Thomas Frank

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Thomas Frank

As poor as we were - and we were hideously bad - Thomas takes a sizeable share of the blame for the baffling decision to put Ajer at LCB and leaving us a) a defensive shambles and b) completely hamstrung in building from the back with players on their wrong side.
 

Thomas Frank

1889bee said:
Too many players in the squad that are just there to fill the numbers. Beyond the first 11 there’s not enough quality.
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We are always going to be vulnerable to injuries to key players but the Championship signings have done far better for us than the ones we’ve subsequently made.
 

Thomas Frank

IkastBee said:
TF got it completely wrong today. We can't solely put that performance down to losing Rico. Waiting 60 minutes before making changes was way too much. That is probably the one thing he lacks in his arsenal; the early shock substitution when everything is off. And when he finally did, we got even worse and conceded two more goals. Playing Ajer in the left side of the defence was really stupid.
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Problem is, there was nothing on that bench that could have turned the game for him as proved to be the case when he eventually made the changes. He's totally hamstrung at the moment. When your first sub option is Frank Onyeka, you know you're in big trouble.
 

Thomas Frank

Untouchable said:
Who in the recruitment team are you blaming?
What are you blaming them for?
What should they have done differently?
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To be fair we’ve been winging it with left back cover for two years or so. Hickey will sort himself out there (and is a great talent) but today he couldn’t work out where his starting position was meant to be and offered zero going forwards. And he wasn’t our worst defender either

We don’t have a (non gambling) tall forward (Schade is springy sometimes but not physically strong) so have no easy out ball when under cosh and no way to change that

we lack a third midfielder so all attacking impetus falls on Jensen every game. Josh occasionally pushed us forward in a different way. Vitaly is a great utility player but he very rarely breaks a line or plays anything beyond a very measured pass. Christian hits some wonderful passes sometimes but isn’t quite himself at moment which probably doesn’t help either

I know we missed out on some players that could have improved us but the above three factors are hurting us currently
 

Thomas Frank

Owlsmoor_Bee said:
As poor as we were - and we were hideously bad - Thomas takes a sizeable share of the blame for the baffling decision to put Ajer at LCB and leaving us a) a defensive shambles and b) completely hamstrung in building from the back with players on their wrong side.
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What do you suggest he did differently? Last time checked, Collins was the one who made the mistake for the third, and as such rendered his Ajer substitution pointless.
 

Thomas Frank

RAF_Patto said:
What do you suggest he did differently? Last time checked, Collins was the one who made the mistake for the third, and as such rendered his Ajer substitution pointless.
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Play Ajer at right back on his natural side for starters. It completely nullified any attacking impetus we had with Ajer constantly slowing play whilst he got caught needing to play a pass on his weaker left and choosing to turn inside or back instead. It made zero sense to do what Thomas did.
 

Thomas Frank

Owlsmoor_Bee said:
Play Ajer at right back on his natural side for starters. It completely nullified any attacking impetus we had with Ajer constantly slowing play whilst he got caught needing to play a pass on his weaker left and choosing to turn inside or back instead. It made zero sense to do what Thomas did.
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So who do you put on the left of a back three? Collins? If so, you end up with the same issues, so I really wouldn't question that move from TF.
 

Thomas Frank

Owlsmoor_Bee said:
As poor as we were - and we were hideously bad - Thomas takes a sizeable share of the blame for the baffling decision to put Ajer at LCB and leaving us a) a defensive shambles and b) completely hamstrung in building from the back with players on their wrong side.
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Yes agree with this. Also the length of time it took to change from a 4-3-3 where we were battling 5 across the middle all afternoon & as you say the Ajer decision.
Oh whilst we're at it FTT for Vitaly as well. The latter had tried to put hid foot on the ball & use it progressively in our beleaguered midfield trio. When FTT came on he played some odd attacking midfield role he's patently unsuited to & we lost any semblance of shape.
TF rarely gets it very wrong but he did today....
 

Thomas Frank

Yes, he got it tactically completely wrong, but was not helped by almost every player having an off day.

It was clear from the 20th minute that every time our full backs got the ball they were getting pressed into making mistakes, yet we carried on playing the same way the entire game.

I'm a bit worried that he doesn't have many options to change things up after we missed out on transfers, and come January maybe leadership makes the decision that Toney won't be off until the summer after all.

With our current injuries and losses of key players this feels like the biggest "crisis" Thomas has faced in a fair while. He needs to get the team solid and back to doing the basics right, no doubt he will.
 

Thomas Frank

It was a shambles from start to finish. Thomas has to shoulder responsibility for this. The Head Coach and his team had an off day.
As always, the 24 hour rule applies. We win or learn. We go again.
 

Thomas Frank

condorman said:
To be fair we’ve been winging it with left back cover for two years or so. Hickey will sort himself out there (and is a great talent) but today he couldn’t work out where his starting position was meant to be and offered zero going forwards. And he wasn’t our worst defender either

We don’t have a (non gambling) tall forward (Schade is springy sometimes but not physically strong) so have no easy out ball when under cosh and no way to change that

we lack a third midfielder so all attacking impetus falls on Jensen every game. Josh occasionally pushed us forward in a different way. Vitaly is a great utility player but he very rarely breaks a line or plays anything beyond a very measured pass. Christian hits some wonderful passes sometimes but isn’t quite himself at moment which probably doesn’t help either

I know we missed out on some players that could have improved us but the above three factors are hurting us currently
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Hickey played left back at Bologna so is a natural replacement for Rico. The issue today was he’s not played in that position for a year or more and looked rusty. He will improve and I’m glad Roeslev gets deserved run of games, he rarely lets us down.

Agree on central midfielder but perhaps they didn’t expect to lose Baptiste, Josh and Damsgaard all at the same time.

We know they really tried into get new blood in during the summer but couldn’t get a deal over the line. I suspect PG will learn from this (I suspect we held onto the hope of signing Johnson for for too long).

My biggest gripe with the recruitment team was giving Frank the Tank a 4 year deal, a crazy decision.
 

Thomas Frank

It's difficult to say that - after five transfer windows at this level - that the starting lineup yesterday was better than our average starting lineup in our promotion-winning side in the Championship.

Frank seems to get more out of players than imaginable, but he can only do so much. And he's not got an awful lot at his disposal right now - if "squad depth" means Ghoddos at LWB and Mbuemo at RWB with no real options off the bench to impact the attack, then it's clear our squad isn't at the right level to withstand a small amount of injuries.

That said, his switch from 4-3-3 to 3-5-2 completely backfired, however at least he made an attempt at changing things - which is always a risk - and I'd prefer he have a go rather than leaving it until the final ten minutes.
 

Thomas Frank

RAF_Patto said:
So who do you put on the left of a back three? Collins? If so, you end up with the same issues, so I really wouldn't question that move from TF.
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Ethan. I understand TF felt he was best equipped to deal with Everton’s aerial threat in the Centre but it was obvious after 2 minutes of the change that Ajer having to turn inside when he received the ball was materially affecting our ability to pass out from the back and making us worse.
 

Thomas Frank

I think, given injuries etc, TF’s tried and tested 5-3-2, even at home, with Zanka and Ajer on from the start would have given the size and aerial support to help deal with Beto and co.

Ajer at rwb. Roerslev still looks lightweight defensively but good pace going forward. I think he’s more of a right winger.

and my (very) unpopular opinion. I think TF, who is the greatest gaffer and I love etc, said a bit too much on MNF.
 

Thomas Frank

North London Bee said:
Personally I’d go 352 and try and grind it out until January.
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Yeah I've been thinking this as well unfortunately...we were looking so good a few weeks ago but the injuries we have may mean we just have to turn to a more pragmatic style for a bit. We may have to play a bit more like a Crystal Palace or someone.

Similar to the end of The Championship when we had to change formation to account for our injuries. Would certainly make us less fun to watch though...
 

Thomas Frank

RAF_Patto said:
So who do you put on the left of a back three? Collins? If so, you end up with the same issues, so I really wouldn't question that move from TF.
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You didn’t need to have a back 3. It was over complicated substitutions. Ajer should have come on at HT imho, Roeslev was having a mare which in turn causes Collins more problems covering
 

Thomas Frank

RAF_Patto said:
So who do you put on the left of a back three? Collins? If so, you end up with the same issues, so I really wouldn't question that move from TF.
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If he really wanted to go that shape to chase the game then put Vitaly there and Ajer at RWB it’s been done effectively before
 

Thomas Frank

josht said:
It's difficult to say that - after five transfer windows at this level - that the starting lineup yesterday was better than our average starting lineup in our promotion-winning side in the Championship.

Frank seems to get more out of players than imaginable, but he can only do so much. And he's not got an awful lot at his disposal right now - if "squad depth" means Ghoddos at LWB and Mbuemo at RWB with no real options off the bench to impact the attack, then it's clear our squad isn't at the right level to withstand a small amount of injuries.

That said, his switch from 4-3-3 to 3-5-2 completely backfired, however at least he made an attempt at changing things - which is always a risk - and I'd prefer he have a go rather than leaving it until the final ten minutes.
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Small amongst my of Injuries? No Mee, Rico, Schade, Josh, Damsgaard and Baptiste…. Plus Toney suspended…..that’s not one of two out.
 

Thomas Frank

As has been said 352 and grind it out. In my opinion Toney will go nowhere in January. We need him to change the dynamic. There may be an agreement made for a sale in the following window but we will need him.
 

Thomas Frank

Gee Bee said:
You didn’t need to have a back 3. It was over complicated substitutions. Ajer should have come on at HT imho, Roeslev was having a mare which in turn causes Collins more problems covering
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You are right in that they targeted roerslev Why didn’t Thomas change it at half time, for me for the forest game we have to go 532 just to sure things up, injuries are really taking it’s toll atm.
 

Thomas Frank

James30 said:
You are right in that they targeted roerslev Why didn’t Thomas change it at half time, for me for the forest game we have to go 532 just to sure things up, injuries are really taking it’s toll atm.
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Agree and Zanka should be considered especially if Mee still injured as we’ve seem to defend better with him in as part of the 3 CBs
 

Thomas Frank

North London Bee said:
He has nothing to play with at the moment and his deck of cards is weakening by the week.

Personally I’d go 352 and try and grind it out until January.
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.............not the spectacle I was hoping for................
 

Thomas Frank

We were just so slow and predictable yesterday playing out from the back,allowing Everton plenty of time to regroup.
Would also like to see us leave Wissa/Bryan up front when opposition have a corner.
 

Thomas Frank

bee bee ramones said:
We were just so slow and predictable yesterday playing out from the back,allowing Everton plenty of time to regroup.
Would also like to see us leave Wissa/Bryan up front when opposition have a corner.
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Nail on head.

This game highlights how rubbish the possession stat can be.

We had a greater percentage of possession but how much of that was the defensive line and Flekken passing amongst each other.?

Sometimes it's not how long you have it but what you do with it
 

Thomas Frank

Invipai said:
Yeah I've been thinking this as well unfortunately...we were looking so good a few weeks ago but the injuries we have may mean we just have to turn to a more pragmatic style for a bit. We may have to play a bit more like a Crystal Palace or someone.

Similar to the end of The Championship when we had to change formation to account for our injuries. Would certainly make us less fun to watch though...
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Yesterday was hardly fun! I agree, with what options he has through no fault of his own, let’s at least try to be hard to beat. Survival would seem to be the most practical ambition this season.
 

Thomas Frank

RAF_Patto said:
What do you suggest he did differently? Last time checked, Collins was the one who made the mistake for the third, and as such rendered his Ajer substitution pointless.
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Not really as Ajer put a simple 15 yd pass into touch for a throw-in in our 3rd, which led to a corner after the resulting Everton play deflected off Jensen(?).

A left footer wouldn't have had such a compromised technique when attempting that.
 

Thomas Frank

Get Ajer and Zanka into a back 5. Be hard to get through or over and more robust at set pieces. We looked smaller and weaker than Everton. 5 at the back, the same 3 in the middle, and the attack dog Maups and Mbuemo up top.
 

Thomas Frank

I don't think it can get worse than Saturday though in fairness it could have been 4.0 at HT. Thomas doesn't have many cards to play other than formation tweaks at the moment. It's going to be a tough few weeks ahead.
 

Thomas Frank

W5BeesFan said:
I don't think it can get worse than Saturday though in fairness it could have been 4.0 at HT. Thomas doesn't have many cards to play other than formation tweaks at the moment. It's going to be a tough few weeks ahead.
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Agree. I just think we have to be on top top form with our best personnel available for 4-3-3.
 

Thomas Frank

Thomas now facing potentially his biggest challenge with a depleted squad. Calls for superb organisation and commitment from the team. If we can get an even points return over the next 6 games it would be a superb outcome.
 

Thomas Frank

Flekken
Ayer - Collins - Zanka - Pinnock - Mee
Roerslev - Nørgaard - Hickey
Jensen
Mbeumo

That’ll do...
 

Thomas Frank

jlove said:
Flekken
Ayer - Collins - Zanka - Pinnock - Mee
Roerslev - Nørgaard - Hickey
Jensen
Mbeumo

That’ll do...
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like the look of that in principle but who's playing left sided wb/fb? Mee?
 

Thomas Frank

bee bee ramones said:
We were just so slow and predictable yesterday playing out from the back,allowing Everton plenty of time to regroup.
Would also like to see us leave Wissa/Bryan up front when opposition have a corner.
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We need to leave 3 up front, If you look at the second Everton goal there were 14 players not including Flekken lined up in our goal area, Flekken couldn't see the wood for the trees as it was far to crowded.
 

Thomas Frank

abeeforever said:
We need to leave 3 up front, If you look at the second Everton goal there were 14 players not including Flekken lined up in our goal area, Flekken couldn't see the wood for the trees as it was far to crowded.
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This is the thing about analysis - I thought I read on here our analysis says we do not score more when leaving some players forward when defending corners - however, I agree with you, leave three up - opponents will have at least three back - maybe 4 - then they have a keeper and someone taking the corner - this must mean actually defending the corner becomes easier? Isn't defending the corner more important at this point?
 

Thomas Frank

abeeforever said:
We need to leave 3 up front, If you look at the second Everton goal there were 14 players not including Flekken lined up in our goal area, Flekken couldn't see the wood for the trees as it was far to crowded.
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?
 

Thomas Frank

Beezy said:
like the look of that in principle but who's playing left sided wb/fb? Mee?
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I think Pinnock has the slight edge on mobility, with Mee carrying an injury, so more likely he moves outside.
 
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