Thomas Frank stands accused of lacking the necessary “character” and “courage” to command the Tottenham dressing room, claims a former Spurs stalwart, amid mounting disquiet at the club.
Sunday’s 4-1 drubbing at the hands of fierce rivals Arsenal has turned up the heat on Frank, who only assumed the managerial helm last summer. The North London club has been struggling following a similarly lacklustre performance against Chelsea.
More woes followed with a 5-3 evisceration by Paris Saint-Germain, leaving Frank vulnerable as a wave of Spurs supporters grows increasingly disenchanted with his tactical style.
Former Spurs defender Ramon Vega, a stalwart during his four years at White Hart Lane, contends that Frank’s penchant for continuous tactical tinkering is unsettling the squad, making it difficult for them to “respect” him.
“He is changing his mind every two seconds,” Vega opined on talkSPORT. “The thing about Ange [Postecoglou], for all the criticisms you can level at him, he had the courage. He was firm in his ideology and stuck to his guns.”
“The players crave this kind of certainty within the dressing room. That’s why, when Ange succeeded in winning the Europa League with an injury-riddled squad, the unity was evident. One wonders if this current dressing room harbours any respect for Frank, amid the perpetual tactical shifts. It’s eroding any sense of strategic coherence.”
Vega further asserted: “If you don’t steer the dressing room with authority, regardless of ability or amiability, you fall short.” He candidly concluded, “I don’t believe Frank is suited to this role because he hasn’t exhibited the requisite character.”
Despite the external criticism, Frank remained optimistic post-defeat in Paris, prior to Saturday’s Premier League clash with Fulham.
“I was pleased with the performance—the players’ reaction was exactly what was needed,” Frank insisted. “We’ve been meticulously working to ensure we respond well following lacklustre outings.”
He added, “Today I sensed more of the identity and character we aim to cultivate—a performance brimming with spirit and aggression. A foundation, despite the concession of goals. We can build from this, especially as our strikers found the net.”
Frank praised emerging talents such as Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, recognising the formidable opponents like Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and the midfield dynamo Vitinha, acknowledging the calibre of adversaries they faced.