Spurs Board Ready to Pull Trigger on Thomas Frank Sacking After Latest Disappointing Performances
Tottenham Hotspur are once again grappling with uncomfortable questions about their direction as pressure mounts on head coach Thomas Frank following another damaging Premier League defeat. Sunday’s emphatic 3–0 loss to Nottingham Forest has left Spurs drifting in the lower half of the table and reignited familiar debates around patience, progress and the club’s long term vision.
Just a week earlier, the spotlight had been on Liverpool, where Arne Slot successfully navigated a testing period with consecutive victories that steadied nerves at Anfield. At Tottenham, however, the mood could hardly be more different. Frank, appointed from Brentford in the summer, is enduring his most difficult spell since arriving in north London, with supporters increasingly concerned about performances, identity and results.
The defeat at the City Ground was Spurs’ sixth loss in their last seven league matches, a run that has yielded just a single victory and left them struggling for momentum. With only 22 points from 16 games, Tottenham find themselves outside the European places and facing a daunting run of fixtures that includes Liverpool and Crystal Palace before the end of the year. The timing has only intensified scrutiny on a manager still in the early stages of his tenure.
Frank’s appointment was meant to usher in stability following a turbulent period that saw multiple managerial changes. His reputation was built on his impressive work at Brentford, where he established the club as a competitive and well drilled Premier League side. Tottenham believed his calm authority, tactical organisation and player development skills could help reshape a squad that had finished 17th last season despite winning the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou.
Opinions within the game remain sharply divided. Some believe Spurs would be making a serious mistake by acting hastily once again. There is a sense among sections of the football community that modern clubs too often default to dismissing managers rather than allowing time for genuine rebuilding. Comparisons have been drawn with Mikel Arteta’s early struggles at Arsenal and Jurgen Klopp’s initial growing pains at Liverpool, both of which ultimately led to sustained success.
Those urging patience point out that Tottenham’s points tally is only marginally worse than at the same stage under Postecoglou last season. They also highlight that Frank has suffered just eight defeats in 25 matches across all competitions, including European fixtures, and that Spurs are still within touching distance of the top five. In a congested Premier League table, a short positive run could significantly alter perceptions.
However, the counterargument is growing louder. The Forest performance was widely described as abject, with Spurs showing little fight, creativity or cohesion. More concerning for many supporters is the lack of attacking threat. According to Opta, Tottenham’s average expected goals per game stands at just 0.96, the third worst in the division and their lowest figure since the metric began being recorded in the 2012/13 season. That statistic alone has become emblematic of a side struggling to impose itself.
Frank was brought in with a mandate to tighten a porous defence and instil greater structure, yet Tottenham have conceded 16 goals in their last five away matches. Injuries have played a role, with key creative players such as James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski sidelined, but critics argue that absences cannot fully explain the lack of attacking fluency or the passive displays seen in recent weeks.
There are also echoes of past missteps. The situation has drawn comparisons with Nuno Espirito Santo’s brief spell in charge, when a capable manager ultimately proved to be an ill fit. Spurs acted decisively then, replacing him after four months, and some now believe history may repeat itself. The concern is not necessarily Frank’s competence, but whether his approach aligns with Tottenham’s expectations and squad profile.
Frank himself has been clear in his messaging. Following the Forest defeat, he stressed that there is no quick fix and that meaningful change requires time. He has also hinted at the need for further recruitment, suggesting the squad lacks quality, character and depth in key areas. With another transfer window approaching, some believe January could be pivotal in determining whether Spurs’ season can be salvaged.
The club’s hierarchy now face a familiar dilemma. Persist with a long term plan and risk further short term pain, or intervene early in the hope of arresting the slide before it becomes irreversible. European qualification remains achievable, and Frank’s supporters argue that sacking him now would only perpetuate the cycle of instability that has plagued Tottenham for years.
Yet frustration among fans is undeniable. Performances have lacked intensity and entertainment, and the sense of direction that was promised in the summer has yet to materialise. With crucial fixtures looming and confidence fragile, the coming weeks could prove decisive for Frank’s future.
Tottenham have been described as a sleeping giant for much of the last decade. Whether Thomas Frank is the man to finally awaken it remains uncertain. What is clear is that the club once again stands at a crossroads, weighing patience against pragmatism as the pressure continues
