Tottenham: There’s no quick fix at Spurs, says manager Thomas Frank.
“Time is essential,” Frank insisted after watching Tottenham suffer a dismal defeat at Nottingham Forest. He warned that without patience, any turnaround is unlikely, and that this situation isn’t something that can be fixed overnight.
Yet he remains hopeful he will be given the chance to unlock Tottenham’s potential. The performance at the City Ground did not reflect that potential, with missteps that allowed Callum Hudson-Odoi to bag a brace and Ibrahim Sangare to crown a largely decisive 3-0 swing late in the match.
Tottenham ended last season with only six wins from their final 19 fixtures, and even a Europa League triumph over Manchester United could not salvage Ange Postecoglou’s stint. Frank, who took over from Postecoglou, has since started strong but has since won just four of his subsequent 14 league games, after an initial 6-from-11 start.
The club sits 11th in the Premier League, six points off the top five, and the managerial change has not yet cured their core issues.
Former England winger and BBC pundit Theo Walcott weighed in, praising Frank as a capable coach and stressing the importance of time for managers to implement their plans. He added that Spurs aren’t in a disastrous position and highlighted how tight the league middle is, suggesting Tottenham could still seize a stronger position with steadier performances.
Spurs arrived eyeing a third consecutive win across all competitions—the club had aimed to extend a modest run—but instead found themselves sifting through the wreckage of another heavy defeat.
That earlier 2-0 win at Manchester City seems like a distant memory, replaced by a string of setbacks: a 4-1 thrashing by Arsenal, a 1-0 loss to Chelsea, and further home defeats to Aston Villa, Bournemouth, and Fulham.
Even a point against Wolves—a side near the bottom—felt hollow after Spurs had to fight back to draw 1-1 in stoppage time. A recent home victory over Brentford marked their first league win at home since the season opener against Burnley, underscoring ongoing inconsistency.
While there have been Champions League wins against Villarreal, Copenhagen, and Slavia Prague, the long-standing fluctuations in Tottenham’s form persist.
Frank arrived from Brentford in the summer, taking over midway through a turbulent period. He acknowledged the strain from supporters, even as he maintained a clear-eyed view of the situation.
“I do everything to control my emotions; there’s a hurricane inside me,” Frank said, describing the Forest showing as “burning, annoying.” He emphasized the need for calm, direct leadership and honest assessments. He conceded that Saturday’s display was “a very bad performance,” and warned that meaningful change will require time—an idea unlikely to be welcomed by fans. He argued that those who follow the club know there have been inconsistencies and that improvement is a process they’re actively pursuing.
In a tactical shake-up, Frank made three substitutions at 59 minutes—Ben Davies, Joao Palhinha, and Lucas Bergvall came on for Djed Spence, Archie Gray, and Rodrigo Bentancur. Spence appeared dissatisfied with the change, a detail noted by observers.
Former Arsenal forward Walcott suggested the substitutions could fuel further frustration for the crowd, questioning the choice to introduce more defensive players when Tottenham needed attacking energy.
Sean Dyche, standing in support of Forest’s win, reminded that new players require time to adapt and be re-educated in a new system. He cautioned that there is little time for patience in football, but insisted Frank knows what he’s doing.
Vicario under the microscope again
Guglielmo Vicario’s error-strewn display, which contributed to the Forest goals, drew renewed scrutiny. He apologized to the away supporters after the match, though the responsibility extended beyond a single moment.
Frank defended Vicario, arguing that mistakes are a universal fixture of the Premier League and that the focus should remain on team structure and cohesion rather than blaming a single player. He noted that two early mistakes cost them, but stressed that football often features such missteps and that staying true to the plan is crucial.
Joe Hart, the former England goalkeeper and Match of the Day analyst, echoed that the first goal stemmed from a high-pressing setup by Forest and a wayward touch from Archie Gray. He suggested that, in training, such routines are commonplace, though he acknowledged Vicario could have managed the situation differently if Gray had used his stronger foot.
Closing thought
This season remains a test of Frank’s ability to implement his method amid a squad still learning his system. The question now is whether Tottenham’s owners will grant him the time and backing to ride out the rough patch, or whether mounting pressure will hasten a rethink. Do you agree that patience is the only viable path for Tottenham at this stage, or should the club pursue more radical changes to salvage the season? Share your take in the comments.
