Alan Hutton, the former Tottenham fullback, emphasizes the importance of patience from fans regarding manager Thomas Frank amid challenging times for the team.
As tensions mount between Thomas Frank and the Tottenham supporters, Alan Hutton has called for understanding, urging fans to reserve judgment until the manager has a fully fit squad. The former Spurs defender believes that injury woes have significantly hampered Frank’s ability to succeed this season.
Discussing the circumstances surrounding the club on the eve of Tottenham’s Champions League encounter against Eintracht Frankfurt, Hutton expressed his surprise at the current discord, reflecting on his own experiences at the club. He stated in an interview with Tribalfootball.com on behalf of Spreadex Sports: “No, it was not as bad (tension with fans) when I was there.”
Recalling his first season under manager Juande Ramos, Hutton said: “We had a really poor start. We were down towards the bottom of the league. I don’t think we’d won a game in the first eight games. I was out injured, but there was a lot of tension, should we say, around about there.” He emphasized that while there was dissatisfaction during his tenure, it did not escalate as it has recently, particularly concerning players’ reactions to fans on social media.
When asked if Frank might be struggling to cope with the demands at Tottenham following his transition from Brentford, Hutton expressed confidence in the manager’s capabilities. “It’s a huge, it’s a huge job,” he acknowledged, noting the challenges posed by fan expectations and the club’s historical quest for silverware. He added, “They’ve got everything in place in terms of the stadium, the training ground, the facilities are all top notch. I don’t think it’s too big a job for him. I think he’s capable. I think he’s more than capable as a manager.”
Hutton refrained from attributing blame solely to Frank, highlighting the significant injuries that have impacted the squad’s performance. “I just feel, and I don’t want to make excuses, but I’m going to give him one,” he said. “The amount of players that he’s been missing this season, integral parts of that squad, whether it be midfield and attacking areas. I think this has really gone against him.”
With a call for patience, Hutton concluded, “So I think we can fully judge him when some of these players come back. Then we’ll see the full strength of the Tottenham squad moving forward.”
