Beesotted contributor Paul Gamble reacts to the developments at Old Trafford and asks whether Thomas Frank may be in the frame for the Manchester United job.
So, Manchester United and Erik Ten Hag have finally parted ways. Richard Branson wanabee JIm Ratcliffe has returned from his amusingly unsuccessful America’s Cup bid and returned to the helm of his land-based vanity project to pull the trigger on the most telegraphed dismissal of all time.
As an regular listener of the Beesotted podcast, the debate over whether Thomas Frank would take such a job seems to have tilted somewhat with Billy’s view that he is open to such opportunities.
If we leave aside the discussion about whether it would be a smart move to leave what is possibly the best run club in the Premier League to join the basket case of a circus that is Manchester United, the question then becomes one of is he a serious candidate?
Clubs like Manchester United will often go for a marquee name. Someone who has got clout on the European stage with a history of success in major competitions. And for good reason. Such people are seen as not only being excellent coaches but also having the clout to manage the multitude of egos in a big club dressing room. On top of that, they have an international fan base to keep happy and big names guarantee support and generate interest.
So on that basis, it would be easy to agree with Dave’s assertion that they won’t consider Frank for the role.
However, they have tried big name after big name and none of them have got close to sorting out the rotten culture in that dressing room and possibly the wider club. Could they possibly see someone like Thomas who repeatedly emphasises the importance of developing and maintaining culture with his ‘confident but humble’ mantra as being with a shot?
Brentford fans will recognise that his coaching skills are beyond question. We know he is the leader of a team but that team has consistently developed and improved the style of play over the last four years, riding out the loss of Ivan Toney to develop a fast, exciting and incisive brand of attacking football. The goals scored at the weekend reflect this (with the exception of Bryan’s hopeful cross shot boren of frustration). Those who watched Manchester United in the 1990’s would probably recognise similarities in that style of play.
He has the chops then, but what about the marquee status. The argument goes that he hasn’t got the ‘previous’ in terms of titles or competitions and as such, won’t satisfy the massive fanbase and their cheerleaders in the press and on social media. His appointment wouldn’t seem like the big catch they are craving.
But, Brentford have generated a lot of publicity recently. Pundits on Sky Sports, Match of the Day, in the print media and on social media are raving about our style of play. They were salivating over the repeated first and second minute goals. Brentford had ‘solved football’. And whilst we know that all of this is the work of a team of coaches, that isn’t recognised by 99% of commentators who all keep referring to what a great job Thomas Frank has done. And that message is being picked up by fans of all clubs, including Manchester United.
Thomas has certainly been very public in saying how happy he is at Brentford and how well supported he feels but If INEOS could spin the potential appointment of Thomas Frank as ‘prising him away from Brentford’ or having worked hard to convince him of the value of their project then in the media context in which everyone is raving about him it would appear to be that big appointment and a great narrative for the media.
I still have my doubts over whether they will go down this route and, indeed, over whether Thomas would actually make the leap into the mess that is United at present but it’s no longer wise to assume that he won’t be a serious candidate. He may indeed, sail off into the sun with Sir Jim.
Paul Gamble
