Thomas Frank - Head Coach

[DeanoAustin]

Yep
And you don’t do that by setting your team up to not loae
No players like that
They back themselves as elite players
I actually think Frank is over thinking and possibly over coaching
Someone posted elsewhere a Roy Hodgson interview he said that was his issue at Liverpool
I remember reading about Benitez trying to to show Modrix how pass…
When I see such a team of coaches and a super analytical approach, I do wonder

You can though. George Graham made his career from it, Jose Mourinho had massive success doing it and Nuno was successful at Forest doing it to name but three.

Being defensively very solid is a valid way to approach coaching a club like us. I don't like it but, done correctly, it can achieve results. The problem so far is that while we've set up defensively, we haven't been particularly good at it and, in doing so, we've left ourselves with very, very little attacking threat.

At this club, what he seems to be trying will only be tolerated if we win. Continue like this and pressure will ratchet right up.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

You can though. George Graham made his career from it, Jose Mourinho had massive success doing it and Nuno was successful at Forest doing it to name but three.

Being defensively very solid is a valid way to approach coaching a club like us. I don't like it but, done correctly, it can achieve results. The problem so far is that while we've set up defensively, we haven't been particularly good at it and, in doing so, we've left ourselves with very, very little attacking threat.

At this club, what he seems to be trying will only be tolerated if we win. Continue like this and pressure will ratchet right up.

They went ahead with a plan to win
Then defended
Like we did in Europe last year
Playing counter attack with players who can’t keep a ball is daft
Playing with a 30 yard gap between the attack and defence is suicidal
It was Nuno ball again
And it was the same vs chelsea
then add in the lack of creativity against poor sides too and you exacerbate the issues

 

[DubSpur]

You can though. George Graham made his career from it, Jose Mourinho had massive success doing it and Nuno was successful at Forest doing it to name but three.

Being defensively very solid is a valid way to approach coaching a club like us. I don't like it but, done correctly, it can achieve results. The problem so far is that while we've set up defensively, we haven't been particularly good at it and, in doing so, we've left ourselves with very, very little attacking threat.

At this club, what he seems to be trying will only be tolerated if we win. Continue like this and pressure will ratchet right up.

They set up to nullify their opponents, then punish them for any mistakes they made and being good on the counter. Mourinho only did it in matches were his side were the underdog.
We're just set up not to lose, and as you say we're not good at it, and have none of the positive side on counters etc.

 

[SteveAWOL]

You think we’re a lower half side?
That’s what Frank is talking like
We have better players than some think and players that aren’t as good as the hype too
I don’t think we’re maximising the squad at all yet the team is constantly changed

We’ve been a lower half side for over 2 years and are currently without 4 of our main attackers whose goals & assists kept us out of the bottom 3 last season; instead we’re hoping that a couple of players deemed surplus to requirements at PSG might defy the odds and take to the PL like ducks to water.

Doesn’t fully account for being quite so toothless but the fact is we’ve lost 9 consecutive PL games to Arse and Chavs whilst they’ve been splashing the cash and our squad continues to lurch from one injury crisis to the next.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

They set up to nullify their opponents, then punish them for any mistakes they made and being good on the counter. Mourinho only did it in matches were his side were the underdog.
We're just set up not to lose, and as you say we're not good at it, and have none of the positive side on counters etc.

They also understood big clubs having played for and or worked with some big clubs

 

[Bedfordspurs]

We’ve been a lower half side for over 2 years and are currently without 4 of our main attackers whose goals & assists kept us out of the bottom 3 last season; instead we’re hoping that a couple of players deemed surplus to requirements at PSG might defy the odds and take to the PL like ducks to water.

Doesn’t fully account for being quite so toothless but the fact is we’ve lost 9 consecutive PL games to Arse and Chavs whilst they’ve been splashing the cash and our squad continues to lurch from one injury crisis to the next.

View attachment 20851

We splashed the cash on 3 attackers this summer (including the loan)
We have lost one player since last season ended in son
And one player that finished last season is injured in solanke
If you think the issues are isolated to just Chelse and Arsenal games then I think your missing the other comments
Our attacking football is the worst we have had in years and statically the worst since records began in the new age
And our defending hasn’t improved significantly

 

[Grays_1890]

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[Mikey10]

Its not stuck anywhere, I just don't believe a stupid rhetoric that we have only scored goals by "luck"

I am also not stuck in the sand knowing this clubs recent history of hire and fire and being stuck in a circle for nearly 30 years.

So yeah, as I say, lets sack the manager to please peoples itch in November, but I am saying this now, WHOEVER comes in needs fcuking time to turn this club anywhere near to the level that everyone seems to be comparing us to.

If you think we get to Arsenal levels or Liverpool of the past 8 years hiring and firing our way there, then its not me with their head in the sand hombre

The truth is that Frank had much better attacking players at Brentford last season than he’s had available for us this season. Our squad is MILES off being able to consistently challenge top 4 teams, as evidenced by our PL finishing position last season.

 

[Mikey10]

I think this guy is Jacques Santini with better english.

Excellent. That’s the spirit.

 

[Grays_1890]

The truth is that Frank had much better attacking players at Brentford last season than he’s had available for us this season. Our squad is MILES off being able to consistently challenge top 4 teams, as evidenced by our PL finishing position last season.

We replaced Kane with Solanke (which he doesn't even have the benefit of) and then Son with Odebert and Tel..............We have Richy and Muani as out options up top despite one having a broken face and the other having broken ability on the ball.

We continue to stockpile Defensive CM despite having the cast of Ben Hur on the books

And we continue to seemingly look to add options to the backline again (allegedly)

It has to be one of the worst thought out and put together squad I have seen, despite the money spent which people hark to, but honestly, its rank bad.

I would take Werner in this squad, thats how bad it is

 

[Mcfee]

Excellent. That’s the spirit.

Glad it lifted yours.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

We replaced Kane with Solanke (which he doesn't even have the benefit of) and then Son with Odebert and Tel..............We have Richy and Muani as out options up top despite one having a broken face and the other having broken ability on the ball.

We continue to stockpile Defensive CM despite having the cast of Ben Hur on the books

And we continue to seemingly look to add options to the backline again (allegedly)

It has to be one of the worst thought out and put together squad I have seen, despite the money spent which people hark to, but honestly, its rank bad.

I would take Werner in this squad, thats how bad it is

Surely sons replacement is the guy signed this summer in Kudus

 

[Grays_1890]

Surely sons replacement is the guy signed this summer in Kudus

What a Right Winger? Who left West Ham because he sulked about not wanting to play on the left? Yeh sounds about par for our planning

 

[Bedfordspurs]

What a Right Winger? Who left West Ham because he sulked about not wanting to play on the left? Yeh sounds about par for our planning

Swap one winger for another
He is the reconsider winger that replaces the only one who left
Fully agree it’s odd
Unless the plan was to replace our top scorer with a guy who doesn’t actually score many in the same role but does excel at other things
Hard to tell
We have gone though form full backs inverting to create midfield overloads to Kevin Danso throw ins and our keeper taking free kicks as a means of attack

 

[Grays_1890]

Swap one winger for another
He is the reconsider winger that replaces the only one who left
Fully agree it’s odd
Unless the plan was to replace our top scorer with a guy who doesn’t actually score many in the same role but does excel at other things
Hard to tell
We have gone though form full backs inverting to create midfield overloads to Kevin Danso throw ins and our keeper taking free kicks as a means of attack

Not really sure what you are getting at TBH mate. We have replaced a Left Winger with a right winger to compound an area where we likely over spent for the last Right Winger in BJ, whilst formalising a LW signing in Tel, who looks a carbon copy of a player we have in Odebert.

Sorry mate, in any world of planning, thats horrendous

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Not really sure what you are getting at TBH mate. We have replaced a Left Winger with a right winger to compound an area where we likely over spent for the last Right Winger in BJ, whilst formalising a LW signing in Tel, who looks a carbon copy of a player we have in Odebert.

Sorry mate, in any world of planning, thats horrendous

I don’t disagree it’s not great
But we have brought two left siders before son left
And son leaves and his squad place is taken by Kudus
That’s what has happened
And in reality the issue still stems from not having a midfield that can pass
Or just bypassing midfield
Don’t think I’ve heard anyone say the squad is right, however the squad as is, is better than the football being shown
Buy to play football you need a plan and method that suits what you have (long ball to Odobert…. Really) and works to your available strengths
What happens when Kulu and solanke are back but we lose VDV and Romero
Do we just say it’s injuries again (which if would be) or do we say, as a flexible coach you deal with the hand you have

 

[glorygloryeze]

I don’t disagree it’s not great
But we have brought two left siders before son left
And son leaves and his squad place is taken by Kudus
That’s what has happened
And in reality the issue still stems from not having a midfield that can pass
Or just bypassing midfield
Don’t think I’ve heard anyone say the squad is right, however the squad as is, is better than the football being shown
Buy to play football you need a plan and method that suits what you have (long ball to Odobert…. Really) and works to your available strengths
What happens when Kulu and solanke are back but we lose VDV and Romero
Do we just say it’s injuries again (which if would be) or do we say, as a flexible coach you deal with the hand you have

Isn't Frank trying to be flexible though given our injury situation atm?

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Isn't Frank trying to be flexible though given our injury situation atm?

You think so?
Wow
I don’t
I think he is doing everything he can to create a defensive side and not worrying about any attacking play
Of you catch attacking play you can in third swap players in and out
How can he plan for players he has never coached
It’s not gonna suddenly improve as we saw the last 2 years

 

[Grays_1890]

Do we just say it’s injuries again (which if would be) or do we say, as a flexible coach you deal with the hand you have

He is dealing with it, we are unbeaten in the CL and we are getting points out of a broken injury ravaged squad. We won't win the CL, but having to navigate it is the equivalent of what happened last season, only we are picking up more points in the league whilst doing it.

I don't think its that difficult to see that

If we finish in the top 8, navigating the CL to maybe the next stage and getting out the injury crisis and maybe look at some squad development and shaping for next season, thats progress for me

 

[SteveAWOL]

We splashed the cash on 3 attackers this summer (including the loan)
We have lost one player since last season ended in son
And one player that finished last season is injured in solanke
If you think the issues are isolated to just Chelse and Arsenal games then I think your missing the other comments
Our attacking football is the worst we have had in years and statically the worst since records began in the new age
And our defending hasn’t improved significantly

We lost a club legend plus are without our Ginger From Sweden who crippled himself carrying our team for large parts of last season plus mercurial Maddison and the only CF who can actually hold the ball up in Solanke.

Son 11 goals + 9 assists
Solanke 16 goals + 3 assists
Maddison 12 goals + 7 assists
Kulusevski 10 goals + 4 assists

That’s 73 goal contributions which Frank has got to try and eke out of our new recruits whilst we can’t even press from the front nearly so well either what with Richarlison being too undisciplined; as you have said about our headless Pigeon.

Hopefully when Muani gets match sharp that’ll improve somewhat but Simons is never going to be able to match physicality of Deki and whilst he was infuriatingly inconsistent when Bissouma was on form he’s the only CMF we have who can actually break the lines