Tottenham Hotspur currently appear to be a club facing serious problems on the pitch, with the Lilywhites once again languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League.
On Saturday, the team played at home to struggling West Ham United, with the visitors, now coached by former manager Nuno Espirito Santo, scoring their first win in 10 games.
As a result, Thomas Frank’s side are currently 14th in England’s top flight and are already nine points out of the Champions League places, putting serious pressure on his shoulders.
The Dane was appointed in the summer to build on last season’s success in the Europa League, but it is safe to say that he has failed miserably in such a task, as the current league standings show.
Fans appear to have made up their minds about the 52-year-old, as the boos could be heard at the final whistle yesterday, and the hierarchy could appoint his replacement in the near future.
Spurs aim to appoint 53-year-old manager
Frank has not yet been released by the Spurs organization, but a number of candidates have already been floated to replace him, including Andoni Iraola.
It has been reported in recent weeks that the Spaniard has been praised by staff behind the scenes in north London, and a move could be on the cards.
Bournemouth’s current manager is out of contract with the Cherries at the end of this season, so this could be a fantastic appointment for the Lilywhites.
But he is not the only manager they are eyeing at the moment, with Mauricio Pochettino also linked with a fairytale return to north London in the near future.
According to talkSPORT, Spurs are considering the possibility of reappointing the Argentine, who previously held the role for five-and-a-half years, if Frank leaves.
The paper also states that the manager himself is open to returning to the club, and that the 53-year-old player could return to club management.
However, any deal will likely have to wait until the summer, with Pochettino set to lead the U.S. national team at next summer’s World Cup.
Why Pochettino is an upgrade over Frank for Spurs
As mentioned above, Frank has struggled to live up to expectations at Spurs after joining fellow Premier League side Brentford in the summer.
The Danes have only won 11 of their 32 games in all competitions this season, with a subsequent win rate of just 34%.
Also, his team has only won one of their last eight games, which has certainly added to the pressure on his shoulders, as seen at the final whistle yesterday.
Despite the loss to the Hammers, the 52-year-old challenged his team to take more risks to finally end their dismal run, but it remains to be seen how long it will take to turn things around.
Rumors of Pochettino’s sensational return to the club have undoubtedly cast doubt on the Dane’s long-term future, with the Argentine having previously shown he has what it takes for the role.
Comparing the respective performances of both men during their time as Lilywhites manager, it is clear that the former manager is the better option and someone the club should consider reappointing.
Described as a “genius” by Joe Tomlinson, Pochettino achieved a better winning percentage in his role despite playing fewer games, considering the proportion of matches he managed compared to Frank.
Comparison of Pochettino and Frank as Spurs managers | ||
|---|---|---|
statistics | pochettino | frank |
managed games | 293 | 32 |
victory | 160 | 11 |
draw | 60 | 8 |
loss | 73 | 13 |
Number of points scored | 559 | 48 |
Number of goals conceded | 332 | 38 |
Points per game | 1.84 | 1.28 |
Winning rate | 54% | 34% |
Statistics via Transfermarkt | ||
Figures like these show the 53-year-old’s ability to get the best out of his North Londoners, and if he takes the reins, a return to winning ways could be possible.
He also oversaw a period in which the first team scored more goals per 90 while simultaneously conceding fewer goals per 90, something the Dane has struggled to prevent in recent weeks.
Poch’s superiority over the current manager is further emphasized by his points per game record, and the club clearly made a mistake in sacking him in 2019.
He also gave supporters a lasting memory after reaching the Champions League final in 2018/19, a feat no manager has achieved since his departure.
Although he will likely have to wait until the summer to ensure a sensational return, it is important that the Lilywhites’ hierarchy wait to re-appoint the Argentine.
As a result, an interim manager will fill the void until the end of the campaign, especially if Frank is given his marching orders in the near future.
While there may be many attractive options for the club at the moment, Pochettino’s previous tenure at the club will be the only thing that the hierarchy will need to consider when making a managerial change.
Fewer touches than Vicario: Spurs finally have to dump Frank’s worst contract
Tottenham Hotspur will have to make up for this failure before the end of the January transfer window.
