Matt Law - Telegraph
It may have been a storm in a coffee cup on the south coast for Thomas Frank, but there is a very real threat to his authority brewing at Tottenham Hotspur.
Less than 24 hours after being caught sipping from an Woolwich-branded cup during Tottenham’s stoppage-time defeat at Bournemouth, Frank had to sit in front of a red and white Emirates-branded background to answer questions about his captain Cristian Romero.
The FA Cup backdrop provided Woolwich fans, who have flooded social media with a host of Frank-inspired jokes in response to the coffee cup storm, with another chance to poke fun at him. But there is not much for Tottenham’s head coach to smile about, as he attempts to retain some sense of control.
That has not been helped by the decision to let off Romero without a fine after he posted a message on social media in the hours after the defeat by Bournemouth that read: “At times like this, it should be other people coming out to speak, but they don’t – as has been happening for several years now. They only show up when things are going well, to tell a few lies.”
It was later edited to delete the accusation of “lies” and that seemed to be enough to somehow allow Romero to escape with just a chat with Frank and co-sporting director Johan Lange.
Asked if Romero would still be captain and whether he had been fined, Frank said: “He is our captain, he’s not been fined.” Pushed on why Romero had not been punished, the Dane added: “I think there’s a lot of ways to deal with different situations. We’ve chosen to have a good conversation with him, understand where he stands, handle it internally and that’s everything I have to say.”
The club remained silent on Romero and his outburst, leaving the door ajar to the theory that Spurs and Frank are simply too scared of the potential consequences to properly punish the fiery Argentine.
Frank insisted he had shown he is able to draw the line with his players by dropping Yves Bissouma from his Super Cup squad for persistent lateness. But some may reach the same conclusion as one source, who spoke to Telegraph Sport, and said: “It’s double standards.”
There have already been claims that Romero is granted more freedom around the training ground than the rest of the squad and he was made the club’s highest-paid player when he signed a new contract last summer. Vinai Venkatesham, the Tottenham chief executive, told a fans forum it was “the best deal in world football this summer” when he addressed them in October.
Defending Romero’s ability to lead the team, Frank pointed to the fact the captain was one of the players to speak up at half-time at Bournemouth after Spurs had let an early lead slip to trail at the break.
Telegraph Sport has been told that Tottenham’s angry players took it upon themselves to hold a half-time inquest at the Vitality Stadium. But by the time the players returned to the dressing room, having confronted fans after the final whistle, there was little said with the mood described as quiet and brooding.
A source said: “Things were said between the players at half-time in the dressing room, but at the end it was just quiet. The message to the players was just ‘well done’, which seems a bit strange given what had happened.”
Tottenham’s defeat at Bournemouth was greeted by loud booing from the visiting supporters. Micky van de Ven was seen gesturing to fans in a tense stand-off before being dragged away, while Pedro Porro, who was also helped out of the firing line, and João Palhinha went to speak to supporters face to face.
Porro, along with Richarlison, posted messages of support below Romero’s social media post, and Frank revealed that he had spoken with his entire squad, as well as Romero personally, on Thursday morning to try to clear the air.
“We spoke this morning in the meeting we had,” Frank said. “It’s a very emotional situation to be in after a late defeat. They’re human beings. They get questioned every single time. They’re footballers, that’s part of it, but that’s not the same [as saying it is] easy. I’d like to see some of the guys on social media or you guys experience that pressure out there. I don’t think it’s that easy.”
Van de Ven ‘frustrated’
Tottenham have been keen to offer Van de Ven a new contract, with his current deal running to 2029. But some sources believe the defender is frustrated with the current situation at the club.
Earlier this season, Telegraph Sport revealed that Tottenham players discussed in detail their disconnect with the club’s fans in a team meeting and the issue is now viewed within the squad as critical.
The subject of Spurs supporters was the key theme in a players’ meeting following the defeat by Chelsea on November 1. At the end of the game, Van de Ven and Djed Spence could not hide their displeasure with some fans and walked straight off the pitch.
Porro also hit out at “disrespectful” fans on social media following the defeat by Fulham, in which goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was booed by some Tottenham supporters.
Asked why there have been so many behavioural issues, Frank said: “That’s the beauty of things happening once and then you can always go back to it. Then there are a lot of emotions in football, when it’s not going in the direction you want and you get emotional after a game or whatever. Everyone reacts differently. We’re working very hard on being cool and calm, but still a passionate unit that can compete every game. And that will go a little bit up and a little bit down.”
Tottenham are still to confirm whether co-sporting director Fabio Paratici, who has been heavily linked with Fiorentina, will stay at the club and the Italian was left off Frank’s list of staff who he stressed are working together at Spurs.
“I think it’s very important to stress that even though there’s noise, the club is very aligned,” Frank said. “Johan, Vinai and I are very aligned. Ownership is very aligned. We know it’s a tough spell that we need to get through.”
Frank may remain in charge of the team as head coach, but whether he is in control of his players is not quite so clear.
Its all beginning of the end stuff, IMO. For Frank for sure, and probably some of the squad.
This blew my mind:
A source said: “Things were said between the players at half-time in the dressing room, but at the end it was just quiet. The message to the players was just ‘well done’, which seems a bit strange given what had happened.”
Well done?! Im starting to think Frank isnt gaslighting US with his talk of things doing well/layers/progress - I think he is gaslighting himself. WELL FUCKING DONE!? WHAT FOR?!
You know when there are sources coming out on what happened at half time the manager is done, he just is.
And I think we would all agree there is a definite disconnect between players and fans, club and fans even?
Ive said in the "who next..." thread, I dont want Pochettino back, I just think no matter what it ends badly - but I do want ANOTHER Pochettino.
I think the club and fans NEED a manager who can work with the squad and is proper Spurs, someone we can get behind, get the good vibes going, bring everyone together
I think its a real concern the like of VDV are looking elsewhere, but I also think that can be saved with
another poch
Some good football, enjoyable football, fans back onside - suddenly players and fans alike are happy
Frank is the problem right now. Not the only one, not the over all problem, but the immediate problem - and he needs to go to make way for real positivity - not aligned layers of cautious imaginary positivity
EDIT: Also, its clear he is scared of the dressing room - no manager can succeed when thats the case
EDIT EDIT : Shitting out Bissouma is hardly a show of strength is it?
