Frustration among Tottenham Hotspur supporters is reaching boiling point, with increasing numbers calling for head coach Thomas Frank to be relieved of his duties after a chastening 3–0 Premier League loss to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Spurs were thoroughly outplayed for large spells in the East Midlands as Forest capitalised on a series of costly errors. The opening goal arrived in the 28th minute when teenage midfielder Archie Gray lost possession on the edge of his own area after receiving a risky pass from goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. Ibrahim Sangaré seized the opportunity and squared the ball for Callum Hudson-Odoi, who tapped in from close range.
Forest struck again soon after half-time, with Sangaré once more imposing himself in midfield before finding Hudson-Odoi. The winger’s movement and delivery consistently troubled Tottenham’s defence, and the pair combined again in the 79th minute to put the contest beyond doubt. After being set up by Hudson-Odoi, Sangaré unleashed a superb 25-yard effort to complete an outstanding individual display and secure a comfortable victory for Sean Dyche’s side.
For Tottenham, the performance raised serious concerns. Frank’s team registered just a single shot on target across the entire match and showed little sign of mounting a meaningful response. Defensive lapses, a disjointed midfield and a lack of cutting edge in attack culminated in what many supporters labelled one of the club’s poorest showings of the campaign.
The defeat has further intensified scrutiny on Frank, whose job is now under increasing threat. Spurs have taken just one win from their last seven league outings, a run that has seen them slide down the table and fall away from the European places. Fans have also questioned Frank’s tactical decisions, with last month’s heavy 4–1 north London derby defeat to Arsenal widely viewed as a pivotal moment in the growing unrest.
Although Tottenham’s Champions League campaign has offered some positives — with the club sitting 11th in their group after three wins and two draws from six matches — that position mirrors their domestic standing, reinforcing a feeling of stagnation rather than forward momentum.
Supporter reaction following the Forest defeat was swift and brutal. One fan wrote online: “Sack Frank at full-time. The players look completely uninterested and clearly haven’t bought into his ideas.” Another added: “He’s turned us into Brentford. Get rid of him now.” A third supporter was even more scathing, saying: “If this board has any ambition, Thomas Frank has to go. He was meant to make us more organised and improve on last season — he’s failed.”
Attention has already turned to potential successors. Betting markets suggest Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is the early favourite, priced at 5/1 with BetVictor via Oddschecker. The Austrian, whose contract expires this summer, has previously been linked with Manchester United and Liverpool.
Those moves currently appear unlikely, however. Liverpool have sacked only two managers in the past 100 years despite growing pressure on Arne Slot, while Manchester United’s improvement under Ruben Amorim has eased immediate concerns at Old Trafford.
Fulham manager Marco Silva and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola are also well fancied at 8/1, having earned plaudits for their Premier League work. Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi and former Tottenham midfielder Michael Carrick are both priced at 12/1, with all but Carrick boasting top-flight managerial experience in England — a factor that could appeal to the Spurs hierarchy.
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has also been linked in the past, but his odds have drifted to 25/1, indicating his candidacy is now viewed as unlikely.
With results failing to improve and supporter anger continuing to grow, the coming weeks may prove crucial in determining whether Tottenham persist with Thomas Frank or opt for a dramatic change on the touchline.
