Thomas Frank - Head Coach

[braineclipse]

I don't think that is true. It was quite clear to me that we had a number of set patterns of attacking play previously, particularly ones that involved interchange between our fullbacks and Maddison, and we also looked to get the wide player in behind the last defender and hitting the far post where the opposite wide player was arriving.

Looking at last night's match in isolation, I think Frank had us way to deep and timid. We were set up in a low block. We then struggled to get past their press, which resulted in most of the game being played in our half of the pitch. I really don't see that we had any need to play low block against Bodo, even considering the fact that they have a plastic pitch. I think if we actually go out and try to beat a team like that then we do so. I get playing in a negative way away to Liverpool or Emirates Marketing Project or PSG but not against Bodo Glimt. Frank needs to be braver IMO, he's not at a small club like Brentford now.

We tried pressing high a bit, but other than an early turnover (iirc) mostly just got played through.

Our own issues playing through a press (or being able to go direct and make it stick with any real frequency) remains the biggest issue. That's what needs fixing the most. For a period of the first half they weren't able to press as high as well (physically unable I'm guessing) and we were in the game looking alright. But whenever we get pressed well and high we struggle so much.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

We tried pressing high a bit, but other than an early turnover (iirc) mostly just got played through.

Our own issues playing through a press (or being able to go direct and make it stick with any real frequency) remains the biggest issue. That's what needs fixing the most. For a period of the first half they weren't able to press as high as well (physically unable I'm guessing) and we were in the game looking alright. But whenever we get pressed well and high we struggle so much.

That period is when we passed quickly and also used the wide players to bounce off instead of hitting them when they were static

 

[thfcsteff]

I think he is still learning what blends he can/cannot deploy in what situations, thus the proverbial handbrake remains on more often than not.

 

[Bullet]

Remember, Liverpool won the league then bought Kerkes, Wirtz, Ekitike and Isak.
Then they just got smacked by Palace and were lucky to only lose 2-1, with Kerkes run ragged.
Then they went to Galatasaray and got beaten again.
Crisis mode OMGGGGG.


Football is a funny old game, you will not win every match, chill out a bit, we are a work in progress.

 

[Surfless]

We are fans so it's our job to do a deep dive on each performance, but the truth is that in equivalent situations last season's we would have gone behind or even two down and you never felt it was likely that we'd recover. If for now while we are evolving and getting players back/new players bedded in, we are just hard to beat, that's better than being spanked every week.

Our setup is hard to score against now, we need to get some forward players fit to create competition and increase the quality. Richi for all his willingness is not our best forward, and blows hot and cold.

 

[braineclipse]

That period is when we passed quickly and also used the wide players to bounce off instead of hitting them when they were static

Yes, we did. My point is that we were able to do that because they didn't press as hard and well.

We have quite a few players who are well capable of that quick and good passing as long as they're not under real significant pressure. But unable to progress the ball well if the pressure is stronger.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Yes, we did. My point is that we were able to do that because they didn't press as hard and well.

We have quite a few players who are well capable of that quick and good passing as long as they're not under real significant pressure. But unable to progress the ball well if the pressure is stronger.

I think it was more about our passing quickly
Pass quick and you move teams
Pass slowly and teams use their tactics and organisation better

 

[braineclipse]

I think it was more about our passing quickly
Pass quick and you move teams
Pass slowly and teams use their tactics and organisation better

Yeah, we see that rather differently then.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Yeah, we see that rather differently then.

I think you won’t get them losing shape without passing better
And as we had a lack of quality passes the speed was what made the difference
No one likes running back to their goal and to turn them around and have men behind was really effective
We just didn’t and don’t do enough of it so far under Frank because he has us set up to play wide every time
And that is quite limited because we only have one creative wide player

 

[Muttley]

I think you won’t get them losing shape without passing better
And as we had a lack of quality passes the speed was what made the difference
No one likes running back to their goal and to turn them around and have men behind was really effective
We just didn’t and don’t do enough of it so far under Frank because he has us set up to play wide every time
And that is quite limited because we only have one creative wide player

Admittedly, missed last couple of games.

I don't really recall Frank having so many wide players over the years. In fact, he was moulding some and bringing them inside as goalscoring channel players. So perhaps trying to figure out why he thinks that the best approach with Spurs is width. Is it perhaps because of our full-backs? Is he just buying time until Kulu and Madds bolster the inside options?

I'm seeing a similar thing with England just reverting to getting the ball out to the wide areas.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Admittedly, missed last couple of games.

I don't really recall Frank having so many wide players over the years. In fact, he was moulding some and bringing them inside as goalscoring channel players. So perhaps trying to figure out why he thinks that the best approach with Spurs is width. Is it perhaps because of our full-backs? Is he just buying time until Kulu and Madds bolster the inside options?

I'm seeing a similar thing with England just reverting to getting the ball out to the wide areas.

We play, right now, a very basic way of playing
We’re scarily predictable and it’s ugly to watch
That was always my worry with Frank
But i know he has been super adaptable in the past which I hope will materialise here

 

[Gazza Dazzla]

We play, right now, a very basic way of playing
We’re scarily predictable and it’s ugly to watch
That was always my worry with Frank
But i know he has been super adaptable in the past which I hope will materialise here

And most probably 100% influenced by not having Maddison / Kulu as creators and only Richy available up front for every game he’s managed for us. I’d hold off until we at least have some options up front, or creative players back in midfield before writing his style off.

If things do get better when the cavalry arrives it won’t be because he’s adapted, it will be because he has the right players available again that allow that style of play. If things don’t get better then we can say you’re concerns about him are right.

 

[glorygloryeze]

And most probably 100% influenced by not having Maddison / Kulu as creators and only Richy available up front for every game he’s managed for us. I’d hold off until we at least have some options up front, or creative players back in midfield before writing his style off.

If things do get better when the cavalry arrives it won’t be because he’s adapted, it will be because he has the right players available again that allow that style of play. If things don’t get better then we can say you’re concerns about him are right.

Fair

 

[harr1984]

And most probably 100% influenced by not having Maddison / Kulu as creators and only Richy available up front for every game he’s managed for us. I’d hold off until we at least have some options up front, or creative players back in midfield before writing his style off.

If things do get better when the cavalry arrives it won’t be because he’s adapted, it will be because he has the right players available again that allow that style of play. If things don’t get better then we can say you’re concerns about him are right.

People are only being critical of what they have seen, it's not like anyone is saying get Frank out - we all know the caveat that he has got time to mould things as he wishes. But the facts are people are just blindly stating 'He's just being more defensive for now to start with' when this in fact is just his usual playing style so at this stage it is just wishful thinking to suggest this is just a temporary thing and he's going to change his style.

There is no doubt we are missing attacking players which will help, but according to many Maddison wasn't good enough ( I don't agree) and Kulu himself has been inconsistent. And when we have Kudus/Simons/Bergvall/Porro on the pitch as we have had at times and the football has been poor, it's not like we should not have been playing better football than we have with the players on the pitch and it is ok to say so. These are things to work on which the players and manager are of course allowed time for, as far as I can see it's ok to voice concerns without it meaning they want the manager's head....

 

[Bedfordspurs]

And most probably 100% influenced by not having Maddison / Kulu as creators and only Richy available up front for every game he’s managed for us. I’d hold off until we at least have some options up front, or creative players back in midfield before writing his style off.

If things do get better when the cavalry arrives it won’t be because he’s adapted, it will be because he has the right players available again that allow that style of play. If things don’t get better then we can say you’re concerns about him are right.

That’s fair
But as a flexible manager he needs to adapt to what he has
That is his selling feature imo
Can’t rely on who is fit as that was the biggest issue with Ange
I really really like Frank and it’s game 8 I think … but he is giving out way too much respect to the opposition IMO

 

[glorygloryeze]

That’s fair
But as a flexible manager he needs to adapt to what he has
That is his selling feature imo
Can’t rely on who is fit as that was the biggest issue with Ange
I really really like Frank and it’s game 8 I think … but he is giving out way too much respect to the opposition IMO

Also fair, about to play game 7 btw...


Why do you say he's giving too much respect to the opposition btw?
I think it can be a fine balance especially given that we almost saw the opposite for the last two years.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Also fair, about to play game 7 btw...


Why do you say he's giving too much respect to the opposition btw?
I think it can be a fine balance especially given that we almost saw the opposite for the last two years.

Because he is playing way too defensively
We bent over to accommodate BODO for example. He set up a very passive line up
He has almost hime retrograde to what we saw in the past and needs that balance
I also think playing Paulina and Bentacur in the same team at home encourages such slow play we are easy to defend against

 

[Gazza Dazzla]

That’s fair
But as a flexible manager he needs to adapt to what he has
That is his selling feature imo
Can’t rely on who is fit as that was the biggest issue with Ange
I really really like Frank and it’s game 8 I think … but he is giving out way too much respect to the opposition IMO

I think he has adapted to what he has, a lack of strikers and creative players fit means we’re going to be turgid by default. If it lasts when they’re back then we have a problem

 

[Gazza Dazzla]

People are only being critical of what they have seen, it's not like anyone is saying get Frank out - we all know the caveat that he has got time to mould things as he wishes. But the facts are people are just blindly stating 'He's just being more defensive for now to start with' when this in fact is just his usual playing style so at this stage it is just wishful thinking to suggest this is just a temporary thing and he's going to change his style.

There is no doubt we are missing attacking players which will help, but according to many Maddison wasn't good enough ( I don't agree) and Kulu himself has been inconsistent. And when we have Kudus/Simons/Bergvall/Porro on the pitch as we have had at times and the football has been poor, it's not like we should not have been playing better football than we have with the players on the pitch and it is ok to say so. These are things to work on which the players and manager are of course allowed time for, as far as I can see it's ok to voice concerns without it meaning they want the manager's head....

Noones suggesting there is a Frank out movement, not what I’ve seen anyway? Seems like a strawman to me unless you can point me in the direction of where you’ve seen that?

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I think he has adapted to what he has, a lack of strikers and creative players fit means we’re going to be turgid by default. If it lasts when they’re back then we have a problem

I don’t think he has
I think he has gone really stodgy
He has players who can pass and run in midfield for example
Our current way of playing seems to be pass to one of the 2 DMs … pass back, pass back… then try to go wide and hit the man in the box
That’s very very basic but is exactly why we’re creating nothing through the middle