Tottenham Trouble: The Unraveling of Thomas Frank's Reign

Published 1 day ago3 minute read
Precious Eseaye
Precious Eseaye
Tottenham Trouble: The Unraveling of Thomas Frank's Reign

Just over seven months into his role as Ange Postecoglou's successor at Tottenham Hotspur, Thomas Frank finds himself in an increasingly precarious position, with speculation mounting over the possible end of his tenure. Despite leading Spurs to a Europa League final triumph in May, an impressive start has given way to a dramatic slide down the Premier League table. This downturn is largely attributed to a shocking home record and a series of underwhelming performances, culminating in chants of "You're getting sacked in the morning" after a home defeat to relegation-threatened West Ham United.

Early Warnings and Home Struggles

Frank's time in charge began with promise but soon showed cracks. On September 27, Spurs drew 1-1 against a winless Wolverhampton Wanderers side. Santiago Bueno's 54th-minute goal had Wolves on the brink of a shock win, only for summer recruit João Palhinha to salvage a point in stoppage time. This match highlighted persistent issues: a woeful home record and an inability to execute the attractive style of play associated with Tottenham.

Fan discontent escalated on November 1, following a 0-1 home defeat to Chelsea FC. Spurs registered just three shots (one on target) with an Expected Goals (xG) of 0.1, compared to Chelsea’s 3.68 xG. Frank admitted post-match, "That hurts massively. I have never been in charge of a team that has created that little in one game."

The North London derby on November 23 further compounded Frank’s woes, as Spurs were thrashed 4-1 by Arsenal FC. Injuries played a role, but Eberechi Eze, who had controversially joined Arsenal over Spurs in the summer, scored three goals. This defeat reignited comparisons with Mikel Arteta's title-challenging Arsenal, emphasizing a recurring issue for Spurs coaches.

Continued Decline and Mounting Pressure

On December 14, Spurs suffered a 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, with Guglielmo Vicario partly at fault for the opener. Ibrahim Sangaré’s strike further sealed Forest’s dominance. This poor showing followed wins over Brentford and Slavia Prague, exposing inconsistency in Frank’s leadership.

The slump persisted into 2026. On January 7, Spurs traveled to the Vitality Stadium to face Bournemouth, who had not won since late October. Despite João Palhinha’s superb overhead kick, a stoppage-time strike from Antoine Semenyo handed Bournemouth a win, ending their 11-match winless run. A photo of Frank mistakenly sipping from an Arsenal-branded cup added to the embarrassment, going viral on social media.

The culmination of fan fury came on January 17 after a 1-2 home defeat to West Ham. Spurs, struggling with only one win in five matches, faced relentless boos and chants calling for Frank's exit. Spurs CEO Vinai Venkatesham acknowledged the team’s underperformance in an open letter earlier that day: "The men’s first team has fallen short of where we want to be so far this season." Frank’s second-half equalizer from Cristian Romero provided fleeting hope, but Callum Wilson’s stoppage-time winner confirmed the latest chapter in Spurs’ turbulent campaign.

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