Thomas Frank - Head Coach

[tommysvr]

Good analysis of Tottenham “being in the relegation mix” on the latest Tottenham Way podcast. Given the rate at which the bottom three teams have picked up points this season it is, they conclude, boll ocks from a statistical perspective.

Sounds a lot like last season, when we were apparently close to relegation.

 

[thfcsteff]

Would losing to West Ham count as disaster?

I believe it would, yes, and I further believe it would not see a change made anyway.

 

[Gutter Boy]

I believe it would, yes, and I further believe it would not see a change made anyway.

I'm not sure he survives it going wrong. The stadium will riot (metaphorically, they are too old to do it literally these days) if the performance isn't there

 

[thfcsteff]

I'm not sure he survives it going wrong. The stadium will riot (metaphorically, they are too old to do it literally these days) if the performance isn't there

Truthfully, I think there are a couple of peoplefor whom Frank has to succeed to some degree or else they will take it as their failure; in that regard, I have come to the conclusion that unless we actually look like we could go down (and I don't think that will happen) he is going nowhere.My devil's advocate to that is that Gallagher is a player this club has been after for some time, and Souza is a future thing. Honestly, I hope we beat the bastards convincingly and start to ascend...

 

[Gutter Boy]

Truthfully, I think there are a couple of peoplefor whom Frank has to succeed to some degree or else they will take it as their failure; in that regard, I have come to the conclusion that unless we actually look like we could go down (and I don't think that will happen) he is going nowhere.My devil's advocate to that is that Gallagher is a player this club has been after for some time, and Souza is a future thing. Honestly, I hope we beat the bastards convincingly and start to ascend...

I think only one (Lange), and he's probably on slippery ground now too. Vinai probably escapes the blame for this one.

It would be great to see a sudden uptick and all our issues be cast away as growing pains. But similar to this stage with Nuno in 2021, surely we've got to be starting conversations now with the likes of Alonso and Xavi etc., ready to move if the balance tips a tad more. The thousands of empty seats tomorrow is going to be quite stark for ENIC and everyone else to see.

 

[Muttley]

xGA being better this year, playing a much more defensive system AND having the best two defenders available AND STILL not getting great results probably doesn’t say much.

The question I have with the idea that things will massively improve in an attacking sense with Deki and Madders is that they would be playing in a system that doesn’t find them in good positions. Any mix of Xavi, Odobert, Kolo, and Kudus is minimally capable of playing more progressive football than we’re seeing.

For me, GD says so much about a season, that is if you want to win trophies. As Spurs fans we just dismiss xGA as non-important. It's up there with our biggest weakness as a fan base narrative.

I'm not gonna pretend that we've got our balance right at the moment. but the bias against Frank for daring to build a team from the back and do the hard yards in that way is quite naive (in my opinion). Having our 2 main defenders available for more games this season is not the reason our xGA is better. It is actually the manager's setup of the team that is making the biggest difference.

We just conceded over 60 goals per season for 3 consecutive seasons. That is actually unprecedented amongst the big clubs. It is the elephant in the room at our club. I'm so happy Frank is taking this flailing gauge head on.

 

[braineclipse]

For me, GD says so much about a season, that is if you want to win trophies. As Spurs fans we just dismiss xGA as non-important. It's up there with our biggest weakness as a fan base narrative.

I'm not gonna pretend that we've got our balance right at the moment. but the bias against Frank for daring to build a team from the back and do the hard yards in that way is quite naive (in my opinion). Having our 2 main defenders available for more games this season is not the reason our xGA is better. It is actually the manager's setup of the team that is making the biggest difference.

We just conceded over 60 goals per season for 3 consecutive seasons. That is actually unprecedented amongst the big clubs. It is the elephant in the room at our club. I'm so happy Frank is taking this flailing gauge head on.

IIRC our xG against was significantly lower in the last couple of seasons too when we had our best defenders available?

A bit like SissokoWasGood's question about our attacking (how much of that is the system and how much of it is the players available) I think a similar question is relevant about our defending.

Another question is how much of that decreased xG against is a result of the balance not being right. Would we be defensively solid if we didn't play two dedicated defensive midfielders as frequently, if we played with more risk on the ball.

 

[harr1984]

Frank must beware ghost of Tottenham managers past to avoid Nuno’s fate

The Tottenham manager will be aware of the parallels between his time at the club and that of his counterpart now at West Ham, Saturday’s visitors

www.theguardian.com

There was an article yesterday about 4 potential clubs for Glasner to go to best of which we was one and the verdict was:



It's a fair question and a good point, we chew managers up and spit them out like nobody's business. For that reason alone I'd like Frank to be given a real fair crack at this job bar an absolute disaster....

 

[braineclipse]

There was an article yesterday about 4 potential clubs for Glasner to go to best of which we was one and the verdict was:

View attachment 21300

It's a fair question and a good point, we chew managers up and spit them out like nobody's business. For that reason alone I'd like Frank to be given a real fair crack at this job bar an absolute disaster....

Guess the last one would be Pochettino?

After that most have had a fairly similar reputation to when they came here I think. Getting similar type jobs to what they had before, but definitely not improving their reputation.

Out of curiosity what would a "real fair crack at this job" be?

 

[harr1984]

Guess the last one would be Pochettino?

After that most have had a fairly similar reputation to when they came here I think. Getting similar type jobs to what they had before, but definitely not improving their reputation.

Out of curiosity what would a "real fair crack at this job" be?

Yes, Poch and not a whole lot of others in over 20 years of ENIC which considering they average not much over 1 year per manager suggests giving managers a season if that is probably not the way to go - especially with the not easy conditions managers have to work under here and adapt to.

For me he gets this season which was always going to be the case anyway, and I would hope that even if the league finish is an underwhelming one we can see some improvement in football by the end of the season. We would have a lot more opportunity to be fresher and work for whole weeks on things on the training ground assuming we are knocked out of the CL by QF stages or something like that.

If that isn't the case then he will be under real pressure, but I would give him season 2 still because that is more telling. Managers who have done well first season have fallen short in their second one, and vice versa. If an outstanding opportunity like Alonso comes up then sure I would trade but I don't see it.

So I say give him season 2, if we are having the same issues by December/January time then I'd expect the club to prepare for the summer if they can't get their preferred target in mid season. Frank was never my choice, but I'd rather we stop this seasonal managerial merry go round and give a clearly good manager a bit of breathing space for once to show he can adapt to managing this basket case of a club rather than writing him off after a matter of months, and I say this as someone who has been largely critical of performances.....