Thomas Frank - Head Coach

[braineclipse]

Definitely not headloss time. But said in the OMT this result has been coming. Our results have been better than our underlying numbers and we can't just keep scraping wins. We were a bit unlucky against Villa, but so far this season we're still on the lucky side of things imo.

Frank needs to find ways to improve our attacking play, without that having a too significant impact on our defensive play. That to me seems challenging, particularly given two games a week, the need for rotation and most likely injuries will at some point get worse.

Right now I'm not seeing what the plan is to improve our attacking play other than waiting for Solanke to be back so we can be better at long balls.

The U shape attacking buildup and absolute lack of ambition deep in midfield seems to be the players executing what the manager wants from them. While I definitely want us to be patient with Frank this to me is a concern. If we're either unlucky with results or injuries for a period (likely to happen at some point) before we've improved our play this is not going to be fun at all.

 

[Grays_1890]

I get that and I appreciate he’s building foundations and it takes time. Just don’t think it’s wrong to want/expect more from an attacking pov. Especially at home where we’ve generally been poor. I also accept that he needs better forwards which I have been banging on about for years. A starting point would be to play Bergvall or Sarr instead of Bentancur in games like yesterday. Just takes too long for us to get out of our half let alone create anything.

Im not disagreeing with rational comments or views TBH. Its the idea we are terrible which we ain't. We've been poor at home for a long time too

Our fanbase seems to be obsessed with either being profile drivers or protesting for sake of it, that doesn't help....too many excuses to not get behind the side.

The fact our away form is the best in league and home form is crap isn't luck or an anomaly, the home stadiums been toxic for over a year.

We can't deny we need a fit out and out striker and a top level LW, I think Tel and Ode are for the future and not busted, but they ain't for now either

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Im not disagreeing with rational comments or views TBH. Its the idea we are terrible which we ain't. We've been poor at home for a long time too

Our fanbase seems to be obsessed with either being profile drivers or protesting for sake of it, that doesn't help....too many excuses to not get behind the side.

The fact our away form is the best in league and home form is crap isn't luck or an anomaly, the home stadiums been toxic for over a year.

We can't deny we need a fit out and out striker and a top level LW, I think Tel and Ode are for the future and not busted, but they ain't for now either

The issue is all in midfield for me

 

[Grays_1890]

The issue is all in midfield for me

Nowhere near IMO.

LW and CF are Kane and Son sized gaps that injury and lack or planning have solved. Money, yes, but real out and out quality to be more consistent. No chance

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Nowhere near IMO.

LW and CF are Kane and Son sized gaps that injury and lack or planning have solved. Money, yes, but real out and out quality to be more consistent. No chance

If we had Kane and son they still wouldn’t be getting the ball in this set up
It’s Sunday league structure

 

[Grays_1890]

If we had Kane and son they still wouldn’t be getting the ball in this set up
It’s Sunday league structure

I think that's massively too simplistic. I think better players offer better outlets in areas which means we get out of areas better and become a better side.

We are short as a team that wants to be better in terms of first team quality.

We are par for who we are as a side IMO.

Judgements on Frank this earlier to the level I'm seeing is laughable TBH

 

[Baleforce]

12 games.

He's had 12 games.

We were a fudging disaster for 2 years, we're already at .500.

Let the man work.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I think that's massively too simplistic. I think better players offer better outlets in areas which means we get out of areas better and become a better side.

We are short as a team that wants to be better in terms of first team quality.

We are par for who we are as a side IMO.

Judgements on Frank this earlier to the level I'm seeing is laughable TBH

The way we play is incredibly simplistic
I’m genuinely in shock at how basic it is
It reminds me of Sunday league or the avb/bale era
It’s not judging him, it’s critiquing him
Right now I don’t think he is up to speed with the organisation he has joined

 

[Grays_1890]

The way we play is incredibly simplistic
I’m genuinely in shock at how basic it is
It reminds me of Sunday league or the avb/bale era
It’s not judging him, it’s critiquing him
Right now I don’t think he is up to speed with the organisation he has joined

I massively disagree

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I massively disagree

And that’s your choice
I think he has maybe 2 more home games before the fans turn quite aggressively towards this football
Any decent side will wipe the floor with us because it’s so predictable and basic.
He is a smart guy, and he has an army of top coaches. We’re not playing top coaching football, and that will take time, but the football is very very basic

 

[Grays_1890]

And that’s your choice
I think he has maybe 2 more home games before the fans turn quite aggressively towards this football
Any decent side will wipe the floor with us because it’s so predictable and basic.
He is a smart guy, and he has an army of top coaches. We’re not playing top coaching football, and that will take time, but the football is very very basic

Of course it is, like it is yours also

If fans get aggressive then it's a reflection on them, our fanbase has largely been a disgrace for years, no chance I side or care about half the crap that CFT, YTrs, ROFS or twitterati tossrs come out with.

As I've said for years. We would be a far better side if fans made a difference to the atmosphere than acting like menchildren

 

[Baleforce]

The way we play is incredibly simplistic
I’m genuinely in shock at how basic it is
It reminds me of Sunday league or the avb/bale era
It’s not judging him, it’s critiquing him
Right now I don’t think he is up to speed with the organisation he has joined

lol

 

[Bedfordspurs]

lol

Yep
It’s power point footy

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Of course it is, like it is yours also

If fans get aggressive then it's a reflection on them, our fanbase has largely been a disgrace for years, no chance I side or care about half the crap that CFT, YTrs, ROFS or twitterati tossrs come out with.

As I've said for years. We would be a far better side if fans made a difference to the atmosphere than acting like menchildren

Fans are toxic
There is an expectation

 

[SissokoWasGood (BoL)]

12 games.

He's had 12 games.

We were a fudging disaster for 2 years, we're already at .500.

Let the man work.

I see the issue most people have is the style of football, and this is where I would say it is Frank making an active choice, knowing of the trade offs, and it’s not going to suddenly change once he has a load more games.

Choosing Bentancur and Palinha in midfield is a choice. He’s decided what he is prioritising, and that’s a selection that goes along with that priority. All fine. And we’ll be ok with this. But we are going to give up games, and we’re gonna cede control.

If he wants to play the kind of football that will get the fans that are critiquing this style on board a little bit more, he just needs to make difference choices. I’m not convinced more games on their own is going to make it all look more fluid.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I see the issue most people have is the style of football, and this is where I would say it is Frank making an active choice, knowing of the trade offs, and it’s not going to suddenly change once he has a load more games.

Choosing Bentancur and Palinha in midfield is a choice. He’s decided what he is prioritising, and that’s a selection that goes along with that priority. All fine. And we’ll be ok with this. But we are going to give up games, and we’re gonna cede control.

If he wants to play the kind of football that will get the fans that are critiquing this style on board a little bit more, he just needs to make difference choices. I’m not convinced more games on their own is going to make it all look more fluid.

It will get worse imo
Hence why I have said the noise will get louder
Some fans will say give him time, which is fair
But we have seen new managers change style very quickly before… conte and Ange for example
What we are seeing right now is a coach who has gone back to the very very basics and I think that’s hard to progress from mid season unless you show some bravery

 

[SissokoWasGood (BoL)]

It will get worse imo
Hence why I have said the noise will get louder
Some fans will say give him time, which is fair
But we have seen new managers change style very quickly before… conte and Ange for example
What we are seeing right now is a coach who has gone back to the very very basics and I think that’s hard to progress from mid season unless you show some bravery

I agree. But also think what will keep Frank from too much pressure is that we will likely tend to keep doing better with away games and against better teams. Because his style lends itself to them. So we’ll never fall too far.

 

[fernadez]

One factor that I think shouldn't be overlooked is that with the change in leadership I don't see Frank being under any undue pressure for a much longer period.

He's been brought in by people that want him here, and going by how Vini appointed and stuck by Arteta, there is no reason to think Frank won't be afford the same privileges. Some fans must just have to suck it up

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I agree. But also think what will keep Frank from too much pressure is that we will likely tend to keep doing better with away games and against better teams. Because his style lends itself to them. So we’ll never fall too far.

Agreed
And do you know what… id take that

 

[Baleforce]

I see the issue most people have is the style of football, and this is where I would say it is Frank making an active choice, knowing of the trade offs, and it’s not going to suddenly change once he has a load more games.

Choosing Bentancur and Palinha in midfield is a choice. He’s decided what he is prioritising, and that’s a selection that goes along with that priority. All fine. And we’ll be ok with this. But we are going to give up games, and we’re gonna cede control.

If he wants to play the kind of football that will get the fans that are critiquing this style on board a little bit more, he just needs to make difference choices. I’m not convinced more games on their own is going to make it all look more fluid.

It’s only an issue because we lost.

Our xG was three times Villas, the narrative would be massively different had that game finished 1-0, as it should have done.

Fans care about results.

Frank has turned the worst defence in sport into a very effective one overnight.

Defence wins championships.