Tottenham Fans Taunt Thomas Frank with Brutal Sack Chants Despite Late Burnley Equaliser
BURNLEY 2-2 TOTTENHAM: Thomas Frank watched his Spurs side grab a dramatic late equaliser at Turf Moor, but that wasn't enough to satisfy the vocal away support, who serenaded their manager with chants demanding his dismissal throughout the Premier League encounter.
Romero's Late Header Fails to Silence Disgruntled Supporters
When Cristian Romero's sensational header ripped past Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka in the dying moments, Thomas Frank's face barely flickered. The Tottenham manager knows a late equaliser at Turf Moor is not the sort of moment a Spurs boss should be celebrating with unbridled joy.
Frank will have been privately grateful to his captain for making the post-match inquiry into this result slightly less painful than it could have been. However, he left the field to the sound of his own fans telling him he faces the prospect of being sacked very soon.
Anti-Frank Sentiment Audible from First Whistle
In fact, the anti-Frank sentiment from Tottenham supporters had been audible from the opening moments of the match. They frequently serenaded him with a ditty that begins: 'sideways and backwards, everywhere we go.'
To be fair to the complainants, they seemed to have a valid point as their side spent half an hour playing a version of rondo that appeared to have little attacking purpose or forward intent.
Spurs Struggle for Creativity Despite Possession
The bottom line is that this is a Tottenham team that is not particularly attractive to watch and has large spells of possession without ever threatening to do something creative with it. That gives every opponent huge encouragement, and it really was no surprise when Lyle Foster put the home side ahead after goalkeeper Vicario had only kicked the Burnley substitute's first effort straight back to him.
There were exceptions, with Djed Spence being one bright spark. He presented Mathys Tel with a decent chance, but Dubravka pulled off another good stop to deny Spurs.
Romero's Commitment Shines Through
The other shining exception was Cristian Romero. Say what you like about his occasional indiscipline, but he is a captain who remains fully committed to the cause. His leveller from a Xavi Simons cross was as good a header as you will see in the Premier League this season.
It still didn't stop the Tottenham fans telling Frank that his football 'is s***' and it might not be enough to keep him in a job. But Frank still owed his skipper a significant debt of gratitude. A defeat here really would have been embarrassing for the North London club.
Limited Burnley Take Advantage
Considering Burnley had, by that point, not got within shouting distance of Vicario, Tottenham's breakthrough should have been decisive. But this is not a decisive Tottenham team under Frank's leadership.
While Kyle Walker's assist was struck with uncharacteristic finesse, there was little defensive excuse for Axel Tuanzebe to be left unchallenged for Burnley's equalising volley. Spurs had switched off following their deserved opener, to such an extent that even a side as limited as Scott Parker's were able to take advantage.
Managerial Pressure Mounts
Spurs' reaction after conceding was not exactly impressive. As honest as they are, this really is a limited Burnley outfit, but they sensed a laziness about the visitors' approach in the second half.
It is either laziness or perhaps a touch of nervousness that makes individuals reluctant to take risks, to attempt the killer pass, or to take on an opponent directly. Burnley were no better, but it was largely unimaginative and unadventurous stuff from Tottenham throughout.
Frank Bears Responsibility
If a team is unimaginative and unadventurous, the manager simply must take the bulk of the responsibility. Judging by the reaction of the travelling supporters at Turf Moor, it is going to take a lot more than a captain's intervention to keep Thomas Frank at Tottenham Hotspur beyond this season.
The chants for his dismissal continued unabated even after the final whistle, suggesting that patience among the Tottenham faithful is wearing dangerously thin despite the late salvage operation in Lancashire.
