When Thomas Frank left for Tottenham Hotspur in June 2025, Brentford supporters expressed deep sadness but gratitude, calling him a “hero,” a “freaking legend,” and someone who brought immense joy. Articles from Brentford fans describe his departure as feeling like a “break-up,” with wishes for his success elsewhere while noting he’ll always be a hero at the club.
How his public image has changed.
Initially, many Spurs fans were optimistic or supportive, seeing him as a stabiliser who could adapt tactics, develop young players, and bring pragmatic success after a turbulent period under previous management.
However, by January 2026, significant discontent has emerged. Spurs fans have booed him after poor results/draws (e.g., against Brentford, Burnley, and others), chanting “Thomas Frank out” or criticising his football as “guano.” Complaints focus on a lack of entertainment, poor attacking output, conservative tactics not suiting a “bigger” club expecting possession/ flair, failure to improve players, and results against lower teams.
Regrettably, the advent of the Internet has led everyone to suddenly feel that they have an audience. Then there’s eye watering ticket prices, so an afternoon at the football has led to much higher expectations. One evident mindset is, if I can’t watch us win, I may as well let loose and protest on the terraces, online or call up a radio station.
The great thing about facts is that they take away emotion and let us focus on reality. My view is that this squad (which finished 17th last term) isn’t good enough.
Statmuse highlights a huge issue, and it isn’t Thomas Frank.
Tottenham has created the third most chances in the division, but has not managed to convert anywhere near enough of them.
Injuries
James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have missed significant (or all) league minutes due to long-term injuries like ACL issues. These absences have robbed the team of progressive passing and incision in midfield/attack. Without them, younger or alternative options (e.g., Bergvall, Gray, or Sarr) provide ball-carrying but lack the same vision and passing quality to unlock defences consistently.
Being overly dependent on alternatives
Heavy reliance on players like Mohammed Kudus for creation adds pressure, while the team lacks leaders and grit in key moments. Poor home record compounds the issue, with draws or losses from dropped points in winnable games. Confidence dips appear evident, leading to wasted chances and no “killer instinct.”
Poor striking options
Big-money moves (e.g., prioritising Solanke) haven’t paid off yet, and existing options (Richarlison, Timo Werner in past roles) aren’t covering the gap. The attack relies heavily on moments rather than consistent output, and there’s no standout No. 9 guaranteeing goals right now.
In short, ENIC scaled back and failed to add enough quality.
