Thomas Frank - Head Coach

[Muttley]

I believe that Gray & Bergvall would get over run in the PL as a CM 2 - Dortmund gave us more time and space than you get in the league.

This won't be settled until we see it play out - so there's not really a point in going through a 'no they won't/ yes they will' back and forth over it

I just think Frank is all about the nurturing in the background before he brings these guys to the foreground. Gray had a period of injury that has punctuated his season. He's generally been progressing well towards a 1st team starter all season in my opinion. I think he's the one Frank trusts over Bergval at this point. Bergval's position is also tougher as he's expected to join up with the attacking play and therefore needs to use his nous more to still be defensively savvy when he does that. I don't think Bergval has been fit for a fair few weeks though. Like you, I don't think we'll use this partnership in the PL. No problem Gray can't start though.

I know the results have been bad but generally I think we're now seeing other guys like Obobert and Tel that are coming to the foreground and we're seeing Xavi's assimilation to the PL going at a steady pace. We're now seeing phases of games that are actually really good and sort of challenging the "Frank can't or won't" phalanx when it comes to finding the balance between defence and attack.

It's an amazingly curious season.

 

[Raziel]

I believe that Gray & Bergvall would get over run in the PL as a CM 2 - Dortmund gave us more time and space than you get in the league.

This won't be settled until we see it play out - so there's not really a point in going through a 'no they won't/ yes they will' back and forth over it

We played it once in the PL, won 3-0 at home (first match of season) and then never saw it again

 

[parj]

Why wouldn't you get behind the side and manager whilst he is here? It might help.

Why hasn't the manager backed Tel? Why are people moaning about attackers not being good enough? Getting behind everyone at the club would help, right? Remember the support Levy had? What about the protests for change? Everyone should just get behind the entire club, not just the manager. Or everyone is entitled to their view, doesn't mean they don't support the club. It's the most childish thing I read that if you don't back the manager you aren't supporting the club. What a load of tosh.

I believe the our squad is better than what we see, yesterday proved that - at its bare bones. I have said if he gets the team putting in performances, and backs the players to play, instead of safe and steady all the time, I would back him. But the absolute garbage we have been subjected to this season is unacceptable.

 

[Bishop]

First-half we played with a fire and anger I have not seen for sometime. I thought Romero and Porro were outstanding in driving us forward, keeping us up the pitch and dictating the snap and crackle of what was needed.
I'll keep my deeper thoughts on that to myself, nonetheless, very positive.
It's a shame we ended up in that semi-space again second-half, dropping off a bit more than we needed to rather than going again at the start of the second, getting a third and then being able to rest some, BUT beggars should not be choosers and this is not a night to see anything negative more than celebrate the positive outcome, result and performance.
I'll say this. If we can hold onto a top 8 spot (and Frankfurt are not good this season so I think we can) then suddenly we are last 16. Anything can happen. Marginal gains are important, and one of those is we have to have a manager who believes we can win it (however ludicrous that might sound). Let's hope he believes, because irony of ironies, his pragamatic per-game approach might well work perfectly at that stage of a tournament.
Right now, I'm glad for all of us something is positive...now onto that next phase of the CL, Burnlio away!!!!! (well we are top 4 in the CL so let's pretend hahaha)

If we were to win the CL (I know LOL) but finished similarly lowly like last season , would you want Frank to keep his job?

 

[parj]

If we were to win the CL (I know LOL) but finished similarly lowly like last season , would you want Frank to keep his job?

Di Matteo won a UCL. Didn't last long the following season. I think the main thing is the team needs to show something in the league too. We can't rely on winning the UCL to qualify for the UCL (at some point it becomes unrealistic lol). If we finish 17th, and win the UCL, would top players want to join us the following season? Probably not.

 

[makkag]

If we were to win the CL (I know LOL) but finished similarly lowly like last season , would you want Frank to keep his job?

Yeah, I'd probably offer him a blowie as well

 

[SissokoWasGood (BoL)]

I thought we worked the ball nicely through midfield when 11 v 11. You want to explain that as player driven. Here's what I think: its just players clicking and settling as well as having first teamers back. All this guff about horse shoes or no patterns or frank sets us up to be negative. Well it wasn't on show today, was that because he set us up differently? No. Just the team galvanizing with a couple of better players back.



Having support is key too. It makes a difference.

We still have serious issues in attack imo. Can we build on today? The challange now is how to use the other senior players who weren't registered on the weekend. If I was Frank I'd try to keep this side intact as much as possible and feed in the rest. Maybe play Gallagher for Bergvall. Then have strong subs in Bissouma, Tel, Muani. There's a temptation to rotate, but building on this performance - and actually correcting some of the wasteful forward play - is crucial.

Talking of intent - I love Bergvalls intent. He brings just postive momentum. He saw Danso pondering on who to pass to from a free kick, Bergvall steams in and pings it with pace perfectly to out wide. He helped to set that more positive tempo. And I think that is from Frank too - he wants that quicker tempo. Shame he maybe out now. Still we have some good cover in CM now.

I’m not sure you can say the team was galvanised by having better players back when we played Spence on left wing, Odobert and Simons have been routinely described as not good enough yet and played a lot with us and Solanke back. Solanke is also a weird one because I swear I’ve seen a ton of people describe him as emblematic of us almost of signing good but not great players and being one we need to upgrade. And now all of a sudden since being out he’s being spoken of as the key to unlocking everything.

I’m not sure I buy it. I think the team displayed a great level of aggression and executed in some key moments. But the intent was largely the same as lots of other games. We just did it better and got the breaks when we needed. Maybe Solanke was the key to unlocking everything, but I tend to agree with Frank that overall performances had been trending better even if we hadn’t had the breaks, and last night we got them.

 

[thfcsteff]

If we were to win the CL (I know LOL) but finished similarly lowly like last season , would you want Frank to keep his job?

I think whether I wanted him to or not, the achievement would so far outstrip my opinion that it would (frankly) be criminal for him not to keep his job!!! I don't think you can argue with something like that. I'd be pressed to say that if he were to reach the quarters or semis and put together a run which got us into the Europa League next season, that would likelty be enough for me (despite not enjoying the style of football per se). But noses and faces spring to mind.

So, a short answer to your question is - yes.

What about you @Bishop ?

 

[thfcsteff]

Why wouldn't you get behind the side and manager whilst he is here? It might help.

Where has Parj said they dont't do that? Asking questions and raising discussion points is a different thing. Or are you essentially trying to define anything other than flag-waving fealty as an act of non-supportive treason?

 

[SpurMeUp]

Where has Parj said they dont't do that? Asking questions and raising discussion points is a different thing. Or are you essentially trying to define anything other than flag-waving fealty as an act of non-supportive treason?

Have you actually read his posts

Have a butchers at the endless whinging about Frank

http://www.glory-glory.co.uk/threads/thomas-frank-head-coach.12266/post-1999058

 

[Ace Face]

I just think Frank is all about the nurturing in the background before he brings these guys to the foreground. Gray had a period of injury that has punctuated his season. He's generally been progressing well towards a 1st team starter all season in my opinion. I think he's the one Frank trusts over Bergval at this point. Bergval's position is also tougher as he's expected to join up with the attacking play and therefore needs to use his nous more to still be defensively savvy when he does that. I don't think Bergval has been fit for a fair few weeks though. Like you, I don't think we'll use this partnership in the PL. No problem Gray can't start though.

I know the results have been bad but generally I think we're now seeing other guys like Obobert and Tel that are coming to the foreground and we're seeing Xavi's assimilation to the PL going at a steady pace. We're now seeing phases of games that are actually really good and sort of challenging the "Frank can't or won't" phalanx when it comes to finding the balance between defence and attack.

It's an amazingly curious season.

As much as I have been "Frank Out" over the past couple of months, are we seeing something akin to what happened with Poch during his first season where he figured out that Kaboul, Adebayor etc. didn't fit what he was looking for squad-wise (limes, not lemons) and he got rid of them to allow the younger players to come through?

Is this injury crisis a blessing in disguise to help TF decide we need to move on from some of the older players, Richie and Bentancur in particular?

 

[thfcsteff]

Have you actually read his posts

Have a butchers at the endless whinging about Frank

http://www.glory-glory.co.uk/threads/thomas-frank-head-coach.12266/post-1999058

Yes. And I read his reply to your question. Have you got an answer for it that isn't a question/questioning the support of others?

 

[thfcsteff]

As much as I have been "Frank Out" over the past couple of months, are we seeing something akin to what happened with Poch during his first season where he figured out that Kaboul, Adebayor etc. didn't fit what he was looking for squad-wise (limes, not lemons) and he got rid of them to allow the younger players to come through?

Is this injury crisis a blessing in disguise to help TF decide we need to move on from some of the older players, Richie and Bentancur in particular?

Well, we are absolutely about to find out if that is the case.

I have seen several here quietly adamant that Thomas Frank will modify his approach to football once he gets the likes of Solanke and Deki back and fully fit.

I like the optimism in that thought and hope it bears out. I personally would need to see regular proof of it on the pitch. I think you raise a great point with regards to injury crisis and blessings (which, BTW, in the case of last night tends to negate the comments that these players aren't good enough).

 

[thfcsteff]

I believe that Gray & Bergvall would get over run in the PL as a CM 2 - Dortmund gave us more time and space than you get in the league.

This won't be settled until we see it play out - so there's not really a point in going through a 'no they won't/ yes they will' back and forth over it

IF you play higher, press higher and are on the front-foot, you don't invite the levels of pressure which could expose young pairings sitting 10 yards deeper. There was a compactness to our work in the first-half yesterday which combined with Dortmund's sluggishness didn't leave much area to be overrun in.
I thought the deployment of Spence was a massive plus; interesting that he has not tried it until he was forced to, nonetheless he did it last night and kudos to him because it was very effective as a balance to Odobert.

 

[Muttley]

As much as I have been "Frank Out" over the past couple of months, are we seeing something akin to what happened with Poch during his first season where he figured out that Kaboul, Adebayor etc. didn't fit what he was looking for squad-wise (limes, not lemons) and he got rid of them to allow the younger players to come through?

Is this injury crisis a blessing in disguise to help TF decide we need to move on from some of the older players, Richie and Bentancur in particular?

It has occurred to me that we may not get to find out unless we're patient enough to see the new Kaboul, Paulinho etc exit stage left/

On the other hand, what @Steff has just said is key. Personally, I would just be happy to see us become one of those clubs like Pool. We all knew City played the most entertaining football and not Pool. They still played pretty decent football though. I'd settle for not being the most attractive side in the league if we can just find some stability and consistency first. If we can achieve that under Frank then we can always upgrade him down the line when we've found a plateau.

 

[SpurMeUp]

Yes. And I read his reply to your question. Have you got an answer for it that isn't a question/questioning the support of others?

I wouldn’t waste my time tbh.

 

[Bishop]

I think whether I wanted him to or not, the achievement would so far outstrip my opinion that it would (frankly) be criminal for him not to keep his job!!! I don't think you can argue with something like that. I'd be pressed to say that if he were to reach the quarters or semis and put together a run which got us into the Europa League next season, that would likelty be enough for me (despite not enjoying the style of football per se). But noses and faces spring to mind.

So, a short answer to your question is - yes.

What about you @Bishop ?

Its hard to say in advance but I think if I continued to find the football unconvincing and didn't see any signs of progression in terms of the football and the plan then I'd say he wasn't the right guy for us at the end of the season.

I do think league progression and performances are the real indicator of where you are though.

If he were to win it he'd probably in reality have to show some progression. It's kind of a silly question on my behalf as I don't think we will get close tbh.

 

[SpurMeUp]

For Steff

Why hasn't the manager backed Tel?

He has. And Frank has got Tel playing the best football he’s played for us. Some credit to Frank there. Tel was lost last season.

Why are people moaning about attackers not being good enough?

I think people are just asking for fans like you to make some allowance for missing so many attacking players. Maybe can give Frank a bit of slack with this in mind.

Getting behind everyone at the club would help, right?

Yes. Most still back and celebrate the second string attackers. Especially as they develop. Odobert, Tel, Bergvall, most appreciated their developing skills as well as appreciating they are not polished. When you allow for these younger players - that they aren’t the finished article - then it should give some patience. We might not have enough wins on the board but we are watching some talented young players come on leaps and bounds and settle. None looked out of place on the CL last night.

Remember the support Levy had? What about the protests for change? Everyone should just get behind the entire club, not just the manager. Or everyone is entitled to their view, doesn't mean they don't support the club.

Really depends how you want to live your life. With positivity or fuked off with everything.

It's the most childish thing I read that if you don't back the manager you aren't supporting the club. What a load of tosh.


You wrote it lol

I was talking about how things like placebos affect people. It’s a known thing right. Can you imagine coming to work and a quarter of the ‘fans’ hating on you? Would that help or hinder your performance?

I believe the our squad is better than what we see, yesterday proved that

Lol. There isn’t any point discussing because you’re not able to give credit where it’s due. Frank made some big calls and we won. But you’ll try to twist it to find your prejudice. Wallow in it if that is your thing. Who am I to give you clarity. You seem content in this space so nothing to be done here.

- at its bare bones. I have said if he gets the team putting in performances, and backs the players to play, instead of safe and steady all the time, I would back him.

Can you imagine? After all the investment in wanting him gone

But the absolute garbage we have been subjected to from a minority of ‘supporters’ this season is unacceptable.

Fixed it for you. You are welcome

 

[Gutter Boy]

I believe that Gray & Bergvall would get over run in the PL as a CM 2 - Dortmund gave us more time and space than you get in the league.

This won't be settled until we see it play out - so there's not really a point in going through a 'no they won't/ yes they will' back and forth over it

They were the DP in our best league performance of the season - the win at Burnley.

They are also both 19. Where was the Xavi-Iniesta partnership at that age?

 

[billyiddo]

They were the DP in our best league performance of the season - the win at Burnley.

They are also both 19. Where was the Xavi-Iniesta partnership at that age?

At home to a promoted side...

They both have the potential to become first XI players for us, not denying that.