Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[Japhet]

I wouldn't say I was proud of it, I thought it was suicidal and was only ever going to end with a loss. I do however believe I understand why he did it, and I think he ultimately sacrificed the game in order to push his underlying message of 'we must be brave regardless of circumstance.

We are very unlikely to face such an uphill battle ever again of circumstances stacking against us. 2 sending's off, 2 key players injured, 2 goals marginally ruled(correctly) to be offside and we still stuck to our principles and pushed forward. It was akin to watching the front line troops in WW1 climbing out of their trenches running into no mans land. There was only ever going to be one outcome imo, and I believe Ange knew that as well. I honestly think he's sacrificed the 3 points for a valuable, even crucial learning opportunity.

Couldn't agree more. The team spirit was off the chart and the crowd gave it everything. We took something very important from that loss and other teams will have seen how we reacted to extreme circumstances. The alternative, to retreat and hunker down, would most likely also have led to a loss, but we'd have taken zero positives from it.

 

[Led's Zeppelin]

Couldn't agree more. The team spirit was off the chart and the crowd gave it everything. We took something very important from that loss and other teams will have seen how we reacted to extreme circumstances. The alternative, to retreat and hunker down, would most likely also have led to a loss, but we'd have taken zero positives from it.

Which is why it wasn't suicidal or a sacrifice. It was excellent management.

 

[JonnySpurs]

I wouldn't say I was proud of it, I thought it was suicidal and was only ever going to end with a loss. I do however believe I understand why he did it, and I think he ultimately sacrificed the game in order to push his underlying message of 'we must be brave regardless of circumstance.

We are very unlikely to face such an uphill battle ever again of circumstances stacking against us. 2 sending's off, 2 key players injured, 2 goals marginally ruled(correctly) to be offside and we still stuck to our principles and pushed forward. It was akin to watching the front line troops in WW1 climbing out of their trenches running into no mans land. There was only ever going to be one outcome imo, and I believe Ange knew that as well. I honestly think he's sacrificed the 3 points for a valuable, even crucial learning opportunity.

This is where I'm at now. I missed the game and then watching the highlights back I was absolutely baffled by the ease in which we allowed them to score the 2nd, 3rd and 4th goals. On the day I couldn't particularly accept it. However, after some time to reflect and also seeing how much praise the club & Ange have had, I started to realise I was missing the point. Watched some good videos on youtube from the likes of Tifo football and James Alcott and that's helped me a lot.

Nobody gives 2 shits about Chelsea. They've had zero praise from what I can see, which I find hilarious considering the final score.

I'm worried about how the next 10 games are gonna go with the injuries and suspensions but all in all, I have no concerns about Ange and feel really happy that we have him steering the ship.

 

[Led Revolver]

Ange says he thinks he’s in the minority re VAR, but I think it’s the complete opposite. No one I know thinks football is better with VAR! No one!

Supporter Groups need to get together to arrange a vocal protest at every PL ground this weekend. What is the average amount of extra time per game that’s been played so far? In that minute, a chant should be sung (‘Fuck VAR’ might be a bit much though) to make the fans opinions known to the powers that be.

 

[olithfc]

Ahh come on man. Please remember that Mason is still only 32 years old, and he is still learning a lot. At that age Ange had barely started his first ever managerial role in Australia, and before he went to manage a third division Greek side.

I'm not saying Mason will make it as a top level manager, but let's not write the guy off for someone so completely inexperienced.

He should go and get some managerial experience now though. He has experience now as a coach and working under different manager styles. We don't know if he is any better than Scott Parker. He should bite the bullet and move away from Tottenham and get a job in the football leagues or abroad at a place he thinks will give him time to bring out his philosophy.

 

[easley91]

Which is why it wasn't suicidal or a sacrifice. It was excellent management.

And it so very nearly paid off with a draw.

We are so early into his reign that I don't think results matter too much to Ange in the long term and bigger picture of things. It's about everyone buying in and coming together. Plus that particular only left us in 2nd with the chance to still go back top Saturday lunchtime.

I think Ange is more about the longer project than win now. If we win things now or finish top 4, then great that is a massive bonus. But I don't think it will upset him too much with the odd result as long as the players are doing what he wants them to do. Monday showed that even in extremely difficult circumstances, they all still did what was asked.

I doubt we'll be down to 9 men again for quite a while, if at all. So that was likely a one off scenario.

 

[HildoSpur]

Ahh come on man. Please remember that Mason is still only 32 years old, and he is still learning a lot. At that age Ange had barely started his first ever managerial role in Australia, and before he went to manage a third division Greek side.

I'm not saying Mason will make it as a top level manager, but let's not write the guy off for someone so completely inexperienced.

Mason has a lot of qualities but he really needs to go and get himself a managerial job in League one and start getting proper experience. I'm sure he could become a very good manager but he is a long way from being capable of managing a Premier League side.

 

[Led's Zeppelin]

This is where I'm at now. I missed the game and then watching the highlights back I was absolutely baffled by the ease in which we allowed them to score the 2nd, 3rd and 4th goals. On the day I couldn't particularly accept it. However, after some time to reflect and also seeing how much praise the club & Ange have had, I started to realise I was missing the point. Watched some good videos on youtube from the likes of Tifo football and James Alcott and that's helped me a lot.

Nobody gives 2 shits about Chelsea. They've had zero praise from what I can see, which I find hilarious considering the final score.

I'm worried about how the next 10 games are gonna go with the injuries and suspensions but all in all, I have no concerns about Ange and feel really happy that we have him steering the ship.

I think we're all worried about the next chunk of games but realistically, at the start of the season our aim was to improve, reverse the negativity, start rebuilding the squad, start playing attractive exciting football, and give ourselves a chance of challenging again.

Wouldn't you agree that within a few weeks we've done all that and more to a degree I don't think any of us thought was possible that quickly?

And it's essentially down to one man, his intelligence and his courage.

And in many ways that game summed it up. The result at this stage was definitely secondary to the total overhaul of the club.

Not that he threw the game. He didn't. What he did do was stick to his principles. And i don't think there's a single person, TV pundit, manager, player or supporter who can seriously question his principles and how he puts them into practice.

 

[muppetman]

I think he's been a victim of his own success. People were naturally getting a bit carried away (myself included), but it's all very early on in the process and so I think it's great that he is taking a longer term view.

 

[Trix]

Ahh come on man. Please remember that Mason is still only 32 years old, and he is still learning a lot. At that age Ange had barely started his first ever managerial role in Australia, and before he went to manage a third division Greek side.

I'm not saying Mason will make it as a top level manager, but let's not write the guy off for someone so completely inexperienced.

Fuck all to do with age, he's just not and never will be charismatic enough. This is going to sound horrible, and honestly I do love the guy for what he has done(is still doing) for us, but those are the facts. I think he'll continue to be a great coach full of innovative ideas and methods, but that isn't enough unfortunately and was 100% part of thinking when looking at who we were going to replace Conte with. He was dismissed very early on for this very reason.

 

[mil1lion]

Or actually won it all joking aside, Dier being an inch off side coupled with Son and Benty’s chances.
They were playing keep ball at 1-2 against 9 men!
What we need to do is get an apprentice in asap to work with Ange because he won’t be in this game till he’s 70 like Fergie.
Bit of urgent succession planning needed, it’s our philosophy and needs to be passed down.

By the time Ange retires or leaves we would need to change our style. The only thing that needs to remain is that front foot attacking style. Other than that we need to change the way we go about it. Ange would have been perfect to follow on after Poch. Our next manager is probably going to be better off managing a first team. Maybe that's what Mason will do at some point, go get a first team role for a few years and come back.

 

[Japhet]

Ange says he thinks he’s in the minority re VAR, but I think it’s the complete opposite. No one I know thinks football is better with VAR! No one!

Supporter Groups need to get together to arrange a vocal protest at every PL ground this weekend. What is the average amount of extra time per game that’s been played so far? In that minute, a chant should be sung (‘Fuck VAR’ might be a bit much though) to make the fans opinions known to the powers that be.

I think the problem with VAR all stems from the sheer volume of coverage and available information which has every decision under a microscope. Everything gets analyzed and dissected and discussed ad infinitum in the TV studios so it takes them forever to reach a decision. I'd like to see that level of scrutiny abolished and get back to some human decision making personally because the game is being taken over by the geeks.

 

[ReadieSpur]

I think the problem with VAR all stems from the sheer volume of coverage and available information which has every decision under a microscope. Everything gets analyzed and dissected and discussed ad infinitum in the TV studios so it takes them forever to reach a decision. I'd like to see that level of scrutiny abolished and get back to some human decision making personally because the game is being taken over by the geeks.

Completely agree. Everyone compares the approach to Rugby, but fail to realise one major difference between the two. The pundits and Media.

Video Ref decisions in Rugby are also subjective and can be seen either way. However once the decision is given, that's it. The commentators don't discuss whether it was right or wrong ad infinitum. Its the same with the pundits.
nothing will improve.
In football, the media and pundits whip everyone up into a frenzy. Until that changes,

 

[Tucker]

Completely agree. Everyone compares the approach to Rugby, but fail to realise one major difference between the two. The pundits and Media.

Video Ref decisions in Rugby are also subjective and can be seen either way. However once the decision is given, that's it. The commentators don't discuss whether it was right or wrong ad infinitum. Its the same with the pundits.
nothing will improve.
In football, the media and pundits whip everyone up into a frenzy. Until that changes,

Problem is it’s easy for them to spend five minutes chewing the fat over refereeing decisions, it saves them having to actually analyse the game or the tactics being used by the managers.

 

[C-oops]

I wouldn't say I was proud of it, I thought it was suicidal and was only ever going to end with a loss. I do however believe I understand why he did it, and I think he ultimately sacrificed the game in order to push his underlying message of 'we must be brave regardless of circumstance.

We are very unlikely to face such an uphill battle ever again of circumstances stacking against us. 2 sending's off, 2 key players injured, 2 goals marginally ruled(correctly) to be offside and we still stuck to our principles and pushed forward. It was akin to watching the front line troops in WW1 climbing out of their trenches running into no mans land. There was only ever going to be one outcome imo, and I believe Ange knew that as well. I honestly think he's sacrificed the 3 points for a valuable, even crucial learning opportunity.

Nonsense. He wanted to win the game and set us up so we had the best chance of doing that. 3 big chances followed. Could have ended 2-2 just as easily as it ended 1-4. He has said absolutely nothing to suggest he would ever sacrifice a game.

 

[philll]

Fuck all to do with age, he's just not and never will be charismatic enough. This is going to sound horrible, and honestly I do love the guy for what he has done(is still doing) for us, but those are the facts. I think he'll continue to be a great coach full of innovative ideas and methods, but that isn't enough unfortunately and was 100% part of thinking when looking at who we were going to replace Conte with. He was dismissed very early on for this very reason.

He needs to set out on his own path rather than just being content with being part of the team of whoever is coaching Tottenham. If he thinks he's ready for it (which he has said numerous times he does) then he should go out there and actually start his coaching career. I agree about personality, it's not harsh it's just how it is - a large part of what makes Ange Ange is his charisma, completely separate from his philosophy re: football.

 

[robotsonic]

Whatever the reasons for doing it, it was absolutely the right choice imo to play the same line and keep going for it.

Too many times we heard last year from both players and from Conte that they weren't being asked to drop deeper and deeper after getting a lead or a goal, but it happened in every single game, win, lose, score, or not. The mentality in the squad was just that negative, and the confidence that low in themselves and the "idea of football".

...that's dead now, that mentality. Truly dead, and if there was any vestige left, this game buried that last bit 20ft under. It was excellent to watch, and I'm so proud of all involved that in such a short space of time we find ourselves in such a place where we can play against the odds in such a fashion. It can only stand us in great stead going forward.

 

[TOLBINY]

Nonsense. He wanted to win the game and set us up so we had the best chance of doing that. 3 big chances followed. Could have ended 2-2 just as easily as it ended 1-4. He has said absolutely nothing to suggest he would ever sacrifice a game.

If all the big 2nd half chances are taken and Diers and Jacksons offside goals allowed to stand, then it ends 4-9 to Chelsea. It seems you want count our chances and ignore theirs. They had a high line, acres of space behind our defence and a two man advantage yet they were still pretty inept (thank goodness), what makes anyone think they would have had the wherewithall to break down a dogged low block defence?

It makes even more sense when you recognise that all they had to do was spring our offside trap and with their pace vs Dier and PEH (no blame on them) there was only going to be one outcome. A low block does not rely on defenders needing much pace, so we would have been playing to our strengths and negating some of theirs.

Not conceeding once we went down to 9 men was our best chance of winning.

Leave one man (Son probably) up top, play long balls into his feet and see if he can win a free kick in their half. Two of our 3 big chances came from free kicks.

 

[eViL]

I think he's been a victim of his own success. People were naturally getting a bit carried away (myself included), but it's all very early on in the process and so I think it's great that he is taking a longer term view.

If a couple of players had have kept their heads we'd have walloped that lot on Monday.

 

[Yantino]

I think I speak for a large percentage of the base base when I say I am in full support of a team that tries to win no matter what. Granted, we are going to get spanked because of it a few times but I’d rather that than score and retreat like cowards.

I’m willing to accept those heavy defeats if it means we play with no fear and heart. Sign me up.