Thomas Frank - Head Coach

[SissokoWasGood (BoL)]

22 PL losses last season suggests there is no evidence for this assertion.

I’ve no interest in whether we he had more points at this stage last season; league campaigns last 10 months, and the reality overall is that the league campaign last year was a disgrace. We were terrible to watch (that seems to have faded from memories quickly), naive beyond belief.

If we are playing like we are now next Christmas then it’ll perhaps be time to start thinking about the manager’s position. Until then, he needs time and players.

I think comparing points at this stage of the season is interesting, because it shows that it wasn’t as if the entirety of last season was some drudge towards the bottom. Clearly we had a decent start, clearly something happened around this time of the year, and clearly something else happened later in the season.

But my point was more…we should let Ange go if we have a ready made improvement. Not someone that needs a season to find their feet at this level, or someone that is rebuilding the whole culture of the team, which is putting us in another transitional season. We have a good squad, and we could be doing better.

I do want Frank to succeed. But it would be easier to see it right now if we’d demonstrated literally any other plan beyond getting it wide and crossing as a means to break down a struggling side without a win away all season. And additionally, we’ve seen a lot more dissent from the players already this season which is concerning. The Porro / Bergval thing yesterday. Obviously Spence and Micky before. In 22 losses last season I never had any sense that the players weren’t united.

 

[veryoldspur]

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bill-nicholson/leistungsdatenDetail/trainer/26064/plus/0?saison_id=1958&verein_id=148&gegner_id=&liga=&wettbewerb_id=&trainer_id=

His first season we finished 18th in the league. While finishing 3rd the season before. He was given time to shape his team.
You lot would have sacked him before january.

Ultimately it isn't down to people posting on a forum, however we should look at what we think the club may do. Up to this point we have less points than we did last year, we are one position lower, and have a far worse goal difference. I thought Ange was our worst ever manager, but Frank is attempting to break all records

 

[Glenda's Legs]

Ultimately it isn't down to people posting on a forum, however we should look at what we think the club may do. Up to this point we have less points than we did last year, we are one position lower, and have a far worse goal difference. I thought Ange was our worst ever manager, but Frank is attempting to break all records

Maybe that means we’re going to win the Champions League!!

 

[Robspur12]

I see a lot of stats offered and comparisons with the previous incumbent being raised. Here's some interesting numbers for you...

...on Nov 30th 2024 we were 8th with 19 points
GD was 14 with 27 for and 13 against

This season we are 10th with 18 points
GD is 5 with 21 for and 16 against

Not that I actually care that much (the fact we are currently so poor to watch is of far greater concern) but the comparisons aren't that pretty right now if you want to suggest we are 'doing better'. Statistically we are doing worse, especially when it comes to GD. I've been told that we are 'improved defensively'. We are not. Take this as you wish. I am simply saying that I am being told we are a side who will take 'risks' going forward and that our defending is better when my eyes and the stats say the opposite.

p.s. at this stage last season we had Fraser Forster in goal, VdV and Romero were also both out, Maddison was out, Odobert was out, Richarlison was out. I believe Dragusin was also out.

As of today, we are without Maddison, Deki, Solanke, Dragusin

Stats mid season are relatively meaningless. Earlier you were also posting about how we were not close to relegation last season.

Of course stats wise both points you are making are correct. But if you analyse our season last time round, it was not just on us that we were safe, hell we didn't even make the 40 points, that is usually seen as the watermark for assuring PL safety. Ange calculated that the three teams below us were so poor that they were not going to get enough points to catch us. We lost 2 games to them, the 3 worst teams in the PL. As well as games to several teams around us and most top half teams. I would not have backed us last season if we were actually caught up in a relegation dog fight. That we didn't have to worry about being even competitive in the league from February onwards was part of the reason we could throw everything at the EL. And we played quite differently then to how Ange wanted to play.

And to compare a manager in his second season with a manager who has not even managed 1/2 a season is unfair imho.

What I have noticed atm are players making lots of individual mistakes. I'm not sure the reason for that except that they look short of confidence and booing players during the game cannot help. A team who gave up being competitive in the league last season need a manager who can turn that around first and foremost. That's the ability to play two games competitively a week. Which they didn't have to do under Ange. TF started well but we have stalled recently. Again Not sure the reason for that.

Btw we are also missing Biss. Now, many on here don't rate him and will say he wasn't getting any games anyway. But last season, some of our best games were when he played. I remember particularly Liverpool carabao and the European games. He's currently not even an option.

What I do know is that we need some patience with TF. We are not in danger so there is time for that patience. We know this manager has done well elsewhere. Im disappointed atm but not close to thinking he should lose his job.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

one thing I flagged up before and will raise again
He has never managed a team playing this volume of games
Changing the team every game is clearly confusing players
Having a week to prep your team is much easier then 2 days
Has he adjusted to that, not knowing how it works in reality as it’s new for him. Doesn’t feel like it
Making tweaks to a mature team that is built in your mould is mcuh much easier and then add in time to prep

 

[SissokoWasGood (BoL)]

Stats mid season are relatively meaningless. Earlier you were also posting about how we were not close to relegation last season.

Of course stats wise both points you are making are correct. But if you analyse our season last time round, it was not just on us that we were safe, hell we didn't even make the 40 points, that is usually seen as the watermark for assuring PL safety. Ange calculated that the three teams below us were so poor that they were not going to get enough points to catch us. We lost 2 games to them, the 3 worst teams in the PL. As well as games to several teams around us and most top half teams. I would not have backed us last season if we were actually caught up in a relegation dog fight. That we didn't have to worry about being even competitive in the league from February onwards was part of the reason we could throw everything at the EL. And we played quite differently then to how Ange wanted to play.

And to compare a manager in his second season with a manager who has not even managed 1/2 a season is unfair imho.

What I have noticed atm are players making lots of individual mistakes. I'm not sure the reason for that except that they look short of confidence and booing players during the game cannot help. A team who gave up being competitive in the league last season need a manager who can turn that around first and foremost. That's the ability to play two games competitively a week. Which they didn't have to do under Ange. TF started well but we have stalled recently. Again Not sure the reason for that.

Btw we are also missing Biss. Now, many on here don't rate him and will say he wasn't getting any games anyway. But last season, some of our best games were when he played. I remember particularly Liverpool carabao and the European games. He's currently not even an option.

What I do know is that we need some patience with TF. We are not in danger so there is time for that patience. We know this manager has done well elsewhere. Im disappointed atm but not close to thinking he should lose his job.

If there was any serious danger of relegation we simply would not have thrown everything at the EL, and would not have finished 17th.

Also the reason we weren’t in any serious danger of relegation is because actually we were quite decent up to December.

And the point about the points difference from 18th being the marker of how close we were to relegation instead of the league position is absolutely correct. Just like if we finished 6th but 2 points from 1st, we’d be able to say we challenged for the title until the final day.

 

[Legohamster]

I If Glasner gave an indication he'd come at this stage, I would twist right now. But in all likelihood will just have to accept this crap football for the season and take stock from there.....

I think that's were we are, I don't think we are attractive enough to jump ship mid season for, I don't think we have the clout to say it's now or never either.

Im dying on the hill it's mopo after the World Cup

 

[SteveAWOL]

I think that's were we are, I don't think we are attractive enough to jump ship mid season for, I don't think we have the clout to say it's now or never either.

Im dying on the hill it's mopo after the World Cup

I doubt we’re attractive enough a proposition for Glasner to jump ship in the summer, let alone mid-season!

He’s assembled a talented squad playing attractive football and won 2 trophies whilst also managing to accumulate 28 more points than us over the past 38 PL games.