Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[SpursSince1980]

You hear him speak versus, say Conte. And it is a perfect example of self-confidence & arrogance versus self-confidence & pragmatism.

He does remind me a lot of Poch, but even more assured and comfortable in his own skin.

If there is a player in the squad who approaches him with a 'who the fuck are you' attitude, they'll be out the door quick-smart. I honestly don't think he will bow to anyone in that dressing room. Including Harry. That is a man, not to mess around with. More importantly, he is a man to respect, follow, and trust.

Nearly every 'good' leader I've been around exudes what he puts out there. So much common sense, realism, rigor, and insight. I love what he says about league status being relative. Which I believe is true, IF - you are someone who is undaunted by the size of something. He clearly isn't.

Based on nothing at all, I think we may have ended up with what we needed, versus what we wanted (the bald dutch guy whose name i shall not say!). Ange gives off an air of someone who makes everyone around them better.

I wouldn't be remotely surprised if the team fires on all cylinders from the offset. He has squad full of attacking potential waiting to be unleashed. Give him two reliable CBs, and watch us go!!

 

[KaribYid]

this may sound a bit corny, and I have said this before, but I think Ange might be the only person (Maybe Mason) in the club's hierarchy who really understands what the supporters want to see.

Listen to him talk - and it sounds like he knows the club's history and the actual expectations of the supporters. I don't think anyone on the board has that same level of understanding - no matter what they say.

Yeah agreed. And crucially, he has a proven history of every team he's been at playing that sort of football.

He may not work out for whatever reason but I don't think you can fault the logic behind appointing him.

 

[McFlash]

It wasn't a majority though. It was a vocal minority who completely wrote him off.

The majority were skeptical but a lot of people were willing to give him a chance as the football would be more positive. More people warmed to him the more we learned about who he was. I don't know why you and others constantly get riled up at a vocal, irrational minority of posters.

This site is by far the most balanced of any online Spurs community I'm a part of. Last year this place was overwhelmingly negative and that was as a result of a culmination of a four year spiral briefly arrested in the second half of Contes first season. There were a lot of posters whose frustrations were visible in their posts last season but are now optimistic about this season (the likes of @fishhhandaricecake, @Albertbarich, @McFlash , @dontcallme just to name a few).

Reacting negatively to four years of miserable football on the pitch and poor decisions off it while growing optimistic as we make a hire more in line with the club values is balance. Remaining positive despite reality is admirable, but balance it is not.

It's also foolish to dig out other posters with "I told you so's" before a ball has been kicked. We just watched the mood around the club go from euphoric in last May to negative in January. Things in football change quickly and if it does, so will the mood on here.

Yeah, I had Ange down as an interesting candidate and one I could get on board with quite a while ago, purely because he was the antithesis of what we'd suffered previously.

I was fully in support of both Jose and Conte because I really believed they had the experience to get us to the next stage.
Ange has always had a different vibe about him and I think (and thought back in March) that he could be just what our club needed.

As you say though, we've all been wrong on things before and there's no shame in that, as long as you can admit it.
There's no shame in being able and willing to change your opinion on things, it's how we grow and learn.

 

[gavspur]

I particularly like him using the word ‘dare’.

 

[Joe Bjorn Hotspur]

That was one of the most refreshing and dignified of press conferences from a Spurs manager in a very long time. Totally on board and looking forward to the season starting. I think the pressers will also get on with him as well especially with the way he gives straight answers, some may get frustrated as he (it’s that time of year forgive me) will play with a straight bat.

Saying all the things most want to hear and I’m sure with a bloke like that many a player will want to play for him as well as the style on the front foot that we all want to see.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

It wasn't a majority though. It was a vocal minority who completely wrote him off.

The majority were skeptical but a lot of people were willing to give him a chance as the football would be more positive. More people warmed to him the more we learned about who he was. I don't know why you and others constantly get riled up at a vocal, irrational minority of posters.

This site is by far the most balanced of any online Spurs community I'm a part of. Last year this place was overwhelmingly negative and that was as a result of a culmination of a four year spiral briefly arrested in the second half of Contes first season. There were a lot of posters whose frustrations were visible in their posts last season but are now optimistic about this season (the likes of @fishhhandaricecake, @Albertbarich, @McFlash , @dontcallme just to name a few).

Reacting negatively to four years of miserable football on the pitch and poor decisions off it while growing optimistic as we make a hire more in line with the club values is balance. Remaining positive despite reality is admirable, but balance it is not.

It's also foolish to dig out other posters with "I told you so's" before a ball has been kicked. We just watched the mood around the club go from euphoric in last May to negative in January. Things in football change quickly and if it does, so will the mood on here.

As I said to another person I replied to, no ‘I told you so’ from me as I have always been on the fence with Ange as it’s too hard to judge someone either way who has never managed at this level before.

I’m excited to see what he will bring
, but that’s why I was highlighting the 180 in mood to his appointment. How can you be so against someone, even when we had reasoned posters on here giving you researched evidence on why he was considered and appointed. And all I kept reading as a retort was how it meant the club ‘lack ambition’ ‘he is no better than a league 1 manager’ etc…

I understand logical reservations (I have them myself) but it was completely over the top. And I would bet the majority of the moaning was just an overspill of frustration with Levy clouding any objective judgement of Ange.

Yes he might fail but it still doesn’t justify some of the shit that I read on here. That’s why I’m calling it out now the dust has settled.

 

[McFlash]

As I said to another person I replied to, no ‘I told you so’ from me as I have always been on the fence with Ange as it’s too hard to judge someone either way who has never managed at this level before.

I’m excited to see what he will bring
, but that’s why I was highlighting the 180 in mood to his appointment. How can you be so against someone, even when we had reasoned posters on here giving you researched evidence on why he was considered and appointed. And all I kept reading as a retort was how it meant the club ‘lack ambition’ ‘he is no better than a league 1 manager’ etc…

I understand logical reservations (I have them myself) but it was completely over the top. And I would bet the majority of the moaning was just an overspill of frustration with Levy clouding any objective judgement of Ange.

Yes he might fail but it still doesn’t justify some of the shit that I read on here. That’s why I’m calling it out now the dust has settled.

It's the internet, that's what happens.
I've seen someone call Skipp Sunday league level not that long ago on here.
People like to be dramatic and be seen.

Like those writing Postecoglou off because he'd only ever coached in shit leagues.
No consideration for where he's come from or how well he'd actually done in those "shit leagues", he just wasn't a big enough name for some.
And if course, he was the "cheap option" FFS.

 

[rossdapep]

Recall ITK at the time saying that our preferred choice interviewed so well that it would be a disappointment if we had to go to our second choice.

It's hard to see Ange being that 'disappointing' choice

 

[McFlash]

Recall ITK at the time saying that our preferred choice interviewed so well that it would be a disappointment if we had to go to our second choice.

It's hard to see Ange being that 'disappointing' choice

I think we've really uncovered a bit of a gem with Postecoglou and I like the fact that we've been brave enough to take the risk on him/give him the chance.

It all feels right and very much what we as a club should be all about.

 

[SpursSince1980]

Recall ITK at the time saying that our preferred choice interviewed so well that it would be a disappointment if we had to go to our second choice.

It's hard to see Ange being that 'disappointing' choice

100%. VERY hard to see how he comes across worse in an actual 'job interview' - and allegedly by a wide margin. Musta been having a bad day. As that dude in the press conference was hugely impressive. But, then again, we are talking about the 'decision makers' at Spurs - so, our evaluation of what comes across well may deviate significantly from theirs.

 

[SandroClegane]

100%. VERY hard to see how he comes across worse in an actual 'job interview' - and allegedly by a wide margin. Musta been having a bad day. As that dude in the press conference was hugely impressive. But, then again, we are talking about the 'decision makers' at Spurs - so, our evaluation of what comes across well may deviate significantly from theirs.

Or he was the #1 choice all along. Even if that sounds completely crazy

 

[yankspurs]

Impressive press conference. Says all the right things. He’s got a massive job on his hands. Probably more difficult than one hes ever had, if the reports of disarray & low morale around the club are correct coupled with a neglected squad that went stale years ago. It is a massive task made more difficult with a board addicted to finding ever more ways to shoot themselves in the foot. To be honest, i think he could be the man to do it. He seems to relish a rebuild & loves a challenge. Fingers crossed.

 

[spurs9]

 

[canadacelt]

What a fantastic first press conference,
confident, down to earth, no games, really looking forward to seeing his team play he'd better be given time!

 

[RuskyM]

Asked if fans will require some patience in his early days at the club, Ange responded: “I don't know if it's about patience. You can't ask people to feel a certain way or dampen expectations. I think what I've tried to do wherever I've been, including Celtic, is allow them to form their own opinion based on what they see, not what I say.

Compare this to Conte demanding the fans whip up an atmosphere vs Milan, as they did, and then sit back for ninety minutes despite needing a goal, and then saying "what can you expect". Plus, he makes jokes! He's charismatic! I know Conte might've been affected by the language barrier but I more think they fundamentally differ on philosophy. And I can understand and believe in Ange's far more than Antonio's.

I really think we're onto something good here.

 

[muppetman]

Great to see that SC continues to be a barometer for just how bi-polar we are as a fan base.

I really hope we have a half decent start to the season (at least in terms of performances if not results) or some of you will be back down in the dumps again!!!!!

 

[spursfan77]

It's the internet, that's what happens.
I've seen someone call Skipp Sunday league level not that long ago on here.
People like to be dramatic and be seen.

Like those writing Postecoglou off because he'd only ever coached in shit leagues.
No consideration for where he's come from or how well he'd actually done in those "shit leagues", he just wasn't a big enough name for some.
And if course, he was the "cheap option" FFS.

I did have a joke about his whittlesea zebras record initially but after a couple of days reading up on him it was obvious he is a serious bloke who’s achieved what he could at each level he was at.

I’ve loved his comments since joining but we also need to be a bit pragmatic about his appointment. He’s only going to be as good with us as he’s allowed to be. For instance, he was asked about Conte’s rant about the players and their attitudes and he said he’d (foolishly or not) wait and find out for himself. If they’re being dicks and don’t get on board with his methods he is hamstrung before he’s started.

If Levy doesn’t get behind him and do the recruitment in, and more importantly out, that he wants then he will also struggle.

Personally, I think the majority of rational fans have already been won over and it won’t be us that does it for him in the end, it will be the players or Levy, as usual. This wasn’t meant to be a negative post at all but developed into one. Let’s just hope we all enjoy it in the meantime. Basically, give him the tools and get on board and see where it goes, what other choice do we have?

 

[Japhet]

I very much get the impression with him that anyone who isn't 100% onboard will be given short shrift. Will be interesting to see how the conversation with Kane pans out but I don't think Ange will be begging or pleading and I applaud him for that.

 

[spursfan77]

I very much get the impression with him that anyone who isn't 100% onboard will be given short shrift. Will be interesting to see how the conversation with Kane pans out but I don't think Ange will be begging or pleading and I applaud him for that.

From his comments yesterday I think he knows exactly how to play that conversation.

 

[E17yid]

I very much get the impression with him that anyone who isn't 100% onboard will be given short shrift. Will be interesting to see how the conversation with Kane pans out but I don't think Ange will be begging or pleading and I applaud him for that.

Mate, he IS Eddie Jones. I half expect him to call Kane a **** and tell him to fuck off.