Every time we fold with barely a whimper and I think we can’t sink any lower, lo and behold an even more abject performance occurs to unpleasantly surprise us. And it was a surprise, as I (foolishly) thought we had turned a corner after two encouraging results and performances last week, and a battling draw at Newcastle that we barely deserved the previous midweek. We should have been going into Sunday’s game full of confidence, even though Brentford’s away record is shocking, and even though Slavia Prague could have scored two or three goals of their own if they knew how to finish. At least there had been some promising signs that we were learning how to create chances, rather than just launching hit-and-hope crosses into the box.
At Forest we looked like 16 players that had only just met 15 minutes before kick off. I don’t recall one moment where three or more passes were strung together. I don’t recall one moment where we bypassed their press and got at their back four. I don’t recall one time that Richarlison controlled a forward pass, shielded it, and provided an outlet to start an attack from. Scrap that, as the second and third part can’t happen without the first part, and he never even managed that! Yet he remained on the pitch for the entirety of the game, while the players that couldn't get into the game as a result of his ineptitude were taken off.
Perhaps, worst of all, as 100% effort and commitment should be a given, was the fact that we had a comfortable home win on Tuesday, while Forest had to play in Holland on Thursday, which provided us with a considerable physical advantage. All of those aforementioned factors pointed to reasons for optimism that we had turned a corner, and that we’d be hungry to keep the three-game unbeaten run going. Instead we were outthought, outfought, outplayed, outworked, and the players showed absolute contempt for the loyal, hardcore away support that follow them, largely without any hope or expectation.
False starters
The back five picked itself. I wanted to see Palhinha alongside Gray, with Simons in the 10. I wanted to see Tel on the left, as he was starting to show promising signs. I wanted Kudus on the right, and I wanted Muani up front. I didn’t get exactly what I wanted, but there were only two differences. However, those two differences are our two biggest liabilities, especially away from home.
absolutely abysmal! #Frankout pic.twitter.com/GRhAGl2PvT
— Wabi (@WabiTHFC) December 14, 2025
I don’t want to hold Richarlison and Bentancur totally responsible for that pathetic excuse of a ‘performance’. Man for man we stunk the place out. Vicario had a disaster. Gray probably tried harder than any of the other players, but made a terrible mistake that he’ll hopefully learn from, although the keeper didn’t need to put him in that position in the first place. His attempt to atone for his error was our only shot on target the entire match, and that came from nothing. Simple passes went astray. Second balls were lost. Headers were lost. There was no pressing. We couldn’t break their press, yet Forest were able to find space in the channels and be at our back four with a couple of basic passes. This was Spurs at their absolute worst and, sadly, it’s become all too commonplace over the past few years. When we’re bad, we’re so so bad. Do the players even care? Where was our captain? Apart from his Newcastle heroics, does he ever lead by example? He seems more interested in making reckless tackles and walking with the ball than setting the tempo and motivating the players.
Long-term decline is only a partial excuse
We all know the issues that have got us to this point. Years of pretend investment by our previous chairman, while any genuine talent gets tired of not winning and being paid less than their peers, and leaves for greener pastures. Years of buying ‘potential’ over ready-made stars, while expecting ‘win-now’ managers to win now. Applying an 18-month transfer embargo when we actually looked like a team that could win things. Signing Saha and Nelson as our ‘big push’ signings in January. Sacking an aforementioned ‘win-now’ manager the week before a cup final and putting Ryan Mason in charge. The list goes on and on.
Although Daniel Levy can be blamed for the lack of quality in this squad (and many other things), it’s not his job to motivate, or indeed coach, these players. It’s not his job to pick the team or the tactics. Nor is he responsible for the injury list that continuously deprives us of players we believe are going to turn our situation around when they come back. Plus, most importantly, he’s gone, and hopefully we’ll see some ambition from the new regime in January. But has Thomas Frank shown enough to deserve the board’s support with new signings? Has he shown anything at all?
Responsibility for this defeat and disgrace of a performance lies solely with the manager and the players. Yes, we have injuries to key men, and they will undoubtedly improve our options in the final third, but unlike the majority of games under Ange, which were also mainly woeful despite the trophy win, we have our centre backs and two of our full backs fit, and we have a ball-winning number six in front of them when Frank picks him. We have Kudus, we have Muani. Ange had Johnson and Richarlison. We SHOULD be better than last season. And we definitely shouldn’t look like complete strangers on the pitch that can’t be bothered to play for the badge.
Sack Frank tonight. We can’t continue like this. Frank is an absolute joke. Another underwhelming and embarrassing appointment. 1 shot on target again in exchange for a 6 hour round trip. SACK HIM TONIGHT. #FRANKOUT
— Y1D0S 🏆 (@Y1D0S) December 14, 2025
Do the Board stick or twist?
Losing the faith and support of the fans is the worst thing that can happen to a club. We aren’t surprised by these performances anymore (despite my earlier comment). We are numb to it, and we have grown to expect it, to the point where any spark of entertainment brings about a massive overreaction. It’s so depressing, as we so want to believe. Something needs to change, and quickly. Usually, that’s the manager. At the moment, I’m swaying in that direction. If we saw some signs of a style of football, or even some patterns of play that show the promise of what could be, then I’m fully behind backing this manager. Unfortunately, he has no credit in the bank, so the next few weeks before the window opens are basically his job interview, even though he already has the job. One more performance like yesterday and the fans will be calling for his head, leaving the new board with a huge decision to make. It’s incredibly bad planning to spend £100m+ on new players if you’re about to sack your manager, with Forest and the Nuno-Ange debacle being a prime example, leaving them in the bottom three and forced to make yet another change. And, despite all of that, they absolutely killed us yesterday!
I really hope there are contingency plans in place for January with regard to the manager's position, and any potential new signings to complement their desired style of play. I’m not expecting a change, as an array of managers will become available next summer, so I’m expecting that Thomas Frank will be given more time (and money) to turn things around. But, if we’re humiliated by Liverpool on Saturday, the board’s hand may be forced.
