Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[jurgen11]

There was a point in the ground yesterday I think after Johnson hit the bar or Son's volley went wide.

The whole south stand just stood and applauded the football, was great.

and in the East Stand,....standing ovation

 

[GuytheGorilla]

and in the East Stand,....standing ovation

the West Stand murmured in approval too

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

the West Stand murmured in approval too

While here on SC, people were frantically looking to push Hojberg agendas

 

[Tucker]

The Højbjerg Agenda sounds like it could be a sequel to the Ipcress File.

 

[IfiHadTheWings]

Romario is committed that's for sure.

either that or we got a copycat killer on our hands, he has even drawn in a substantial fanbase on here liking and hearting his posts

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I said this in the Ben Davies thread about how much he's improved under Ange because of coaching but also because Ange's style of play and tactics bring players positioning much closer together so they always have a number of easy pass options whenever they're in possession of the ball (a stark contrast to Under Conte whereby the distances between players was always massive so it was hard for players in that set-up to retain possession easily).

Imo this is also why players like Bissouma, Lo Celso and even the likes of Ben Davies look much better under Ange, conversely it highlights the weaknesses of other more physical combative players like PEH and Skipp who's passing and movement and agility aren't as good.

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

I finally get Ange.

It took me a while, but I understand why Emerson, Dier, GLC won't make it at spurs.

GLC is the perfect example, he was probably all pleased as punch with his 100 percent pass ratio against City and I imagine AP bollocked him for it.

He demands 3 things in his footballers, work rate, technical ability and BRAVERY.

This last one is missing from GLC, he plays the safe option almost always. He's tailor made for tiki taka football, but not for Ange.

He must love Porro, Romero and Bissouma, always just massive bollocks in whatever they do on the pitch.

Also makes sense why Sarr came straight back in, he has the three qualities needed. He is absolutely fearless. He may not currently be as good a footballer as GLC or Hoijberg, but he has the qualities that Ange wants.

He wants killers up front as well, I think we may go big for a CF in January, maybe even another winger. Night and day difference from the forward players against Newcastle in comparison with the West Ham game.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I know exactly the moment you're talking about. It was the same sequence of play which ended with Son volleying wide.

It was one of the best things I've ever experienced at a Spurs match. The entire ground just stood up and started roaring with appreciation. Every single fan was swept up in the moment.

It's just one moment but I truly believe it's an indication that something special is happening here. Please God just let us back Ange with whatever he needs.

I remember something similar under Redknapp when we were really flying, it was a home game under the lights I was at, can't quite remember now who it was against but we were just zipping the ball around so quickly and devastatingly with Parker mopping up, laying it off to Modric who was playing beautiful incisive through balls to Bale & Lennon who were either finding Van Der Vaart who would create some magic or crossing it to Crouch or whoever else was up front that day and we had wave after wave of fluid passing movements and attacks like this and there was one where I think it was Crouch maybe missed the finish but pretty much the whole Park Lane and half of the Shelfside stood up and just applauded and during the passing moves you literally heard gasps as the football was that good.

I don't seem to remember something like that under peak Poch but the season we went unbeaten at home some of the atmospheres in those home games were outstanding and there was this aura and feeling of invincibility about the team we were watching which was both relaxing and exciting all at once.

I wasn't there yesterday but as you say mate moments like that indicate something special is happening or at the very least we are being treated to the exact style of beautiful football we all dream of Tottenham playing as fans.

Most of us are purists at heart and given push and run and exciting pass and move football is a big part of our clubs DNA and especially following the last 3-4 seasons of dross our fans right now are on a serious high and I love to see it after the misery of the last 3-4 seasons whereby even having won matches it was so boring at times I came home and thought we'd lost or drawn only to check the score and remember that we had indeed won

Thank you Ange, we have our Tottenham well and truly back, never has a manager and a style of play been such a perfect fit for us since the 1960's imo. A few have come close at times or in patches: Venables, Jol, Redknapp, Poch, but none have felt quite like this, the football is unique and exhilarating and Ange is a top bloke and world class elite coach.

Happy days are back.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I finally get Ange.

It took me a while, but I understand why Emerson, Dier, GLC won't make it at spurs.

GLC is the perfect example, he was probably all pleased as punch with his 100 percent pass ratio against City and I imagine AP bollocked him for it.

He demands 3 things in his footballers, work rate, technical ability and BRAVERY.

This last one is missing from GLC, he plays the safe option almost always. He's tailor made for tiki taka football, but not for Ange.

He must love Porro, Romero and Bissouma, always just massive bollocks in whatever they do on the pitch.

Also makes sense why Sarr came straight back in, he has the three qualities needed. He is absolutely fearless. He may not currently be as good a footballer as GLC or Hoijberg, but he has the qualities that Ange wants.

He wants killers up front as well, I think we may go big for a CF in January, maybe even another winger. Night and day difference from the forward players against Newcastle in comparison with the West Ham game.

Some very good and interesting points there mate for sure.

I wouldn't personally bucket GLC with Emerson and Dier in terms of 'not going to make it at Spurs under Ange' but I see where you're coming from. I think they are all unique cases in their own right as to how likely it is if they will make it at Spurs under Ange, however I do understand your point about GLC and his 100% passing rate being a bit safe almost and Ange wants 'clinical killers' like you say. That being said I'd argue its a bit more nuanced than that.

Firstly, GLC did score vs City so that is an example of being clinical and also Ange has always said he likes having many different types of players in each position so the opposition always have different challenges to deal with and that Lo Celso brings different skills to the n.o8/10 role than say a Maddison does. I think lately he's been frustrated that against Villa and West Ham we passed the ball a lot but as you say weren't really that 'brave' and so all that possession didn't really count for too much and we ended up losing. I think GLC has a future under Ange for sure but I can also see why he might / probably would prefer to start Sarr over GLC where possible and same for Kulu in that n.o8/10 role over Lo Celso because to your point they're a little more direct and 'brave' whereas Lo Celso makes us tick more but we might create less chances overall as a result.

As he's said in his pressers, n.o1 he wants to win. It just so happens luckily for us that also as Ange has said "he went into the football library and revised the 'attacking football' book and that is all he knows and its also the way he wants to set his teams up in order to win" so the nice to watch football is a bit of a by product of an overall system which he thinks is going to be most effective in getting us to win.

Ange's blend of football is unique with both fullbacks coming inside and into the half spaces but simplifying it I'd say its a combination of Pep & Klopp's styles. Pep's in that n.o1 aim in a Pep team is to dominate possession of the ball, win the ball back quickly to take the ball away from the other team and then use that possession to hurt the opponents whilst limiting them to as few chances as possible. Klopp's teams also aim to dominate games where possible but their 2 hallmarks are their intense gegenpressing and their fast vertical attacks with speed and purpose. Ange's football is almost a blend of both of those, if we become too 'Pep' he will be annoyed because we will be passing for passings sake at times and at our worst not being clinical enough and if we become too 'Klopp' he will be annoyed because we are maybe at our worst attacking 'too quickly', making the wrong choices and giving the ball away too often whereas at our best we are a blend of both of these at their best which in turn equals Ange's style of football's unique style of play.

Agree on Porro and to and extent Romero and Sarr being ideal Ange players, especially Porro as he is a duracell bunny, up and down all day long, creative and brave, intense and with a good football brain, Maddison and Kulu and Son are all similar.

I can see why he isn't so keen on Dier and Skipp and at times PEH as they're all too slow in their movement and in their passing etc.

I do think he will want to sign a few more 'killers' as you call them and will want to turn the likes of Johnson and Richy etc into 'killers' as right now Son is the benchmark for the other attackers.

 

[Trent Crimm]

I shared this moment with my 11 year old son, we just held each other... tears of joy rolling down our cheeks..

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I shared this moment with my 11 year old son, we just held each other... tears of joy rolling down our cheeks..

My Son is nearly 1 but I've just told him he is actually now 11

 

[mil1lion]

When the 3rd goal went in I must admit I did turn to my 11 year son and he looked back with a tear in his eye. Once the moment had passed I realised I don't have an 11 year old son and he was crying because he lost his parents.

 

[glacierSpurs]

I finally get Ange.

It took me a while, but I understand why Emerson, Dier, GLC won't make it at spurs.

GLC is the perfect example, he was probably all pleased as punch with his 100 percent pass ratio against City and I imagine AP bollocked him for it.

He demands 3 things in his footballers, work rate, technical ability and BRAVERY.

This last one is missing from GLC, he plays the safe option almost always. He's tailor made for tiki taka football, but not for Ange.

He must love Porro, Romero and Bissouma, always just massive bollocks in whatever they do on the pitch.

Also makes sense why Sarr came straight back in, he has the three qualities needed. He is absolutely fearless. He may not currently be as good a footballer as GLC or Hoijberg, but he has the qualities that Ange wants.

He wants killers up front as well, I think we may go big for a CF in January, maybe even another winger. Night and day difference from the forward players against Newcastle in comparison with the West Ham game.

I think we are reading abit too much of Lo Celso not starting and hence he's not gonna make it.

Sarr and Biss are Ange preferred two CMs right from the season starts. With Sarr available, Ange's not going to bench him knowing how lively he can be and help out Biss in doing what he's best at.

Kulu and Johnson have been starting recently and Johnson always has the pace to burn. Son is almost undroppable. That leaves Richy/Lo Celso spot up for grab. Don't think it's an easy decision for Ange to drop Lo Celso with his two goals in his last two games. But he must have thought Richy offers a presence up front with Son having space to pose some danger from the wings. All these were vindicated and Richy even grabbed two goals.

Overall, I'm just leaning towards the idea that Ange are putting out the front 4 according to the opposition we are facing and less so of not favouring Lo Celso, although TBF last night fluidity will stake the same front 4 again for some time - no reason not to. But it's just a good problem to have at the moment until Maddison is back and in the absence of Biss and Sarr comes Jan.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

There is a balance to it of course but I think this period of the last 6 games puts to bed any argument about just how crucially important our team playing in an attacking exciting pass and move style of play is to our fans. We lost 4 out of 5 and didn't win in 6 but yet the team was clapped off the pitch every time, only a very small fraction of the fans were complaining and some (me included) were saying that even though we'd lost we were barely upset if at all and it almost felt like we'd won because of our approach to the game.

Now sure if we'd lost to Newcastle and it became no win in 6 and the table starts to not look quite as good etc then there would've naturally been a few more discontent voices cropping up but I remember some on here very strongly suggesting that even with a Manager like Ange in charge as soon as we lose a few games the fans would throw a tantrum because its always first and foremost and almost exclusively about results and I strongly suggested that wasn't the case. I said that if we were playing a brand of football where we were brave and attacking and looked to dominate the game and create chances and go out swinging as well as look to have a longer-term vision then our fans would be more than ok to suffer some losses and so it has proved.

Aside from the first 3 months under Conte, it felt the complete opposite to this under him and Jose and Nuno for the mostpart whereby 80% of matches were a bore to watch and when we drew or lost or sometimes even when we won I came home feeling depressed like we'd lost because the game is just as much about entertainment and connection and fun than it is purely about results.

That being said I'm very happy we did beat Newcastle because our performances deserved that and also for momentum its not good to go 6+ games without a win and of course results are important, if we kept losing there would've been a point where it would've started to get frustrating or worrying but my point is that it takes far far longer for fans to reach that point when the style of play is this nice to watch

 

[PCozzie]

Ange has given the club back it’s balls..
View attachment 135196

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

View attachment 135197

Mate.

 

[NEVILLEB]

We should’ve built the statue the second we saw Dier off the team sheet.

If that Romero red and VDV injury hadn’t happened I honestly believe we would be top now by some margin. What a transformation.

It would be the biggest crime in football history if the board doesn’t back him in January. Not expecting the world, but give the man some extra tools that’ll tide us over until the summer. There is no other option.

Don't expect him to be backed then you won't be disappointed.

 

[SpursSince1980]

Don't expect him to be backed then you won't be disappointed.

It's also not a question of being backed or not. As there's the simple reality of January always being notoriously difficult to sign new players. Kulu + Benta deals are rare.

Yes, I can certainly see they will bring in CB cover. But it won't be a player at VdV or Romero's level. But will fit in a pinch.

Ange is probably considering what his short-term options will look like in midfield with AFCON and the Asian Cup. Therefore, can see a loan in that area. Same with the attack.

The true measure of whether or not he is backed will be next summer. As I'm sure he'll have three or four priority positions/player-types he will be pushing hard for. Hopefully they won't leave him short. Think he's proven - even by this stage - that he is a star worthy of hitching.

 

[EQP]

So Ange is the free-roaming fullback whisperer?

 

[midoNdefoe]

The way we move from defensive to attacking third in full flow is beautiful to watch. We could have had so many "sexy" team goals today. I will never tire of watching that regardless of end result. Obviously I'd prefer and want us to win but I just want us to have a go at the very least.

Exactly this. It’s a weird emotion I feel when we lose, because we have always looked good and unlucky to have come off on the wrong end. It’s always entertaining and enjoyable and it feels like we’re never out of a game with the amount of chances we create.