• Dear Guest, Please note that adult content is not permitted on this forum. We have had our Google ads disabled at times due to some posts that were found from some time ago. Please do not post adult content and if you see any already on the forum, please report the post so that we can deal with it. Adult content is allowed in the glory hole - you will have to request permission to access it. Thanks, scara

Thomas Frank - Head Coach

Aren't we just describing what any coach (not so long ago before scrutiny on steroids came along) would be doing after 13 PL games. ie working out the players and best team/system.

Plus, weren't we all (well many) saying we need to stop keep playing the Paulinha/Bents axis and get more of the creatives in midfield?, the 'chopping and changing' amounts to doing that, plus Spence rotating in for Porro or Udogie (often calked for), and Muani and Simmons being integrated as new signings as normal (the former looking like a positive already).

Yes, ones new expectations can be I want the side to settle down,BUT maybe it's just not there yet. His strongest conclusions so far are more likely to be who isn't good enough or too limited a player (ie Richie/Johnson).

And he could be making changes because of the exact same reason we wanted them....what he is seeing on the field he's not particularly happy with. He's looking for match ups that work and for things (just anything:)) to click.
But we want to win playing free-flowing, attractive football which blows away the oppsotition - and we want to do it NOW!
 
Aren't we just describing what any coach (not so long ago before scrutiny on steroids came along) would be doing after 13 PL games. ie working out the players and best team/system.

Plus, weren't we all (well many) saying we need to stop keep playing the Paulinha/Bents axis and get more of the creatives in midfield?, the 'chopping and changing' amounts to doing that, plus Spence rotating in for Porro or Udogie (often calked for), and Muani and Simmons being integrated as new signings as normal (the former looking like a positive already).

Yes, ones new expectations can be I want the side to settle down,BUT maybe it's just not there yet. His strongest conclusions so far are more likely to be who isn't good enough or too limited a player (ie Richie/Johnson).

And he could be making changes because of the exact same reason we wanted them....what he is seeing on the field he's not particularly happy with. He's looking for match ups that work and for things (just anything:)) to click.
Out of curiosity what makes you think he's decided Richie isnt good enough considering he's played in every league game and Champions League game this season? Not leaving him out once and a goal contribution every other in the league game doesn't strike me as him coming to that conclusion, no matter what we think of him on here:

IMG_1731.jpeg

Johnson of course is a different matter....
 
This is the bit that is the mystery to me. When games come thick and fast you're clearly going to remove some of the physical conditioning work and focus instead on tactically prepping for the matches. You could argue that could be a great time to focus on the possession side of the game.
Sure if there are opponent specific weaknesses to target.

But if we're looking to improve our possession game overall, play more through midfield, take more risk. Then you probably need to do drills on that, drills that will have to be fairly high intensity? You also have to "practice" doing that in actual games. Complicating decision making away from pass it safe, move it wide or hoof it. The less used players are to doing that the more mistakes will be made? Whereas those mistakes can be (and were) avoided by passing it safe, wide or long.
 
Out of curiosity what makes you think he's decided Richie isnt good enough considering he's played in every league game and Champions League game this season? Not leaving him out once and a goal contribution every other in the league game doesn't strike me as him coming to that conclusion, no matter what we think of him on here:

View attachment 20920

Johnson of course is a different matter....

Muani has been getting up to fitness and Solanke has been unavailable - Richarlison has been our only option really. We'll see how things develop now that Muani is getting closer to full fitness.

As 1 of 2 forwards he'll be getting plenty of games/minutes regardless
 
Muani has been getting up to fitness and Solanke has been unavailable - Richarlison has been our only option really. We'll see how things develop now that Muani is getting closer to full fitness.

As 1 of 2 forwards he'll be getting plenty of games/minutes regardless
No he wasn't/isnt the only option. Tel played up front against Leeds, scored a goal and did well enough to get a start the next game. Yet Tel was dropped and Richi was back up front and it was a league game so Tel was available.

We all agree we want better than Richi but managers think differently to armchair fans, and there is no chance you can conclusively say Frank doesn't want/rate Richi when he has featured in literally every game....
 
Forgot about Tel tbf
lol I doubt you're the only one! I'm not remotely disagreeing with what you're saying either, he will feature less when Solanke is back. I just don't think we have any conclusive evidence yet until then where Frank really sees him(of course we all agree he needs to go)....
 
Out of curiosity what makes you think he's decided Richie isnt good enough considering he's played in every league game and Champions League game this season? Not leaving him out once and a goal contribution every other in the league game doesn't strike me as him coming to that conclusion, no matter what we think of him on here:

View attachment 20920

Johnson of course is a different matter....
If Dom is injured and Muani getting up to fitness then getting two injuries....then Richie is going to get games as it's him or Scarlett.

Richie falls into the 'limited' camp...but I'd suggest will fall into the not 'good enough' camp when held up against Dom and Muani
 
I also fear we are a bit presumptuous Muani will be here next season. Does he definitely want to be here permanently? Also from what I've seen of PSGs CFs, without Demebele they aren't up to much - is there no chance they will keep him after this loan?
His time at PSG is cooked, he has said he no longer wants to be there, they don't want him from what I have read (though could be wrong)......I doubt he comes here perm though
 
Sure if there are opponent specific weaknesses to target.

But if we're looking to improve our possession game overall, play more through midfield, take more risk. Then you probably need to do drills on that, drills that will have to be fairly high intensity? You also have to "practice" doing that in actual games. Complicating decision making away from pass it safe, move it wide or hoof it. The less used players are to doing that the more mistakes will be made? Whereas those mistakes can be (and were) avoided by passing it safe, wide or long.
I think I had the conversation with you before about Bodo? I loved them as they're a yard stick. If Bodo can do it, then anyone can. I'm talking about that simple (well appears it is to them) action of passing it to each other with fluidity.
Hold them up versus any club in the PL and they're minnows in stature and budget.

I think at the time you stated that they signed specialists to play that way.
The kind of passing game I see them play is just fluid, it doesn't require any pass wizardry ala pirlo, modric, berkovic, kinkladze, Kane.

All of our players must be capable of that level of passing (they're constantly doing it in rondo's every bloody day).

But I'm not seeing any (or very little )pass and move, triangles, or any movement by the recipient that begs for the pass. (ie makes the passers mind up for him).

LASTLY. Our 'pass appreciation' is so poor. Pass appreciation is playing the ball into the flow of the person receiving. If you can save them any extra touch (or two) that's excellent. Even our 'horseshoe' passes (the basic simple ones across the back) aren't delivered in this way. (I was really noticing this in the Fulham game)

And I'm sure, this not going well, feeds into the players just plainly not enjoying playing.
 
I also fear we are a bit presumptuous Muani will be here next season. Does he definitely want to be here permanently? Also from what I've seen of PSGs CFs, without Demebele they aren't up to much - is there no chance they will keep him after this loan?
Oh I agree...he's 26, in his prime, not like the youngsters, time for him to do the best for himself.
 
Back