Thomas Frank - Head Coach

[El Dante]

I respect and appreciate how we have improved in performance and results recently. I said a lot of negative things about Thomas Frank but have always wanted him to succeed as it leads to the best outcome for all parties.

Hopefully now we will be more forward thinking and our results and performances can develop further. I was vocal about wanting Frank out. But realistically it was more about wanting an end to matches in which we regularly saw sub 1xG. We needed to see more and at that point didn’t look like we were progressing.

Now there are clear signs of improvement and a lot of that is down to Thomas Frank. So thank you to him for reviewing our team and then making different choices about our gameplan. Let’s hope that this just the start of a very successful journey. And sorry for jumping ahead but unfortunately, I can be too knee jerk impulsive.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I respect and appreciate how we have improved in performance and results recently. I said a lot of negative things about Thomas Frank but have always wanted him to succeed as it leads to the best outcome for all parties.

Hopefully now we will be more forward thinking and our results and performances can develop further. I was vocal about wanting Frank out. But realistically it was more about wanting an end to matches in which we regularly saw sub 1xG. We needed to see more and at that point didn’t look like we were progressing.

Now there are clear signs of improvement and a lot of that is down to Thomas Frank. So thank you to him for reviewing our team and then making different choices about our gameplan. Let’s hope that this just the start of a very successful journey. And sorry for jumping ahead but unfortunately, I can be too knee jerk impulsive.

What he can now see is that attack is the best form of defence with our squad

 

[Lemonade Money]

*beep, beep, beep* "posters reversing"...

 

[metalgear]

why can't it be both, know your best eleven. and have rotation (for competition or keeping things fresh?
we are at the stage where we need to nail down an identity and having a best eleven helps write the playbook as well as sets the standards.

I heard some people moaning "Frank doesn't seem to know his best eleven"

But that is brilliant news, that is what we are striving for, 2 or 3 players that are equally as good in each position.

Competition for places.

E.g. if everyone was fit and you aren't sure whether to play Xavi or Deki or Maddison, that is FANTASTIC news.

We need to have depth to cover fatigue and avoid injuries.

I don't want Frank to "know his best eleven", I want us to rotate with real ease.

For instance, when Frank set up with both Palhinha and Bentancur, we didn't really have a replacement like for like, whereas playing with just one of them means the other can come on at 65 minutes for the last half hour and see the game out, saving their legs for the hectic schedule.

Ditto if you are unsure whether to play Gray, Sarr or Bergvall, if we can get them all playing to a similar level, that is called OPTIONS and that is what we need. I don't want it to be flippin obvious that Gray should always play, I want them all to be playing to the same standard.

Ditto in every position. Pick the guy that is in form and has fresh legs.

DM = Bentancur or Palhinha
CM = Gray or Sarr or Bergvall
AM = Xavi or Deki or Madders

LW = Richie or Tel or Odobert
ST = Muani or Solanke
RW = Kudus or (Johnson)

LB = Udogie or (newbie)
RB = Porro or Spence

CB = get really strong options for Romero and VdV e.g. Danso / Hincapie levels.

You get the idea.

 

[MartyFunkhouser]

why can't it be both, know your best eleven. and have rotation (for competition or keeping things fresh?
we are at the stage where we need to nail down an identity and having a best eleven helps write the playbook as well as sets the standards.

We do have both, its just the earlier stages of it, its also doing it with 25% of our best first team out, so its being done with one eye on the future too IMO. With Jan coming, that will invariably change the landscape again.

Footballs a fairly fluid sport