• Dear Guest, Please note that adult content is not permitted on this forum. We have had our Google ads disabled at times due to some posts that were found from some time ago. Please do not post adult content and if you see any already on the forum, please report the post so that we can deal with it. Adult content is allowed in the glory hole - you will have to request permission to access it. Thanks, scara

Thomas Frank - Head Coach

Baleforce said:
Yeah game was done, it was about managing minutes, in both directions.

It's not pathetic to be realistic and move focus to what comes next imo.
Click to expand...

If he was so keen on managing minutes, why do you suppose he didn't find room in the first 11 for Pape Sarr who left for AFCON today, or even get him on for that last 'dead rubber' 30 minutes? Why not bring Xavi and Richy off and put on Odobert and Tel with 30 mins left? Sorry, for me to buy that reasoning it has to bear out across the side and squad. Besides, 2-0 down in the Prem with 35 minutes of a game left, attacking options on the bench as well as midfielders, and you effectively say the game is done? Why? Because it's a mess you cannot sort out? Why not? He can throw the players under the bus all he wants, but he needs to wear a large portion of it. And he didn't. And he isn't.
 
Glenda's Legs said:
So, showing my ignornance here, but is that something that coaching can change for someone of his age/experience, or is it always likely to be a limitation in his play?
Click to expand...

i think the single biggest issue with Kudus is that he remains our strongest and most effective 'out ball', we go wide all the time, he is so strong on the ball, we have no real matching dynamism on the left, and we're often too easy to squeeze and double up on as a consequence. I have seen Simons make many many great little runs only for Kudus (who is often double-pressed) to not see the pass or not play it. My thought is that if we had a system of attacking play which contained triggers, he could be dynamite. Imagine if the trigger was that he knows every time he receives the ball, say, 5 yards inside the oppostion half that Xavi is going to be moving in to a channel behind, then he'd know two touches max and thread that ball behind/knock it into the pocket of space Xavi's going to. It looks to me like there is none of that sort of structure at all, and it is left to them to improvise moments. I so want someone to prove why I am wrong, because come on, I must be, right???
 
Maybe our system is the problem. Maybe 2 midfielders in that 4-2-3-1 is not enough in the PL. Maybe a 4-3-3 would be better for us. It would help us control the midfield better and bring the ball forward which is imo our biggest problem. If we continue with the 4-2-3-1 we need a very creative player next to Palhinha, a deep lying playmaker. The only player in the squad that would be comfortable that role would be Maddison and he is still out for some time. I see Bentancur trying that, being an intelligent player, he reads the game. Unfortunately he is average in that role, better than some, but not enough. His skills are obvious for a box to box role, and him adapting his game takes away from his overall performance. He has had to do that for us for some time. We lacked a proper DM before Palhinha and he adapted to that role too.
 
Last edited:
IulianSteaua said:
Maybe our system is the problem. Maybe 2 midfielders in that 4-2-3-1 is not enough in the PL. Maybe a 4-3-3 would be better for us. It would help us control the midfield better and bring the ball forward which is imo our biggest problem. If we continue with the 4-2-3-1 we need a very creative player next to Palhinha, a deep lying playmaker. The only player in the squad that would be comfortable that role would be Maddison and he is still out for some time. I see Bentancur trying that, being an intelligent player, he reads the game. Unfortunately he is average in that role, better than some, but not enough. His skills are obvious for a box to box role, and him adapting his game takes away from his overall performance. He has had to do that for us for some time. We lacked a proper DM before Palhinha and he adapted to that role too.
Click to expand...
I don't think a formation change is the solution. As you say, better players. Or, more actual attacking intent over time with that being a priority.
 
thfcsteff said:
If he was so keen on managing minutes, why do you suppose he didn't find room in the first 11 for Pape Sarr who left for AFCON today, or even get him on for that last 'dead rubber' 30 minutes? Why not bring Xavi and Richy off and put on Odobert and Tel with 30 mins left? Sorry, for me to buy that reasoning it has to bear out across the side and squad. Besides, 2-0 down in the Prem with 35 minutes of a game left, attacking options on the bench as well as midfielders, and you effectively say the game is done? Why? Because it's a mess you cannot sort out? Why not? He can throw the players under the bus all he wants, but he needs to wear a large portion of it. And he didn't. And he isn't.
Click to expand...
It's probably my frustration with the whole situation and how poorly we've played. I generally think the importance of what's said in press conferences gets way overstated. But what he's been saying in press conferences has frustrated me. I don't see him taking responsibility. And even the "needing time" thing, think he's said that several times. I know managers need time, but it's his job to show that he deserves it, then either get it or not.

Said this months ago, but performances will have to improve or the pressure on him will only increase. Rightly or wrongly, but that will happen.
 
thfcsteff said:
i think the single biggest issue with Kudus is that he remains our strongest and most effective 'out ball', we go wide all the time, he is so strong on the ball, we have no real matching dynamism on the left, and we're often too easy to squeeze and double up on as a consequence. I have seen Simons make many many great little runs only for Kudus (who is often double-pressed) to not see the pass or not play it. My thought is that if we had a system of attacking play which contained triggers, he could be dynamite. Imagine if the trigger was that he knows every time he receives the ball, say, 5 yards inside the oppostion half that Xavi is going to be moving in to a channel behind, then he'd know two touches max and thread that ball behind/knock it into the pocket of space Xavi's going to. It looks to me like there is none of that sort of structure at all, and it is left to them to improvise moments. I so want someone to prove why I am wrong, because come on, I must be, right???
Click to expand...
I'm fine with mostly improvisation in the final third and around the box. But we have to get the ball there somehow, preferably in somewhat decent circumstances for the forward players to do something useful.

To me what happens deeper is the problem and the overly cautious approach is a big part of that imo.
 
NaijaSpurs said:
But it is pathetic to give up when your are 2 goals down with 30 minutes to go. I have seen Spurs score 2 goals after 90 minutes to win a match. Heck even West Spam earned a draw against us from 3:0. down with 15 minutes to go.

Numerous teams have made up 2 goals this season with much less than 30 minutes to go. I have not given Frank any stick before this match, but that kind of thinking from our manager is tinkle poor.
Click to expand...

Yeah, different teams in different situations, but we weren’t doing it Sunday.
 
Bedfordspurs said:
I’m not convinced, but we will see very soon
Id lie to see a manager really backed buy January is a poor time and in a World Cup year
Click to expand...

I've seen the reasoning about the world Cup a few times, is the thinking not usually that there will be players wanting to move to get game time, prove themselves or get in the squad?
 
glasgowspur said:
I've seen the reasoning about the world Cup a few times, is the thinking not usually that there will be players wanting to move to get game time, prove themselves or get in the squad?
Click to expand...
Players wanting too generally are players that you wouldn’t want of your after top players
But we will see
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back