Thomas Frank sack verdict delivered as Tottenham boss faces growing unrest

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With a match against Liverpool up next, followed by a daunting visit to Crystal Palace to conclude their 2025 fixtures, the question arises: can Frank weather the storm of fan discontent and internal squad issues through the long, cold winter?

Our panel weigh in on whether Tottenham should dismiss their second manager in six months and admit their error before it's too late...

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John Cross

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Tottenham must afford Thomas Frank more time. It would be a grave mistake to make a hasty decision before Christmas, denying a new manager the chance to rectify the situation.

Spurs currently sit on 22 points after 16 games, which is only one point less than they had at this stage under former boss Ange Postecoglou.

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However, the real concern lies in the style of football, a lack of entertainment and identity. That being said, these are precisely the elements that a new manager needs time to instil.

It was never going to be an instant triumph.

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Frank took over a team that had clinched the Europa League but performed poorly for most of the previous season. I initially thought the squad was stronger than it actually is.

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They urgently need another transfer window.

The team lacks quality, character and determination. The feeble capitulation at Nottingham Forest was deeply concerning.

Yet, they are only four points away from fifth place!

But who else is available to do a better job?

Managers require time. Mikel Arteta endured a much tougher spell at Arsenal.

Even Manchester United have been patient with Ruben Amorim.

Indeed, Tottenham must improve. However, it would be a serious mistake for Tottenham to make yet another change so early into Frank's tenure.

Andy Dunn

This is how major clubs operate nowadays. This is how elite football organisations function.

They maintain their class. They trust their judgement.

Patience has become the new impulsive reaction. The hire-and-fire approach is outdated.

Tottenham Hotspur is a sleeping giant that has been dormant for years, and waking it up will be a lengthy process. The notion of sacking Thomas Frank just ten wins into his tenure is utterly absurd.

After securing a decent point at Newcastle United, Spurs defeated Brentford by two goals and Slavia Prague by three before delivering a disappointing performance at the City Ground.

How could such form possibly warrant dismissal?

Spurs sit higher than Eddie Howe's side in the Premier League standings.

At the very least, they're guaranteed a spot in the Champions League play-off stage. Admittedly, their display at Nottingham Forest was woeful.

Admittedly, consistency has eluded them.

However, counting the European Super Cup, Frank has overseen 25 Spurs matches and suffered defeat in just eight. Sacking him would be utterly absurd.

Neil McLeman

Tottenham's points tally this campaign trails their record after 16 fixtures under Ange Postecoglou last term. Their performance at Forest on Sunday was appallingly poor.

Yet the North London outfit cannot persist with constant managerial upheaval - and Frank is an established, albeit somewhat limited, Premier League manager who attracted interest from both Chelsea and Manchester United last year. Who could deliver superior results at this moment?

This campaign ought to have brought relative consistency under Frank following their 17th-place finish last term but Europa League triumph under Big Ange. Yet victory over his previous employers Brentford represents their sole impressive result since October.

Following the Forest loss, Frank acknowledged there's no "quick fix" and this represents a fairly mediocre squad assembled at considerable cost. Remove injured stars Dejan Kulesevski, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison and Destiny Udogie and the team becomes even more lacklustre.

Securing a top six or seven position - and European qualification next term - ought to be this season's target. Should that prove unattainable, the blame cannot rest solely with Frank.

Nathan Ridley

This scenario feels somewhat familiar, doesn't it?

A promising manager exceeds expectations in the Premier League, secures a coveted move to a larger club, and then everything unravels.

With Thomas Frank at Tottenham, the red flags appear to be emerging. Whilst Spurs are performing admirably in European competition, their domestic league form has been disappointing, and an early Carabao Cup exit, coupled with a challenging FA Cup fixture on the horizon, suggests trouble ahead.

However, I believe perseverance is key. This is a manager who has operated at the progressive Brentford, possesses a proven ability to develop players and can construct a defensively sound unit - precisely what Tottenham were missing under Ange Postecoglou.

Naturally, Frank must extract greater output from Spurs' attacking talent, but the anticipated returns of Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison will undoubtedly bolster creativity. Tottenham have experimented with various managerial profiles, so maintaining the current path seems prudent for now.

Conor Mummery

Following Sunday's disappointing 3-0 loss at Nottingham Forest, Thomas Frank remarked: "If no-one gets the time, no-one can turn it around. This is not a quick fix."

Whilst this may hold merit, and many have highlighted how the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta both endured difficult beginnings at Liverpool and Arsenal respectively before being afforded the time and resources to instigate change, there has been absolutely no evidence suggesting Frank possesses the capability for the transformative impact witnessed in either instance. Tottenham's recent form has been less than impressive, with only four victories in their last 14 matches across all competitions.

The performances have not indicated a likely turnaround in results anytime soon. Frank was primarily brought in to shore up a porous defence, but Spurs have conceded 16 goals in their last five away fixtures and have been equally ineffective in attack.

The last time Tottenham had such a low points tally at this stage of the season was back in 2008/09, under Juande Ramos, when they accumulated just two points from their first eight games. The club swiftly replaced the Spanish manager with Harry Redknapp in October, and they need to act with similar decisiveness now if they hope to salvage this season.

Ben Husband

Thomas Frank is undoubtedly a competent manager, as evidenced by his remarkable work with Brentford. However, he seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and it would be best for both parties to acknowledge this reality.

Managing Brentford in the Premier League is a vastly different task compared to doing so at Tottenham - and thus far, Frank has been found wanting.

While it's true that they are missing two of their most creative players in Maddison and Kulusevski, their absence alone cannot account for the lacklustre performances under their beleaguered boss. According to Opta, Spurs' average xG stands at a mere 0.96 per game, ranking them 17th worst in the division and marking their lowest since the statistic began being recorded in the 2012/13 season.

This situation bears an uncanny resemblance to Nuno Espirito Santo's stint in North London - a competent manager, but not the right match. Spurs acknowledged their error just four months into his tenure, which concluded with a dismal run of form strikingly similar to their current predicament.

Frank is likely to find success elsewhere, but that shouldn't deter Spurs from taking swift action and making necessary changes sooner rather than later.

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