Thomas Frank - Head Coach

[Robspur12]

All fair enough mate but we're on the decline - We had a generous fixture list for start of the season. Burnley, Wolves, Leeds, West Ham all in that first 8 games or so. Now the fixtures are evening out, we are 17th in the form table and the football is getting worse. There are worrying signs for me, signs that suggest rightly or wrongly he's not got the real buy in of the players. We didn't just lose to Forest, we got absolutely done by them and the worst part is this was just yet another tepid performance where we barely mustered up anything going forward.

It's not even where we are at positionally for me, sure we all want to win games and eventually a manager has to deliver on the results front. But first and foremost I want to see us playing a bit of football and we simply aren't, not even a little bit. It is just horrible - unless we can play Copenhagen and Slavia Prague at home every week of course....

I know you will say that Brentford was an "easy" game, but tbh they have not been mugs this season. We played them off the park, playing lovely quick passing football with the same starting line up as yesterday. I think we are just trying to find a level of consistency atm. Yesterday, Gray's error clearly had us on the back foot and when we are on that, we haven't been able to dig ourselves out yet this season. But as I said there were for me signs, in an overall terrible performance that the likes of Xavi are settling in and Gray reacted positively to his mistake. In fact, I think he was unlucky to be yellow carded for a robust but fair challenge imho.

When we are under the cosh our passing seems to become rushed so that the passes are either over or under hit. Whereas Forest were full of confidence and were passing really well between the lines. We've seen this several times this season and it's something TF needs to address ( and I'm sure if I've seen it, he will already be aware of this). We are clearly a team who is short on confidence so one set back and we fold.

Although some posters keep discounting the players missing, I believe that Deki, Madders and Solanke contributed 41 goals. Add the loss of Son to that list, would help to explain some of the inconsistency. But TF is trying different combinations

The one criticism I would level at TF and this is talking purely as a fan of course, is why he persists with Richarlison in the number 9 position and Muani wide on the left. He must have a reason but I don't see it.

As I have said before, as long as we are not in danger of relegation, we need to give TF a chance to show us that he can adapt. I genuinely think he's a very good manager who is dealing with a difficult hand.

 

[Daisuk]

He actually said he put Davies on because he thought the game was already over?! Damn. 30 mins to go only 2 down.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

He actually said he put Davies on because he thought the game was already over?! Damn. 30 mins to go only 2 down.

fudge off
He didn’t say that ..

I know you will say that Brentford was an "easy" game, but tbh they have not been mugs this season. We played them off the park, playing lovely quick passing football with the same starting line up as yesterday. I think we are just trying to find a level of consistency atm. Yesterday, Gray's error clearly had us on the back foot and when we are on that, we haven't been able to dig ourselves out yet this season. But as I said there were for me signs, in an overall terrible performance that the likes of Xavi are settling in and Gray reacted positively to his mistake. In fact, I think he was unlucky to be yellow carded for a robust but fair challenge imho.

When we are under the cosh our passing seems to become rushed so that the passes are either over or under hit. Whereas Forest were full of confidence and were passing really well between the lines. We've seen this several times this season and it's something TF needs to address ( and I'm sure if I've seen it, he will already be aware of this). We are clearly a team who is short on confidence so one set back and we fold

Although some posters keep discounting the players missing, I believe that Deki, Madders and Solanke contributed 41 goals. Add the loss of Son to that list, would help to explain some of the inconsistency. But TF is trying different combinations

Brentford’s away record is comparable to our home record by the way

Why did forest look confident when they have a guy who has only been in charge short period?

Goals I kind of agree with but we I’d still have the top scorer from last year no where near the team and it’s a player Frank wanted at his former club

 

[harr1984]

I know you will say that Brentford was an "easy" game, but tbh they have not been mugs this season. We played them off the park, playing lovely quick passing football with the same starting line up as yesterday. I think we are just trying to find a level of consistency atm. Yesterday, Gray's error clearly had us on the back foot and when we are on that, we haven't been able to dig ourselves out yet this season. But as I said there were for me signs, in an overall terrible performance that the likes of Xavi are settling in and Gray reacted positively to his mistake. In fact, I think he was unlucky to be yellow carded for a robust but fair challenge imho.

When we are under the cosh our passing seems to become rushed so that the passes are either over or under hit. Whereas Forest were full of confidence and were passing really well between the lines. We've seen this several times this season and it's something TF needs to address ( and I'm sure if I've seen it, he will already be aware of this). We are clearly a team who is short on confidence so one set back and we fold.

Although some posters keep discounting the players missing, I believe that Deki, Madders and Solanke contributed 41 goals. Add the loss of Son to that list, would help to explain some of the inconsistency. But TF is trying different combinations

The one criticism I would level at TF and this is talking purely as a fan of course, is why he persists with Richarlison in the number 9 position and Muani wide on the left. He must have a reason but I don't see it.

As I have said before, as long as we are not in danger of relegation, we need to give TF a chance to show us that he can adapt. I genuinely think he's a very good manager who is dealing with a difficult hand.

Not at all, I wouldn't say there are any easy games in the league - I was happy with the Brentford performance. At this stage it's about the team showing intent and personality- I'm not so bothered about the results as long as we aren't flirting with relegation.

I'm critiquing Frank on a game by game basis, not to the extent of wanting him gone at all - But at the moment sadly there have been more poor performances than there have been good ones in his twenty plus games. But we are still 6 points off 4th so it's hardly disastrous. The players he'd had missing, unfortunately all Spurs managers have had to deal with it and some had it worse - it's not about discounting it, but it's something that a manager here will always have to contend with.

Forest were 17th, they aren't very good and we could have been a goal down within a couple of minutes. It was sadly not anywhere near the first time we've seen this type of weak performance. The concerning thing is there is no visible plan, style of play or anything and it's getting worse not better which is a bad day. In Frank we trust and all that, but I'm not sure how much longer the majority of fans will demonstrate patience for. Online there seems to be a bit of a shift in terms of backing him, thankfully this place is more measured but overall I don't think you will find the same understanding. The good thing is this board hasn't let out any sound bites about Frank being under pressure etc....

 

[Bishop]

Not at all, I wouldn't say there are any easy games in the league - I was happy with the Brentford performance. At this stage it's about the team showing intent and personality- I'm not so bothered about the results as long as we aren't flirting with relegation.

I'm critiquing Frank on a game by game basis, not to the extent of wanting him gone at all - But at the moment sadly there have been more poor performances than there have been good ones in his twenty plus games. But we are still 6 points off 4th so it's hardly disastrous. The players he'd had missing, unfortunately all Spurs managers have had to deal with it and some had it worse - it's not about discounting it, but it's something that a manager here will always have to contend with.

Forest were 17th, they aren't very good and we could have been a goal down within a couple of minutes. It was sadly not anywhere near the first time we've seen this type of weak performance. The concerning thing is there is no visible plan, style of play or anything and it's getting worse not better which is a bad day. In Frank we trust and all that, but I'm not sure how much longer the majority of fans will demonstrate patience for. Online there seems to be a bit of a shift in terms of backing him, thankfully this place is more measured but overall I don't think you will find the same understanding. The good thing is this board hasn't let out any sound bites about Frank being under pressure etc....

There's a part of me that says go ahead and sack him and then bring in the next Messiah manager and watch that fail too.

Im starting to think we actually need to hit rock bottom, exhaust all of the names that people think are going to just turn up and somehow change everything for the fans to actually realise the bloody truth.

We are not a top side, we aren't even a good side. We are an average team, filled with average players. There are no standouts in terms of quality, just a sea of largely meh. At least in the latter days of Kane and Son we still had some world class quality to even things up.

So fudge it sack Frank and then in 6 months sack Irola, and then a few months later sack Silva to.

Eventually when we are in League One everyone will have to admit the truth.

 

[Robspur12]

Why did forest look confident when they have a guy who has only been in charge short period?

I don't know for sure mate, but isn't this pretty much the same team that was successful under Nuno last season, (minus Elanga) with a few additions? Whereas, as I (and TF) keep saying we have a brand new attack. That would explain some of it.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I don't know for sure mate, but isn't this pretty much the same team that was successful under Nuno last season, (minus Elanga) with a few additions? Whereas, as I (and TF) keep saying we have a brand new attack. That would explain some of it.

2 of their front 3 yesterday were new to first this season

 

[Bishop]

2 of their front 3 yesterday were new to first this season

Complementary attributes that actually suit the positions they are being asked to play in plus as has been mentioned Forest as a team already have a working structure that has been added to. We don't and Forest haven't even been doing all that well this season, they have fewer points than we do.

 

[billyiddo]

I’d say structure and coaching are the cure
But hey we all see different things

Individuals doing the basics is key for any system… a defensive one, and attacking one
No system can counter a player not kicking a ball or walking away from his man. That’s individual mistakes

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Individuals doing the basics is key for any system… a defensive one, and attacking one
No system can counter a player not kicking a ball or walking away from his man. That’s individual mistakes

100%
Like passing 5 yards
Marking your man
Keeping the ball too long
All personal mistakes
Coaches fix them or try too
When the happen repeatedly though you wonder why it’s not changing

 

[harr1984]

There's a part of me that says go ahead and sack him and then bring in the next Messiah manager and watch that fail too.

Im starting to think we actually need to hit rock bottom, exhaust all of the names that people think are going to just turn up and somehow change everything for the fans to actually realise the bloody truth.

We are not a top side, we aren't even a good side. We are an average team, filled with average players. There are no standouts in terms of quality, just a sea of largely meh. At least in the latter days of Kane and Son we still had some world class quality to even things up.

So fudge it sack Frank and then in 6 months sack Irola, and then a few months later sack Silva to.

Eventually when we are in League One everyone will have to admit the truth.

I was hoping 17th would be our rock bottom but who knows ....

 

[Daisuk]

fudge off
He didn’t say that ..

I was just asking. Glory Glory pod said he said something along those lines, but I haven't seen it anywhere myself.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I was hoping 17th would be our rock bottom but who knows ....

It’s not bottom though
So be positive

 

[Bishop]

100%
Like passing 5 yards
Marking your man
Keeping the ball too long
All personal mistakes
Coaches fix them or try too
When the happen repeatedly though you wonder why it’s not changing

Because they player is poor and dumb. No amount of coaching is going to fix that, the player actually has to have the raw attributes at the very least.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Because they player is poor and dumb. No amount of coaching is going to fix that, the player actually has to have the raw attributes at the very least.

Yea
But they can all do it at other clubs and even here under different managers
Strange

 

[Bishop]

He actually said he put Davies on because he thought the game was already over?! Damn. 30 mins to go only 2 down.

I mean I don't want to state the obvious but it was. What quality options did we have on the bench that were supposed to change the game?

 

[Bishop]

Yea
But they can all do it at other clubs and even here under different managers
Strange

They did the same under the last manager. I'll repeat to you, you are conjuring up a false history of the actual football we played previously.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

They did the same under the last manager. I'll repeat to you, you are conjuring up a false history of the actual football we played previously.

They did it last week
They did all the basics right
What’s changed?

 

[MartyFunkhouser]

They did it last week
They did all the basics right
What’s changed?

The 6 inch space between their ears

 

[Bishop]

They did it last week
They did all the basics right
What’s changed?

An average side on a game to game basis depending on the level and form of the opposition will play to a random level.

Last week that was to our favour, this week it wasn't. Next weekend it might be to our favour again or not. That's the randomness to be expected.