Shocking stats over three league seasons show Tottenham’s problems go beyond Thomas Frank

Stats over three league seasons show Tottenham’s problems go beyond Thomas Frank

Following just one win in the last seven league games, the pressure is now huge on Frank. Against a background of growing criticism and frustrations from the supporters and a major decline in performance levels, there is a feeling that something has to give in.

However, talkSPORT pundits Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist feel that sacking the 52-year-old would not change anything at the club. McCoist thinks the club have had great coaches over the years, but none of them managed to achieve success and bring stability, explaining the problems run much deeper than the coach. And the duo’s claims can be backed by a recent stat that has come to the floor.

Over the last 92 games across the last three seasons in the Premier League, Tottenham have won only 37 games. (Stat courtesy: Transfermarkt). Ange Postecoglou had a fine debut season, winning 20 and drawing six to guide Spurs to a fifth-place finish. The second campaign turned out to be nothing short of a disaster, with the Lilywhites enduring their worst-ever finish in the top flight. This became the primary reason for the Greek’s sacking, despite him ending the club’s 17-year-long trophy drought.

Tottenham have burnt a lot of cash due to poor recruitment

Currently, Frank is struggling in north London. Referring to Stelling and McCoist’s claims that the club’s problems lie way beyond the coach, the recruitment over the years has played a big part in that. The lack of ambition and ability to lure highly-rated players to the club, especially in the last three years, has accounted for the Lilywhites’ dismal showings in the league. They have consistently underperformed, and the dearth of quality and depth in the squad cannot be ignored.

Post Antonio Conte era, be it Ange or now Frank, they have not received adequate backing in the transfer market. The Lewis Family have not delivered to their promise of supporting the managers in terms of recruitment, leading to Tottenham suffering in the Premier League.

Not to forget, under former executive chairman Daniel Levy, the club held on to underperforming players for far too long. Levy and his team failed to cut the losses and move on players at the need of the hour, thereby stockpiling underachieving players that a new manager was forced to inherit and work with.

It does not take rocket science to gauge that Tottenham’s problems do not start and end with their gaffer. In isolation, Frank isn’t doing enough to get the fans back on his side and get himself time from the board. But the Dane alone cannot be blamed for the mess here. The players must take responsibility for their consistently poor application on the pitch.

In short, sacking Frank would not take the club anywhere. Instead, they must stick with the Dane and help him ride the tough times, before clearing the deadwood and replacing them with top talents in the squad.