Another embarrassing home defeat has surely rendered Thomas Frank's position untenable at Tottenham Hotspur, with many expecting the imminent sacking of the Dane.
Frank arrived as Ange Postecoglou's successor with a gleaming reputation as a result of his stellar work with Brentford, but the manager's apparent inability to grasp what it takes to lead a club of Spurs' standing has seen him flounder in north London.
Early-season dreariness was mitigated by defensive improvement and a newfound resolve away from home, but Frank's side have morphed into a porous unit that remains lifeless with the ball at their feet. A woeful West Ham United not only won in N17 on Saturday afternoon, but they did so while creating a bucketload of chances. An expected goals haul of 2.77 was their second-highest of the season.
It's just so bleak, and although CEO Vinai Venkatesham recently suggested that Frank would be given time to turn things around, serious conversations are now being had regarding his future. The overwhelming majority want him gone, with even the staunchest Frank supporters surely viewing his relationship with an increasingly toxic fanbase as broken beyond repair.
We all want and need to feel something again.
Maurico Pochettino reunion rumours swirl as Thomas Frank exit nears
Frank is set to be in the home dugout for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund, but only because the higher-ups have no idea what to do in the event of his dismissal. They had planned for a long-term project with the Dane at the helm, but perpetuating this misery is pointless. Rip the band-aid off.
While the likes of Xabi Alonso and Xavi Hernández are available, Spurs will likely turn to an interim—perhaps Frank's new assistant, Johnny Heitinga—for the remainder of the season. The next boss will be appointed in the summer, I suspect.
So where could we turn? A lack of 'elite' options on the market shouldn't concern us. There are talented managers out there capable of not only steadying the ship, but helping the Lilywhites re-emerge as a serious player in the English game.
However, given what Frank has bestowed upon us, the sense of nostalgia is prevalent again in N17. Factions are longing for a reunion with the man who oversaw the most dynamic and exciting era in the club's modern history.
And according to talkSPORT, Mauricio Pochettino would be "open" to returning to Spurs after leading the United States at the 2026 World Cup this summer. The Argentine hasn't exactly kept his desire to coach in the Premier League again a secret, and in March last year, he reiterated that he would "like" to return to Tottenham, having been dismissed in 2019.
"I still feel in my heart that, yes, I would like one day to come back [to Tottenham]."Mauricio Pochettino
The idea suddenly feels more appealing than ever, even if, deep down, we know that things will never be the same.