Thomas Frank sack verdict reached as Tottenham bosses face big manager decision
Yet, the overall quality of football has been disappointing. The fans' discontent is palpable, as evidenced by the boos echoing around the stadium at half-time during the home defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup. Fabio Paratici is also reportedly on the verge of leaving, with the sporting director expected to join Fiorentina in February.
With such turmoil at the club, the pressure is piling on Frank. Should Tottenham part ways with the manager?
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And if so, who should step into his shoes?
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We share our perspectives below....
Patrick Austen-Hardy
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Frank is already under the knife, but Spurs fans might want to think twice before wishing for his departure. Let's not forget that they ended up in 17th place last season and despite their Europa League victory bringing back fond memories, the only significant European teams they faced were Galatasaray (resulting in a 3-2 loss) and a lacklustre Manchester United side in the final.
The situation may seem bleak, but with just nine points separating 15th from 4th, a string of positive results could thrust Spurs back into the top four contention. The likes of Newcastle United, Brentford and Aston Villa have shown it's possible, while the sudden declines of Crystal Palace and Bournemouth serve as stark reminders.
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With 17 games left, Tottenham are merely six points adrift of fifth place and just one point away from the automatic Champions League qualification spots. There aren't any clear-cut permanent successors for Frank, and potential candidates such as Andoni Iraola would likely be reluctant to leave mid-season.
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When it comes to managerial appointments, there's a trail of chaos that will only make the next appointment even more challenging. Jose Mourinho was dismissed before a League Cup final, Antonio Conte was driven to distraction, and Ange Postecoglou was sacked after lifting a trophy.
Granted, there are broader contextual factors behind all these, but prospective managers won't bother delving into those details when considering a move to north London.
Cutting short Frank's tenure at this stage could potentially make the managerial role at the club less appealing, unless they're willing to dig deep and lure managers by offering one of the highest salaries in football.
Isaac Seelochan
When a manager faces as much scrutiny as Frank, survival becomes challenging, especially at a 'big six' club. The immense fanbase coupled with media speculation often makes a manager's position untenable at some point, particularly when you're at the helm of a top-tier club.
Consequently, it's difficult to envision how Frank can bounce back from this. He doesn't have the reputation or proven track record that fans can trust.
Moreover, the quality of football being played is quite poor - a disastrous combination for any boss under pressure. While managers do need time to implement their strategies, after more than half a year, it's hard to see how Spurs will improve under Frank.
For this reason, persisting with a manager without due consideration could cause more harm than good. Therefore, Spurs should contemplate making a change and appointing an interim until the summer.
Joe Doyle
At present, the only factors seemingly in Frank's favour are the scarcity of available alternatives and the potential negative optics for the board if they were to dismiss another manager less than a year after parting ways with Ange Postecoglou.
He could still navigate his way out of this predicament with a few positive results, and he deserves more time to attempt to steady the ship. However, it's the recent performances that are causing concern - the team seems bereft of ideas.
Managers can justify good performances with mixed results, or good results with poor performances, for a certain period. But you can't have poor performances coupled with mixed results.
Postecoglou earned himself some leeway because fans could see the team were giving their all and the football was captivating, regardless of the outcome. Frank doesn't have that luxury and needs to turn things around quickly.
Kieran King
In my opinion, Tottenham should give Thomas Frank his marching orders. Yes, I acknowledge that the problems run deeper than just the manager, but Spurs cannot continue to play and perform at this level; a change is necessary.
One victory in seven matches and only three in 14 is simply not up to scratch for a club of Tottenham's stature and I feel that Frank is failing to maximise the potential of the players he has at his disposal. While it may not be the strongest squad Spurs have ever had, there is still considerable talent there, particularly in attacking positions.
However, Frank is currently unable to inspire them and it would be best for Tottenham to relieve the former Brentford boss of his managerial duties and bring in a coach with a more offensive mindset. In my view, Frank's approach and tactics do not suit Spurs and therefore they should look elsewhere.
Ruben Amorim could be a potential candidate for a swift return to management. Despite his struggles at Manchester United, his style might mesh well with the current Tottenham squad.
Matt Maltby
The question of who could replace Frank if Spurs decide to give him the boot is a tricky one. It might be worth waiting until the summer, with several big names potentially up for grabs.
Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner, Fulham's Marco Silva and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola are all set to be out of contract at the end of the season, which could save the club a pretty penny in compensation fees.
England's Thomas Tuchel and USA's Mauricio Pochettino (sound familiar?) could also be on the market, as both are only contracted to their respective nations until the conclusion of this summer's World Cup.
However, this is all conjecture, and what's the point in pondering about the summer when things are currently in disarray?
It's been a calamitous winter for Frank, with a dismal run of two victories in 12 Premier League games leaving Spurs languishing in 14th place.
Frank's results have been subpar, with just five wins in his last 20 matches and seven losses in his last 13 across all competitions.
Despite this, I admire him as a manager. He did an exceptional job at Brentford and laid the groundwork for Keith Andrews to continue the excellent work in west London.
With a packed schedule this month featuring crucial matches against West Ham, Borussia Dortmund, Burnley and Frankfurt, I'd suggest giving him until the end of the month.
