hal
@hal.thelastboyscout.uk
Optimistic Tottenham Hotspur fan. It's the hope that nourishes me. Habe patientiam.
My family have been Spurs since the beginning, when our colours were navy blue, and we played on Tottenham marshes.
#COYS
My family have been Spurs since the beginning, when our colours were navy blue, and we played on Tottenham marshes.
#COYS
Frank is very Brentford and so he's a good choice if the club wants to be more like Brentford. But as I think they've found, the club as an organism won't tolerate that sort of football and will quickly attack it like white blood cells to a foreign body.
January 12, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Frank is very Brentford and so he's a good choice if the club wants to be more like Brentford. But as I think they've found, the club as an organism won't tolerate that sort of football and will quickly attack it like white blood cells to a foreign body.
Who knows. It's possible I suppose. It would make a lot of fans happy as the feeling towards Frank is… not good.
January 12, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Who knows. It's possible I suppose. It would make a lot of fans happy as the feeling towards Frank is… not good.
I think the whole 'this is who we are' schtick wasn't about rigid adherence to a tactical system, but more about psychology and culture. It was about getting the players to believe they could beat anyone, whether that be via overwhelming attack, or impassable Europa League winning defence.
January 12, 2026 at 6:56 PM
I think the whole 'this is who we are' schtick wasn't about rigid adherence to a tactical system, but more about psychology and culture. It was about getting the players to believe they could beat anyone, whether that be via overwhelming attack, or impassable Europa League winning defence.
He said he and Romero had a chat about being less open, and he agreed. Which is consistent with him being receptive to feedback from players, and also consistent with how he said he wanted players to believe in what they're doing, rather than only doing it because they've been told to.
January 12, 2026 at 6:56 PM
He said he and Romero had a chat about being less open, and he agreed. Which is consistent with him being receptive to feedback from players, and also consistent with how he said he wanted players to believe in what they're doing, rather than only doing it because they've been told to.
Anyway, I'm not supposed to be here! 🫣
January 12, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Anyway, I'm not supposed to be here! 🫣
Indeed. It's not working. I remain of the opinion Ange should have got another season to build and adapt. As Vince Rugari said, towards the end, he was playing a low block and counter game he's never seen him do before. Shows the old dog was capable of moderating his approach to suit the occasion.
January 12, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Indeed. It's not working. I remain of the opinion Ange should have got another season to build and adapt. As Vince Rugari said, towards the end, he was playing a low block and counter game he's never seen him do before. Shows the old dog was capable of moderating his approach to suit the occasion.
Yes, I am sceptical he can add any 'layers' this season. I don't think he ever did that at Brentford even with mid-weeks for training. His enhancements and changes usually happened between seasons, aside from when he had to abort his push for '2.0' tactics because of an injury crisis.
January 12, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Yes, I am sceptical he can add any 'layers' this season. I don't think he ever did that at Brentford even with mid-weeks for training. His enhancements and changes usually happened between seasons, aside from when he had to abort his push for '2.0' tactics because of an injury crisis.
… We probably can't be that, because we fans don't want it, but it seems our leadership were similarly influenced by them, not only tactically, but in terms of player development too (a 'production line of Premier League forwards' they've also been described as).
www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...
Why Brentford are currently the Premier League’s most tactically influential team
Right now, it's Keith Andrews' world and the rest of us are just living in it
www.nytimes.com
January 12, 2026 at 5:31 PM
… We probably can't be that, because we fans don't want it, but it seems our leadership were similarly influenced by them, not only tactically, but in terms of player development too (a 'production line of Premier League forwards' they've also been described as).
www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...
Yes, to be clear I mean uncoached (i.e., improvised) in attack. We can see structures and coaching in the defence, but not attack. It's weak. Within the framework of Frank's system, we're nowhere near, say, Brentford, who Liam Tharme recently described as the "most tactically influencial side" …
January 12, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Yes, to be clear I mean uncoached (i.e., improvised) in attack. We can see structures and coaching in the defence, but not attack. It's weak. Within the framework of Frank's system, we're nowhere near, say, Brentford, who Liam Tharme recently described as the "most tactically influencial side" …
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social re. the discussion with @dankp.bsky.social around Emery being good at developing players, I think it's hard to argue that Frank doesn't also have a good CV in this regard. Aside from those mentioned below, see also, e.g., Collins, Damsgaard.
bsky.app/profile/pope...
bsky.app/profile/pope...
For example:
Maupay -> Watkins -> Toney -> (Wissa) -> Thiago
Benrahma -> Wissa -> Schade
Mbeumo -> Ouattara
And so on…
Maupay -> Watkins -> Toney -> (Wissa) -> Thiago
Benrahma -> Wissa -> Schade
Mbeumo -> Ouattara
And so on…
January 12, 2026 at 4:30 PM
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social re. the discussion with @dankp.bsky.social around Emery being good at developing players, I think it's hard to argue that Frank doesn't also have a good CV in this regard. Aside from those mentioned below, see also, e.g., Collins, Damsgaard.
bsky.app/profile/pope...
bsky.app/profile/pope...
… is due to Frank being inexperienced with such a packed schedule and simply having too little time to drill his system adequately? It looks at lot like that to me and he has mentioned it in at least one interview. Thanks again. Great pod.
January 12, 2026 at 2:39 PM
… is due to Frank being inexperienced with such a packed schedule and simply having too little time to drill his system adequately? It looks at lot like that to me and he has mentioned it in at least one interview. Thanks again. Great pod.
Just popping in from my social media hiatus to say thanks to @notthatmilo.bsky.social, @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social and Steff for a sensible, calm, non-ranty episode. Appreciated!
A question perhaps for a future pod: you talked about the side looking uncoached. How much of this do you think …
A question perhaps for a future pod: you talked about the side looking uncoached. How much of this do you think …
January 12, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Just popping in from my social media hiatus to say thanks to @notthatmilo.bsky.social, @80s90sspursbooks.bsky.social and Steff for a sensible, calm, non-ranty episode. Appreciated!
A question perhaps for a future pod: you talked about the side looking uncoached. How much of this do you think …
A question perhaps for a future pod: you talked about the side looking uncoached. How much of this do you think …
If you can catch the Steven Caulker video or listen to the pod, do so because it's a real feelgood interview. Lovely guy, been through some hard times, but so humble and grounded.
January 9, 2026 at 7:12 PM
If you can catch the Steven Caulker video or listen to the pod, do so because it's a real feelgood interview. Lovely guy, been through some hard times, but so humble and grounded.
No idea who those guys are but delete and replace with Tottenham hierarchy to suit
January 9, 2026 at 7:10 PM
No idea who those guys are but delete and replace with Tottenham hierarchy to suit
What's strange is that Brentford fans love him, despite his quirks. They're more sceptical of Andrews despite him doing just as well (like Slot, he inherited Frank's squad and system, so I guess I understand a bit of skepticism). Frank's a bit like when Emery just didn't gel with the gooners.
January 9, 2026 at 7:08 PM
What's strange is that Brentford fans love him, despite his quirks. They're more sceptical of Andrews despite him doing just as well (like Slot, he inherited Frank's squad and system, so I guess I understand a bit of skepticism). Frank's a bit like when Emery just didn't gel with the gooners.
I misworded that post and it sounded like I hate the players and Frank. I meant I felt defensive of them in the face of a lot of ill towards them
January 9, 2026 at 6:57 PM
I misworded that post and it sounded like I hate the players and Frank. I meant I felt defensive of them in the face of a lot of ill towards them
Yes, for me the buck stops with the leadership. Perhaps Vinai needs a couple of tries. At his last place, they hired and fired Emery. A perfectly decent manager, hated and mocked by the fans, and eventually replaced with Arteta. Perhaps we're seeing some similarities.
January 9, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Yes, for me the buck stops with the leadership. Perhaps Vinai needs a couple of tries. At his last place, they hired and fired Emery. A perfectly decent manager, hated and mocked by the fans, and eventually replaced with Arteta. Perhaps we're seeing some similarities.
Interestingly, attendance does seem to be down. Lots of empty seats, loads of tickets available. That's got to be worrying them.
January 9, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Interestingly, attendance does seem to be down. Lots of empty seats, loads of tickets available. That's got to be worrying them.