Rule The Roost - A Tottenham Hotspur Podcast

Spurs finally give the home support something to cheer about.

Some may worry that it’s saved Thomas Frank’s job, but the rest of us can just enjoy a Spurs victory in the Champions League.
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Jack is joined by Phil to discuss the seemingly inevitable exit of Thomas Frank that is... still yet to happen.

Despite an awful 2-1 loss at home to West Ham and intense gossip suggesting he would be sacked on Monday, the manager has apparently received a vote of confidence from the board, citing a "good lunch" with Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange. We ask how on earth they have come to this decision when Frank simply doesn't look fit for the role.

We also turn the spotlight on the squad. Do certain players need to take a long, hard look at themselves? Is there a culture at Tottenham that allows this group to constantly hide behind the manager or the board when things go wrong?

We discuss the rumours linking Xavi Hernandez to the job. Is he really the right man, or are there flags present already?

Finally, attention turns to the Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund. We question Frank's controversial decision to remove Mathys Tel from the European squad to reinstate Dominic Solanke, and pick through the key quotes from a defiant pre-match press conference.

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Spurs lose again. This time against West Ham. You have to ask yourself, if we're not beating them at home, who are we beating? Tottenham in what appears to be terminal form, where not even the signing of Conor Gallagher could give us a lift. Dear oh dear... how does Thomas Frank survive this?
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Note: In classic Tottenham fashion, they've announced two new staff hires immediately after we stopped recording.

Jack is joined by the Athletic's James Maw to discuss the signing of Conor Gallagher. While some fans remain unconvinced, we discuss the definite positives he brings to the midfield and why he might be exactly what this side needs.

Conversation moves to the ownership's wider strategy. Does the decision to shift Brennan Johnson, combined with paying the necessary fee to land Gallagher, signal a genuine change in how the club conducts itself? We also acknowledge the departure of Fabio Paratici and discuss Aston Villa’s strange desperation to carve out a rivalry with Tottenham.

James then answers your listener questions, including whether he would take Xabi Alonso as manager, and if a return for Mauricio Pochettino would actually be good for the club.

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Jack is joined by Charlie Parrish to react to the FA Cup exit at the hands of Aston Villa.

We start with the grim realisation that, once again, Tottenham's vague hopes of silverware have been all but extinguished in January. We discuss the apathy of facing the next five months playing for nothing but league position, and why this specific failure feels like the final straw for many.

Conversation turns to the toxic atmosphere inside the stadium, specifically the moment Spurs fans joined the away end in singing "You're getting sacked in the morning" at Thomas Frank. Is the relationship now terminally broken?

We then analyse the performance itself: a shambolic first half followed by a spirited second. We discuss the theory that Xavi Simons and the squad looked significantly better only when they seemingly stopped following the manager's rigid instructions and started playing with freedom.

Finally, we react to the news confirmed by David Ornstein that Fabio Paratici is set to leave the club for Fiorentina, and what that means for the structure of the club moving forward.

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