Thomas Frank

[stevendamico]

1- we use the subs to allow players to go full pelt without getting too fatigued.
2- TF got criticised for being too tactically rigid and taking several games to make a switch (eg in our promotion season sticking with 433 after Rico got injured and playing MBS at left back, getting a poor run that made us drop from top 2 contention, not having a plan B when meeting negative opposition through the season before). Now we have a more fluid formation enabling in game tactical change.
3- maybe, though we put a lot into analysis of training and the PL is intense so most teams have the same issue, even ones with the playing resources of Liverpool
4- Josh has returned from serious long term injury and has a lot of talent. He’s not going to get to the level of the PL by not being played.

With respect, while there’s clear room for improvement, your comments rather betray the fact you only started watching us last season.

With respect, the fact that I'm newer gives me a little a different way of looking at things, and perhaps that's useful. As I said, this isn't me saying Frank is the worst. In fact, he's part of why I became a supporter. This is me identifying areas where I hope he improves.

1) I am very much aware of why we use the planned subs. In fact, if you look back on GPG I discussed this extensively at the start of the season and was super excited about it. Thomas has used subs much more aggressively than our opponents and it's served us well. Plus it's a very valuable recruitment tool by showing players we want to come to the team that they will get playing time.

The problem, as I outlined, is that we now have 5-6 players in that rotation injured, so in order to keep that same strategy going he has had to use players that aren't as capable (Ghoddos). When you don't have the personelle for your system you have to adapt.

In fact, I think if I have one overall theme of my post is that Frank has not adapted very well to player injuries this season.

Another example: Norgaard is such a special player (as many have noted) you can't try to replace his role with a like-for-like as we have done for weeks now. He should have been considering another body in midfield.

Now I'm not a football expert (as you noted) so maybe my solution of an extra body in the midfield won't work for some reason. That's fair. But trying to replace Norgaard with Janelt or FTT without any other major adjustments seems like it was always doomed to failure.

2) You make a fair point here, and I didn't phrase my point very well. I think my issue is that all the flexibility he is demanding, the backup players haven't shown they are capable of doing it. So two things can be true at the same time: a) Yes Frank's moves for more felxibility at the season were vital and important but b) it's not working now because of personnel issues. Time to adapt.

3) We can agree to disagree on this one, but a reporter has looked into the point I made, so I feel like me making a similar point isn't reflective of my significant ignorance as a new fan.

4) We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one too. I'm fully aware of Josh's injury and how close to career ending it was. He's a great guy who is beloved by the fans. Unfortunately, I think that's causing folks like yourself and Thomas to be too patient. My support for this argument? To my eye, his poor play has had less to do with fitness or capability than decision making. The number of times he's killed possessions with unwise launched shots or crazy long balls is very frustrating, and no one has explained to me what that has to do with his injury.

 

[JCMcBee]

....TF nor BFC nor the rose tinted brigade on here can gloss this over....tonight was wrong.... absolute disgrace.....not ok.... seriously.....any of above want to argue with this....let's hear your drivel.

 

[hubble]

Something just doesn't seem right at the moment

 

[JCMcBee]

...bet he doesn't sleep well tonight.... neither should he.

 

[upnorthbee]

...bet he doesn't sleep well tonight.... neither should he.

Sorry about your troubles tonight JC, reading on the other threads I reckon theres a few on here who wish they were there to help you, me being one.

On TF, it was a crap result tonight no denying it and I'm hoping it lights a fire under him for the City game. Not expecting anything from it but a battling performance like last year would give me hope going into the Spurs game after Xmas.

If our slump is now 11th in the premier league and losing to a crap team in the league cup then i'll take it.

 

[Beesfan]

I cannot remember a time we played really well going 433. Whilst we have been walloped a few times we get the best out of these players in a 352 formation. Toney is too isolated in a 433 formation, Bryan also does his best work playing off Toney, Damsgaard/Josh would also both be best suited in this formation as a number 10. The constant change in personnel (I get we have injuries) and formation is not allowing us to get any consistency or flow to our game. Leeds, Man U, 2nd half v Leicester, Chelsea were all 352/532…

 

[James30]

TF…I hope he’s got some players lined up in that Jan transfer window …preferably midfielders ??

A young centre back and left back will do and a winger ? here’s hoping

 

[JCMcBee]

Sorry about your troubles tonight JC, reading on the other threads I reckon theres a few on here who wish they were there to help you, me being one.

On TF, it was a crap result tonight no denying it and I'm hoping it lights a fire under him for the City game. Not expecting anything from it but a battling performance like last year would give me hope going into the Spurs game after Xmas.

If our slump is now 11th in the premier league and losing to a crap team in the league cup then i'll take it.

....cheers ...my comments on TF were OTT.....I was a tad upset last night.

 

[James30]

Something just doesn't seem right at the moment

Maybe something behind the scenes we don’t know about

 

[James30]

Sorry about your troubles tonight JC, reading on the other threads I reckon theres a few on here who wish they were there to help you, me being one.

On TF, it was a crap result tonight no denying it and I'm hoping it lights a fire under him for the City game. Not expecting anything from it but a battling performance like last year would give me hope going into the Spurs game after Xmas.

If our slump is now 11th in the premier league and losing to a crap team in the league cup then i'll take it.

We’ll said

 

[sid]

Lets make no excuses our tactics were shocking totally
naive.This has been the case far to often of late.
Has T.F. and his coaching staff reached there limit
of there coaching knowledge? if so perhaps we need
to get someone in to help him, Our confidence must
be lower than a snakes belly.

 

[James30]

Lets make no excuses our tactics were shocking totally
naive.This has been the case far to often of late.
Has T.F. and his coaching staff reached there limit
of there coaching knowledge? if so perhaps we need
to get someone in to help him, Our confidence must
be lower than a snakes belly.

He has enough help Brain Reimer Kev O’Connor And they guy from Man U and even the rugby guy Ben ffs where on a bad run but I think we can turn it around after the world cup

 

[Infatuated Bees Alter Ego]

Lets make no excuses our tactics were shocking totally
naive.This has been the case far to often of late.
Has T.F. and his coaching staff reached there limit
of there coaching knowledge? if so perhaps we need
to get someone in to help him, Our confidence must
be lower than a snakes belly.

All over the top 13ollox, IMHO and in regard to TF and his coaching staff reaching there limit.

 

[aslan]

Lets make no excuses our tactics were shocking totally
naive.This has been the case far to often of late.
Has T.F. and his coaching staff reached there limit
of there coaching knowledge? if so perhaps we need
to get someone in to help him, Our confidence must
be lower than a snakes belly.

Weird to see that, after a few new appointments in the summer, some think we have too many coaches and some think we need more

 

[Gee Bee]

Something just doesn't seem right at the moment

Injuries to half the regular starting 11 perhaps in last 6 weeks. We could have easily have seen two or three of recent draws as wins and been 4 or 6 points better off and in top 6. Those injuries have contributed and hopefully by boxing day a more fully fit squad will be available followed by a couple of Jan signings in key areas.

 

[brentfordfc4ever]

Thomas Frank has Brentford more than holding their own in the hardest league in the world. Throw in huge injuries and a low budget as a double kicker too

 

[Mr Cynical]

Feel for TF a bit because he’s been left with a quite unbalanced squad. We supposedly want to play a more expansive attacking game with a 4-3-3 formation but we don’t have any wingers, only pace we have in the team is Mbeumo, most of our CBs are more comfortable in a 3, and we’re incapable of playing out from the back. We’ve got a glut of midfielders who are generally not quite good enough for this level and now we’ve got a load of injuries to boot. I do believe we wanted to be less pragmatic this season and try and play a bit more but we just don’t have the tools to do that at the moment. We’ve kind of got stuck in formation/style limbo. Our best performances/results have come playing 3 at the back but also our worst! 4-3-3/3-4-3 just doesn’t seem to work.

 

[djheavens]

We need some perspective here. As mentioned before we are a small fish in a very big pond. We play teams in our division that have 1 player more expensive than our 11 combined. We have by some distance I’d imagine the smallest budget with Bournemouth and yet we are still holding our own. Yes I believe we still need more quality in the squad ideally but let’s not forget we will have Hickey, Norgaard, Jansson all back after World Cup which will make a difference. No panic here nor should there be.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Feel for TF a bit because he’s been left with a quite unbalanced squad. We supposedly want to play a more expansive attacking game with a 4-3-3 formation but we don’t have any wingers, only pace we have in the team is Mbeumo, most of our CBs are more comfortable in a 3, and we’re incapable of playing out from the back. We’ve got a glut of midfielders who are generally not quite good enough for this level and now we’ve got a load of injuries to boot. I do believe we wanted to be less pragmatic this season and try and play a bit more but we just don’t have the tools to do that at the moment. We’ve kind of got stuck in formation/style limbo. Our best performances/results have come playing 3 at the back but also our worst! 4-3-3/3-4-3 just doesn’t seem to work.

You've convinced me, I'm giving up my season ticket and will only ever support Man City or Arsenal now.

 

[LingfieldBee]

Feel for TF a bit because he’s been left with a quite unbalanced squad. We supposedly want to play a more expansive attacking game with a 4-3-3 formation but we don’t have any wingers, only pace we have in the team is Mbeumo, most of our CBs are more comfortable in a 3, and we’re incapable of playing out from the back. We’ve got a glut of midfielders who are generally not quite good enough for this level and now we’ve got a load of injuries to boot. I do believe we wanted to be less pragmatic this season and try and play a bit more but we just don’t have the tools to do that at the moment. We’ve kind of got stuck in formation/style limbo. Our best performances/results have come playing 3 at the back but also our worst! 4-3-3/3-4-3 just doesn’t seem to work.

I tend to agree with most of this, it was clear the club wanted to as you have said play in a more expansive way unfortunately, our midfield and wide players are incapable right now. We looked stronger and better playing pragmatic and counter attacking last season. Apart from Jensen who else in the centre midfield has put in a 8/10 performance in any game? Norgaard but currently injured.
Bryan cant score, KLP adapting, and Wissa not performed.

desperate for better quality in the middle and out wide.

 

[horshambees]

Thomas Frank has one of the hardest jobs in football imo and I think we can all be critical in defeat and totally in love in a win.
The pressure shows and so it should, but so should the support of the man too.
He backs his players and he backs his fans and we all know how he was let down by one particular player in the summer who did not bother letting him know wether he was signing or not so let's not be the same and get behind the man 100% because he effing well needs it right now.
In Thomas we trust.
COYR.

 

[JCMcBee]

.... actually don't think TF is the problem....I personally think the problem is with the players he has at his disposal..... including the players out injured.....imo many of them really aren't good enough for the EPL....and the ones that are are few in numbers and can't carry the team on their own.... there's only so long even the eternal optimists can dress this up.....we are not playing well as a team....if TF extends our EPL status to 23/24 he will have done a remarkable job given his resources....but I'd suggest even he will be privately concerned at this moment in time....the WC break has definitely come at the right time.

 

[Gazza Bee]

.... actually don't think TF is the problem....I personally think the problem is with the players he has at his disposal..... including the players out injured.....imo many of them really aren't good enough for the EPL....and the ones that are are few in numbers and can't carry the team on their own.... there's only so long even the eternal optimists can dress this up.....we are not playing well as a team....if TF extends our EPL status to 23/24 he will have done a remarkable job given his resources....but I'd suggest even he will be privately concerned at this moment in time....the WC break has definitely come at the right time.

I think we are good enough with our best 11 but unfortunately we are bound to get injuries and they have been to key players this season - it is a tricky situation as we have a limited budget so having 25 players who are all PL quality is impossible for us so we have to live with having a starting 11 most weeks with some players that are not quite good enough for this level. Frankly (excuse the pun) - to have kept us up last season and to be 11th is a great achievement and I despair of the social media numpties who want him sacked after every defeat as I am not sure there are many managers who could do better with the resources at his disposal.

 

[magicbees]

I feel for TF as I've not been impressed with our transfer dealing since we were promoted, we were unbelievable in the lower division with the signings we made. I'll be very surprise if any of our signing over the 2 years would make people's top 5 players and we have spent over 75 million.

 

[Jago16]

Whoever shouted at Frank from the dugout last night, and subsequently had an exchange, needs to get a grip. He’s doing a fantastic job with a squad that isn’t good enough. As said above our transfer dealings haven’t really hit the mark for a couple of years now (Eriksen aside) despite being wildly expensive in our terms. Granted Damsgaard and KLP need more time.

 

[Beelieve!]

I disagree with thinking our signings aren’t good enough
Wissa is a very good finisher
Ajer was very good before his injury last season
Hickey is and will be class
KLP and Damsgaard need time
Strakoshka hasn’t had a chance
FTT is a good squad player at this level, certainly not a regular starter

 

[JCMcBee]

Whoever shouted at Frank from the dugout last night, and subsequently had an exchange, needs to get a grip. He’s doing a fantastic job with a squad that isn’t good enough. As said above our transfer dealings haven’t really hit the mark for a couple of years now (Eriksen aside) despite being wildly expensive in our terms. Granted Damsgaard and KLP need more time.

.... dissent from the dugout...thought some of the GPGs top boys frequented that section....sort this out chaps.

 

[jlove]

Injuries to half the regular starting 11 perhaps in last 6 weeks. We could have easily have seen two or three of recent draws as wins and been 4 or 6 points better off and in top 6. Those injuries have contributed and hopefully by boxing day a more fully fit squad will be available followed by a couple of Jan signings in key areas.

That's a bit simple and obvious, GB, surely there's a deep flaw in the coaching and psychology within the Club?

 

[Delbee]

Why is he so willing to pull Rico Henry off, missed his covering for the cross that they scored from , no closing down on the wide player

 

[BFC1997]

Despite our injury problems and all the doom and gloom on here:

- We are 11th in the Premier League.
- We have only lost once at home this season (to Arsenal, who are top).
- We have not suffered consecutive defeats all season.

Last season we lost 4 on the bounce in October-November and then then between December-February we lost 9 and drew once in 11 games. This division is unforgiving. Those kinds of runs can happen. But although wins have been hard to come by for us recently, we have kept plugging away and getting points.

Frank is not immune to errors in judgement (changing to a back three at Forest for example and going too deep) but I think he's doing a good job.

 

[IkastBee]

I disagree with thinking our signings aren’t good enough
Wissa is a very good finisher
Ajer was very good before his injury last season
Hickey is and will be class
KLP and Damsgaard need time
Strakoshka hasn’t had a chance
FTT is a good squad player at this level, certainly not a regular starter

Problem is we have spent a lot of money, and only Hickey (and Mee) have locked down a spot in the starting 11, so overall our business since getting promoted has been very poor. I think we need to buy fewer but better players. Considering that our team still mostly consists of players we bought in the championship, I think TF is doing a very good job. But a lot of work needs to be done in the upcoming break, because we have looked stale lately.

 

[Gazza Bee]

Why is he so willing to pull Rico Henry off, missed his covering for the cross that they scored from , no closing down on the wide player

Does his wife know?

 

[horshambees]

Despite our injury problems and all the doom and gloom on here:

- We are 11th in the Premier League.
- We have only lost once at home this season (to Arsenal, who are top).
- We have not suffered consecutive defeats all season.

Last season we lost 4 on the bounce in October-November and then then between December-February we lost 9 and drew once in 11 games. This division is unforgiving. Those kinds of runs can happen. But although wins have been hard to come by for us recently, we have kept plugging away and getting points.

Frank is not immune to errors in judgement (changing to a back three at Forest for example and going too deep) but I think he's doing a good job.

Well said sir.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Despite our injury problems and all the doom and gloom on here:

- We are 11th in the Premier League.
- We have only lost once at home this season (to Arsenal, who are top).
- We have not suffered consecutive defeats all season.

Last season we lost 4 on the bounce in October-November and then then between December-February we lost 9 and drew once in 11 games. This division is unforgiving. Those kinds of runs can happen. But although wins have been hard to come by for us recently, we have kept plugging away and getting points.

Frank is not immune to errors in judgement (changing to a back three at Forest for example and going too deep) but I think he's doing a good job.

Yes, let's not forget we're in a run of 1 defeat in 6 matches.

 

[horshambees]

Why is he so willing to pull Rico Henry off.

Good looking lads get all the fun.?

 

[AB]

We need some perspective here. As mentioned before we are a small fish in a very big pond. We play teams in our division that have 1 player more expensive than our 11 combined. We have by some distance I’d imagine the smallest budget with Bournemouth and yet we are still holding our own. Yes I believe we still need more quality in the squad ideally but let’s not forget we will have Hickey, Norgaard, Jansson all back after World Cup which will make a difference. No panic here nor should there be.

Bournemouth may have a relatively small budget now but they have at least three players in Billing, Solanke and Lerma bought in their last PL stint who cost more than our transfer record, Lerma nearly double our highest transfer.

 

[AB]

Why is he so willing to pull Rico Henry off, missed his covering for the cross that they scored from , no closing down on the wide player

Because we don’t have another LB and need to keep him uninjured?

 

[magicbees]

Problem is we have spent a lot of money, and only Hickey (and Mee) have locked down a spot in the starting 11, so overall our business since getting promoted has been very poor. I think we need to buy fewer but better players. Considering that our team still mostly consists of players we bought in the championship, I think TF is doing a very good job. But a lot of work needs to be done in the upcoming break, because we have looked stale lately.

Agree 100%, I would only say Mee has been a good signing over the last 2 years, I have issues with Hickey, for me he's a Left Back that can play as a Right Back rather than a natural Right Back. How many of our signings would make people's top 5 players. TF can only work with the players he has.

 

[Gazza Bee]

Agree 100%, I would only say Mee has been a good signing over the last 2 years, I have issues with Hickey, for me he's a Left Back that can play as a Right Back rather than a natural Right Back. How many of our signings would make people's top 5 players. TF can only work with the players he has.

I would say last summers signings need more than 3 months to prove themselves so I wouldn't put them into that equation - also Hickey is equally comfortable on his right foot as his left so he is not a left back playing right back per se and has probably been our most impressive summer signing to date aside from Mee and who I see having a big future at a bigger club further down the line.

 

[abeeforever]

Thomas Frank has Brentford more than holding their own in the hardest league in the world. Throw in huge injuries and a low budget as a double kicker too

A far to sensible post for the GPG, Are you not well!!! ?

 

[brentfordfc4ever]

A far to sensible post for the GPG, Are you not well!!! ?

I've never been well - haha

 

[keefor]

Yes, let's not forget we're in a run of 1 defeat in 6 matches.

I assume this refers to home games in the Premier league only?

Looking at the last 6 matches:

All completions - Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 2. (Taking the Gillingham game as a loss).
All premier league - Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 2.
All games at home - Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 2. (Taking the Gillingham game as a loss).
All league games at home - Won 2, Drawn 3, Lost 1.

In terms of form the last sequence looks better than the others.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

I assume this refers to home games in the Premier league only?

Looking at the last 6 matches:

All completions - Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 2. (Taking the Gillingham game as a loss).
All premier league - Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 2.
All games at home - Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 2. (Taking the Gillingham game as a loss).
All league games at home - Won 2, Drawn 3, Lost 1.

In terms of form the last sequence looks better than the others.

I was taking last night as a draw.

 

[keefor]

I was taking last night as a draw.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[w7 bee]

Noticed TF said he was really good friends with Neil H, is the connection just crossing paths with NH managing various teams ?

 

[aawharris]

I feel for TF as I've not been impressed with our transfer dealing since we were promoted, we were unbelievable in the lower division with the signings we made. I'll be very surprise if any of our signing over the 2 years would make people's top 5 players and we have spent over 75 million.

So we have spent the same as Chelseas substitute keeper.
Thats perspective....

 

[Brentford_till_die]

Something just doesn't seem right at the moment

Care to elaborate?

 

[Voice from the Braemar]

.... dissent from the dugout...thought some of the GPGs top boys frequented that section....sort this out chaps.

It’s probably The Colonel BB…he’s had it in for TF for years ????? sonofabee will sort it ????

 

[AB]

So we have spent the same as Chelseas substitute keeper.
Thats perspective....

And about half what Forest spent in the last window and they’re talking about spending £50-100m in January. Pretty good business on our behalf still I think!

 

[tlbee]

TF has been brilliant for us however it feels stale atm I know we have only lost 1 in the last 6 (to a fantastic arsenal side) but ultimately in the run I can’t say we have put a Decent performance in at all last Saturday we were awful for 43 mins until a lucky pen and after we got ourselves into the lead TF needlessly changed things witch directly lead to us sitting back and conceding

now for the record I’m not frank out however in other jobs he would be under pressure atm and that’s before last nights debacle