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| “Compete means try. Not good enough — not anymore. #THBN #Spurs” |
Thomas Frank’s First Words: Will He Do What Ange Did — Or Just Keep Levy’s ‘Compete’ Talk Alive?
Daniel Levy says we want to win the Premier League and the Champions League.
Sound familiar?
It should.
But listen closer — he used to say “compete”.
Now it’s “win”.
One word swapped — same comfort blanket underneath.
Compete means “we’ll try, don’t blame me if we don’t win.”
Win means “we’ll do it, judge me if we fail.”
And at Tottenham Hotspur, there’s always been a safe distance between the two.
Ange Postecoglou tore that distance up.
He didn’t say compete.
He said win.
He lived it.
He delivered it — in Europe, no less.
So now Thomas Frank walks in…
And the question is simple:
Is he more ‘win’ — or more ‘compete, but said nicely?
A Polite First Impression
Frank’s first words are sugar.
He calls the job “extraordinary.”
He loves the squad — all “talented,” all “exciting.”
He praises Levy, Vinai, Johan Lange.
He says “alignment” five times before breakfast.
He promises “front-footed attacking football” — the safest PR line in North London.
It all sounds good.
But it’s comfort talk.
It’s smart talk.
It’s compete talk.
And we’ve heard it all before.
It is a red flag.
Where’s the Fire?
Frank didn’t promise a ruthless clear-out.
He didn’t drop a single big demand for upgrades.
He didn’t challenge the club’s excuses.
He didn’t threaten the status quo like Ange did from day one.
He talks about risk — but it’s risk wrapped in health and safety tape.
He talks about winning — but only after talking about alignment, processes, good people.
He sounds like the perfect man for a boardroom that wants calm progress.
But a title-winning man?
No chance.
What Frank Really Brings
Let’s be fair.
Frank’s a superb coach for steady growth.
Brentford played brave, clever football.
He developed players the club sold for profit.
He worked inside a smart system and maximised every pound.
If you want top-six stability…
If you want a harmonious dressing room…
If you want no fights with Levy and Vinai…
Frank is your man.
If you want to bully City, Liverpool and Madrid for a Champions League?
Forget it.
The Trophy Question
Will he lift a cup?
Yes — he could.
League Cup, FA Cup — definitely possible.
He’s tactically sharp.
He knows how to find an edge.
He knows how to spring a surprise.
But big European nights?
A Premier League parade down Tottenham High Road?
This club, this budget, this alignment, this safe pair of hands?
No.
Not unless Levy and Vinai shock everyone and spend like oil billionaires — and even then, you need a manager with that killer instinct to turn a good team into a relentless, cold-blooded machine.
Frank is calm.
He is smart.
He is not cold-blooded.
The Wrap Up
✅ Positives:
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He gets alignment — big for a club that’s been a civil war between manager, board and fans.
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He loves attacking football — that’s the Spurs DNA.
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He respects the foundation Ange laid — good humility.
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He’s clear on taking risks and letting players be brave — which suits Spurs’ attacking talent.
❌ Red Flags:
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It’s very safe. No hard edge, no Postecoglou-style big statements about flipping the club on its head.
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He keeps saying “I think” and “hopefully” — words of a smart builder, not a general about to storm a fortress.
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He praises the squad a lot — but doesn’t lay down immediate demands to upgrade it ruthlessly.
The Brentford style was stable, modern, and maximised limited resources.
But Spurs need more than clever structure — we need giant-killer arrogance.
Ange had that.
Ange said win.
He did it — with a squad that had forgotten how.
Frank says compete — but dresses it up as win.
It sounds nice.
It feels safe.
It keeps the boardroom peaceful.
But if you dream of a title, a Champions League banner, a legacy that outlives Levy’s PR lines…
Don’t get too comfortable.
This is the same story.
Just spoken in perfect corporate English.
In tomorrow’s article, the second in The Thomas Frank Series – The Dominic Solanke Prediction, we will take a look at our striker and ask if he fits the Thomas Frank system and answer how many goals will he score.
COYS
