Tottenham squad don’t respect Thomas Frank over tactical issues claims ex-Spurs ace
Thomas Frank has failed to gain the respect of his Tottenham players because he changes tactics so frequently, claims Ramon Vega.
The Dane started strongly in charge of Spurs, pushing European champions PSG to penalties in the Super Cup, and had some impressive performances early in the Premier League.
Form has been far more inconsistent of late and November has been a bruising month, with Tottenham beaten at home by Chelsea and later thrashed by an Eberechi Eze-inspired Arsenal in the North London derby.
After Spurs were beaten 5-3 by PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday to highlight the regressions since August Vega pointed the finger at Frank.
Ramon Vega says Thomas Frank tactics are an issue
The former Tottenham defender appeared live on talkSPORT to speak to Alan Brazil, with the host highlighting issues at the Emirates to claim: “I think there’s a big question mark about tactics.”
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Vega replied: “Absolutely, these answers in terms of ways of approaching the game. He’s changing his mind every two seconds. One thing with Ange [Postecoglou], whatever you pretty much criticise him [for], he might be stubborn in his own way, but he had the balls. He stuck to his guns, he’s done what he wanted.
“The players need certainty in the dressing room. That’s why, I think, when Ange was the Europa [League] with the young boys, 80% of the season was the young boys, the dressing room was sticking to him, you could see that.
“I’m not sure this dressing room is starting to respect Frank because he’s changing how and what to play etc. They don’t know where to go or what to do, they haven’t got a stable place to go.”
Brentford hard to shake for Frank
Frank seems unlikely to have stumbled upon relative success at Brentford purely by accident but, despite some growing pains, Keith Andrews has slotted in pretty easily despite it being his first job in management.
Equally, as Spurs experienced with Nuno Espirito Santo after years at Wolves, a manager that becomes synonymous with a Premier League side outside the traditional top sides may get rewarded with a step up for their next job but they better make a success of it fast.
Otherwise they will quickly encounter doubts about being able to handle a top-level dressing room and all the expectations that come with it.
It may be that Frank got so accustomed to what worked and what was a solid return at Brentford that it will take him extra time to adapt, but he’s unlikely to get it in the chaos of managing Tottenham if his side keep being beaten heavily.
More fans will likely have been infuriated by Postecoglou’s lack of tactical adaptability than will be with Frank’s over-adaptability, but what they will care most about is losing games, and the Dane is already starting to follow the Australian in doing that too much.