Thomas Frank

[Prodigal Bee]

As much as last week was a tactical masterclass. What the f*** were those substitutions about today??!!
Jensen was my MoM at the time, and Rico was doing OK too.....
All very odd.
If I didn't know better, I'd say it was a conspiracy.....
?

Jensen looked like he'd picked up a knock and had to come off. Whatever TF tried today it was sabotaged by stupid mistakes by players in key moments. Poor performance overall yes, but without the schoolboy errors by Raya and Sergi I reckon we would have nicked a win. Leeds looked nervous even when we were down to 9. Ajer injury was bad luck

 

[Frothybaby]

What a manager, absolutely brilliant. How many games has hr managed now? He must have had many games influencing Dean.

 

[wanderer paul]

Legend. There'll be a space alongside Harry Curtis when the time comes to recognise this man for his incredible work and ethos that he has brought to the football club and those who work for it. Incredible. A definite Hall of Fame member.

 

[Mark H]

He was going mental at Canos when he went to the dressing room. Quite right too. The guy really cares and now needs a well deserved rest and spend some time with his family.

 

[Mr Cynical]

The thing I love about this guy is that he wears his heart on his sleeve. In the post match interview you can see he's really pissed off, he's trying to be all positive about what a great season it's been, but it's clearly really hurting him that defeat and he's pissed that it's taken the gloss of the end of the season a little.. You can imagine if he was on GPG he'd be on here 5 mins after posting 'what a load of sh*t!! ' before coming back a while later and saying' I might have overreacted a little.. ' He totally gets it!

 

[TOXIC BEE]

As much as last week was a tactical masterclass. What the f*** were those substitutions about today??!!
Jensen was my MoM at the time, and Rico was doing OK too.....
All very odd.
If I didn't know better, I'd say it was a conspiracy.....
?

Sergi came on and scored. Frank can’t control the silly celebration and stupid tackle that followed. Without Ajer’s injury and that red card I truly believe we’d win that game 2-1.

 

[mhead bee]

He was going mental at Canos when he went to the dressing room. Quite right too. The guy really cares and now needs a well deserved rest and spend some time with his family.

No chance, will be in first thing in the morning planning the signings for next season,

 

[NorthamptonBee]

Legend. There'll be a space alongside Harry Curtis when the time comes to recognise this man for his incredible work and ethos that he has brought to the football club and those who work for it. Incredible. A definite Hall of Fame member.

Not tonight though.?

 

[tivadvir]

The thing I love about this guy is that he wears his heart on his sleeve. In the post match interview you can see he's really pissed off, he's trying to be all positive about what a great season it's been, but it's clearly really hurting him that defeat and he's pissed that it's taken the gloss of the end of the season a little.. You can imagine if he was on GPG he'd be on here 5 mins after posting 'what a load of sh*t!! ' before coming back a while later and saying' I might have overreacted a little.. ' He totally gets it!

I did that (overreacted, admittedly, then came back sensibly a few minutes later as I said I would) and got b***ocked for it!
Too much passion is a b**** but very Brentford (see the Jenson and Canós threads for most of the season)!

 

[Indian Bee]

Excellent manager and had an unbelievable season where he got most of the decisions right. However, Jensen and Rico subs were strange.

 

[maddogging]

Excellent manager and had an unbelievable season where he got most of the decisions right. However, Jensen and Rico subs were strange.

reminded me of Norwich at home, just be thankful we didn’t have Goode to go up front I guess !

 

[tivadvir]

Excellent manager and had an unbelievable season where he got most of the decisions right. However, Jensen and Rico subs were strange.

Both looked like they went off injured to me, didn’t leave TF much choice.

 

[BuzzingBee95]

He should be manager of the season. All the other nominees, par Vieira, did what was expected. Howe had the new manager bounce and has already spent a bit. Klopp, Guardiola have been here before. And Conte has Son and Kane arguably best partnership in the world.

TF has worked magic this season at times!

 

[BFC1997]

On the Leeds game:

Perhaps an error to persist with MBS in Pinnock’s absence.

Two of the subs were also strange; Jensen was playing superbly prior to being hooked. Dasilva miles off the pace. There was also two or three other players that could have been taken off rather than Henry when SC came on.

 

[Balders Bee]

Legend. There'll be a space alongside Harry Curtis when the time comes to recognise this man for his incredible work and ethos that he has brought to the football club and those who work for it. Incredible. A definite Hall of Fame member.

Can't disagree with any of that. Very different men from different era's but both Colossus's who have written themselves into the proud history of this wonderful club.

 

[tivadvir]

On the Leeds game:

Perhaps an error to persist with MBS in Pinnock’s absence.

Two of the subs were also strange; Jensen was playing superbly prior to being hooked. Dasilva miles off the pace. There was also two or three other players that could have been taken off rather than Henry when SC came on.

Both went off due to injury, I think.

 

[Simon W]

Yesterdays subs were a PR exercise to Leeds fans! ?
Maybe they’ll like him now?

 

[GP200]

…………the floppy haired potty mouthed Norwegian………….

 

[teesbee]

He looks knackered. I hope he manages to get some good rest before the whole thing starts again, sounded like he was only getting 8 or 9 days actual holiday. Thanks Thomas!

 

[cromerbee]

Looks knackered. Also was obviously pissed off with how things went yesterday.

 

[nick logan]

Looks knackered. Also was obviously pissed off with how things went yesterday.

He was very happy when he spoke to the fans and on the walk round

 

[cromerbee]

He was very happy when he spoke to the fans and on the walk round

Just how he appeared to me in the interview I watched this morning on You Tube.

 

[tinman]

TF said holiday for nine days then Denmark for three weeks. Even though he might be doing some work whilst in Denmark a change of scenery and away from the coal face will do wonders for his mental health. Throughly deserves that as does everybody connected with the club.

 

[sacbfc]

What are the lyrics and tune to the Thomas Frank song? Could hear lyrics of Rico at the back and Toney in attack, but that was all? Thanks

 

[Railway Side Bee]

What are the lyrics and tune to the Thomas Frank song? Could hear lyrics of Rico at the back and Toney in attack, but that was all? Thanks

We’ve got super Thomas Frank
He knows exactly what we need
Rico at the back
Toney in attack
Brentford staying in the Premier League

(don’t know what the tune is from)

 

[ChertseyBee]

Perhaps an error to persist with MBS in Pinnock’s absence.

I understand why you say that, but out of interest, would you have been happier with Ajer and Jansson? We have never seen them together in a back four (or have we?) and it could have been very lop-sided

 

[BFC1997]

I understand why you say that, but out of interest, would you have been happier with Ajer and Jansson? We have never seen them together in a back four (or have we?) and it could have been very lop-sided

I would have been happiest with a back three of Ajer-Jansson-Janelt.

Other combinations could have been tried too, like the one you mentioned, if it was felt that Vitaly was needed in midfield.

 

[ChertseyBee]

I would have been happiest with a back three of Ajer-Jansson-Janelt.

I’d make a guess that would have been the plan if Norgaard had been fit.

 

[Beecareful]

Lots of talk about C E moving on, and murmurs about our best players especially Henry and Raya.

But what if a top six 'giant' comes calling for TF ?

It's possible although more likely in a year.

Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City are all coached but bright, articulate guys - and T F is both.

 

[Mr Cynical]

I understand why you say that, but out of interest, would you have been happier with Ajer and Jansson? We have never seen them together in a back four (or have we?) and it could have been very lop-sided

not sure we ever want to see Pontus on the left!! ?

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Guardian journalists were picking their manager of the year and Barney Ronay chose Thomas saying;

"Super-smart micro-management on a tiny budget. Changed the way his team play in mid-season. Agreeable groovy-uncle-who-used-to-live-in-Ibiza persona."

 

[Mr Cynical]

" Changed the way his team play in mid-season. ."

This bit seems to have gone a little under the radar but was hugely significant. Going from a relatively agricultural, all guns blazing approach, to a much more measured passing style is a massive thing to do in the middle of a season, let alone halfway through your first PL season. Obviously Eriksen has had a massive impact on that style but I can't think of many coaches who'd have pulled that off..

 

[jlove]

And, in the Everton example, 3 formations with different tactics in one game.

 

[wanderer paul]

How Brentford became football's unlikeliest success story - by Thomas Frank, the man who did it

Red wine at midnight and training in a s---hole - Frank opens up on Brentford's remarkable rise to the top

www.telegraph.co.uk

A good read. ?

 

[Cham]

We started planning in February. We planned for the Premier League. We didn’t assume anything but it is better to plan this way. If we were relegated then, yes, we might have sold a player or two but we would still be in a strong position, going down.

This is the key quote here.. forward-thinking even when results and form go the other way.. a big summer ahead COYB

 

[North London Bee]

Really good article.

I met Thomas yesterday too and he gave me a wonderful interview for the new book. What a lovely man he is. But there’s a tough streak too.

 

[IslandBee]

Really good article.

I met Thomas yesterday too and he gave me a wonderful interview for the new book. What a lovely man he is. But there’s a tough streak too.

Very pleased to hear it!

 

[jbee]

Love this about the Bournemouth 1st leg

"Bournemouth got a corner in the 89th minute and they only put a few players up there and wanted to keep the ball and defend. And I just thought ‘okay, you know what? We are going to beat them in the next game because they are afraid’. They were playing at home and were not going for the second goal? It was not as if they were through if they won. I went into the dressing room and told the players: they are afraid of us."

That is exactly what I thought as soon as I saw them doing that.

 

[Bristolian Bee]

How Brentford became football's unlikeliest success story - by Thomas Frank, the man who did it

Red wine at midnight and training in a s---hole - Frank opens up on Brentford's remarkable rise to the top

www.telegraph.co.uk

?

The plan is to keep everyone, including Christian Eriksen. That’s the big plan and I can’t see why that shouldn’t happen. I think he will make his decision in the next two weeks. There is no set date but he doesn’t want to drag it out.

 

[CTBee]

Love this about the Bournemouth 1st leg

"Bournemouth got a corner in the 89th minute and they only put a few players up there and wanted to keep the ball and defend. And I just thought ‘okay, you know what? We are going to beat them in the next game because they are afraid’. They were playing at home and were not going for the second goal? It was not as if they were through if they won. I went into the dressing room and told the players: they are afraid of us."

That is exactly what I thought as soon as I saw them doing that.

Yes, I saw them doing that as a huge positive for us at the time.

 

[AB]

Yes, I saw them doing that as a huge positive for us at the time.

Particularly when Mepham wanted to go forward and was sent back by Woodgate. That fear/negativity possibly contributed to his red card in the second leg. If you know your team is just going to sit and not try to force things you can fear letting us break because there’ll be no response.

 

[Cham]

 

[Indian Bee]

What a fantastic interview. TF is such humble man and without a doubt the right fit for us.

One thing I picked up which I have never really realised at the time is what a fantastic summer transfer window we had in the 19/20 season. Yes we lost Swayers, Bentley, Konsa, Barbet and of course Maupay but we signed Raya, Pinnock, Bryan, Pontus and Jensen. All these transfers 'in' have played an important part this year in the PL. As was alluded in the interview the Pontus signing took us to the next level. I also agree with TF in the interview, this was probably Pontus best season with us out of the 3 seasons he has been with us.

 

[PhilBelfastbee]

reminded me of Norwich at home, just be thankful we didn’t have Goode to go up front I guess !

All too familiar. I had the misfortune for that game to my first visit to the BCS!!
Thankfully the Southampton match redeemed things. If the Leeds game was the the only other one I had gone to, I would have seriously pissed off, with how it unfolded. A catalogue of mistakes and nonsense despite some decent play at times.
Still it was a fantastic season and we should all be proud of our team. Hopefully we will land a few more good players to strengthen our squad and retain our top players! Roll on 2022/23 season. Cheers???

 

[Frothybaby]

What a fantastic interview. TF is such humble man and without a doubt the right fit for us.

One thing I picked up which I have never really realised at the time is what a fantastic summer transfer window we had in the 19/20 season. Yes we lost Swayers, Bentley, Konsa, Barbet and of course Maupay but we signed Raya, Pinnock, Bryan, Pontus and Jensen. All these transfers 'in' have played an important part this year in the PL. As was alluded in the interview the Pontus signing took us to the next level. I also agree with TF in the interview, this was probably Pontus best season with us out of the 3 seasons he has been with us.

Norgaard was signed the same season a s Jensen wasnt he?

 

[Indian Bee]

Norgaard was signed the same season a s Jensen wasnt he?

Yes missed out Norgaard.

 

[Kingston Bee]

Closer to manager of the season after tonight?

 

[Banana]

Closer to manager of the season after tonight?

Yep. Neville for one gave it to Klopp on expectations

 

[Kingston Bee]

Yep. Neville for one gave it to Klopp on expectations

Expected nothing less.

 

[Mr Cynical]

Just Thomas Frank coaching Danish kids on his holiday….