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Manager Thomas Frank

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Are you Frank Out or In?


  • Total voters
    623
Yes. Agree.

I think Frank has handled many things wrong. Example by playing Porro and Bentancur and Kudus every match. Even though they havent shown anything for weeks.

He also handled the episode with VDV and Spence wrong. It doesnt seem like he knows how to demand respect on and off the field.
You don't demand respect... you earn it... Frank hasn't earnt it hence the players think he's a floppy haired prick who hasn't a clue how to get 500m worth of talent to play football and not hoofball. They wouldn't be wrong would they???
 
For me it’s a style issue. Yes we would very likely be more entertaining with the players you mentioned back, but I still believe a fundamental tenet of Franks style is long ball, set pieces and low blocks - which is often very boring.

I also worry about some of the decisions that have been taken whilst he has been at the club - Bentancurs new contract being a big one. Either Frank couldn’t see Bentancur is not up to it, or he kow towed to someone higher up - both scenarios are worrying.

Finally, he is rubbish with the young players - Tel scores and then gets dropped. Bergvall is in and out, no consistency.

Doesn't even appear that he's trying to implement any attacking patterns of play. Everything goes through Porro smashing the ball long into Richy or Kudus
 
Since the Poch years, there's been a sentiment among most of the fanbase that all the club needs to do to kick on is win a trophy. I saw things like "I'd take 15th if it meant winning a trophy" for years. But winning a trophy in of itself was never going to magically fix all the issues with the club because the trophy win needed to be the natural result of progress from top to bottom.

Instead, our trophy came from a historically favorable knockout draw for a UEL finalist. Even then, we needed 10/10 performances from the keeper and all defenders just to terrorball our way to victory against the biggest meme team of the century. Acknowledging that doesn't diminish the prestige of winning the tournament, but the context of the win was never going to lead to an immediate turnaround in the club's direction.

Because we're in the same situation we would have been in had we lost in Bilbao - a bunch of midtable or worse players slapped together with no cohesion or plan who were told a 17th place finish in the league was acceptable, no clear direction from club leadership, and a manager who's expected to get results with our four best attackers from the past season sold or injured with only two players bought to replace them.

The thing Derangers can't get their heads around is the simple, now incontrovertible, fact that the Europa League win was meritorious not because the opposition was great but precisely because WE ALSO HAD A SHIT SQUAD.

They always acknowledge this fact in the present but never apply their own analysis to the very recent past.

So when they bleat about Frank being harshly treated (which I'm tended to sympathise with) it's hard to take them seriously because they never once applied the same reason to the last guy.

There's a word for that.

Some of us warned that our squad - particularly in midfield - was lacking true quality. This was true last season just as much as this season. All of which makes the Europa League win - after a injury crisis of genuinely unprecedented levels - something to be treasured, not diminished. But they refuse to acknowledge that because to do so would be to admit they bullied people who simply wanted to support the manager last season horrifically and, worse, wrongly.

Hopefully they learn their lesson but I'm not holding my breath. I expect the merry-go-round of blaming the chef rather than the people who buy the ingredients to continue.
 
It seems to be refused to be acknowledged on social media and forums. All the foaming at the mouth getting in the way I suspect. They say it doesnt matter because Frank wont play to suit them. Crystal balls out obviously. He might not improve the team play but it would be good to find out. Trouble is, Madders aint coming back this season and who knows what is up with DK.

The Angesexuals come back with, well he didnt have Romero and VDV. Well, he did until he injured them. Frank hasnt had any of those 4 start a match for him. (I would have kept Sonny around)
If we are playing that game then clearly Frank injured Maddison in pre-season (why risk him in a friendly against Newcastle) and Solanke against Man City (he clearly wasn't ready to return but Frank rushed him back). Also, Frank green lighted the sale of Son... so other than Deki, all of this he brought on himself.

Silly Franatics!!!
 
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At this point, my main reason for wanting Frank in is the Ange crew who absolutely loathe him. That alone has tipped me over the edge.

This isn’t about tactics, philosophy, or long-term vision anymore. This is pure, petty football revenge.

Revenge, bitches!
 
Some interesting Championship data here:

Long passing
  • 18 / 19* : 20th in number of attempts & 3rd in success rate
  • 19 / 20 : 15th in number of attempts & 2nd in success rate
  • 20 / 21 : 6th in number of attempts & 2nd in success rate
Short passing
  • 18 / 19* : 4th in number of attempts & 6th in success rate
  • 19 / 20 : 3rd in number of attempts & 2nd in success rate
  • 20 / 21 : 13th in number of attempts & 10th in success rate
*Took over in mid-October

They were inside top 5 in possession in each of these 3 seasons, and their long passing in particular seems to be always purposeful. All good.

But, illustrated by the sharp decrease in number of short passes and an accompanying increase in the number of long ones in their final year in the Championship, a change in direction towards more directness was evident even back then. Looks like he got his reward, and has never looked back since.

This also puts the common explanation that attributes his direct football to him trying to survive in a highly unforgiving league with limited resources in jeopardy somewhat. There's evidence that he had already started heading in that direction before that.

It's a rather moot point anyway, as being able to play on the front foot in the Championship is no guarantee that it would translate to a higher level. See Russell Martin.
 
Some interesting Championship data here:

Long passing
  • 18 / 19* : 20th in number of attempts & 3rd in success rate
  • 19 / 20 : 15th in number of attempts & 2nd in success rate
  • 20 / 21 : 6th in number of attempts & 2nd in success rate
Short passing
  • 18 / 19* : 4th in number of attempts & 6th in success rate
  • 19 / 20 : 3rd in number of attempts & 2nd in success rate
  • 20 / 21 : 13th in number of attempts & 10th in success rate
*Took over in mid-October

They were inside top 5 in possession in each of these 3 seasons, and their long passing in particular seems to be always purposeful. All good.

But, illustrated by the sharp decrease in number of short passes and an accompanying increase in the number of long ones in their final year in the Championship, a change in direction towards more directness was evident even back then. Looks like he got his reward, and has never looked back since.

This also puts the common explanation that attributes his direct football to him trying to survive in a highly unforgiving league with limited resources in jeopardy somewhat. There's evidence that he had already started heading in that direction before that.

It's a rather moot point anyway, as being able to play on the front foot in the Championship is no guarantee that it would translate to a higher level. See Russell Martin.

That's just pragmatism. Brentford never had any right to be in the PL with their squad, nor to stay in it.

Doing a Burnley and dominating the Championship with the most expensive squad, only to bomb every other year in the PL isn't a great strategy
 
At this point, my main reason for wanting Frank in is the Ange crew who absolutely loathe him. That alone has tipped me over the edge.

This isn’t about tactics, philosophy, or long-term vision anymore. This is pure, petty football revenge.

Revenge, bitches!

This much has been obvious for several months now.

It's why you are, quite literally, Deranged. :D

The Dark Knight Reaction GIF
 
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Yeah yeah sorry but it's a load of bollocks mate. Trophies are not everything, not when it isn't backed up by consistent excellence. They are winning every week, have one of the best teams in the world, and the reality is they will win trophies if they contine as they are. Who do genuinely think are the happier fan base? us because we won the Europe League in May? or Woolwich fans?

It's easy to say Arteta has spent a billion, yes he's been backed like crazy but he still needs to put together a very good side and he has. He's an absolute moron but he's a fantastic coach, that is plain to see. He gets the best out of all his players.

Maybe I speak for myself but I want us to be in Woolwich's position, fuck being 17th and winning the Europa. Give me top of the league at Xmas, and a realistic chance of going for the league and CL.

Our fanbase is as unhappy as it's ever been, winning a trophy in May didn't really do much to change that did it.
People talk about the money Woolwich have spent as if we haven't splashed any ourselves.

Difference between them and us? They spend well, we throw it down the shitter.
 
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can people explain why he should be doing better? please explain it so i can understand???

James Maddison had 12 goals and 11 assists last season (9 goals and 7 assists in the league)
Dominic Solanke had 16 goals and 8 assists last season (9 goals and 3 assists in the league)
Heung min Son had 11 goals and 12 assists last season (7 goals and 10 assists in the league)
Dejan kulusevski had 10 goals and 11 assists last season (7 goals and 4 assists in the league)


so that's 50% of the goals we scored in the league. Take away Brennan Johnson contribution of 18 goals and 7 assists (11 goals and 5 assists) and thats 67% of our goals from last season that is not an option.

Do you not get how absolutely damaging the loss of these players has been????? the same posters that are saying he should be doing better are the same posters that go on about how shit our players are ffs.
Sylvester Stallone Facepalm GIF
 
Urgh... View From the Lane have just had a segment where they talked about all the Frank mannerisms that annoy them - like chewing gum and looking at Ipads etc...

This is just nasty stuff that happens every time a manager struggles. Totally unnecessary imo.
 
For me it’s a style issue. Yes we would very likely be more entertaining with the players you mentioned back, but I still believe a fundamental tenet of Franks style is long ball, set pieces and low blocks - which is often very boring.

I also worry about some of the decisions that have been taken whilst he has been at the club - Bentancurs new contract being a big one. Either Frank couldn’t see Bentancur is not up to it, or he kow towed to someone higher up - both scenarios are worrying.

Finally, he is rubbish with the young players - Tel scores and then gets dropped. Bergvall is in and out, no consistency.
Re style - was listening to the lab with that Brentford season ticket holder Flav knows and it was quite damning for Frank imo though he didn't mean it to be!
He talked about style of football and what Brentford were good at etc and getting it wide quickly and spamming crosses in low was the key factor for their goals - he also said shooting from outside the box was basically prohibited and there were a lot of times even when they were doing well that sideways and back passing for what seemed like an eternity was commonplace until there was an opening to get a cross in.
Taking ages to get big money signings integrated into the team was another point he made I didn't like and sticking with solid favourites despite more creative players being available.
He mentioned the praise for other teams and clubs also as being cringey but they were happy enough with what he had achieved with them so let it go.

The fact that he did all that at Brentford can be ignored and expected almost - doing that at Spurs cannot be ignored. My main concern with him when he started was playing attacking football against the lesser sides at the very least and winning on the front foot and despite the key injuries and new players bedding in it has been pretty dire on that front. We didn't even perform well against the best sides which I thought would be Franks main upside.

Even if we get better and he changes or tries to become more progressive til the end of the season I can't see him lasting now.

We have a lot of very mid table players too - what a mess.
 
can people explain why he should be doing better? please explain it so i can understand???

James Maddison had 12 goals and 11 assists last season (9 goals and 7 assists in the league)
Dominic Solanke had 16 goals and 8 assists last season (9 goals and 3 assists in the league)
Heung min Son had 11 goals and 12 assists last season (7 goals and 10 assists in the league)
Dejan kulusevski had 10 goals and 11 assists last season (7 goals and 4 assists in the league)


so that's 50% of the goals we scored in the league. Take away Brennan Johnson contribution of 18 goals and 7 assists (11 goals and 5 assists) and thats 67% of our goals from last season that is not an option.

Do you not get how absolutely damaging the loss of these players has been????? the same posters that are saying he should be doing better are the same posters that go on about how shit our players are ffs.

Randall Kolo Muani a WC finalist and prolific goal scorer on huge wages. Brought in for Frank.

Kudus brought in for Frank. Big transfer fee, decent wages. Prem proven capable of producing similar numbers to those missing

Palinha was his number 1 choice for DM. On big wages.

Simons big money, high wages brought in for Frank. Proven to score and assist in Germany.

Richy has a goals to minute ratio up there with the best in the prem historically but never been fit. He’s been fitter under Frank than ever and not scoring as much because we don’t create anything.

Is Frank getting the best out of any of those? Nope.

He chose to sideline Johnson.

He chose to take Bergvall as our most progressive 8 and convert him to a 10. Completely stunted his development.

If the transfers for him were performing and we were seeing positive signs of the kind of team that Spurs are at their best then absolutely give him time. If we had been seeing young players attack and figure it out like the Sunderland first half then give him time,

We aren’t though. We are seeing a carbon copy of Brentford.
 
Urgh... View From the Lane have just had a segment where they talked about all the Frank mannerisms that annoy them - like chewing gum and looking at Ipads etc...

This is just nasty stuff that happens every time a manager struggles. Totally unnecessary imo.
It is annoying though... he chews gum like an adolescent trying to be the big man on campus... and the iPad thing is ridiculous... use your eye's man, watch the shit you are implementing in full colour in front of you, listen to the boo's... god knows what you need to look at an iPad for in the middle of a game.
 
I think Ange, Frank and AVB had the worst squads, which fits my narrative, that AVB was way better at coaching than he was given credit for, nicely.

:avbfu:


View: https://www.reddit.com/r/coys/comments/1q5id2e/franks_win_perentage_so_far/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Don't forget to take the first 10 games under Ange out... they don't count... so he is now safely in 9th above Ange!!!
 
Just write off this season. We won't be decisive and move him on now and we will achieve fuck all with him here but we won't get relegated.

He'll be gone in the summer. Maybe we get the next one right.

I've already missed a few games this season and will miss more in this second half.

There is no fun involved in Spurs right now so may aswell tune out until there is.
 
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