Tottenham Hotspur expected clarity when they appointed Thomas Frank. What they are facing instead is uncertainty, shaped by results that continue to move in the wrong direction. With performances stagnating and confidence eroding, many observers now believe that the form Tottenham have shown in recent weeks have made Thomas Frank sacking rumours more plausible.
Results, Momentum, and a Familiar Pattern
League position only sharpens the concern. Spurs currently sit 14th, uncomfortably close to their 17th-place finish last season. More worrying is the trend beneath the table, just five points collected from a possible 18 across the last six PL matches.
Tottenham’s poor run of form has not only stalled momentum but has also raised doubts about whether meaningful improvement is coming any time soon. For a club that entered the season hoping to reset its trajectory, there is almost no change seen.
The numbers and performances tell a grim story. Tottenham have struggled to control matches, often appearing reactive rather than assertive. Defensive structure has wavered, midfield control has been inconsistent, and attacking patterns rarely sustain pressure for long periods. This is not a squad devoid of quality.
There have been moments of sharp combination play and brief spells where Frank’s ideas appear to take shape. Yet those moments arrive in isolation, too infrequent to suggest the system works or there’s a system at all
FA Cup Exit and a Bleak Narrowing of Possibilities
That sense of drift was compounded by Tottenham’s recent FA Cup elimination against Aston Villa. Cup competitions often offer struggling sides a chance to reset narratives, even when league form falters. Spurs were denied that opportunity. The defeat removed one of the few realistic routes to silverware and narrowed what this season can still become.
With the FA Cup gone, Tottenham are now left with only the Champions League as their main objective, and based on current performances, that target certainly feels miles apart. As exits arrive and alternatives disappear, seasons begin to feel shorter. For Tottenham, the margin for recovery has shrunk, intensifying scrutiny across the club and further complicating the Tottenham managerial situation.
Why the ‘Thomas Frank Sack Conversation’ Is Growing
One of the defining strengths of Thomas Frank’s time at Brentford was authority. Players understood their roles, trusted the process, and executed instructions with consistency. That clarity translated directly onto the pitch.
At Tottenham, that authority appears less secure. Tactical adjustments are not always reflected in match behaviour. Pressing triggers are missed, defensive discipline fades at key moments, and cohesion often breaks down when pressure rises.
This is where the discussion around a Tottenham manager under pressure begins to harden. Evidence suggests Frank does not yet have full command of the dressing room, as seen when Van de Ven and Djed Spence ignored the manager after their 1-0 loss to Chelsea.
This lack of full respect towards the manager could seep into how well they buy into the system he his trying to build. Instructions appear to be selectively applied rather than collectively followed, creating a visible gap between tactical intention and execution.
In such an environment, it becomes easier to understand why many now see the Thomas Frank sacking rumours as a growing possibility.
Complicating matters further is the broader climate within elite football. Managerial dismissals have become almost seasonal, and “sack fever” appears to be spreading across top clubs once again, as seen with Chelsea and Manchester United.
When results dip, and patience thins, change is often seen as the quickest remedy. Tottenham are not immune to that logic, and Frank could yet find himself the next high-profile name to catch it.
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A Club Wrestling With Patience and Reality
Crucially, this situation has not been defined by any public rift between Frank and the board. Outwardly, support appears to remain intact. However, Tottenham’s recent history adds important context.
Frequent managerial changes have failed to deliver lasting progress, yet patience has also rarely survived extended downturns. While commitment has paid dividends elsewhere – Arsenal’s faith in Mikel Arteta stands as a clear example – Tottenham’s own experience tells a different story.
The last time the club fully committed to a five-year long-term project under Mauricio Pochettino, tangible rewards never materialised. With that memory still fresh, and in a football climate that seldom allows time for prolonged rebuilding, the board may soon feel compelled to consider an exit rather than risk repeating a familiar cycle.
That reality continues to shape the Tottenham managerial situation. Tottenham’s poor run of form has eroded goodwill, while uncertainty over tactical identity has sharpened debate. Each week without progress reinforces the sense of a Tottenham manager under pressure rather than one steadily shaping the future.
At this stage, the idea of the Thomas Frank sack talks turning into a reality is driven not by impatience alone, but by trajectory. Sitting 14th, already out of the FA Cup, out of the Carabao cup, and searching for cohesion, Spurs find themselves uncomfortably close to last season’s disappointments, with fewer avenues left to recover.
Frank may yet reassert authority and redirect momentum, but until that happens, the sense of inevitability will continue to grow.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Colorsport
Recording Date: 10.01.2026
