Thomas Frank - Head Coach

[El Dante]

He needs to stop talking about how we are brave and have to be brave. I’ve seen no evidence of being brave in any of our performances. It’s like he knows our motto and thinks talk of being brave is key buzzwords. Like a student not really understanding an exam principle but writing it over and over on the test paper as they think it will reveal just how clever they are when it actually undermines anything that they do know.

We need to be taking more risks in the attacking third. We need long shots, we need attempted through balls, we need to take on opposition defenders, get at them and take chances.

Passing backwards and sideways for the most of the match is NOT being brave.

 

[braineclipse]

He needs to stop talking about how we are brave and have to be brave. I’ve seen no evidence of being brave in any of our performances. It’s like he knows our motto and thinks talk of being brave is key buzzwords. Like a student not really understanding an exam principle but writing it over and over on the test paper as they think it will reveal just how clever they are when it actually undermines anything that they do know.

We need to be taking more risks in the attacking third. We need long shots, we need attempted through balls, we need to take on opposition defenders, get at them and take chances.

Passing backwards and sideways for the most of the match is NOT being brave.

A quote from the latest press conference: "We need to do everything we can to put an attacking, intense, front-footed performance out against Sunderland in two days' time. I'll do everything I can to make sure we do that."

That's different than brave, and hopefully we'll see some of that attacking, intense, front footedness on the pitch on Sunday.

 

[braineclipse]

Yeah…it may well be that the schedule is on our favor with respect to the Palace match. My only counter would be that we did also raise our game at Saudi Sportswashing Machine, versus United, versus Liverpool. I think there has been a good pattern of ending strongly regardless of schedule, even if we haven’t seen the results yet.

I also wonder whether, from his perspective on data, whether he looked at Brentford’s strong home form, who they’ve taken points from, and always intended to be even more conservative in this match because the data says a point is good.

That said, it doesn’t really explain the utterly dreadful passing from our players.

For sure there have been better games and worse games. I was just making a point on the Palace game in particular.

I think we do have a tendency to end strongly, although the way I see it is a bit harsher on our football. When teams start to tire, aren't able to press as well or defend with the same intensity we're able to play and then look better.

I think a very conservative approach does lead to worse passing, but not necessarily to this extent.

 

[thfcsteff]

You've not noticed the changes in Gray during the season? I'm surprised at that. I think he has come on leaps and bounds under Thomas. I've already made the statement that Bergval will follow next. Xavi is clearly making progress with Frank's nurturing as well and I read so many posters talk about Odobert looking better under Frank. Not sure I'm as convinced on that one yet.

I loved Poch's nurturing talents. In the spirit of a fun conversation, your comment on Gray is like saying that Poch didn't deserve any credit for Harry's progress because he was always going to be great. In my opinion, Frank is pivotal to Gray's development and will deserve the same credit Poch got for the players you list and others. Gray was absolutely critical to how we defended yesterday. Sometimes he was dropping in to centre mid and other times he was becoming the 9 and defending from the top. Then Frank was able to switch him mid game and move him back into the double pivot. That is all Frank nurturing.

I guess some players are just easier to coach. I bet Gray is near the top of that list at Spurs. I have a feeling Tel, Muani and Odobert aren't.

Kudus is the intriguing one for me. He hasn't hit his stride yet and you could lay that with the manager or player to be fair.

So regarding Gray. What changes specifically? I think the luxury Frank has had which his predecessor hasn’t is that he’s been able to play him in midfield because the defence has largely been fit. As we know, midfield is Archie’s favoured position, so I think the fact he’s getting to play there more suits his development. I do think Frank trusting him as one of the starters (seemingly) regularly now over the past 8- 10 games is a great thing, however I’d say that’s down to Gray’s natural ability more than any magical Frank coaching/development? If you’re prepared to hand Frank ‘pivotal status’ with regards to Gray’s performances over the last dozen or so games, that’s of course your prerogative. Let’s just be honest here though, the comparison between Frank & Gray and Poch & Kane? It’s a little bit of a stretch!!! With regards to dropping Gray back into a pivot, honestly, if when he took off Odobert and brought Muani on he’d have switched Gray to cover left mid and gone 4-4-2, that would’ve been fundamentally impressive (he, of course, didn’t). I’d say playing Gray at 10 was curious; nurturing? Not for me. Again, Gray’s flexibility and maturrity makes him easy to trust…now if Frank set Archie up to play as passing 10, if he set him up as an 8 who is encouraged to look through the opitch and not feed the width, if he worked on developing that, then maybe that’s nurturing in my eyes. Ditto Lucas. Right now, all he is doing IMO is choosing great young talent who have high ceilings and lots of experience for their ages already.

Xavi?
I mean, if he were to simply play him in a way which makes sense to his skillset regularly, then we’d see more from him regularly. Again, I think that’s more about tactical use? What has he given Xavi’s game which counts as nurturing his talent to you? Muani is 26 so he is a player you have more than a young player to mould. Odobert looks coachable to me, just a case of whether he is actually good enough. Tel? I think there’s a real player in there but I don’t think he fits the Frank mould.

IMO Frank needs to do more for Kudus. The reason we could get Kudus is because he has great raw talent but he’s (indeed) still raw in places. He needs elite coaching and he also needs to not bear the brunt of all out creative endeavours IMO. Right now we are not giving him the best opportunities for success.