Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

theShiznit said:

The difference is the best teams continue to move the opposition around just in tighter areas.
We don't have enough dynamic technicians that can play quickly with thier heads up in tight areas.

Because a lot of our players have no pictures of the play in mind or have the awareness to play a little give and go in tight areas a lot of times our best option is to go back/sideways first time to open a different passing lane. But this only gets you so far, and when the movement stops or slows it becomes all very predictable and much like under Conte, Jose and even Poch becomes reliant on individual brilliance.
Our forwards are all pretty limited against a low block too, the only one I would consider a good link up player is Kulu and he's limited in other ways

Still think Udogie and Porro make a big difference today if they play.

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Snarfalicious said:

I think so much of this narrative is what social media has done to the game. The radical swings, etc. and seeing such things as “let’s stick with it” as if it’s really becoming difficult. As others have mentioned, some need to really get a grip. I get asking questions, seeking some adjustments, etc, but it’s been like 7 months, playing a completely brand new style of football, and we are still in position to be playing Champions League football if we can just get some stability in terms of injuries.

We lost to a team that was well drilled, playing football they are used to, while missing (arguably but not really) our two most vital players and having to go with 2 guys that simply don’t offer the same styles at all, really.

I’d rather ask questions of the fans ready to dismount the Ange train this quickly than anything else. For me, those folks can get lost, because they won’t change and will always be quick to start shouting for change at the first moment things go sideways. We are in a rebuild and punching above our weight so far does not change anything. We still are inconsistent, and that was always going to be the case (see: Ange constantly saying there would be “ups and downs”). Quite frankly I find it annoying this is even part of the conversation right now.

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Styopa said:

I partly agree, but what Allardyce and Mourinho achieved twenty years ago is not necessarily relevant to what they later became.

I do know what you mean though, in that words are just words. And there’s no clean demarcation between a so called project manager and any other. But at the same time I think there’s a difference for example when a club like Brighton employs an Allardyce or Hodgson in 2024 versus appointing a Potter or DeZerbi. I think project at least indicates something.

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rossdapep said:

Yeah.

Son = A brilliant finisher who can

My dad was complaining about Conte and that playing 3 at the back and 2 in midfield was ineffective.

In the summer he was wanting Poch or a coach to get us playing the "Tottenham way" again.

Last 2 weeks he has been moaning that we can't be so gung ho.

In January he was saying he could see us being a top team for years to come with all the young players.

One extreme to another. Want one thing but when it goes too much the other way he wants some of the other thing he was complaining about

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Teegart said:

One tweak I hope Ange makes is keeping 3 players back even when we attack.

The nature of the way we play, we’re going to lose possession in the middle of the park, problem with this is we’re leaving Romero and VdV exposed every time.

I’d like to see more of a fluid shape defensively so if both full backs are progressing up then the DM slots back into the centre of the CBs and splits them out. Would mean their starting positions would then be closer to the traditional full back positions.

I’m just some fan who loves spurs, so I’m sure Ange would make it more nuanced than my rambling above, but the general premise is the same.

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mil1lion said:

It would suit the shape better to have a defensive midfielder split the center backs the way we did under Poch. It allows the 2 fullbacks to push into central midfield but when VdV and Romero press to halfway there's a central figure between them. I always loved the work Wanyama did to balance all the attacking play we had. If only Bissouma had that desire to win the ball back out of possession. That would be the area I would look too in the summer for midfield.

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Goobers said:

That's a really interesting point - would a player that plays in that way get in the way of the way that fullbacks come inside ?

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spanners said:

Perhaps an old fashioned sweeper might work for us.

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Hazelton said:

All we need Ange to do is get Champions League football and learn from this season. It's all a learning process.

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Snarfalicious said:

See, I think that’s a problem. The expectations. Managing them, being willing to accept that this year, it could be another nothing season like last season. But now we are saying “all we need” is Champions League. But, what if he doesn’t get it? In a season where most of us thought Top 6 would be a great achievement given everything he inherited at the club. But if he doesn’t get Champions League, is his position in question? Even though just being in the equation for Top 4 was an overachievement if you consider what was the general thought going into the season?

We pined for a rebuild, told ourselves we were ready to embrace it and now are being spoiled by it being a lot less painful then we imagined. So, instead of being thankful for that, we change the goalposts and say “yeah, nah, this is no longer a rebuild” just doesn’t work.

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Snarfalicious said:

See, I think that’s a problem. The expectations. Managing them, being willing to accept that this year, it could be another nothing season like last season. But now we are saying “all we need” is Champions League. But, what if he doesn’t get it? In a season where most of us thought Top 6 would be a great achievement given everything he inherited at the club. But if he doesn’t get Champions League, is his position in question? Even though just being in the equation for Top 4 was an overachievement if you consider what was the general thought going into the season?

We pined for a rebuild, told ourselves we were ready to embrace it and now are being spoiled by it being a lot less painful then we imagined. So, instead of being thankful for that, we change the goalposts and say “yeah, nah, this is no longer a rebuild” just doesn’t work.

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Martinhotspur said:

Do you think players can hear him on the pitch above the crowd noise?

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worcestersauce said:

For all those crying Ange has been found out in the Premier league and anyone would win the Scottish Premier league with Celtic, he ran away with it and Rangers are now top of the league.

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TOLBINY said:

It's a two team league - what any manager achieves in Scotland is no basis for their suitability to the Prem - just ask Stevie G.

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neogenisis said:

Half a season and people are calling for change, mental. The good start we made has clouded peoples minds. Ange gets the time he needs from me thats for sure.

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