Thomas Frank is set to take the reins at Tottenham Hotspur, following a formal approach by Spurs after Ange Postecoglou’s departure. We spoke to James Trembath of LondonWorld, who covers Spurs closely, to discuss what Frank’s move means for the club—his likely impact, style, and how he could redefine Tottenham’s identity ahead of next season.
00:00Now it's Thomas Frank who's set to take the reins at Tottenham Hotspur
00:07following a formal approach by Spurs after Ange Postacoglu's departure.
00:12Brentford have requested around £10 million in compensation
00:15and after agreeing personal terms, Frank is expected to bring key staff with him.
00:21Frank impressed at Brentford by securing promotion in 2021
00:25and maintaining Premier League stability on a tight budget.
00:28His tactical flexibility and player development record
00:32appealed to Tottenham's technical director, Johan Lange.
00:36We spoke to James Trenbath of London World,
00:40who covers Spurs closely to discuss what Frank's move means for the club,
00:45his likely impact, style and how he could redefine Tottenham's identity ahead of the new campaign.
00:53Who's job?
00:56James, Ange Postacoglu blew out.
00:58Thomas Frankin, obviously a Brentford manager who's done so well on such a shoestring budget.
01:03There's been calls that they could face relegation a number of times,
01:07especially after losing the likes of Ivan Toney.
01:10He's reinvented strike forces with the likes of Mbwemo and Visser.
01:13He's become a manager that has really, really got the best out of unknown players.
01:17I mean, on the surface, I think he really, really fits Spurs' bill and where they're going to go from now on.
01:25It looks like the only way he's up for Spurs.
01:27He's made the move across London.
01:29What are your thoughts on Thomas Frank when he was sort of linked?
01:32You know, we've spoke before, maybe he wasn't that appealing, but the credit he's done with the likes of Brentford has been fantastic to get them up
01:41and keep them a sustainable outfit in the top flight.
01:45Yeah, absolutely.
01:46I mean, I'm thrilled with the appointment.
01:47I think actually they're probably the most excited I've been since Monsieur Pochettino was appointed as Spurs' manager a good while ago.
01:53Now, I think he totally fits the bill.
01:56You know, I mean, sort of head over heart, I think it was the right decision to let Ange go.
02:01You know, we've obviously got the trophy, as we've spoken about, but the caveat around the league form, the performances,
02:07not just this season, but at the back end of last season as well.
02:10You know, we were averaging, conceding nearly two goals a game.
02:13The football had sort of gone out the window.
02:15You know, we'd lost the style.
02:17We weren't adaptable like we were in Europe, ironically.
02:20I think if we'd have just adapted a little bit more to the players that we had and to the opposition,
02:25we could, you know, well have done a little bit better and Ange might well still be in a job.
02:28So, you know, I do think, you know, the time was right to make the change.
02:34If we'd have gone into the start of the season with Ange, we could have been in another Ten Hag situation.
02:38And, you know, imagine you sort of come out in the opening day against a promoted team
02:43and you get beaten by Sunderland or Burnley or Leeds and immediately the pressure's on Ange again
02:48and it would just become very, very toxic very, very quickly had we not got a fast start.
02:52So, you know, I think it was right just to make the change.
02:55He's very difficult, obviously, from the board and Daniel Levy this time around.
02:59I'm sure that was a really, really tough decision to make.
03:02But Thomas Frank, you know, he ticks all the boxes for me.
03:04He's, you know, he's progressive, done a fantastic job with Brentford on a model very similar to Spurs,
03:10working within a real tight structure.
03:13You know, he's brought on a lot of young players.
03:15He's obviously developed the likes of Mbwemo, David Raya, Rolly Watkins.
03:18You know, there's been a lot of stars have sort of been made at Brentford, left Brentford
03:23and he's continually kept them in the division and really punching above the weight.
03:27They've had some terrific results against the top six as well.
03:30So, you know, I think he ticks the boxes in terms of character, persona.
03:35I said to somebody, a contact of mine, he's almost, he's not Jurgen Klopp,
03:39but he's got a touch of the Klopp in the way that he sort of is perceived, I feel.
03:44And I think, you know, he's the right man to really kick on a group that's just won a trophy.
03:48You know, there's a lot of talent in that squad.
03:50We've spoken about it before.
03:51The nucleus of the team is there.
03:53Ironically, Brentford tried to sign Archie Gray.
03:55They tried to sign Brennan Johnson.
03:57So he's going to get his first two transfer wishes there to work with those two players.
04:01And there's lots and lots of players that will hopefully develop and adapt under Thomas Frank.
04:07So, you know, I think it's exciting times and he's ready for this shot.
04:11I mean, you know, he was linked with Liverpool.
04:13I believe he was on the shortlist showdown slot and got the gig at Anfield.
04:17He was linked to Manchester United.
04:19So he's been in the running for some big, big jobs.
04:22So clearly highly rated within the game.
04:24And I think it's a massive coup for Spurs, but we've now got to make sure we back him.
04:28And, you know, I think the first sign of that is we've allowed all his backroom staff to come with him.
04:32That's been the sort of hold up this week.
04:33A little bit of negativity around the football that he's played,
04:36but he adapts depending on the situation of the opposition.
04:38And I think that's something that we haven't done under Ansposhtakoglu,
