Thomas Frank - Head Coach

[Bedfordspurs]

He has taken them from 8th place to being favourites for the title. I know it hurts to have to admit it to ourselves but he has done a very good job indeed there, especially at integrating new players.

He has
But he has also spent about a £b
I think a LOT of managers would do well spending that amount of money

 

[billyiddo]

He has taken them from 8th place to being favourites for the title. I know it hurts to have to admit it to ourselves but he has done a very good job indeed there, especially at integrating new players.

And all he needed to do it was 2 XIs strong enough to challenge for the title

 

[SissokoWasGood (BoL)]

I’m going to say big credit for Frank today.

I think there’s improvements that can be made. But I see what we were doing and thought we were well coached today.

I think there’s a clear idea of increasing the intensity, and the attacking movements (forward runs, inverting etc) at the right times. It’s not hell for leather the whole game, and when we’re trying to ‘maintain’ it can look bad. But I don’t think it’s an accident that the first half was slow and the second half was not. I think it was intentional. And I feel like the players were putting the ideas into practice well.

An utterly horrendous penalty decision had potentially denied us a good win there. Never seen anything like it. A disgrace. But I liked what we did today. We rotated, we put a plan in place for the game. And the players worked at it. We raised the intensity when we needed to. I think we’ll be ok.

 

[billyiddo]

I’m going to say big credit for Frank today.

I think there’s improvements that can be made. But I see what we were doing and thought we were well coached today.

I think there’s a clear idea of increasing the intensity, and the attacking movements (forward runs, inverting etc) at the right times. It’s not hell for leather the whole game, and when we’re trying to ‘maintain’ it can look bad. But I don’t think it’s an accident that the first half was slow and the second half was not. I think it was intentional. And I feel like the players were putting the ideas into practice well.

An utterly horrendous penalty decision had potentially denied us a good win there. Never seen anything like it. A disgrace. But I liked what we did today. We rotated, we put a plan in place for the game. And the players worked at it. We raised the intensity when we needed to. I think we’ll be ok.

It seemed like we set up to contain for 30 minutes or so and then from there try to assert ourselves more on them. Whether that was the plan or not i don't know but there seemed to be a shift in our starting positions/lines at around that point and it stayed there for the duration of the game.

 

[SissokoWasGood (BoL)]

It seemed like we set up to contain for 30 minutes or so and then from there try to assert ourselves more on them. Whether that was the plan or not i don't know but there seemed to be a shift in our starting positions/lines at around that point and it stayed there for the duration of the game.

I agree. I think it was intentional. Other good thing was we were getting a lot of bookings especially first half. I would obviously like our tackling to be better but I think the players are taking the point about needing to win the duels to heart. And I think we stopped Saudi Sportswashing Machine creating much.

I think there was a silly breakdown for their first goal. Bentancur going out wide to cover means someone needed to fill that space, and they didn’t. And the second goal for them was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen. But I’d say that was a job well done from Frank, and evidence we are getting closer.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

And all he needed to do it was 2 XIs strong enough to challenge for the title

And don’t forget the ones brought then replaced

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I agree. I think it was intentional. Other good thing was we were getting a lot of bookings especially first half. I would obviously like our tackling to be better but I think the players are taking the point about needing to win the duels to heart. And I think we stopped Saudi Sportswashing Machine creating much.

I think there was a silly breakdown for their first goal. Bentancur going out wide to cover means someone needed to fill that space, and they didn’t. And the second goal for them was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen. But I’d say that was a job well done from Frank, and evidence we are getting closer.

But also it was a great finish for that goal and Gordon is such a quality player. That happens
I’m not sure if the plan was the painful 30 but I do know I’ve seen us outplay them loads and get spanked up there so I’ll take what I saw tonight

 

[thfcsteff]

It seemed like we set up to contain for 30 minutes or so and then from there try to assert ourselves more on them. Whether that was the plan or not i don't know but there seemed to be a shift in our starting positions/lines at around that point and it stayed there for the duration of the game.

I felt it was absolutely set-up not to concede for the 35 or so. Then some glimmers of play.

 

[thfcsteff]

I agree. I think it was intentional. Other good thing was we were getting a lot of bookings especially first half. I would obviously like our tackling to be better but I think the players are taking the point about needing to win the duels to heart. And I think we stopped Saudi Sportswashing Machine creating much.

I think there was a silly breakdown for their first goal. Bentancur going out wide to cover means someone needed to fill that space, and they didn’t. And the second goal for them was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen. But I’d say that was a job well done from Frank, and evidence we are getting closer.

I am glad for Romero and his leadership tonight. I was sad for Bergvall that his frankly brilliant first-half attempt did not go in (sad for us too of course). Penalty was pathetic in terms of award, I mean mind-boggling really...I will say that no-one can tell me we do not have players capable of attacking.

Feels like a night to hopefully draw everyone closer together, at least in the short-term. Onwards.

 

[El Dante]

I think so much hinges on how we perform v Brentford. We played with more intensity tonight BUT we were often laboured in possession. We need a more dynamic midfielder who can get the ball forward quickly. If only we could find ourselves a modern day Dembele.

We need to create more still, plus take shots, try to force chances sometimes. We still create far too little; and whilst we are clinical with chances, we need to be doing more in the final third in terms of creative work and shots on goal. We need to create more for Kolo Muani.

This can either be another of those turning point matches. Or we could find it to be an anomaly and revert back to the boring football, very little xG created of previous matches and see our own supporters booing us off the pitch again at the weekend.

So an improvement, but we still need a lot more, and a lot more regularly. Can Frank do it? I have my doubts but I’d love to be proved wrong as that would be a great thing for the club.

 

[thfcsteff]

I think so much hinges on how we perform v Brentford. We played with more intensity tonight BUT we were often laboured in possession. We need a more dynamic midfielder who can get the ball forward quickly. If only we could find ourselves a modern day Dembele.

We need to create more still, plus take shots, try to force chances sometimes. We still create far too little; and whilst we are clinical with chances, we need to be doing more in the final third in terms of creative work and shots on goal. We need to create more for Kolo Muani.

This can either be another of those turning point matches. Or we could find it to be an anomaly and revert back to the boring football, very little xG created of previous matches and see our own supporters booing us off the pitch again at the weekend.

So an improvement, but we still need a lot more, and a lot more regularly. Can Frank do it? I have my doubts but I’d love to be proved wrong as that would be a great thing for the club.

I agree with you. Especially that last line because we all win in such cases.
COYS

 

[SpurMeUp]

It seemed like we set up to contain for 30 minutes or so and then from there try to assert ourselves more on them. Whether that was the plan or not i don't know but there seemed to be a shift in our starting positions/lines at around that point and it stayed there for the duration of the game.

Think it was castling coming out strong and pegging us back. Same thing happened at the start of the second half. They are well drilled and much better than us closing down possession. But credit to us we opened up space as the game went on. At home there might not have been the patience however.

 

[braineclipse]

Well that's the golden gift for any manager...time.

I'm sure it took the Bodo manager a while to convince the Bodo squad...this is how we do it. Be brave and have confidence.
My point is, I'm not seeing them do anything special technically. They just learn to be there for each other, trust each other, and learn how to pass the ball accurately over pretty ordinary distances.
All to the coaches instructions/game plan.
And what reenforces my point is it's all very well doing it in their own league BUT they've taken it to the big teams in Europe and shown they can carry it out effectively at that level.

Of course Frank might not be wanting to play like Bodo, I'm just pointing out that any system requires decent passing, and our footballers must be levels above the majority of theirs, so where's the issue? Is it the coaching of structure/patterns that facilitate/encourage passing or a mental problem of some kind?

I will say I have no idea how long it took Bodo to become good?

On your last question I don't know for sure either.

To me part of our issues at least are a rather conservative positioning off the ball when in possession and an overall rather risk averse style. The players seem way more focused on being in position if we lose the ball than how to get into a position where they can receive the ball and threaten the opposition. Part player selection, but also positioning and approach.

We're seemingly trying to change that a bit. But that takes time, mistakes will be made. Imo a result of this not being worked on more from back in preseason.

 

[braineclipse]

It seemed like we set up to contain for 30 minutes or so and then from there try to assert ourselves more on them. Whether that was the plan or not i don't know but there seemed to be a shift in our starting positions/lines at around that point and it stayed there for the duration of the game.

30 minutes is about as long as the majority of teams can sustain a really high and intense press in the first half. When they dropped off a bit we could assert ourselves more.

Our inability to progress the ball against a high press is a major issue.

I guess we did try to play through them, but repeatedly lost the ball.

 

[Robspur12]

Saudi Sportswashing Machine are a tough team to get anything against at home (see recent Carabao cup tie) so pleased to get a point. Penalty seems harsh in that those kinds of challenges happen all the time and it is really difficult to stop someone like Dan Burn getting a head to the ball at set pieces. But by the letter of the law it was correct as Bents doesn't look at the ball at anytime.

Makes a change from the capitulations to the chavs and L'Arse. Onwards to Brentford. Have to say TF is rotating the squad pretty well. Another reason I have faith in him turning around our form eventually.

 

[billyiddo]

30 minutes is about as long as the majority of teams can sustain a really high and intense press in the first half. When they dropped off a bit we could assert ourselves more.

Our inability to progress the ball against a high press is a major issue.

I guess we did try to play through them, but repeatedly lost the ball.

Yeah, playing through the opposition press is a major issue and has been a consistent with our teams as far back as Mourinho and the last throes of Pochettinos time.

 

[Baleforce]

Saudi Sportswashing Machine are a tough team to get anything against at home (see recent Carabao cup tie) so pleased to get a point. Penalty seems harsh in that those kinds of challenges happen all the time and it is really difficult to stop someone like Dan Burn getting a head to the ball at set pieces. But by the letter of the law it was correct as Bents doesn't look at the ball at anytime.

Makes a change from the capitulations to the chavs and L'Arse. Onwards to Brentford. Have to say TF is rotating the squad pretty well. Another reason I have faith in him turning around our form eventually.

The rotation should serve us well later in the season.

 

[Robspur12]

He has
But he has also spent about a £b
I think a LOT of managers would do well spending that amount of money

His club have also shown an incredible amount of patience when it comes to him winning the League at least 6 years I think. I guess the lesson is that if you are patient and back the manager in the transfer market you are likely to have success. That said, it has to be the right manager and what Arteta has done well is made Arsenal solid first before working on his attack.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

His club have also shown an incredible amount of patience when it comes to him winning the League at least 6 years I think. I guess the lesson is that if you are patient and back the manager in the transfer market you are likely to have success. That said, it has to be the right manager and what Arteta has done well is made Arsenal solid first before working on his attack.

He has done a very good job with unlimited support
They now have the cult like vibe
If we gave Frank a £B to spend and 6 years I’m confident we would win things

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

Getting him reference Bromby as similar pressure was odd for me (but he can only quote what he knows).

He was comparing the step up to the size of that club in the Danish league and the pressures that come with the step up to us in this league....with the experience being all relative to where he was in his coaching career at the time.