Thomas Frank is statistically the worst Tottenham manager of all time (Image: Getty)
From the ecstasy of the Europa League final last May, to this. Tottenham‘s Premier League season was pretty miserable last year but at least they were never at risk of relegation. The same cannot be said for this current Spurs side. With four wins in their last 20 league games, Spurs are now ominously close to Nottingham Forest – who can join them on 29 points tonight – and West Ham. A very late Manchester United equaliser against the Hammers makes the table look a tad better than it could have this morning. Regardless, the Newcastle defeat last night was the 15th of Thomas Frank‘s reign and the mood at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is pitifully miserable.
The football is dire and the confidence is non-existent. The stadium was half empty at full-time last night. Those that stayed made their feelings known with boos plus chants of Mauricio Pochettino‘s name and « you’re getting sacked in the morning » – aimed at their own manager. The brutal truth is that Tottenham now simply have to sack Frank. It’s not nice to say, but this is a desperate situation, and on this evidence, spending the 2026-27 season in the Championship is a scarily realistic scenario. A win rate of 26.9 per cent is unacceptable, and makes Frank statistically the worst manager in the club’s 144-year history.
Defeat means Spurs have the 18th-worst home record in the Premier League this season. Only Wolves, with one win in 25 games, have fewer points at home. Even then, it’s only five points fewer. Tottenham lost to a Newcastle team that started yesterday with the 17th-worst away record in the league. In a must-not-lose match, Spurs went behind twice. They never looked like finding a second equaliser.
Next up is Arsenal at home. Spurs have 11 days between now and then to find a successor to Frank. The Dane declared he is « convinced » he’ll be in charge for the north London derby. He added: « It is easy to point on me but it is never only the head coach, ownership, players or staff. It is everyone. » That is true. But the head coach is the only thing Spurs can change between now and May 24. And they must. Immediately.
If the 52-year-old remains in charge much longer, Spurs could be relegated, especially thanks to West Ham’s recent improvement. There is a very real chance when they take to the pitch against the Gunners in a Sunday 4.30pm kick-off, Forest have picked up six points from six (Wolves at home tonight, Liverpool at home February 22nd) to move ahead of them and West Ham are just two points adrift (Bournemouth at home February 21st).
Frank has lost the fans and defeat at home to Arsenal just feels inevitable with him at the helm. It could be even uglier than the 4-1 loss at the Emirates in November. The Spurs hierarchy should realise this project has reached its very sorry end.
Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
Tottenham are desperately short on belief under Thomas Frank (Image: Getty)
Thomas Frank’s Spurs record reads 13 wins, 11 draws and 14 defeats from 38 games (Image: Getty)
The fans desperately need something to believe in. They don’t believe in Frank or his tactics. The relationship between the fans and the manager is broken beyond repair. Given some of the comments he has made this season, that is perhaps understandable.
One of Frank’s biggest strengths coming to Tottenham was his defensive solidity and yet on current pace, they will end the campaign having conceded 54 goals. Yes, it’s less than Ange Postecoglou‘s charges leaked in 38 games last season. But Spurs are also on track to end with 52 scored – 12 less than the Greek’s team last term. They haven’t improved in any department.
He has set an awfully low bar for the next manager, whoever he is, to beat. Spurs only realistically need four wins from their last 12. That would put them on 43 points – a number no Premier League team has ever been relegated with. They play two teams between now and the end of the season, Forest at home and Wolves away. Those two games are absolute must-wins.
But with the unpopular Frank in charge, there’s little to no confidence among Spurs fans right now that their team will go out and win either. It isn’t all Frank’s fault, as he said himself, and the board deserve a lot of criticism too. He’s also been let down by his players at times and quite simply, has been very unlucky. But despite all that Spurs still could be, and absolutely should be, doing better than this. Frank’s time is up and it’s imperative a new manager is given as many days as possible to prepare for the Arsenal game.
EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
Source link
