Thomas Frank - Head Coach

[billyiddo]

I'd actually like to see this in stats. I get the impression that these players would mostly play - Vic, Porro, Romero, VDV, Udogie, Palhinha, Bents, Kudus and probably Richi.

Spence has been consistently selected when Udogie couldn't make the line-up and has probably played more over the course of the season.

You would think that when 8 or 9 players play a lot together, then the others would fit around them.

I think the problem is different. I think he is feeling that he has to tweak the system when he changes the personnel, even from the bench. Spence and Udogie are one good example. Bents and Berg another. Kudus and Johnson another. Even Danso for one of the 2 centre halves probably drives tweaks by Frank.

Whoscored.com is a good reference

https://www.whoscored.com/teams/30/show/england-tottenham

 

[Muttley]

Your right with the volume players
Issue as we know is Palhina and bentacur at home has been as creative as a turd being rolled in glitter
But he’s has dabbled in front of them and also in who is accompanying them
Saturdays experiment followed Wednesdays result which I think he would have been pleased with (I was too for what that’s worth)
His biggest fudge up was going with the 8 man defence against Arsenal. That IMO lost him credibility with his players and also some fans saw it as an approach of anything to not lose.
That will not have inspired the players from the start and with the way it’s turned out even less so
So now when he changes things the players are subconsciously maybe even directly doubting the manager
Remember when Frank changed to 3 at the back vs Everton last season..z toxic rot started

Yeah, the Everton game was an eye opener as to how fragile Ange's system was. I was shocked how he failed to move things around. It didn't shine a great light on our manager.

I guess the point is we're around 20 games played (13 league) plus pre-season. A core group of "1st teamers" has been established and there's another group that rotate mostly in the forward roles. In the next 10 games we should now see something more stable. In the 10 after that, even more so.

If nothing changes, then we'll be in trouble if we're hitting 40 games with the same inconsistencies.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Yeah, the Everton game was an eye opener as to how fragile Ange's system was. I was shocked how he failed to move things around. It didn't shine a great light on our manager.

I guess the point is we're around 20 games played (13 league) plus pre-season. A core group of "1st teamers" has been established and there's another group that rotate mostly in the forward roles. In the next 10 games we should now see something more stable. In the 10 after that, even more so.

If nothing changes, then we'll be in trouble if we're hitting 40 games with the same inconsistencies.

We’re on 22 games tomorrow
And be Everton was when Ange went 3 at the back and we got smashed mate. He did change it against his system

 

[thfcsteff]

I think he should get time because I don't think 4-5 months of football is enough to judge a manager. It has nothing to do with his vision or whether I buy in to it or not. I'll have a better idea where I stand on that once I've seen it have some room to breath and develop.

We saw last season in the Europa League that the ends justify the means wrt buy in to vision - we abandoned the romanticism of Ange-ball in the EL while we floundered in the league with it and it is the former that was the strongest argument for giving him a third season after all.

In fairness that's a very reasonable view, and if I can divorce myself long enough from literally hating the way we're building play right now, it is the right one. I am actually uncomfortable having such a sharp feeling, because so many other aspects of Frank are admirable. Further, it's a little out of character for me (Mourinho not withstanding but I didn't want him at all plus it felt like he merked Levy which obviously forced Poch out)...

 

[Muttley]

We’re on 22 games tomorrow
And be Everton was when Ange went 3 at the back and we got smashed mate. He did change it against his system

Problem is, he didn't change it. He tried to play the same Ange-ball, just in a slightly different formation. He didn't get the wing-backs wide and he completed frazzled young Archie's head. He then abandoned it at half time from memory.

When Frank has changed to 3 at the back, he has at least adopted the philosophies that go with the system. Just like Poch did when he put Dier to the right of Toby and got Trips hugging the touch line. Ditto when Dele dismantled Conte's league winning Chelsea's team in 2017.

 

[thfcsteff]

Very much agree with your last paragraph in particular. And I think I’d be even more bullish on him if he was articulating a vision with greater clarity, so we knew what we were building towards. Otherwise, it kind of is what it is. In possession he talks about crosses. And he talks a lot about being solid as a foundation. The ‘if you don’t take a risk you take a risk’ should be one of those things that excites the fanbase. But because of everything else he says and everything else we’ve seen so far (which whether well executed or not, lines up with what he has said) it feels less than convincing.

I want it to work, he is a good man. I think I’m just a bit annoyed at having a transitional season to get to something that is at best unclear and at worst is ineffective when expected to have most of the possession.

Between us I think we manage to articulate the same united opinion. Appreciate the further clarity.

 

[glasgowspur]

It's time to put this and the whole crowd stuff behind us and move on.
It's a side show, the important issue is our form, and tbh if the manager and players are spending as much time over the crowd as is being made out I'd be very disappointed.
You want to win the crowd over, you'll do by winning games, not showing solidarity in the centre circle.
Spend more time on tactics and training, less time on the reaction of the crowd, do the first and you won't need to worry about the second.
Patience is needed all round, not just us in the crowd but the manager and players, sometimes looks like we are in a rush and working because of it.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Problem is, he didn't change it. He tried to play the same Ange-ball, just in a slightly different formation. He didn't get the wing-backs wide and he completed frazzled young Archie's head. He then abandoned it at half time from memory.

When Frank has changed to 3 at the back, he has at least adopted the philosophies that go with the system. Just like Poch did when he put Dier to the right of Toby and got Trips hugging the touch line. Ditto when Dele dismantled Conte's league winning Chelsea's team in 2017.

Mate
We played it twice haven’t we
Once in the super cup which was good but we know psg were just off the beach
And vs arsenal when we were so bad they played like they could go on the beach and still win