The stunning and unprecedented Tottenham and Crystal Palace swap deal that can rock the Premier League
Thomas Frank’s position as Spurs manager is under threat, but could his sacking benefit two teams?
When Tottenham appointed Thomas Frank, they thought they would be getting stability and consistency.
His Brentford team consistently punched above its weight despite losing its best players every season, and yet, so far, he has been unable to get a regular tune out of Spurs. The latest setback was the crushing home defeat to West Ham, a result that sees the Lilywhites languishing in 14th place in the table. Seeing who is top only makes matters worse.
Thomas Frank facing up to Spurs sack fears
According to Fabrizio Romano, Frank’s position is now seriously being considered by the Spurs hierarchy with a run of eight defeats in the last 14 games not inspiring any confidence of form being turned around. It was little surprise to hear the whole South Stand singing “You’re getting sacked in the morning,” as Frank watched his team toil. When asked how this made him feel, he replied, via the club’s official website: "I've probably had better times, it's probably not the best time of course, but I understand, I'm the man in charge.
“So, the blame will go to me. That's fair, no problem in that sense. As long as they are backing the players, doing everything they can, to support them and drive them forward, that's what we do, and we will keep going forward.”
Should Spurs decided to pull the plug on Frank’s tenure, there is an obvious solution staring them in the face. Oliver Glasner is set to leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season, however, after his rant at the weekend following his side’s defeat to Sunderland, his exit could be brought forwards.
What did Glasner say?
Unhappy at seeing Marc Guehi sold before the game, the Eagles boss wasn’t shy in taking a dig at the club’s hierarchy: "I think the players gave everything they could. We made no substitutions, look at the bench, there are just kids there. We feel like we're being abandoned completely.
“Selling our captain one day before a game - there is no understanding for this. We are preparing and then yesterday [Friday], I get told that our captain will be sold, but why not next week? At least he can play this game and then next week, other players are coming back. It makes me really upset.
"If your heart gets ripped out twice a year, with [Eberechi] Eze one day before a game in the summer and your captain one day before a game - I've just got no understanding. I've been in football for 30 years and never experienced this, not once. Now it happens twice in six or seven months. That's just where we are now. We're playing for weeks now with just 12 or 13 players in our squad. Some players have played their 35th game now.
"No team would do this. Other teams, the players play and then the next day, they're leaving and we are selling the day before?"
When asked if he will see the season out, Glasner responded: "I don't know. I always have a huge appreciation for this group of players. I completely trust them. Their character is exceptional and we will stick together and turn around. I will never step back because these players deserve Oliver Glasner as their manager and leader and this is what I will do. Sometimes it would help if we had a little bit of support."
Frank excelled at Brentford and it may be that his level is where there isn’t as much expectation in terms of Champions League football. Glasner will be on the move and have clubs like Man United sniffing about, but Spurs could get in there first if they relieve Frank of his duties. Palace would then be able to make a quick fix of their own with a manager who has shown that he can work wonders with a smaller group of players. Players swap clubs, there is no reason why managers couldn’t do it too. With managers dropping like flies, could Glasner and Frank be next?
It would certainly be unprecedented but it is a move that has the potential to greatly benefit all involved.