Our Europa League results came because we played against lesser competition than the PL. In the final we played a team that struggled as much as we did, the semi finals Bodo etc. We were one of the big favourites going in, followed the odds and some put us 1st favorite at the start of the competition. It was hardly a surprise. If this is the main reason you see a resurgence in our form, you have not a lot to stand on.
"Someone else did it" (Aston Villa), doesn't mean we are going to do it. Greece won the EURO 2004, imagine all the same status teams keeping their failing coaches because if Greece had done it, they could do it too. The question is why has Aston Villa done it and we haven't? The Aston Villa form is not a pro-Frank argument, it's an against-Frank one.
Missing Kulusevski, Solanke and Maddison might be a life line but we brought in similar valuable players like Xavi Simmons, Kudus and Kolo Muani. Plus a DM that can actually help the defence and have a very high ball winning and successful tackling performance like Palhinha, which would have helped Ange a lot.
I sense you enjoy being annoyed, possibly in general, but certainly about Spurs, as you are just focusing on the elements that fuel your arguments - there's no pragmatism in your comments.
As regards the Europa League - if you are so dismissive of the competition's quality, why is it that we have not won it in previous years, over and over again? Its a premier competition across Europe and is a major trophy - how many have Spurs won in your life time? Don't dismiss the achievement with such disdain - it was a hell of an achievement for a team that in other areas was in free fall.
I see a resurgence in our form because I think Frank is doing what he is doing right now on purpose to make us hard to beat. I think he's recognised that right now there is a lack of creativity in the team, and thus his logic, for right or for wrong, is to make us hard to beat, and then add creativity as we get players back. On that basis the return of the injured players will be beneficial to that process - my view only - you'll no doubt have yours.
Villa was a microcosm of the league this season. There's 4 points between 5th and 14th. With that in mind, a run of any sort can propel you up the league - which is what has happened with Villa, and which a neg-head such as yourself perceives we are incapable of doing. If Villa can do it, with a squad that is beset with PSR related issues, has goalkeeper and forward issues, then why can't we? The Villa form is an example of what can be done, incidentally, by sticking to your principals and toughing it out when the going gets tough - Emery didn't change or compromise his style, he doubled down and stuck it out. Stability is key, not knee jerk armchair football management, and its certainly not a negative argument as regards Thomas Frank, its a resounding slap on the back for consistency and stability.
Next you compare 3 seasoned footballers with several years of top flight experience (Maddison, Kulusevski and Solanke) to three new signings in Kolo Muani, Simons, and Kudus. Its fair enough if you want to compare them from a talent perspective - I think all three new players stack up pretty well - but tell me, when you started a new job last time around were you able to walk in on day one, and be totally and completely effective in your role from the off? Or did it take you a while to do that before people saw your worth? I ask because this is what you are doing. You're loading 60+ goal involvements from 3 seasoned EPL players onto one new signing from a smaller London club, and two from overseas who are learning their new jobs in a foreign language in another country. In the case of Kolo Muani he's not even had a pre-season. They are not at the level of the three injured guys yet, but the really exciting thing is that when all six are up to speed and available, we will have proper depth of squad at 7,9, and 10. Adding Palhinha was astute but was instigated with Frank in the seat - if Ange had wanted him he would have discussed this and they would have tried.
I accept you're a pessimist and I accept that you will have your views, but I think you're more or less wrong about the direction of travel under Frank. Ange's approach to losing Maddison and Kulusevski last season was to make us hard to beat and less flamboyant - to grind out results - this is exactly what Frank is doing, and he's doing it without Son as well.
