Thomas Frank - Head Coach

[Raziel]

Because signings are made in July for next financial year
Maybe we plan to use the son money and twist finalised that sale until after the Korea tour
I mean Arsenal did the deal for Zubamendi in Jan.. and he hasn’t signed

You can make a contract effective July 1st

If we wait till post the Asia tour to then buy a major player, we have fudged the manager before we start

Reality? none of us actually know and will judge when it's all done

 

[Bedfordspurs]

You can make a contract effective July 1st

If we wait till post the Asia tour to then buy a major player, we have fudged the manager before we start

Reality? none of us actually know and will judge when it's all done

100% we don’t know
Hence why it’s speciation

 

[Lilbaz]

Because signings are made in July for next financial year
Maybe we plan to use the son money and twist finalised that sale until after the Korea tour
I mean Arsenal did the deal for Zubamendi in Jan.. and he hasn’t signed

Fans seem to think they are entitled to a day by date update on transfers and club business.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Fans seem to think they are entitled to a day by date update on transfers and club business.

Hence the growth in make believe merchants on socials

 

[Lilbaz]

Hence the growth in make believe merchants on socials

I remember teletxt used to have a phoneline where you could call to get the transfer rumours.

The demand has always been there. People will always try to make money from it.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I remember teletxt used to have a phoneline where you could call to get the transfer rumours.

The demand has always been there. People will always try to make money from it.

Premium rate number too

 

[Silly McSilly Face]

Of all the players we're being linked with right now, which do you think would suit Frank and us best? I love Eze, would want Eze, and wanted him a year ago; is he still the right player for our squad? Would we do well with a Wissa? Where do people think Frank will shuffle the current pack for new players? And if you could choose one Brentford player that fits the sort of budget we work on, who would it be? I'll say Damsgaard...

This is quite hard as theres always players you think will be toast under a new manager and those you think will thrive and it invariably doesn't work out that way. Given Frank is quite flexible it makes it even harder.

Eze would be a great signing, would give the whole place a lift and a buzz as he is one of those "people stand up when hes on the ball" players. And we've had too few of those over the last few years. At what 26/27 he should just be hitting his peak but I think it would be a hard deal to pull off. Can imagine the rumours drag on all summer and will end up with a litany of *pay the money* Levy when reality is - as much as i would love him - if you have £80-90m burning a hole in your pocket do you splash on Eze when you already have Maddison and Kulusevski? I think we could do with some pace and threat outside with some good end product - although can Tel and Odobert push on? Been a bit disappointing for me so far.

If Romero leaves we will likely buy a CB. An experienced central midfielder that can play in a double pivot would be no. 1 target for me. Could we swap Romero for Gallagher ?

 

[Daisuk]

Isn't that pretty normal? Seems like if you're left footed default position is right these days.....thats why I loved us so much under Redknapp - Bale and Lennon destroying their full backs on the OUTSIDE at full pelt rather than wading into central traffic......call me old school but it was glorious

People said Lennon had no end product. Watch that 9-1 match again and come tell me that. 1 goal and 5 assists or something, haha.

 

[Gazza]

Seems like he’s settling in well. The whole Vinai and Frank videos all seem very smooth.

There’s a really bullish way of looking at this all, which is that we finally have the right people in place to genuinely push on within the structure of this club. If Vinai can be a good complement to Levy and counter balance some of his caution, that’s a great thing. And then with Frank, have we finally got the manager that genuinely doesn’t eventually reach the point where he decides he simply needs a handful of world class purchases? Will he continue to develop and adapt and make do. And all the while keep pushing us on?

There’s an interesting topic I’ve been seeing discussed online with Spurs around the idea that over performance is easier with Brentford (lowest wage bill and top half finishes) than it will be with Spurs, because there’s so little room to squeeze more against competitors that are just so strong. The bull case is that Frank is the perfect guy for Spurs, the one we ideally would have had years ago, even pre Poch, or before AVB. Those managers had a system, and would develop young players, but Poch in particular (not to mention Conte and Harry) reached the point where they thought that no matter how much they squeezed out of young players and refined their system, it was world class transfers that would help us take the next step.

With Frank, he’s not a system ideologue, but he does say he tried to win every game. So it may not always look the same, but the goal will be to win. Is that actually what we’ve needed all along? Or will he reach the point that he needs real top level, proven players to keep progressing?

That’s the bull case. And also maybe the bear case is that nothing much changes. Maybe his flexibility gets us back to the 4-6 range. And then in a couple of years we’re wondering whether to stick or twist.

A secondary bull case though is the idea that we are now singing young players yes, but ones that are a higher tier to the ones we were signing in the late 00s, or even early-mid 10s. I think we have the stadium to thank for that. But I look at guys like Tel, Bergval, Gray, Udogie, and even players like Romero and Porro, and I think maybe there’s a chance if it all comes together at the right time we CAN win the league. These are a class above the players we were signing before, still maybe a tier down from those the richest clubs are signing, but maybe we’re not as far in terms of quality as we were before.

DL has said he wants to win the Premier and Champions League. So do I! Let’s see if this team of coaches and players can do it.

Not likely the current team is not even in the top 6 … let’s not get ahead of ourselves here

 

[braineclipse]

Of all the players we're being linked with right now, which do you think would suit Frank and us best? I love Eze, would want Eze, and wanted him a year ago; is he still the right player for our squad? Would we do well with a Wissa? Where do people think Frank will shuffle the current pack for new players? And if you could choose one Brentford player that fits the sort of budget we work on, who would it be? I'll say Damsgaard...

Not Frank specific for me, but think it applies to him too. We need more "just give him the ball" players. Players, regardless of position, who can do well in a wide range of situations. Just give him the ball and something useful will happen with a good frequency and losing possession is very unlikely.

We've had quite a few of them over the years, we have a shortage of players like that now particularly in midfield and attack.

Doesn't have to be a superstar necessarily. Maddison on his day is that player, but it's not every day and we need more. Someone to play through, that opponents will worry about even if they close them down or put them in an unfavourable situation.

Eze for me is that. Damsgaard too if we're limiting it to Brentford. But a DM/deep playmaker like that would be great too.