Tottenham have failed to back Thomas Frank in the transfer window.
Ange Postecoglou created history last season by ending Tottenham’s long-standing trophy drought with a Europa League triumph. The Australian tactician stayed true to his promise of delivering silverware in his second campaign, defying the odds to achieve the seemingly impossible. However, he was subsequently sacked by the Lilywhites following a poor Premier League showing, with Thomas Frank appointed as his replacement.
Big Ange put all his eggs in the Europa League basket during the second half of last season, a strategy that ultimately saw Spurs finish 17th in the Premier League. This approach did not sit well with the club’s hierarchy, who believed the squad was capable of competing on multiple fronts. That belief played a key role in their decision to appoint Thomas Frank as Ange Postecoglou’s successor last summer.
The Danish tactician was brought in to help the North Londoners compete on all fronts this season as they looked to build on their Europa League success. However, it is fair to say that Frank has failed to meet that objective during the first half of the campaign. Spurs have already been knocked out of both domestic cup competitions and find themselves stranded in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
Thomas Frank is not to blame for Tottenham’s Premier League struggles
Tottenham once again failed to back their manager despite being marooned in the lower half of the league. Thomas Frank had claimed that the Lilywhites would be active during the business end of the January transfer window as they looked to strengthen the squad. However, as has often been the case, the club’s hierarchy backtracked on their promise, leaving the Danish tactician out in the cold.
Alasdair Gold has now criticised the Lewis family for failing to bring in new players who could have helped Thomas Frank’s side in the short term as he looks to steady the ship at N17. Writing for Football London, Gold said,
“The pressure now falls back on Frank to make something out of the hand he has been dealt. The club made a big thing after sacking Postecoglou about wanting to compete on all fronts. Very little done on the surface since has helped that become achievable.”
The journalist added,
“It’s a club that always seems to be looking to the future and the long term and perhaps forgetting to look straight in front at the present. In keeping with the winter theme, it’s a club that gives the impression of planning for sunny days rather than rainy ones.”
Gold believes that Thomas Frank may now have to extract something special from the players at his disposal this season. The club promised to compete on all fronts under the Danish tactician, yet little has been done to demonstrate a willingness to back him in the transfer market. As Gold rightly suggests, the North Londoners appear so focused on long-term success that they have neglected the need to address immediate issues.
Fans have also run out of patience with what they see as incompetence on display from the Lewis family. The Spurs faithful have endured one false dawn after another in recent times, despite clear calls from both the players and Thomas Frank for reinforcements to be brought in if the North Londoners are to close the gap on their rivals this season.
