1. Thomas Frank didn’t help himself (and neither did Brentford)
Whether it was really his fault or not, Thomas Frank had Tottenham in the same place Ange Postecoglou left the club: success in Europe but staving off relegation in the Premier League. It wasn’t good enough when Postecoglou won a trophy, so it’s certainly not good enough now. The games were brutal to watch. The atmosphere around Spurs was toxic. Very few people will be sad to see him go. Frank will probably feel relieved it’s over.
His inability to build any connection with the fans removed any benefit of the doubt he may have gotten. Frank must take responsibility for that. It also must be acknowledged that his former club is in seventh place and just more than held their own against Arsenal after getting pillaged in the summer. Frank’s time at Brentford doesn’t reflect nearly as well on him anymore. He will get another chance somewhere, and it will be very interesting to see what he does with it.
2. Tottenham successfully struck a delicate balance with Igor Tudor
When Michael Carrick took over at Manchester United, all they had left on their schedule were Premier League games. He has the luxury of putting all of his focus on organizing his team. Getting into the Champions League is more of a hope than an expectation. Whoever replaced Frank at Spurs would be walking into something completely different. They are hovering above the relegation zone and into the Champions League round of 16. There is no time for experimentation and learning.
In interim appointment Igor Tudor, Tottenham found someone with enough experience at big clubs to understand what he is walking into and demand a level of respect. He has built his reputation on bringing stability to situations like this one. This was not the time to bring in a Carrick-like figure such as Ryan Mason and see what he could do. Finding someone with Tudor’s resume who will come in without a long-term commitment is no easy task, and Spurs managed to do it.
3. Jim Ratcliffe can't get out of his own way
Manchester United were going for a fifth consecutive win Tuesday. West Ham prevented them from getting it, but they remain unbeaten under Michael Carrick. The mood around the club is the best it's been in years. Sir Jim Ratcliffe picked this moment to say that England has been “colonised by immigrants” in an interview with Sky News. His comments have gone over as poorly as expected. The team's excellent performances are no longer the main story.
It is the same lack of awareness (or disinterest in optics) that was demonstrated last year when Ratcliffe announced plans for a new stadium while raising ticket prices and cutting costs wherever he could, including laying off employees. None of this is helping his reputation or the club’s relationship with its fans. Just when supporters actually had something to be excited about, Ratcliffe said something divisive that gave them a reason to be hurt, frustrated and annoyed instead.
4. The NWSL is a league unlike any other
Wednesday’s pair of blockbuster transactions in the National Women’s Soccer League came about because Croix Bethune wanted a trade. The Washington Spirit honored her request and sent her to Kansas City. The Current then sold Claire Hutton to Bay FC. The transfers are the second and third highest intra-league deals in NWSL history. Just like that, two of the most promising young midfielders in the U.S. women’s national team pool have new homes.
This is the equivalent of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City of the Women’s Super League swapping players in near-record deals. It would never happen. Players may move from one club to another, but it is not typically part of a larger coordinated effort like this. The NWSL is the only league set up to execute these kinds of transactions. It has the talent and player trading culture required. In a matter of hours, the rosters of 19% of the league changed significantly without any other leagues getting involved.
5. Every manager should think twice before taking the Nottingham Forest job
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Maranakis has already sacked three permanent managers this season. The first got Forest into the Europa League. The second won the Europa League last season. The third posted the highest winning percentage of any manager Maranakis has hired. Forest had lost one Premier League game since Jan. 3. Sean Dyche was fired anyway following Wednesday’s 0-0 draw with Wolves.
No manager can ever be sure what mood Maranakis will be in on any given day. He might feel like using the club’s official social media account to blast referees. Maybe it’s an on-field altercation after a game. Job safety does not exist with him in charge. The job is desirable because of Forest’s top-flight status and history. Everyone who takes it knows what they’re signing up for. It’s just hard to see from the outside how it would be worth it, especially right now. Best of luck, Vítor Pereira.