Thomas Frank has reason to be concerned about becoming the next Nuno Espírito Santo at Tottenham. The parallels between their tenures are unmistakable, and those who know him will tell you that he is acutely aware of the similarities.
Just like Nuno in 2021, Frank has enjoyed success with Brentford before his high-profile move to Spurs last summer. Both managers started brightly, with Frank's team winning against Manchester City and Nuno's Wolves achieving promotion from the Championship. However, it was their subsequent defeats against Chelsea and Arsenal that proved telling.
Nuno was sacked after just 10 league games, his team having collected only 15 points, while Frank has struggled to find consistency, despite a strong start to the season. The key difference is that Nuno had Harry Kane and Son Heung-min in their prime, while Frank has had to contend with injuries to Dejan Kulusevki and James Maddison.
There are also differences in the clubs' expectations and the managers' tenures. While Nuno was given a two-year contract and appointed after a 72-day search, Frank was quickly hired and handed a three-year deal, with Spurs looking to rebuild under his leadership.
However, it is not just the initial appointment process that sets these two managers apart. The playing style of both teams has been a source of concern for Spurs fans. Nuno's pragmatic approach prioritized defensive strength over attacking flair, which ultimately contributed to his downfall. Frank, too, has struggled to find pace and excitement in his buildup play, relying on stodgy passing and predictability.
Frank is well aware of these criticisms, and he has been working to address them. He has implemented changes to improve Spurs' counter-pressing and set-piece play, with the signing of Conor Gallagher helping to lift the mood at the club. While there are still areas for improvement, Frank seems confident that his team will find more success going forward.
Spurs' performance data suggests that they have been better than their statistics would suggest, massively outperforming their expected goals and consistently high turnovers forced. The team has also shown signs of resilience, coming from behind to win games and dealing with setbacks in a more positive way under Frank's leadership.
Ultimately, while there are similarities between Frank and Nuno's tenures, it is not all doom and gloom for the Spurs manager. He seems aware of his team's limitations and is working hard to address them. The hierarchy at Tottenham appears to be behind him, with new signings and coaching appointments providing a boost to morale.
In the short term, there will always be concerns about Frank's job security, particularly if Spurs lose to West Ham on Saturday. However, from inside the club, there is no sense that he is in immediate danger of being sacked. The data suggests that Spurs are better than they are expected to be, and Frank has shown signs of growth and improvement over the past few months.
For now, at least, Frank does not need a warning sign like Nuno's unloved tenure to tell him where his team stands. He is well aware of the challenges ahead, but he also seems confident that Spurs can overcome them and achieve success in the long term.
Just like Nuno in 2021, Frank has enjoyed success with Brentford before his high-profile move to Spurs last summer. Both managers started brightly, with Frank's team winning against Manchester City and Nuno's Wolves achieving promotion from the Championship. However, it was their subsequent defeats against Chelsea and Arsenal that proved telling.
Nuno was sacked after just 10 league games, his team having collected only 15 points, while Frank has struggled to find consistency, despite a strong start to the season. The key difference is that Nuno had Harry Kane and Son Heung-min in their prime, while Frank has had to contend with injuries to Dejan Kulusevki and James Maddison.
There are also differences in the clubs' expectations and the managers' tenures. While Nuno was given a two-year contract and appointed after a 72-day search, Frank was quickly hired and handed a three-year deal, with Spurs looking to rebuild under his leadership.
However, it is not just the initial appointment process that sets these two managers apart. The playing style of both teams has been a source of concern for Spurs fans. Nuno's pragmatic approach prioritized defensive strength over attacking flair, which ultimately contributed to his downfall. Frank, too, has struggled to find pace and excitement in his buildup play, relying on stodgy passing and predictability.
Frank is well aware of these criticisms, and he has been working to address them. He has implemented changes to improve Spurs' counter-pressing and set-piece play, with the signing of Conor Gallagher helping to lift the mood at the club. While there are still areas for improvement, Frank seems confident that his team will find more success going forward.
Spurs' performance data suggests that they have been better than their statistics would suggest, massively outperforming their expected goals and consistently high turnovers forced. The team has also shown signs of resilience, coming from behind to win games and dealing with setbacks in a more positive way under Frank's leadership.
Ultimately, while there are similarities between Frank and Nuno's tenures, it is not all doom and gloom for the Spurs manager. He seems aware of his team's limitations and is working hard to address them. The hierarchy at Tottenham appears to be behind him, with new signings and coaching appointments providing a boost to morale.
In the short term, there will always be concerns about Frank's job security, particularly if Spurs lose to West Ham on Saturday. However, from inside the club, there is no sense that he is in immediate danger of being sacked. The data suggests that Spurs are better than they are expected to be, and Frank has shown signs of growth and improvement over the past few months.
For now, at least, Frank does not need a warning sign like Nuno's unloved tenure to tell him where his team stands. He is well aware of the challenges ahead, but he also seems confident that Spurs can overcome them and achieve success in the long term.
Frank's got some 'splainin' to do about his teams' struggles vs Nuno's... Spurs fans are right to be worried 
. but at the same time, i think he's doing a good job addressing the issues with set pieces and counter pressing 
️. i'm not saying spurs will become champions or anything but imo they're doing better than expected 
& frank seems to be learning from nuno's mistakes 
so lets keep an eye on it 
. And yeah, injuries do matter, you can't win if your top players are out 
. I think Frank's changes to the playing style are a good start, and Gallagher's signing has been a boost 
. Spurs' fans need to chill out for a sec 
, let Frank get some time and see what he can do. The data shows they're performing better than their stats, that's a positive sign 
. I'm rooting for the lad 
. I mean, Nuno was sacked after 10 games with only 15 points, and Frank has already had a strong start to the season. Plus, Spurs have invested more in him than Wolves did in Nuno, so that's a big difference 
. And with Conor Gallagher coming in and lifting morale around the club, I think there's definitely reason to be optimistic about Frank's future at Spurs 
Nuno's approach was all about defensive solidity, but that didn't really pay off in the long run. I'm not sure what Frank's strategy is, but he needs to find a better balance between defense and attack. And let's be real, the stats don't lie... 
️
I think it's great to see Thomas Frank being given a chance to turn things around at Tottenham, despite the similarities with Nuno's tenure 
- like Spurs' performance data showing they're better than expected, and the signing of Conor Gallagher lifting morale 
. Let's give Frank some time to prove himself 
. Those West Ham results will be telling though 
Spurs need to get back to basics, solid defense & quick counter-attacks are key 
️ can't just rely on big signings 