Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[Styopa]

It's the wages though. Their stock is so low for the clubs interested that wages become an issue.
I remember when we were trying to get rid of Jansen and I asked a Celtic supporting friend of mine why wouldn't they take a punt on him, he'd been successful in the Netherlands. He said his wages of £35k/PW blew their top earner out of the water by 10k.

Yeah, I think the wages are the problem. Especially since many of these players, who although are deemed virtually worthless to us now, were highly rated and brought in for big money at the time we purchased them: The likes of Ndombele, Lo Celso, Reguilon, and even Dier and Sanchez are probably all on relatively high wages and are unlikely to accept pay cuts to move.

 

[Albertbarich]

I do defend Levy, but i'm not trying to here tbh - i just think that some of the 'offers' we have had for players is bordering on the absurd , we've seen pathetic amounts of little more than pocket change being offered for some players, and with a month left of the window i'd not have accepted them either.

However, as we get closer to the window closing i absolutely do think we need to decide which players we definitely do not want anymore and adjust our pricing/expectations according. At the end of the window i will not be defending Levy if players like Rodon and Regullion are still here - they must have some appeal to clubs but i assume wages are the big problem, in which case we MUtake a hit on them. No excuses !

You're always a very reasonable poster , no need to explain yourself mate

My moaning is an accumulation of windows to be honest but this window has really ticked me off. It's all seemingly stopped

 

[Styopa]

I'm sure that also plays a part but every other premier league club manages to sell and for the past few windows were just amassing more and more , having to do loads and now we have a squad probably double of what it needs to be and so far we have managed to sell one player all summer.

Celtic aren't are target market. They're in a different stratosphere financially but the other top European leagues are, the premier league is, Saudi should be(I know). Players like Lucas who just left , Sanchez, Winks, Dier even arguably Lloris should have left years ago. Our inaction hurts us and their careers

I don't know the answer and I suspect anyone giving a reason is at least partly right but it's really frustrating.

We often focus on the selling but I think the main problem is we bought poorly and now we are seeing the result of that. You can't make players leave and many of them won't unless they get similar money elsewhere. I don't think it's just a problem for us but we have made a lot of expensive mistakes over the last few years.

 

[funkycoldmedina]

I'm sure that also plays a part but every other premier league club manages to sell and for the past few windows were just amassing more and more , having to do loads and now we have a squad probably double of what it needs to be and so far we have managed to sell one player all summer.

Celtic aren't are target market. They're in a different stratosphere financially but the other top European leagues are, the premier league is, Saudi should be(I know). Players like Lucas who just left , Sanchez, Winks, Dier even arguably Lloris should have left years ago. Our inaction hurts us and their careers

I don't know the answer and I suspect anyone giving a reason is at least partly right but it's really frustrating.

It was an example but even Spanish, French and German leagues struggle to get anywhere near the wages. Man Utd struggle to get rid of their deadwood as well, it's not just us.
There's a real argument to be made for us buying more young players like Gil who are easier to shift on because buying clubs see a potential uplift a bit like we did with Moura. The older players on big wages are the hardest to shift, Perisic being a case in point.
All this is symptomatic of an atrocious player and manager recruitment strategy for the last 5 years

 

[BENNO]

You're always a very reasonable poster , no need to explain yourself mate

My moaning is an accumulation of windows to be honest but this window has really ticked me off. It's all seemingly stopped

Appreciate that In my 'reasonable' mind i like to think our window has stopped for a good reason, a good reason that we are yet to learn of. It makes my life easier to think that way.....i'll deal with the shit reality further down the road thanks !

 

[Locotoro]

I think we also have to consider that our players have not looked good over the last few years. We've been stuck playing defensive low block and counter and as a result players like Dier, Sanchez and co have looked really bad whereas they are better than they have appeared and even the ones that havent looked so bad like hojbjerg are only being pursued by other low block and counter sides like Ath Madrid.

If we were playing a more attacking style i have no doubt that our players would look like more attractive options.

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

Haven't even heard a credible rumour regarding a CB for a week now. Poor Ange.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

We often focus on the selling but I think the main problem is we bought poorly and now we are seeing the result of that. You can't make players leave and many of them won't unless they get similar money elsewhere. I don't think it's just a problem for us but we have made a lot of expensive mistakes over the last few years.

It's not just a problem for us. Both Arteta and Poch have come out in recent days and said their squads are too big but they're having problems trimming them down.

Most prem teams struggle to sell players because of the disparity in finances between the prem and rest of europe. Saudi Arabia has opened up a new market but they, for obvious reasons, are mainly targeting high profile players.

We used to sell our deadwood to teams like Stoke, Sunderland, WBA, Fulham etc.. but now teams at a similar level have so much money that they just scout the next wonder kid from anywhere on the globe as it is better value for money.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Hopefully, Ange brings some clarity to various players this week in preparation for Shakhtar.

We need players going 70+ minutes this weekend, and a shorter bench.

(What we really need is someone not distracted by the Kane saga, to be working with player agents on finding new clubs...)

 

[Stav]

please someone find this to be true.......

If any place can find the answer, it'll be here: https://www.theguardian.com/football/series/theknowledge

Anyone want to put this to them?!

 

[TommyW]

I think we also have to consider that our players have not looked good over the last few years. We've been stuck playing defensive low block and counter and as a result players like Dier, Sanchez and co have looked really bad whereas they are better than they have appeared and even the ones that havent looked so bad like hojbjerg are only being pursued by other low block and counter sides like Ath Madrid.

If we were playing a more attacking style i have no doubt that our players would look like more attractive options.

Surely playing such a defensive setup should make defensive players like Dier look good - not an absolute liability.

 

[RJR1949]

Surely playing such a defensive setup should make defensive players like Dier look good - not an absolute liability.

It’s horses for courses.

Playing in a low block requires defenders to stay discipline and concentrated for long periods with even minor mistakes likely to be punished. This is not ,for example, Sanchez: before he arrived at Spurs his strengths as a defender were his speed and mobility.

(NB this does not mean I think Sanchez should be retained, I don’t).

 

[spursfan77]

Hopefully he does a bit of press before Sunday’s game and he’s asked about transfers (not Kane) for some clarity on if he’s pissed off or not.

 

[Metalhead]

Hopefully he does a bit of press before Sunday’s game and he’s asked about transfers (not Kane) for some clarity on if he’s pissed off or not.

We should do a sweepstake on how many Kane-related questions he gets.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Hopefully he does a bit of press before Sunday’s game and he’s asked about transfers (not Kane) for some clarity on if he’s pissed off or not.

This seems rather foolish.

We want a level-headed manager who is able to ride the ups and downs. We don't want a manager who is complaining to the media about things that are out of his control...

I expect a professional response to any transfer-related questions.

 

[Gilzeanking]

We often focus on the selling but I think the main problem is we bought poorly and now we are seeing the result of that. You can't make players leave and many of them won't unless they get similar money elsewhere. I don't think it's just a problem for us but we have made a lot of expensive mistakes over the last few years.

Something I find odd about footie players. Everything else can go up and down in price/wages . But footballers, if their form collapses or they get less productive due to age/injury
their wage cannot be reduced when going to a new club, it's the law.

You've had a poor season, off form not played much and an offer comes from another team where you might shine...but oh no route blocked, its a few thousand less in wages .

Oh well, some things I just don't get

 

[Shanks]

Something I find odd about footie players. Everything else can go up and down in price/wages . But footballers, if their form collapses or they get less productive due to age/injury
their wage cannot be reduced when going to a new club, it's the law.

You've had a poor season, off form not played much and an offer comes from another team where you might shine...but oh no route blocked, its a few thousand less in wages .

Oh well, some things I just don't get

It’s not the law?

surwly it’s just their contracts, if they are on 100k a week and offered 50k a week on another contract they can take, but most likely wouldn’t

 

[spurs303]

Haven't even heard a credible rumour regarding a CB for a week now. Poor Ange.

As per usual, the guy has been set up to fail

 

[Yid-ol]

As per usual, the guy has been set up to fail

We literally had ITK on defenders yesterday, stop wetting the bed!

 

[Locotoro]

Surely playing such a defensive setup should make defensive players like Dier look good - not an absolute liability.

not if hes best qualities are attacking the ball aerially and passing into midfield