Key Points
- Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood predicts significant pressure on Thomas Frank if Spurs lose to West Ham, dubbing the match “El Sackico”.
- Pundit Jacqui Oatley warns on Sunday Supplement that defeat to West Ham would turn Tottenham’s crisis into a “full-blown mega multi-crisis”.
- Tottenham exited both domestic cup competitions early and are struggling in the Premier League, sitting 14th with one win in their last seven games.
- Crucial upcoming fixtures include West Ham (home, Premier League), Borussia Dortmund (home, Champions League), and Burnley (Premier League).
- TEAMtalk insider Graeme Bailey reports Tottenham hierarchy is split on Frank’s future; CEO Vinai Venkatesham backed the appointment but was warned about tactical fit.
- Sources indicate players like Frank personally but question his system; club insists no mid-season change despite mounting pressure.
- Another TEAMtalk insider, Fraser Fletcher, states Frank faces ‘serious threat’ of sacking if Spurs lose to West Ham on Saturday.
- Sherwood advises Frank to “take the shackles off”, pass forward instead of sideways, and adopt a front-foot style like Aston Villa under Unai Emery.
- Additional Tottenham news: Rodrigo Bentancur requires hamstring surgery, out for three months; Spurs eye Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin with a reasonable price tag set.
North London, Tottenham Hotspur (North London News) January 13, 2026 – A second observer, this time former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood, has outlined when Thomas Frank could be sacked – and it’s not far away, amid growing scrutiny following early cup exits and poor Premier League form.
Thomas Frank faces mounting pressure at Tottenham Hotspur after the club’s dismal run, including elimination from both domestic cups and a 14th-place standing in the Premier League with just one victory in their last seven matches. Pundit Jacqui Oatley, speaking on Sunday Supplement, insisted Frank’s situation will devolve into a full-blown crisis if Spurs lose to West Ham on Saturday. Former Spurs boss Tim Sherwood echoed these concerns on Sky Sports, labelling the clash “El Sackico” and suggesting defeat could seal Frank’s fate, no more than it could for West Ham’s Nuno Espirito Santo.
TEAMtalk sources reveal internal divisions at Tottenham, with CEO Vinai Venkatesham convinced of Frank’s personal fit despite prior warnings about his tactical system. The club remains committed to avoiding a mid-season change but views the upcoming games as pivotal.
Who Is Predicting Thomas Frank’s Potential Sacking?
Tim Sherwood, former Tottenham manager, has directly weighed in on Frank’s precarious position. When appearing on Sky Sports and asked point-blank if Tottenham must beat West Ham for Frank to remain in charge, Sherwood responded:
“No more than Nuno has to win it to stay in charge at West Ham. El Sackico isn’t it, it’s a huge game. If West Ham go there and play on the front foot and take advantage of the fragile confidence of Tottenham at home, I think they’ve got a real chance.”
Sherwood criticised Tottenham’s current approach, urging Frank to alter his tactics fundamentally. “They need to start passing the ball forward instead of sideways and back,” declared an increasingly exasperated Sherwood.
“Their midfield players are capable of getting turned and passing it between the lines. If they take the lead from the Aston Villa game it’s exactly what Unai Emery did. They had two No 10s with Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia and what their midfielders like Youri Tielemans did was pop it in behind Tottenham’s midfield players … and they ripped Tottenham to shreds. Not because they’ve got better players, but because their playing style was on the front foot, it was positive.”
Jacqui Oatley, pundit and broadcaster on Sunday Supplement, provided an equally stark assessment. “I think the key thing now is the next three or four games,” began Oatley.
“They’ve got West Ham at home. Now, lose that, and this crisis becomes a full-blown mega multi-crisis. Then they’ve got Borussia Dortmund at home in the Champions League. They are well-placed, potentially for a top-eight finish. And then they’ve got Burnley as well in the Premier League, so these are really crucial games for Thomas Frank now.”
Why Is Thomas Frank Under Pressure at Tottenham?
Tottenham’s early exits from domestic cups have amplified concerns. The team suffered an FA Cup defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday, compounding their struggles. In the Premier League, Spurs labour in 14th position, with West Ham – winless since November 8 – representing a must-win opportunity. A loss to Nuno Espirito Santo’s Hammers would mark a new low for Frank in north London.
As reported by TEAMtalk insider Graeme Bailey, who spoke to sources high up in the Tottenham food chain, ‘Tottenham Hotspur’s hierarchy are split on the future of Thomas Frank, but the club remain determined not to make a change this season.’ Bailey explained: ‘Spurs CEO Vinai Venkatesham believed he landed the right man in the summer when luring Frank across London from Brentford. However, we are now told by sources that Venkatesham was warned by some members of Spurs’ hierarchy that the former Arsenal man was not a good fit in terms of his system and the Tottenham players already in situ.’
The unnamed source told Bailey:
“Vinai feels Thomas is such a great fit for Spurs in so many ways. A great person, character – who is well liked, but he was warned that the system would not be a fit. There is a real concern in the club, up high, that this is how things are playing out. The players like Thomas, but do they believe in what he is asking? That is the worry.”
Bailey added context on the form slump: ‘Now with Spurs sitting in 14th and with just one win in their last seven games, including an FA Cup exit to Aston Villa on Saturday, pressure is mounting. Spurs are ready to invest this month and want Frank to succeed, and insist they do not want to make a mid-season change. But forthcoming games against West Ham and Borussia Dortmund are huge. We are told that whilst Tottenham would not describe the current situation as Frank being given the dreaded ‘vote of confidence’ it does seem it is close to that situation.’
On Monday, another TEAMtalk insider, Fraser Fletcher, was informed Frank will be under ‘serious threat’ of being sacked if his side taste defeat to the Hammers on Saturday.
What Are the Crucial Upcoming Fixtures for Tottenham?
Oatley highlighted the immediate challenges: West Ham at home in the Premier League, followed by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League – where Spurs remain well-placed for a top-eight finish – and then Burnley in the league. Sherwood emphasised the West Ham game’s magnitude, noting the visitors’ potential to exploit Tottenham’s fragile home confidence.
These matches loom large as barometers for Frank’s tenure. A stumble against a struggling West Ham side could trigger irreversible momentum towards change, per multiple observers.
What Internal Concerns Exist About Frank’s Fit at Spurs?
The hierarchy’s split centres on Venkatesham’s summer gamble. Despite Frank’s popularity – players appreciate his character – doubts persist over his Brentford-honed system suiting Tottenham’s squad. Bailey’s reporting underscores this: warnings predated the appointment, and current results validate those fears.
Spurs plan January investment to bolster Frank, but patience appears finite without results in these key games.
What Other Tottenham News Involves Injuries and Transfers?
Beyond the managerial spotlight, Rodrigo Bentancur faces a three-month absence after hamstring surgery. TEAMtalk reports:
“Rodrigo Bentancur will require surgery to repair a hamstring injury that will rule the Uruguayan out for around three months.”
Transfer activity beckons, with Spurs blocking moves and eyeing reinforcements. A Spanish report notes Real Madrid have set a reasonable price tag on Andriy Lunin, a player Tottenham are keen on bringing to north London.
“There is no doubt that he would walk straight into the starting line-up,”
the report claims.
How Does West Ham’s Form Factor Into the Equation?
West Ham’s league drought since November 8 heightens the stakes. Sherwood warns Nuno’s side could thrive on the front foot, mirroring Aston Villa’s success. A Hammers victory at Tottenham would not only intensify Frank’s woes but bolster Nuno’s position in a parallel pressure cooker.
This fixture, perilously poised, encapsulates the high-wire act both managers face.
