Thomas Frank - Head Coach

[tommysvr]

What worries me about Frank is what appears to be a reluctance to play forward thinking midfielders.
Maybe it's their age, although none of them are exactly inexperienced, but it baffles me how few minutes Sarr, Bergvall and gray are getting.
Three players who when they receive the ball their instincts are to go forward.
Richie and kudus cannot do it all on their own.

Gray is the one that baffles me. He was very close to signing for Frank at Brentford last summer. He did well against Burnley in the first match of the season and barely been seen since (understand he's been injured lately.) Would love to see him with Palhinha for a bit. Like a midfield version of Naybet and King (to borrow a @Gutter Boy-ism)

 

[harr1984]

I keep seeing TF is intelligent - which EPL manager is not intelligent?

This is one thing keep seeing people trying to cling onto - how Frank comes across on some of his TV analysis. It's irrelevant, it's what is transmitted in the pitch that counts, if the players don't do as you ask or preach it doesn't matter how knowledgeable you are.

Potter is another 'student of the game' yet he fails, AVB gave great power point presentations but on the pitch not so great and there are various examples. The way he has set us up to play football will only ever be accepted here when we are consistently winning and to do that we need to be a Chelsea and acquire the top players - it won't happen so unless Frank changes there's only one way this is going to go....

 

[thfcsteff]

Sarr and Bergvall played a lot until picking up injuries iirc.

Kudus has gone right off the boil and needs to pull his finger out.

Kudus just came back from a few weeks out after being battered all season. He was not at his best and there's a reason IMO.

 

[DubSpur]

It didn’t feel like chance after chance yesterday, other than the 4 goals (off an xGa of under 2) they had the rice and saka shots, that was pretty much it.

Other than yesterday, where mistakes gave up 3 shockers, we have defended better this season, and the xGa backs that up.

Yes, the score doesn't really reflect the chances created. On balance it should've been 2-0.
We've reduced the xGa but we've totally abandoned creating.

 

[harr1984]

I'll speak for myself.
When it was clear a change was going to be made last winter, I thought about all the names linked. For a club which operated as we did under Levy, I felt Thomas Frank was the right choice in all senses, right down to not necessarily demanding 'next level' players. I was concerned with the potential of Brentfordism, yet equally believed he could progress and develop into a creative-mindeed coach with better overall players.
I am all for patience and giving a manager time, and I want to see signs of direction, identity, resolve and resolution as that happens. My personal concern right now is that I cannot clearly see the first two; admittedly perhaps my vision is a bit off? However, there is a clear, clear disconnect between what he is telling us is happening during matches/how he is sending us out, versus what is actually happening. I actually felt early warning signs with the amount of satisfaction expressed over the PSG Final/friendly, a match where we played a top side still recovering from a summer tournament and a few weeks on the beach. Other than Emirates Marketing Project, it has been hard to see just how we intend to play/style ourselves. I am hopeful it is not the way we are currently setting up and playing. To that end, when Deki and Solanke come back, we will get a clearer picture of what his identity for us is...unless we already are?
I don't mind admitting that I am generally uncomfortable with where we are (especially as he was a Levy era appointment) and I also intrinsically believe a chance should be given to any new incumbent. It is fair to say I am torn right now. Common sense says he deserves the season and that I need to remember my expectations. However, those expectations did not mitigate for the sheer low standard of performances we've put in against the likes of arse and chelscum...

I was one further than you and didn't originally want him because of his playing style, I thought Glasner was the obvious choice having won things in Europe and England with not the biggest clubs and a great style of football.

Frank I said from the get go didn't like his style but some insisted he plays a more attractive style too so I'm open to it. But to date he's showing zero footballing style, and we aren't even good defensively despite our negative setup. I'm still giving him the time, some claim we are asking for miracles which is nonsense - asking for some actual on the floor passing football and forward patterns is not asking for too much with a squad full of fudging international players.

I have no bias despite him not being my choice, I still support him but like you all I want to see is signs we are moving in the right direction and looking to play football. I want to see something to cling onto and be like ' I can see what he's trying to do here, give it some time and this will look good' but there is zero - I honestly have no idea what we are trying to do when going forward except long balls/chuck it in the box. My last hope is that Kulu and Solanke returning will make it better, but I fear the style will be the same and it will just not have any sort of longevity here....

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Kudus just came back from a few weeks out after being battered all season. He was not at his best and there's a reason IMO.

And he is the one player we hit snd hope keeps the ball
That’s not Richy or Odoberts strengths
Now if we played a more focussed attack with some variables kudus may be even more effective

 

[DubSpur]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought yesterday's score was off, felt like they scored with every chance and none of them were exactly easy.
Don't get me wrong they deserved the win, but I think the score was not indicative of their chances.
But we do give up a lot of chances, especially from that centre area around our 18 yard line, the time and space we allow teams is ridiculous.

I don't know how we give up that many chances around the edge of the box while playing two DMs. They give nothing going forward, the least that has to be expected then is that there is nothing coming through the centre at us.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Yes, the score doesn't really reflect the chances created. On balance it should've been 2-0.
We've reduced the xGa but we've totally abandoned creating.

Got massive Nuno vibes to me
And nuno has shown he is a decent coach in the right team

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I don't know how we give up that many chances around the edge of the box while playing two DMs. They give nothing going forward, the least that has to be expected then is that there is nothing coming through the centre at us.

Makes no sense
But then with so many defensive players they can easily end up marking themselves

 

[DaveT316]

Personally, while I have (some) issues with Frank and how we’re being set up, I think we need to look a little below the surface to the HUMAN aspect.

This isn’t to reopen - I think that ship has sailed! - any conversations about Ange specifically, but this largely same group of players went through so many defeats last season that it doesn’t surprise me that they’re producing so little in the face of adversity atm. They’re used to it. To paraphrase, it’s the nature of [this] Tottenham [team].

 

[harr1984]

Personally, while I have (some) issues with Frank and how we’re being set up, I think we need to look a little below the surface to the HUMAN aspect.

This isn’t to reopen - I think that ship has sailed! - any conversations about Ange specifically, but this largely same group of players went through so many defeats last season that it doesn’t surprise me that they’re producing so little in the face of adversity atm. They’re used to it. To paraphrase, it’s the nature of [this] Tottenham [team].

That's a ridiculous excuse. Ange took over from us being rubbish for ages and had us top of the league within a couple of months. And this squad is much better, Ange would have loved to of had Kudus, Simons and Muani in his attacking line up. And sorry to say I'd rather watch an Ange team with those three players added to it than whatever this is meant to be, not to mention Frank has actually had our first choice back 5 all season....

 

[glasgowspur]

Sarr and Bergvall played a lot until picking up injuries iirc.

Kudus has gone right off the boil and needs to pull his finger out.

When they get game time though It's how they are asked to play and in a set up that gives very few options.
They are not being played to their strengths.
Even more puzzling is that when he does play front foot it can work, but then he goes all negative again.

 

[glasgowspur]

Gray is the one that baffles me. He was very close to signing for Frank at Brentford last summer. He did well against Burnley in the first match of the season and barely been seen since (understand he's been injured lately.) Would love to see him with Palhinha for a bit. Like a midfield version of Naybet and King (to borrow a @Gutter Boy-ism)

And Johnson, who he also wanted at Brentford, with his pace and finishing he had more chance of stretching them than Richie did.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

That's a ridiculous excuse. Ange took over from us being rubbish for ages and had us top of the league within a couple of months. And this squad is much better, Ange would have loved to of had Kudus, Simons and Muani in his attacking line up. And sorry to say I'd rather watch an Ange team with those three players added to it than whatever this is meant to be, not to mention Frank has actually had our first choice back 5 all season....

I think both yours and his come at are true though
Clearly we have fans who despise Ange … I still hear it now and the way people relate his “failings” at forest as justification
But we didn’t lose yesterday because of anything Ange did. That was all on Frank
And you’re right, the defence is the one that actually did really well under Ange (despite the cavalier style of play)
It’s the balance that’s missing
Ange understood the culture hear and created a way of playing that exposed weaknesses in the squad
Frank is clearly trying to address what he sees as weaknesses too but exposing others
Ange has down trophies as a manager and could point to that to show players as to why his methods work
Conte could too
Frank can’t so has to do something else to get buy in
Poch had his players do a walk on coals buy also worked do hard on culture. He also drove physical improvements in the players (we were so fit)
I can’t see what Frank is trying to do to get us to win games. I can see what he is doing to try to stop us losing.
But then you read his comments about risk when he joined…. And it just reminds me of Nunos “proud” moment

 

[thfcsteff]

When they get game time though It's how they are asked to play and in a set up that gives very few options.
They are not being played to their strengths.
Even more puzzling is that when he does play front foot it can work, but then he goes all negative again.

...which is my main concern...

 

[afsoc4life]

I was one further than you and didn't originally want him because of his playing style, I thought Glasner was the obvious choice having won things in Europe and England with not the biggest clubs and a great style of football.

Frank I said from the get go didn't like his style but some insisted he plays a more attractive style too so I'm open to it. But to date he's showing zero footballing style, and we aren't even good defensively despite our negative setup. I'm still giving him the time, some claim we are asking for miracles which is nonsense - asking for some actual on the floor passing football and forward patterns is not asking for too much with a squad full of fudging international players.

I have no bias despite him not being my choice, I still support him but like you all I want to see is signs we are moving in the right direction and looking to play football. I want to see something to cling onto and be like ' I can see what he's trying to do here, give it some time and this will look good' but there is zero - I honestly have no idea what we are trying to do when going forward except long balls/chuck it in the box. My last hope is that Kulu and Solanke returning will make it better, but I fear the style will be the same and it will just not have any sort of longevity here....

I think Spurs should go all out for Glasner. He has a track record of winning trophies and is IMHO a far better manager than Frank.

 

[harr1984]

I think Spurs should go all out for Glasner. He has a track record of winning trophies and is IMHO a far better manager than Frank.

I would have liked that but I think that ship has sailed unfortunately.

Things can change quickly in football, let's see where we are come the end of the season and how Frank has changed things up before coming to any definitive conclusions.....

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I would have liked that but I think that ship has sailed unfortunately.

Things can change quickly in football, let's see where we are come the end of the season and how Frank has changed things up before coming to any definitive conclusions.....

We have to give him the season

 

[DTA]

Frank is a guy who would order his steak well done to be safe, but he may add some ChimiChurri to be adventurous

Ange did pnt even cook his steak he just ate it raw with no cutlery

Conte only would have the leanest thinnest steak and even then he ever ever liked what he got served

Nuno massaged the cow for a little bit think giving him wage beef but it turned out he was massaging a donkey

Haha now do Jose and Poch

 

[Muttley]

I think the Palhinha signing has been the most intriguing when it comes to tactics. We bought a specialist holding midfielder surely knowing that he offers less to his game in an attacking game. So when you're at BM, Palhinha is extremely useful as you bring him off the bench and you close games out. That is what a top of the table club need. However, when you bring him in as a first choice player in a top 8 club you shine a light on the other areas of his game. He's not keeping that ball for a few seconds in tight spaces when there's 2 players on him. He's not shifting the ball in his first touch so it is out of reach of the incoming player. He's not playing a one touch pass and then moving to get it back a second or two later to create space.

I guess the point I'm making is that I read for 2 years that the missing link in our midfield was a "proper number 6". A guy with smarts and leadership that would unite our midfield and make it stronger. A player, unlike Bissouma, who plays with his head and not his heart. Unfortunately, we now see the real truth of what is happening. Bentancur can't be happy that because of Pahinha's very natural deficiencies he is becoming the spacegoat as it's shone a light on his own post-injury deficiencies. Would it be controversial to say that a Palhinha / Bissouma partnership would be more aggressive and would be driving us forward better? That is what prime Biss does.

I'm totally in agreement with lots of posters on here. We need to get back to basics. We need left and right footed full-backs balancing the wide areas. It needs to be Porro or Spence and we need another leftie left back to cover Udogie. In the same way in the middle, it should be Palhinha or Bents or Frank needs to give Bents completely different instructions. We need Kulu back preferably with Xavi and Kudus in a 3. We need big Dom back to lead our line. 2 attacking full-backs, 3 AMs and Dom coming at you with a box to box 8 as the overload. It really isn't as difficult as Frank is making it.