Thomas Frank - Head Coach

[SteveAWOL]

the quality in the PL is far higher, players are fitter, stronger, better drilled defensively

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[parj]

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)

Totally agree. Now here's a question... How much do we go back him in the last week of the window to keep going in UCL? We either back him now until summer or run the rapids and see what happens

 

[thfcsteff]

Totally agree. Now here's a question... How much do we go back him in the last week of the window to keep going in UCL? We either back him now until summer or run the rapids and see what happens

It's a fascinating question. I think at this point it all depends on how much the players are prepared to give for him.

 

[SpurMeUp]

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)

Are you trying to pivot here? After suggesting its the intent from the manager that makes a difference, now its Romero and Porro, rather than Frank lol

Second half was always going to be kill the game. We had ample chances first and second half to add a third goal. We are still terrible in the final third. Passing up oppotunities with wayward crosses and shots. But at least there should be some confidence in the side now. With so many injuries and no one on the bench, and big game away on the weekend, would it have been wise to come out all guns blazing second half?

You don't get to Franks position in the game without believing you can win. Bit of a condescending view of him. I'd ask whether fans can somehow reset and believe in Frank, and whether that can help propel us. It is probably more critical tbh.

 

[Bullet]

It's a fascinating question. I think at this point it all depends on how much the players are prepared to give for him.

At the end of the game TF was walking around high-fiving everyone and speaking to a few players like Jun'ai and Destiny and the comments on this site were very positive, saying how the players like him... yet as he went towards the tunnel he high fived Gallagher and Bissouma and they just stared past him without emotion, 1000 yard stare, gave him a high five but just didn't even look at him.
So it is very hard to assess from a distance which players love/hate him... we are all probably reading too much into it.

If TF sets up the team to play forwards and go for it, the players would like him, and if he does the opposite they will hate the way we play and want to see him ousted.

 

[Mikey10]

At the end of the game TF was walking around high-fiving everyone and speaking to a few players like Jun'ai and Destiny and the comments on this site were very positive, saying how the players like him... yet as he went towards the tunnel he high fived Gallagher and Bissouma and they just stared past him without emotion, 1000 yard stare, gave him a high five but just didn't even look at him.
So it is very hard to assess from a distance which players love/hate him... we are all probably reading too much into it.

If TF sets up the team to play forwards and go for it, the players would like him, and if he does the opposite they will hate the way we play and want to see him ousted.

That’ll be the Gallagher who apparently chose us over Villa after Frank called him a week ago and supposedly made the difference when it came to the player’s choice of clubs?

 

[parj]

It's a fascinating question. I think at this point it all depends on how much the players are prepared to give for him.

But will the players give their all if the club don't back him... It's a real stick or twist situation.

 

[parj]

At the end of the game TF was walking around high-fiving everyone and speaking to a few players like Jun'ai and Destiny and the comments on this site were very positive, saying how the players like him... yet as he went towards the tunnel he high fived Gallagher and Bissouma and they just stared past him without emotion, 1000 yard stare, gave him a high five but just didn't even look at him.
So it is very hard to assess from a distance which players love/hate him... we are all probably reading too much into it.

If TF sets up the team to play forwards and go for it, the players would like him, and if he does the opposite they will hate the way we play and want to see him ousted.

If the team is set up to play forwards then I think they will back him Ange level

 

[thfcsteff]

Are you trying to pivot here? After suggesting its the intent from the manager that makes a difference, now its Romero and Porro, rather than Frank lol

Second half was always going to be kill the game. We had ample chances first and second half to add a third goal. We are still terrible in the final third. Passing up oppotunities with wayward crosses and shots. But at least there should be some confidence in the side now. With so many injuries and no one on the bench, and big game away on the weekend, would it have been wise to come out all guns blazing second half?

You don't get to Franks position in the game without believing you can win. Bit of a condescending view of him. I'd ask whether fans can somehow reset and believe in Frank, and whether that can help propel us. It is probably more critical tbh.

No mate.
I'm trying to have a discussion and looking to share views on the match I saw on the pitch.
I did not suggest the intent was on any one specific person or set of individuals.
However, seeing as you asked, I think Frank obviously set up with a new formation (forced upon him) and the inventive use of Spence, however that first half looked very player driven to me, particularly the old heads. I would alao agree that Solanke was helpful with regards to how he plays.

Not everything is binary.
BTW, 'trying to pivot'? If I am wrong about something, I am fine saying so because I don't know everything by some major stretch. And if I have a view, I'm happy to clearly express it.

IMO, you and a few others are almost madly obsessed with the Thomas Frank situation.
I've been very, very clear.
I do not like the style of football we generally play under him.
I want him to do well because he manages Tottenham Hotspur FC.
I am delighted when that happens.
I am happy to be proven wrong when something he did that I criticized turns out to be the right move.
I am delighted when this club produces feel good times.

This isn't some sort of fudged up "I'm right about Frank, no you're right about Frank" competition in MY mind.
In MY mind, it's discussions and opinions which we certainly don't always share.

BTW, I 100% disagree that fan reset is more critical to any success we might have here. It's a factor, certainly, but the only thing that matters in backs to the wall moments are the manager and players believing in each other unequivocally; when that happens, most fans will follow suit IMO.

 

[thfcsteff]

If the team is set up to play forwards then I think they will back him Ange level

...thus could this be his Bobby Robson Italia 90 moment?

 

[SissokoWasGood (BoL)]

What happened today? Has Frank changed the intent suddenly?

I genuinely don’t think much changed in the intent. We start so many games ‘well’, in the sense that we press high and play to a fast tempo. We’ve done that repeatedly under Frank. The difference today was that we scored and could then play the game on our terms. Maybe there was an added layer of aggression from the players (which is interesting enough in the sense that if they wanted to down tools on Frank, you wouldn’t see that) but there’s been plenty of games we’ve started fast and not scored when we needed to. What made the Bournemouth game so horrific was that we actually did get the early goal and managed to concede 2 from crosses with numbers back.

But yeah it’s really simple for me. We actually scored when we planned to. We could then dictate the game. Which is the essence of Frank ball. But it does mean needing to score when we up our intensity.

 

[thfcsteff]

I genuinely don’t think much changed in the intent. We start so many games ‘well’, in the sense that we press high and play to a fast tempo. We’ve done that repeatedly under Frank. The difference today was that we scored and could then play the game on our terms. Maybe there was an added layer of aggression from the players (which is interesting enough in the sense that if they wanted to down tools on Frank, you wouldn’t see that) but there’s been plenty of games we’ve started fast and not scored when we needed to. What made the Bournemouth game so horrific was that we actually did get the early goal and managed to concede 2 from crosses with numbers back.

But yeah it’s really simple for me. We actually scored when we planned to. We could then dictate the game. Which is the essence of Frank ball. But it does mean needing to score when we up our intensity.

I just felt that Romero was not prepared to lose that game tonight. He was superb for most of the night, and must be close to fumes.

 

[SpurMeUp]

No mate.
I'm trying to have a discussion and looking to share views on the match I saw on the pitch.
I did not suggest the intent was on any one specific person or set of individuals.
However, seeing as you asked, I think Frank obviously set up with a new formation (forced upon him) and the inventive use of Spence, however that first half looked very player driven to me, particularly the old heads. I would alao agree that Solanke was helpful with regards to how he plays.

Not everything is binary.
BTW, 'trying to pivot'? If I am wrong about something, I am fine saying so because I don't know everything by some major stretch. And if I have a view, I'm happy to clearly express it.

IMO, you and a few others are almost madly obsessed with the Thomas Frank situation.
I've been very, very clear.
I do not like the style of football we generally play under him.

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.

I want him to do well because he manages Tottenham Hotspur FC.
I am delighted when that happens.
I am happy to be proven wrong when something he did that I criticized turns out to be the right move.
I am delighted when this club produces feel good times.

This isn't some sort of fudged up "I'm right about Frank, no you're right about Frank" competition in MY mind.
In MY mind, it's discussions and opinions which we certainly don't always share.

BTW, I 100% disagree that fan reset is more critical to any success we might have here. It's a factor, certainly, but the only thing that matters in backs to the wall moments are the manager and players believing in each other unequivocally; when that happens, most fans will follow suit IMO.

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.

 

[SpurMeUp]

Maybe Frank will swap Spece for Tel, just out of decency. Which would make sense. Tel deserves the start.

 

[billyiddo]

Bodo just spanked city, they tied us in knots for 45 mins and I think they would have spanked dortmund tonight.

There's always an exception the rule - Bodo are a great team

 

[billyiddo]

Weirdest thing Bodo beating City though… I was there when they came to our place last season and they could barely kick a ball forward; seriously one of the worse teams to come to the stadium ( still managed a goal though). And yet they beat City. That does not bode well for Arsenal’s only serious challenger.

They were missing 5 or 6 first team players iirc - a small team like that will suffer as a result. Hell ,most big clubs would too

 

[SpurMeUp]

The best thing tonight was the tempo. The side were prepared by Frank to play fast. The passes had pace. Everything we did had tempo. Well done Frank.

What happened earlier in the season? Frank tried to get the side playing with tempo, and we just lost the ball. Constantly gave it back to the oposition. Tonight, these players were used to training at tempo, and started to gel a little. Poro and Odobert. Udogie and Spence. We'd seen Tel, Xavi and Odobert also starting to click a bit.

For me, when I see these steps forward from Frank, it is what gives me confidence in him. Results may not be good, but you can see improvements in individuals and the team. We are hamstrung with limited attacking players at our disposal. No quick way to get around that.

 

[Bullet]

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.

Agree, but I think it was Romero. I wondered if Romero would chin him or not.

 

[SpurMeUp]

Agree, but I think it was Romero. I wondered if Romero would chin him or not.

Possibly happened twice. Romero is always impatient - no problem from him playing with tempo. And did you see his crazy slide rule pass? A Romero special. Unecessary, beautiful, risky. Romero wouldn't stand a chance vs Danso!

 

[Ace Face]

Always thought we have looked better with Bergvall and Gray playing together. They seem to have a genuine connection and the innocence of youth to play positively.