If you thought things couldn't get any worse than the Ange Postecoglou reign at Tottenham Hotspur, then think again. Under Thomas Frank, the events playing out at Spurs have arguably been even worse.
Under Ange, the football was chaotic, but at least it was exciting. You can't say you were not getting value for money. That Europa League triumph was truly unforgettable.
Yet, for Frank, it's been a horrendous first half-year in north London. Spurs may well have finished in the top eight in the Champions League, but they cannot buy a win at home, and the Dane's points per game record of 1.15 is now the worst of any manager to have led one of your typical 'big six' teams. Yes, it's even worse than Postecoglou's.
So, what's the solution? Spurs have been through more managers than pairs of socks, so perhaps it's time the players had a look at themselves.
The biggest issues facing Thomas Frank at Spurs
As Cristian Romero rather controversially put it last week, it's something of a disgrace that they ended up having just 11 senior players fit.
The squad has been decimated by injury and Frank can rightfully use that as something of an excuse for Spurs' plight in 2025/26. After all, we've now seen just how much better this team looks with Dominic Solanke leading the line.
The striker has returned to full fitness with a bang, scoring two goals against Manchester City last week, which included that special scorpion kick.
So, there is one side of the coin that says we should wait for Spurs to have a proper squad again before we pass judgment on Frank. Xavi Simons may well have signed in the summer but it cannot be underestimated just how big a loss James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have both been this term. The fact that Mohammed Kudus will be missing until April is also a seismic blow.
Injuries have been a huge burden but he's also been let down by several senior players. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has not been at his best, with that mistake against Fulham when Harry Wilson fired home one of his most memorable blunders. From the get-go, Yves Bissouma's attitude has also been questioned with Frank leaving him out of the Super Cup squad due to persistent lateness.
There is Pedro Porro too, who has been suspect defensively and not as strong going forward this season. He may well be a defender but he's not scored and has registered just two assists in 23 Premier League matches.
In 2024/25, he produced as many as six assists in 33 matches and also found the net on two occasions. With so many creative players out injured, Porro's importance should have become greater but like many in Lilywhite, he has found himself struggling.
The nadir of Frank's problems, however, reared its ugly head on Saturday lunchtime.
Time for key Spurs player to leave London behind
This summer feels like an ideal time to have something of a reset to the playing squad. The aforementioned Porro and Bissouma feel like prime candidates to leave while it would not be a surprise to see Vicario head out the exit door. Tottenham have already been linked with Sunderland stopper Robin Roefs as a potential replacement.
Yet, it's hard to dispute that Romero isn't the biggest problem facing Frank and Spurs right now. Forget about the injuries for a second, the Argentine has been a problem for a number of years now and simply has to go.
The centre-back has popped up with some vital moments since arriving under Nuno Santo. His passing and never-say-die attitude can never be called into question. He's a warrior, a leader of men and he's scored important goals. The Newcastle and Burnley strikes are a testament to that.
However, Romero is a defender by trade and he's not leading by example particularly well of late.
He caused a stir last week when he took to social media to call out the lack of availability among the Spurs squad. While Frank did suggest the matter had been dealt with internally, his club captain failed to step up to the plate adequately over the weekend and only made matters worse.
The last thing Spurs needed this week was a suspension and that's exactly what they got. Considering the comments Romero made, this was a moment of madness. His studs met the ankle of Casemiro at force and referee Michael Oliver had no choice but to send him for an early bath.
A mistimed tackle, yes, and perhaps accidental. No player means to hurt an opponent. Yet, Romero has a history in this regard. He will now miss the next four games due to this red card, three for the violent nature of the challenge, and an extra game because this was his second red card of the Premier League season. No other player has that record in 2025/26.
In fact, since the defender joined in 2021, no one has picked up more red cards in the English top-flight (4). To make matters worse, his six red cards in all competitions are the joint-most of any player in Spurs history.
As Chris Waddle said in conversation with Football FanCast last week, it was a surprise that he signed a four-year contract. particularly as it looks "like he's never really wanted to be at Tottenham." A bold claim, sure, and it would not be a surprise if he were no longer at the club beyond the summer.
The fact of the matter is that he's let down the fans and his manager on too many occasions now. Surely it's time to move him on.