Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[mark87]

"Where we sit at the moment, there's nine games to go, we've got some challenging fixtures in there, but there's nine games to go, let's see where that takes us. I'd rather have that approach than having one specific target.
It'd probably make my life easer if I said, 'Lets make Champions League, that's great' because everyone thinks I've done a great job, but from my perspective, I keep saying it, I look at the teams who made the Champions League this year from last year, and that wasn't the catalyst for them kicking on.
It's not their fault, it's more demanding, but I'm not going to let this club rest on where we finish this year. Where we finish should be a foundation for us being better next year."

 

[kmk]

"Where we sit at the moment, there's nine games to go, we've got some challenging fixtures in there, but there's nine games to go, let's see where that takes us. I'd rather have that approach than having one specific target.
It'd probably make my life easer if I said, 'Lets make Champions League, that's great' because everyone thinks I've done a great job, but from my perspective, I keep saying it, I look at the teams who made the Champions League this year from last year, and that wasn't the catalyst for them kicking on.
It's not their fault, it's more demanding, but I'm not going to let this club rest on where we finish this year. Where we finish should be a foundation for us being better next year."

This is such a contrast to:

Harry Redknapp - “They've [the supporters] had it so good over the years, you see. When you keep winning league championships every year, you get upset when you don't win”

Antonio Conte - “For us, 4th place is like winning the Premier League”.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

"Where we sit at the moment, there's nine games to go, we've got some challenging fixtures in there, but there's nine games to go, let's see where that takes us. I'd rather have that approach than having one specific target.
It'd probably make my life easer if I said, 'Lets make Champions League, that's great' because everyone thinks I've done a great job, but from my perspective, I keep saying it, I look at the teams who made the Champions League this year from last year, and that wasn't the catalyst for them kicking on.
It's not their fault, it's more demanding, but I'm not going to let this club rest on where we finish this year. Where we finish should be a foundation for us being better next year."

Absolute best possible Manager we could have at the helm right now all things considered, it perfectly goes against and pushes to the side Levy and the clubs previous MO of CL/4th = success, the top of the mountain and challenging at the top in every competition is Ange's goal and he sees and makes clear the bigger picture, we've needed a Manager to come in and be brave enough to say this over and over to help change the culture of our club from the last 20 yrs.

Keep backing Ange and he will keep transforming us on and off the pitch.

Also love how clear and direct and positive he is compared to Poch's wishywashyness or Conte's negativity etc.

 

[mil1lion]

This is such a contrast to:

Harry Redknapp - “They've [the supporters] had it so good over the years, you see. When you keep winning league championships every year, you get upset when you don't win”

Antonio Conte - “For us, 4th place is like winning the Premier League”.

Or also Harry when he said this as good as it will get

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

We've not been entertaining or good in the last few months and each match seems to fall into a similar pattern.

People will see this as a negative but the reason is because teams are setting up to combat our system. That means teams are generally no longer playing their own game against us. In the short term we will struggle, but in the long term this is what we want.

Bar City, Arsenal and Liverpool if any team try to play expansive football against us they will get torn apart.

It's now about playing through these teams, we haven't got to that stage yet. When you don't have space in the final third you rely on your attackers to create something. That's where we are at our weakest.

Give Son, Kulusevski, Johnson and Werner space and we'll create a lot more chances. However if we don't get that space then we will need more quality.

Maddison is the only player who can consistently create, but when you have just one it's pretty easy to stop. If we had another creative attacking midfielder and a winger who can dribble we are suddenly much more of a threat.

One of the things that has been overlooked in the last few weeks is missing Richarlison, having that aerial threat and physical presence in the box is a must. It's actually baffling why we let Veliz go as he could have offered us something different.

Richarlison back in the side, Johnson coming good and having Son with Werner and Kulusevski off the bench will make us so much more of a threat.
Keep the faith in Ange, we are going in the right direction, if Richy stays fit I think we'll have a strong end to the season and get top 4. If we invest in quality up top in the Summer then we will be a real force next season.

We are not too far away from having a squad that can compete on all fronts as well.

So to sum up, Richy back, investment up top in the Summer and patience.

 

[Kirito]

 

[npearl4spurs]

I absolutely love his unwavering long-term vision. Thomas Broich spoke about it as a guest on An Echo of Glory this week. Ange isn't concerned game to game or anything short-term. That's why he keeps talking about developing as a team over time, not getting hung up on where we finish, and even talking about Moyes deserving to stay at West Ham because people are so reactionary and short-sighted. He's all about the process and I love it because he's going to get us there.

 

[Timbo Tottenham]

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Yeah…. But Arsenal, City and Liverpool still have us to play

 

[snakehipsspurs]

The biggest difference between the second half of the season and the period pre-Chelsea is we aren't relentless with our play currently as we were then. We play Ange's way for 5/10 minute periods then drop the intensity for 15. Earlier this season it was non-stop for 60/70 mins of the game at least.

We need to stop being passive for periods, that's what separates fun teams and great teams. Have to think that will be the big difference between year 1 of Ange's reign and year 2.

It doesn't help him either when absolutely everyone bar a couple of players are off form just now. We could deal with one/two being not at it, but it's across the board currently.

 

[Stamford]

He's done well at times with his subs to change the game. Today he got it wrong. We started so well and just faded as the game went on.

 

[Tucker]

The biggest difference between the second half of the season and the period pre-Chelsea is we aren't relentless with our play currently as we were then. We play Ange's way for 5/10 minute periods then drop the intensity for 15. Earlier this season it was non-stop for 60/70 mins of the game at least.

We need to stop being passive for periods, that's what separates fun teams and great teams. Have to think that will be the big difference between year 1 of Ange's reign and year 2.

It doesn't help him either when absolutely everyone bar a couple of players are off form just now. We could deal with one/two being not at it, but it's across the board currently.

I think it’s because we’ve had so much disruption since that Chelsea game. Suspensions, injuries, winter international tournaments, more injuries, and just last week even more internationals.

I’m hopeful we can find our rhythm again in the run in.

 

[snakehipsspurs]

I think it’s because we’ve had so much disruption since that Chelsea game. Suspensions, injuries, winter international tournaments, more injuries, and just last week even more internationals.

I’m hopeful we can find our rhythm again in the run in.

Totally agree, no blame on Ange for me. Huge amount has gone against him and it's still clear what the trajectory is. Just frustrating to be in the growing pains period knowing how good we can/will be next year

 

[Pistols At Dawn]

the irony is that under conte, we were supposed to be defense-first and yet we couldn't stop goals against

under ange, we're supposed to be all-out attack, and we can't score

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Meh - nearly a full season, and we don't feel like we are any better than when we started. You can blame injuries, suspensions, international breaks, etc - but those affect all teams.

A big summer, with some big decisions ahead - too many players feel like they are just along for a ride.

 

[Jamturk]

I just don't see any reason that Kulu is a better replacement for Maddison than Lo Celso.

He never gets a fair crack of the whip.

If I was Gio I would be pissed and on the first train out of here in the Summer.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

the irony is that under conte, we were supposed to be defense-first and yet we couldn't stop goals against

under ange, we're supposed to be all-out attack, and we can't score

Yep we’ve scored in 26 games in a row up until Fulham

 

[Gassin's finest]

Also meh - I'm starting to have questions.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

the irony is that under conte, we were supposed to be defense-first and yet we couldn't stop goals against

under ange, we're supposed to be all-out attack, and we can't score

I think that personnel is the answer to both of those points.

Weirdly, if you give Conte VDV, Vicario, and Udogie, he probably has a very different time here.

In a similar vein, if you gave Ange Harry Kane he would be having a very different time here.

 

[Stamford]

He's got some big decisions to make in the summer. Needs to be harsh imo. Arteta was ridiculed over Raya but he was right. Ange needs to make big calls some of which we might not like

 

[mil1lion]

the irony is that under conte, we were supposed to be defense-first and yet we couldn't stop goals against

under ange, we're supposed to be all-out attack, and we can't score

Yet we've scored in 39 of the last 40 games or something ridiculous