus had a down year. But hey, you can't include those goals because it basically destroys your pathetic argument that we are missing 30 goals. It's actually 32 including Son but I won't dig you out on that.

And another thing... I don't recall you defending Ange cause he was missing 213 goals... funny that!!!

 

[CJJ]

Simons, RKM and Kudus scored 23 league goals last season for their respective clubs and Kudus had a down year. But hey, you can't include those goals because it basically destroys your pathetic argument that we are missing 30 goals. It's actually 32 including Son but I won't dig you out on that.

And another thing... I don't recall you defending Ange cause he was missing 213 goals... funny that!!!

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No, it's 30 because Richalison has 2 more than last season. It was all there in the post.

It's actually more embarrassing to bring up goal numbers from leagues like Serie A and Bundesliga, where Kane has more goals than games, and where players like Lookman and Moise Kean suddenly look prolific.

the Ange part at the bottom doesn't even make any sense.

 

[ElTel]

Rightly so, I want this man to feel every bit of anger cast in his direction until he fucks off out of my club.

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I don't agree with anger or abuse. I felt the same when Ange was here and all the abuse he received

These guys have their own styles and principles that they take to every club they manage. If there is any need for anger it should be directed towards the people who made the decision to employ these managers.

Wrong choice after wrong choice

I don't think Frank is the right guy for this club just because I don't like his style of football. He is a good man, I'm sure he works hard trying to find success, but it's simply not enjoy watch his teams play. Ange had to go because our league form was woeful, but il forever be grateful for the Europa victory and I appreciated that his intention was to play attacking football even if he didnt have a clue how to set the team up correctly to be a success at it.

Anyway, we need a new manager again, until the change is made we just have to put up with the dire football and results

 

[whenstevewentup]

Just when I thought I wouldn’t be going to the Sunderland game , he’s dragged me back in .

Thomas Frank on what fans can expect to see vs Sunderland:

“I think reality is it will not be perfect, but can we see good glimpses of more offensive attacking threat and get the win, that would be a step forward.”

 

[postbox]

No, it's 30 because Richalison has 2 more than last season. It was all there in the post.

It's actually more embarrassing to bring up goal numbers from leagues like Serie A and Bundesliga, where Kane has more goals than games, and where players like Lookman and Moise Kean suddenly look prolific.

the Ange part at the bottom doesn't even make any sense.

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You really shouldnt labour it too much, the argument just isnt as absolute as you think it is.

Take the existing players, nothing to suggest they would continue to score at the same rate - particularly with a change of manager and style.

So it doesnt equate in the same way you think it does, IMO.

Fair point, I get it, the squad has lost goalscorers from last year.

Doesnt really mean we shouldnt expect some goals though...