Thomas Frank spoke to the media at the City Ground after our 3-0 loss against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday.
Here's what he had to say...
It feels like two steps forward, then a big leap back - what did you make of it?
Thomas: "Yeah, absolutely agree. That was very disappointing. It was a bad performance. Frustrating, because I think the last three games were good on performance and results, they're normally linked. You can lose a game like this. That's the frustrating part, of course. I think, until the 1-0 goal, it was a little bit back and forth for both teams, half transitions both ways and then after the first goal, I think we lost structure and were more disjointed. Then the 2-0 goal killed the game off. Basically, we were not in the game after that, in my opinion. That's part of keeping the structure, keep the game plan, keep going, keep doing the right things. So, that's definitely not the first time we've seen that, this year, last year, whenever. That's something that's ongoing work in progress before we're more consistent in that. It doesn't help that we made two mistakes with the first two goals but, again, that can happen in football. So, we just need to keep doing the right things. so everything looks the right way. Then on top of that, we decide to throw the ball away at least 25 times. So, we can't hit each other 25 times. That's going to make it difficult for you to create anything or to win a game."
You said you wanted to be more aggressive, offence-minded - are the players taking it on board?
Thomas: "It's very simple. If you don't perform, you can say all the right things, if you're a little bit out of sync, then you see things like this. When you are on track and in sync, you see the last three performances. That's very simple. If you perform, you keep doing the right thing, then it makes it easier of course and then I just think the little small thing that is difficult. We win together, we lose together, but I can't pass the ball on the pitch. So, if we lose the ball 25 times, I think it's fair to say that it's pretty difficult to create something."
Does that come into it when you're 2-0 down, make three subs and one of them is Ben Davies, one of them is Joao Palhinha? I think a lot of the fans are hoping for attacking players...
Thomas: "We had four offensive players on the pitch. I think that's fair to say. So, I felt that, just to go back to the bit before where I say we're disjointed. So, if you're disjointed, you can have 11 offensive players on the pitch. It will not help. So we need to be in sync, and then it helps, and hopefully we can find a way back after that."
With Archie Gray's mistake, is that something you hope he'll learn from as a young player?
Thomas: "I've said before, mistakes happen, stuff like that. Of course I'll be irritated about it because you like to avoid it, but he will learn. I think it was a classic thing, you see, week in, week out. It's ball-playing to one of the two sitters, bounce it out, first touch, not take a touch. He will learn from that. I'm pretty sure he'll use one touch next time."
No issue with the goalkeeper with that?
Thomas: "No. I think you see that every week in the Premier League, from every team, all over the world. So, there's no problem with that."
You're always a very calm and measured manager in these press conferences after the bad results, are you a bit different in the dressing room with the players?
Thomas: "I think I do everything to control my emotions, which is a hurricane inside me because of course it's deeply frustrating that we're not doing better today after three good performances. I think it's extremely important to be calm and measured, and of course have very, very direct and clear messages at the right time, so they're not in doubt of what I think. I'm very honest about where we are. That's why I was also very honest today. It was a very bad performance. No two ways about that. I also know that to change this, this will take some time, because no one wants to hear about that. It's just reality. I think the ones who have followed the club and the team, I think it's fair to say there's been a few not-too-consistent performances and that's a thing we are working very hard on."
Did you have any issue with Djed Spence coming off and throwing his jacket about?
Thomas: "I didn't see it. Of course, I will look back to be aware of it. I think there can be three reasons. He can be disappointed with his own performance, the team's performance, he can be disappointed with being subbed off. I'll ask him about that."
People would understand the up-and-down results a bit but it still feels like the floor of this team is very low. Do you agree with that?
Thomas: "I think that is a fair assessment, unfortunately. That's something we need to work very hard on, that these setbacks can't affect us that much. I'm pretty sure when I watched the game... when did we concede the first goal? 28 minutes. I think when I watch it back, it was probably not that bad until the first goal. So, it can't be one goal that makes it so disjointed for 15 minutes. It can't happen. You can have a day where it's not perfect. How many games have you seen where it's not perfect? Then you find your way into it. Then you maybe draw 1-1, win 2-1 in the second half where you eat your way into it. That's just ongoing work we need to work so hard on."
Is it a mental thing?
Thomas: "I think it's a combination of mental, structure, coolness. Stick to the game plan, focus."
You're trying to bed in all these new ideas, but you're at a club where maybe the average time span of managers hasn't been that long, do you feel that you'll get the time to put everything you want into place?
Thomas: "I can't see why not. I think it's pretty evident that if no-one gets the time, no-one can turn this around. This is not a quick fix."
Christmas and New Year is always on a hectic schedule, how do you look to navigate this in the next couple of weeks?
Thomas: "First and foremost, we have, finally, a more or less full week going into Liverpool next time. After that, we have eight days to Crystal Palace. That gives a little bit of time to train and try to get on top of some of these things. That's also the challenge. No complaints, just the fact. We try to change things with very short time between games. It's just a little bit more tricky. We need to utilise the time in the next two weeks massively and then we have five games in a short amount of time."
Are you expecting Matt Wells will still be at the club next week?
Thomas: "There's definitely a few rumours about that. We will, how can you say, when we know if that will happen or not happen, we will announce it."
You spoke there about keeping your composure and being calm. Do you think the players did that well enough in general?
Thomas: "I think that's two small situations. I think in general, no matter what, to have that coolness on the pitch and relentless concentration and focus, that's a big thing of being a top team."
