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Thomas Frank - Former Head Coach

but despite sherwood, not because sherwood

Could just as easily say we got our “record points total” because of Bale and in spite of AVB. Which probably isn’t that far from the truth given how many times Bale bailed us out and only looked like scoring from the penalty spot once he was sold.

Sherwood may not be a tactical genius but he immediately identified that we needed more men to attack the opposition box.
 
Could just as easily say we got our “record points total” because of Bale and in spite of AVB. Which probably isn’t that far from the truth given how many times Bale bailed us out and only looked like scoring from the penalty spot once he was sold.

Sherwood may not be a tactical genius but he immediately identified that we needed more men to attack the opposition box.

there is a reason Bale named his first child with the initials AVB

its not bailing out when it's plan A

he had the best player in the league, and built the team around that
 
By the way, what a mockery this current situation makes of our loan system. Right now, we have two players in Devine and Donley who have had regular match experience and carry with them some talent, fight and hunger, not to mention versatility. Lankshear has managed to gain some valuable time. Moore is doing really well. I’d even argue that Abbott (not sure if he is injured right now?) would’ve made a good addition?
ALL players who are ready to drop in for emergencies, all players who would help. A player like Donley yesterday off the bench at least gives you energy, engine and some vision.
Yet between the manager and our brilliant sporting director, we decided we needed none of them (Moore is the only one I understand as his tactics would’ve killed the kid).
Pathetic all round.
 
By the way, what a mockery this current situation makes of our loan system. Right now, we have two players in Devine and Donley who have had regular match experience and carry with them some talent, fight and hunger, not to mention versatility. Lankshear has managed to gain some valuable time. Moore is doing really well. I’d even argue that Abbott (not sure if he is injured right now?) would’ve made a good addition?
ALL players who are ready to drop in for emergencies, all players who would help. A player like Donley yesterday off the bench at least gives you energy, engine and some vision.
Yet between the manager and our brilliant sporting director, we decided we needed none of them (Moore is the only one I understand as his tactics would’ve killed the kid).
Pathetic all round.
Said it on the train home
Horrendous that we have a top youth set up and IMO (others will disagree) we have some top top young players too and none can get near to a game here
Then add that we sign a highly regarded left footed left back and can’t even give him 15 minuets when we getting pummeled
And this is meant to be the DOFs strong point
And now people will say they are t lulling up trees playing a lower level but I’d also counter that and say look who they are playing with too
My nephew has been doing some scouting for derby when he isn’t doing analysis
He really rates Devine but says he is a player who is a bit of everything (like most of our midfield)
Donley he saw play a lot last year and thought he was great and a okayed who could control the tempo in a high intensity side
And this year he has seen lankshear play a decent amount and he think he would be effective for what was Frank ball
But none of these cost money so tye pressure to play them is so low
 
Said it on the train home
Horrendous that we have a top youth set up and IMO (others will disagree) we have some top top young players too and none can get near to a game here
Then add that we sign a highly regarded left footed left back and can’t even give him 15 minuets when we getting pummeled
And this is meant to be the DOFs strong point
And now people will say they are t lulling up trees playing a lower level but I’d also counter that and say look who they are playing with too
My nephew has been doing some scouting for derby when he isn’t doing analysis
He really rates Devine but says he is a player who is a bit of everything (like most of our midfield)
Donley he saw play a lot last year and thought he was great and a okayed who could control the tempo in a high intensity side
And this year he has seen lankshear play a decent amount and he think he would be effective for what was Frank ball
But none of these cost money so tye pressure to play them is so low

Glad to see you here again mate. As ever, we agree…
 
Said it on the train home
Horrendous that we have a top youth set up and IMO (others will disagree) we have some top top young players too and none can get near to a game here
Then add that we sign a highly regarded left footed left back and can’t even give him 15 minuets when we getting pummeled
And this is meant to be the DOFs strong point
And now people will say they are t lulling up trees playing a lower level but I’d also counter that and say look who they are playing with too
My nephew has been doing some scouting for derby when he isn’t doing analysis
He really rates Devine but says he is a player who is a bit of everything (like most of our midfield)
Donley he saw play a lot last year and thought he was great and a okayed who could control the tempo in a high intensity side
And this year he has seen lankshear play a decent amount and he think he would be effective for what was Frank ball
But none of these cost money so tye pressure to play them is so low

Very good to see you back. Hope all is well.
 
By the way, what a mockery this current situation makes of our loan system. Right now, we have two players in Devine and Donley who have had regular match experience and carry with them some talent, fight and hunger, not to mention versatility. Lankshear has managed to gain some valuable time. Moore is doing really well. I’d even argue that Abbott (not sure if he is injured right now?) would’ve made a good addition?
ALL players who are ready to drop in for emergencies, all players who would help. A player like Donley yesterday off the bench at least gives you energy, engine and some vision.
Yet between the manager and our brilliant sporting director, we decided we needed none of them (Moore is the only one I understand as his tactics would’ve killed the kid).
Pathetic all round.
Said it on the train home
Horrendous that we have a top youth set up and IMO (others will disagree) we have some top top young players too and none can get near to a game here
Then add that we sign a highly regarded left footed left back and can’t even give him 15 minuets when we getting pummeled
And this is meant to be the DOFs strong point
And now people will say they are t lulling up trees playing a lower level but I’d also counter that and say look who they are playing with too
My nephew has been doing some scouting for derby when he isn’t doing analysis
He really rates Devine but says he is a player who is a bit of everything (like most of our midfield)
Donley he saw play a lot last year and thought he was great and a okayed who could control the tempo in a high intensity side
And this year he has seen lankshear play a decent amount and he think he would be effective for what was Frank ball
But none of these cost money so tye pressure to play them is so low

I alway refer back to Pep's treble winning team of of 22/23. Pep gave between 80-90% of pitch time to just 16 or 17 players. He found space for Rico Lewis and Cole Palmer but the rest of his outfielders were mostly unused U21's. He ignored guys like Laporte and Phillips and just heavily rotated, using the kids in some early rounds of the cups. He was imaginative enough to come up with that system that allowed him to get a bunch of centre halves on the pitch together. Ake would be at LB whilst Stones would be in centre mid. Pep still had some U21s out at places like Burnley with Kompany e.g. Trafford but he still managed to accommodate about 5 or 6 in that treble winning squad. This is probably the most extreme example of where a squad stays heavily rotated, doesn't get injuries and therefore has 4 or 5 U21's that barely kicked a ball. That would never happen with this current Spurs.

The big counter argument is all about accelerating their progress by being on loan. For me there is a great argument who would do a better job at centre half in the Phillips vs Davies vs Dragusin argument. I'm talking about the present with all fit of course. Phillips has played 30 times for Stoke and close to averaging 7 (Whoscored) this season. However, could that have happened if he'd stayed at Spurs and not been utilised? Would he be that far along even though he may not ultimately make it as a top 4 PL defender. Neither have Dragusin or Davies when you think about it. They make up numbers and Davies has done for a very long time.

I scratch my head with this stuff. You are sort of damned if you do and damned if you don't when deciding whether a younger player is loaned of including in your first team. It's always easy to build an argument for either at the ends of the spectrum i.e when you've got a ton of injuries or barely any at all.

Then you say examples like Yang who was flying and now isn't making a match day squad.
 
I alway refer back to Pep's treble winning team of of 22/23. Pep gave between 80-90% of pitch time to just 16 or 17 players. He found space for Rico Lewis and Cole Palmer but the rest of his outfielders were mostly unused U21's. He ignored guys like Laporte and Phillips and just heavily rotated, using the kids in some early rounds of the cups. He was imaginative enough to come up with that system that allowed him to get a bunch of centre halves on the pitch together. Ake would be at LB whilst Stones would be in centre mid. Pep still had some U21s out at places like Burnley with Kompany e.g. Trafford but he still managed to accommodate about 5 or 6 in that treble winning squad. This is probably the most extreme example of where a squad stays heavily rotated, doesn't get injuries and therefore has 4 or 5 U21's that barely kicked a ball. That would never happen with this current Spurs.

The big counter argument is all about accelerating their progress by being on loan. For me there is a great argument who would do a better job at centre half in the Phillips vs Davies vs Dragusin argument. I'm talking about the present with all fit of course. Phillips has played 30 times for Stoke and close to averaging 7 (Whoscored) this season. However, could that have happened if he'd stayed at Spurs and not been utilised? Would he be that far along even though he may not ultimately make it as a top 4 PL defender. Neither have Dragusin or Davies when you think about it. They make up numbers and Davies has done for a very long time.

I scratch my head with this stuff. You are sort of damned if you do and damned if you don't when deciding whether a younger player is loaned of including in your first team. It's always easy to build an argument for either at the ends of the spectrum i.e when you've got a ton of injuries or barely any at all.

Then you say examples like Yang who was flying and now isn't making a match day squad.
Kids need games
We will never ever know if they are good enough
Kane imo would never be the okayed he is know without the chances he eventually got
I don’t believe that nay youth player would be any worse with the ball than Dragusin but Dragusin cost £20m ish so is an investment …

Your comment in Pep is one that the guy next to me said… he have kids chances when the game was done and they learned
We havent done that In years …. And personally I hate not seeing a few lads, or even just one lad who actually gets it. What it means to come through and be part of our club
We’re the only team in the whole league I believe who hasn’t started a home grown player once all season. That’s appalling
 
Said it on the train home
Horrendous that we have a top youth set up and IMO (others will disagree) we have some top top young players too and none can get near to a game here
Then add that we sign a highly regarded left footed left back and can’t even give him 15 minuets when we getting pummeled
And this is meant to be the DOFs strong point
And now people will say they are t lulling up trees playing a lower level but I’d also counter that and say look who they are playing with too
My nephew has been doing some scouting for derby when he isn’t doing analysis
He really rates Devine but says he is a player who is a bit of everything (like most of our midfield)
Donley he saw play a lot last year and thought he was great and a okayed who could control the tempo in a high intensity side
And this year he has seen lankshear play a decent amount and he think he would be effective for what was Frank ball
But none of these cost money so tye pressure to play them is so low
Do we really have a top youth setup? Where's the proof? Where is the evidence? Where are the players of quality that have actually done something in the mans game? You can look at them and think they have massive potential but that's pretty much the case across every PL club forum and fan base. They all think they have 15-19 year olds that are going to be the next superstar across numerous positions. We've had on here even for years people talking about Pritchard, Parret, Onamah, Mason, Cebellos etc etc.

I sort of see it as the proof is in the pudding, if our youth prospects are as great as every claims then we will eventually see it on the pitch. Yes you're 100% they need to be given the chance in the first place, but if they aren't trusted enough to be given that opportunity it does say quite a bit about what the clubs real expectations are for those players. Of course the club could be assessing these players incorrectly but how likely is that in reality? You'll say this batch is different but that's always the claim. Let's see it before we proclaim it.
 
Do we really have a top youth setup? Where's the proof? Where is the evidence? Where are the players of quality that have actually done something in the mans game? You can look at them and think they have massive potential but that's pretty much the case across every PL club forum and fan base. They all think they have 15-19 year olds that are going to be the next superstar across numerous positions. We've had on here even for years people talking about Pritchard, Parret, Onamah, Mason, Cebellos etc etc.

I sort of see it as the proof is in the pudding, if our youth prospects are as great as every claims then we will eventually see it on the pitch. Yes you're 100% they need to be given the chance in the first place, but if they aren't trusted enough to be given that opportunity it does say quite a bit about what the clubs real expectations are for those players. Of course the club could be assessing these players incorrectly but how likely is that in reality? You'll say this batch is different but that's always the claim. Let's see it before we proclaim it.
Need opportunities to get on the pitch
Don’t forget we were happy for Kane to leave
And trust is the issue
Personally I don’t trust the coaches to make those calls because in their defence, the expectation is higher and higher each time
I’ve seen the youth team play and they are technically great but not all physically ready. But in a team that really lacks any technicality one or two of them should have been given a chance imo
 
Need opportunities to get on the pitch
Don’t forget we were happy for Kane to leave
And trust is the issue
Personally I don’t trust the coaches to make those calls because in their defence, the expectation is higher and higher each time
I’ve seen the youth team play and they are technically great but not all physically ready. But in a team that really lacks any technicality one or two of them should have been given a chance imo
I would absolutely give some of them a chance, I'm just not buying the claim we have a top youth setup when there's no actual proof or evidence that, that is the case.
 
I would absolutely give some of them a chance, I'm just not buying the claim we have a top youth setup when there's no actual proof or evidence that, that is the case.

I would not get stuck on a word. The overall issue is we have several youth players who are more than good enough to do a good job in the current squad, yet they are simply not being seen or used. Which is brick. And now of course is the ultimate problem, where throwing the kids we DO have at the club (Williams-Barnett) in as Hail Marys would be ridiculously unfair and poor for their development at such a critical time.
 
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unidentified player admits that key players did not agree (or submit) to TF's ways
 
We don’t know until we try them
That’s the key
And we don’t seem to we ever want to try them
I agree, however, you also don't throw a kid into the pressure of a relegation fight unless you really have no choice. It would be a brave manager to do that if we lose the game with internationals left out (and probably a sacked one)
 
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