Thomas Frank’s Tottenham faced an early exit from the FA Cup on Saturday night as the Dane faced more scrutiny.
Tottenham fans were far from pleased with their side’s early exit from the FA Cup on Saturday night. Not long ago, Thomas Frank had promised supporters that Spurs would compete on all fronts this season and build on last year’s Europa League success. Instead, their campaign already appears to be unravelling, and it is still only January. There are several issues brewing around N17, and not all of them can be resolved at once.
The FA Cup clash against Aston Villa summed up the North Londoners’ season perfectly. Spurs were sluggish and second best in the first half, allowing the Villans to race into a 2-0 lead before the half-time interval. The loud boos echoing around N17 at the break were a clear indication of the frustration among supporters, with many feeling that Frank had lost his way and was edging closer to losing his job.
However, the second-half performance offered a glimmer of renewed belief. The players showed far more urgency and intent, clearly determined to make amends for their poor start. Their improved approach sent a strong message that Thomas Frank still retained the backing of the dressing room, despite the mounting pressure.
Thomas Frank has reached “must-win” territory at Tottenham
Even so, it increasingly feels as though Thomas Frank may have run his course at Tottenham, despite the spirited second-half display against Aston Villa. There is a sense of uncertainty around N17, with supporters craving change. A serious question now looms over whether the Lilywhites have made any real progress under the Danish coach since parting ways with Ange Postecoglou last summer.
Alasdair Gold now believes that Frank must win his next two Premier League fixtures if he is to preserve his position at N17 for the remainder of the campaign. Writing for Football London, Gold said, laying out a clear plan:
“The second half showing, while still ending in defeat, probably just about prevented a complete meltdown that would have been difficult for Tottenham to ignore after just two wins in 13 games. That means Frank could be given the chance to turn things around with games that simply have to both be won in the Premier League against the 18th and 19th-placed West Ham and Burnley, home and away respectively.”
The journalist added,
“Come away with six points from both league games and Spurs will shoot up the tightly-packed table and that will give everyone a chance to breathe amid the chaos. Fail to do so and things will look bleak for Frank.”
Gold suggests that Frank briefly eased the pressure with his side’s improved second-half display against Aston Villa, which helped divert attention away from the wider issues, at least temporarily. However, he insists that the Danish tactician must secure maximum points from Spurs’ next two league matches if he is to remain in charge beyond the coming weeks. With West Ham and Burnley up next, strong performances are non-negotiable for the Lilywhites.
Time is clearly running out for Frank, with reports suggesting that Spurs are already drawing up a shortlist of potential replacements. It is becoming increasingly evident that the Tottenham job may be too big for the former Brentford manager, who has struggled to impose a clear identity at the club. The persistent boos around N17 underline just how much faith the fans have lost in both Frank and his team.
