Spurs consider hiring “genius” 4-2-3-1 Frank upgrade

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be a club in serious trouble on the pitch at present, with the Lilywhites once again languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Saturday saw the side take on struggling West Ham United on home soil, with the visitors, now managed by former boss Nuno Espírito Santo, securing their first win in ten games.

As a result, Thomas Frank’s men now sit 14th in England’s top-flight, already nine points off a Champions League spot, with pressure seriously mounting on his shoulders.

The Dane was appointed in the summer to try and build on the Europa League success last campaign, but it’s safe to say he’s failed miserably at such a task, as seen with the current league standing.

It appears as though the fans have made up their mind on the 52-year-old, as heard with the boos at the final whistle yesterday, which could lead the hierarchy to replace him in the near future.

Spurs targeting move to appoint 53-year-old boss

Even though Frank has yet to be sacked by the Spurs hierarchy, numerous options have already appeared as potential options to replace him, including Andoni Iraola.

Over the last couple of weeks, it’s been reported that the Spaniard is admired by staff behind the scenes in North London, which could lead to a possible move.

The current Bournemouth boss is out of contract with the Cherries at the end of the current campaign, which could make for an excellent appointment for the Lilywhites.

However, he’s not the only manager in their sights at present, with Mauricio Pochettino also being lined up for a fairytale return to North London in the near future.

According to talkSPORT, Spurs are looking at potentially re-appointing the Argentine should Frank leave, after he previously spent five and a half years in the role.

The report also states that the manager himself would be open to returning to the club, with the 53-year-old potentially in line for a return to club management.

However, any deal will likely have to wait until the summer, with Pochettino set to lead the USA national team in the World Cup during the upcoming summer.

Why Pochettino would be an upgrade on Frank for Spurs

As previously mentioned, Frank has massively struggled to match expectations at Spurs after making the move from fellow Premier League side Brentford during the summer.

The Dane has only managed to win 11 of his 32 outings across all competitions this season, subsequently resulting in a measly 34% win percentage.

His side have also now managed to win just one of their last eight games, which has certainly ramped up the pressure on his shoulders – as seen at the final whistle yesterday.

Despite losing to the Hammers, the 52-year-old demanded that his side take more risks to finally end their dismal run of form, but it remains to be seen how long he will have to turn things around.

The rumours over a sensational return to the club for Pochettino has no doubt cast doubt over the Dane’s long-term future, with the Argentine previously showing he has what it takes in the role.

When comparing the duo’s respective stats from their time in charge of the Lilywhites, it’s evident that the former manager is the better option and one the club should look to reappoint.

Pochettino, who’s been dubbed a “genius” by Joe Thomlinson, achieved a better win percentage in the role, whilst also losing fewer games when considering the ratio of games managed compared to Frank.

Such figures showcase the 53-year-old’s ability to get the best out of the players in North London, which could allow for a return to winning ways should he take the reins.

He also oversaw a spell which saw the first-team score more goals per 90, whilst also conceding fewer per 90 – something which the Dane has struggled to prevent in recent weeks.

Poch’s dominance over the current manager is further highlighted in his better points per game record, with the club evidently making a mistake by sacking him back in 2019.

He also gave the supporters memories to last a lifetime after reaching the Champions League final back in the 2018/19 campaign, with no manager able to achieve such a feat since his departure.

Whilst they would likely have to wait until the summer to secure a sensational return, it’s crucial that the Lilywhites hierarchy wait to re-appoint the Argentine.

As a result, a temporary manager would likely fill the void until the end of the campaign, especially if Frank is handed his marching orders in the near future.

Many options may appeal to the club at present, but Pochettino’s previous tenure in charge of the club should be all the hierarchy need to consider when it comes to making any managerial change.

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