In pursuit of magic
One crucial aspect of a new coach overseeing the regime at Tottenham next season is the likelihood that our strikers will become more of a focal point.
At its best, and we are talking about a little more than ten games across two seasons, Ange Postecoglou's system was all about inclusivity, to a point whereby it was frequently difficult to reason why so much money had been spent on Richarlison or Dominic Solanke.
Neither has provided a decent return on the investment made.
Solanke, with an array of mixed talent around him at Bournemouth, produced more goals than he has at Tottenham. It is always a tell-tale sign at Spurs that the excuses start to come out when a player isn't delivering what they were hired to do.
Excusing the player's shortfalls
With goalkeepers, it's usually that he's a great shot stopper (meaning he concedes freely when he doesn't stop a shot). With strikers, it's usually some toffee about the sterling work he does off the ball (meaning he can't do what he's been paid to and score).
View From The Lane podcast
Jay Harris, previously the Brentford correspondent who is now full-time on Spurs for The Athletic, said the following on the View From The Lane podcast.
"I think Solanke will excel under Thomas Frank, and I have a suspicion he tells Solanke to be more selfish. I think he'll tell Solanke to concentrate on getting into the six-yard box a lot more. I remember he did something very similar with Ivan Toney.
I interviewed Toney once, and he said that there were times when he was so concentrated on taking the ball into the box, Frank told him:
"'Don't bother with that. This team is going to be set up to provide for you,' and I can see him doing something similar with Solanke."
Ivan Toney magic at Tottenham
When it comes to how Frank will make a meaningful difference at Spurs, we will be wanting to provide a tactical revolution, which is something, albeit modestly, he was able to create at Brentford.
If Frank can put in place a system whereby Solanke, in particular, can be fed continuous opportunities to finish, the aspirations around the boy could finally be realised. Could Solanke be our very own Ivan Toney?
Tottenham need their strikers to strike - the clue is in the name.
Finishing 17th is not acceptable under any circumstances.
There didn't seem to be any cohesive plan to anything Ange did with us. The attacking was more about passing, moving and playing with freedom, while Solanke would be told to hold the ball up. This was Sunday League levels of planning for games.
Then when you look at your defence and midfield play as well, you begin to understand why the results and the play was so poor, for so long. There was little in the way of instructions for the players to implement. Remember the switch to a back three at Everton, where nobody on the pitch looked like they knew what we should be dong? Even more than usual!
An organised team with a clear set of objectives within their preparation just doesn't finish 17th with the 6th highest wage bill. It doesn't lose 1-3 at HOME against Leicester who had lost SEVEN on the bounce, after taking a 1-0 lead.
Ange was truly dreadful at this level, because he didn't either know how to implement, or care about specifics and details related to planning. A Thomas Frank Spurs will at the very least look competent, and look like the players have been instructed in some way.
Ange-ball was essentially no tactics whatsoever, we won the Ropey because we gave up on that and decided to sit in and at least keep shape and grind out results. This was an emergency measure in the face of terrible organisation, and against poor opponents and the bit of quality in our team, we just about got the job done.
Ange didn't deserve any plaudits for winning the Ropey, we only won it because he destroyed our league season to such an extent that it was the only thing left, and that all the opponents were shite.
Frank is the opposite end of the spectrum, and I wish him and his staff all the best and, we can almost be guaranteed a major improvement. It will be funny watching the Angesexuals begrudgingly being forced to admit that under Ange, we were little more than a directionless rabble...
I took think Solanke will thrive under TF, but I am also interested to see how he uses Brennan Johnson, whom he wanted to buy at Brentford. We all know BJ isn't a great winger in that he doesn't often beat his man and cross. But he is a very good finisher with either foot, scoring many of his goals by shooting low across the keeper into the corner or sliding in at the far post. I wonder if TF could transform him into a 'fox in the box' Lineker-type striker. I can also see TF using our two young Frenchmen, Tel and Odobert, as orthodox wingers providing service.
So much to look forward to even if we make no big signings, though surely if we sell Richarlison and Son there will be some money to spend? However, without Brentford's excellent recruitment machine, I don't expect many sub-£10m diamonds!