Tottenham Fans Turn On Thomas Frank After West Ham Defeat

The mood at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has rarely felt as tense as it did on Saturday, January 17, 2026, when Spurs slumped to a 2-1 home defeat against relegation-threatened West Ham United—a result that sent shockwaves through the club and its fanbase. For manager Thomas Frank, the pressure is now at boiling point, with supporters vocally expressing their discontent and the club’s leadership facing tough decisions about the future.

Heading into the match, the stakes were laid bare by pundits and fans alike. Sky Sports’ Tim Sherwood dubbed the clash “El Sackico,” a nod to the precarious positions of both Frank and West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo. West Ham, languishing in 18th place and winless in 10 Premier League games, seemed the perfect opponents for Spurs to bounce back against. Instead, the defeat marked Tottenham’s seventh loss in their last 13 games and left them still searching for a first win in 2026. The frustration among fans, already simmering, boiled over in spectacular fashion.

From the opening whistle, the match was fraught with tension. Just 15 minutes in, Spurs suffered a significant blow as Ben Davies went down with what appeared to be a serious left leg injury. The setback rattled Tottenham, and moments later, Crysencio Summerville cut inside Pedro Porro and new signing Conor Gallagher, unleashing a shot that deflected off Micky van de Ven and past the helpless goalkeeper. The early deficit stunned the home crowd and set the tone for a nervy afternoon.

Tottenham rallied, with captain Cristian Romero heading home from a Pedro Porro cross to level the score and briefly reignite hope among the faithful. But the optimism was short-lived. As the match wore on, Spurs struggled to find a cutting edge up front, failing to convert promising opportunities into goals. The absence of key attackers—James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski remained sidelined, while Dominic Solanke was only just returning from injury—was keenly felt.

Despite a week of preparation and the recent £34 million arrival of Gallagher from Atletico Madrid, Tottenham’s attack lacked cohesion and sharpness. Frank’s decision-making came under further scrutiny when he substituted Mathys Tel for tactical reasons, a move he later defended: “I need to take decisions, of course. So I had to take one offensive player off. And I feel Wilson is a bit better to the right and wanted two strikers on the pitch. So that was the decision. There was nothing wrong with Mathys’ performance.”

As the clock ticked into added time, disaster struck. Substitute Callum Wilson scrambled home a late winner for West Ham, sealing their first victory in 11 league games and sending the away fans into raptures. For Spurs supporters, the final whistle brought a chorus of boos and the now-familiar chant: “You’re getting sacked in the morning.” The hashtag #FrankOut dominated social media, reflecting a fanbase united in its desire for change.

Frank, facing the media in his post-match press conference, struck a defiant yet reflective tone. “If you’re not winning enough, we know you will not get enough support from the fans. But when we’re winning, it will change, when we start winning again. Which we will do. I’m not in doubt of that,” he insisted. “I think also you can look a little bit at the performances. Let’s say the Bournemouth and the Villa and this game here, if the players stop running, or stop doing anything, or not working hard, and we are not the team that’s closest to winning, then you can say OK. But I think the team is working very hard.”

He acknowledged the supporters’ frustration and accepted responsibility: “Of course, I’ve probably had better times, it’s probably not the best time of course. But I understand, I’m the man in charge. So the blame will go to me. That’s fair, no problem in that sense. As long as they are backing the players, doing everything they can, to support them and drive them forward, that’s what we do, and we will keep going forward.”

Frank also addressed the broader context of upheaval at Tottenham. The club has undergone significant changes in recent months, including the September exit of long-serving chairman Daniel Levy and a flurry of new appointments—John Heitinga as assistant first-team coach and Carlos Raphael ‘Rafi’ Moersen as director of football operations. These moves, along with the high-profile signing of Gallagher, were intended to usher in a new era and restore optimism. Yet the results on the pitch have stubbornly refused to follow suit.

Injuries have played their part in Spurs’ struggles, with Frank noting, “The problem for Frank has been that key members of this squad—James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke—have all been missing, with only Solanke just returning from injury.” Even so, many fans believe the squad should be performing better than their current 14th-place standing suggests.

The mounting losses and lack of attacking flair have fueled criticism of Frank’s defensive approach and his perceived inability to adapt. Protest plans were reportedly in place prior to kickoff, though the excitement around Gallagher’s arrival may have tempered attendance. Still, the mood in the stadium was unmistakably sour, especially as the full-time whistle confirmed yet another defeat to a struggling rival.

Frank remained adamant that the team is close to turning a corner. “I still think, and I know it sounds a little bit crazy, that we are close to something very good, than further away. I think you all saw the game today, we could easily have won this one 2-1,” he said. But with each passing week, patience among supporters grows thinner, and the calls for his dismissal grow louder.

In the stands, the Lewis family and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham watched on, well aware that the toxic atmosphere could force their hand. The club is now at a crossroads: persist with Frank in the hopes of a turnaround, or heed the overwhelming sentiment of the supporters and make a change at the helm.

For now, Thomas Frank remains in charge, insisting that he and his players are giving everything to reverse their fortunes. But after another disheartening defeat, the question lingers—how much longer will he be given to prove he’s the man to lead Spurs out of their current malaise?

The coming days promise to be decisive, as Tottenham’s leadership weighs the demands of an anxious fanbase against the desire for stability and long-term progress. One thing is certain: the eyes of North London—and much of the footballing world—will be fixed on Tottenham Hotspur as the saga unfolds.