Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

We’re just at the start of the journey, loads of work to do before we are the finished product.

We look about on course for where I expected at the beginning of the season though. Maybe a bit better actually.

And we lost Kane. Most people had us down for midtable or even worse. Hell I know I was fearing it.

 

[SpursSince1980]

I was happy with the point. Felt it was ours to win, but we just lacking the cutting edge in the end. Wham were a non entity except on set pieces. It is testament to our defense and midfield that they only created about 3 decent chances.

If Richy was fully fit, he would be our starting striker. For now we got what we got. And need to win all of our ‘easier’ games to stay in 5th spot. I can’t see Villa slipping TBH.

 

[Tucker]

And we lost Kane. Most people had us down for midtable or even worse. Hell I know I was fearing it.

Given all the disruption we’ve had to the squad, I think it’s a miracle we’ve remained as competitive as we have.

 

[TOLBINY]

I don't see us reaching 70 points this season, but then again nor did I before the season started. Would not be surprised if Utd overtook us and we finish 6th.

In terms of league position, top 6 with a new squad and coach is something to build on.

 

[ajspurs]

I liked the fact that Ange changed the balance on the midfield, almost playing 4231. Better protection and more creativity.

I think Sarr has become too attacking and running too much in the channels last couple of games.

Yeah agreed. I have to say I think the midfield dynamic between Bentancur, Bissouma and Maddison was a massive plus yesterday. It was the first time I'd felt our midfield trio looked like a fluid, cohesive unit for a while, and I think both Bissouma and Maddison benefited from the changes that were made.

Both Maddison and Bissouma had much more of the Bournemouth away, Burnley away, Arsenal away and Luton away aura about them. I thought Maddison was popping around much more and trying to make things happen, getting on the ball more, and Bissouma was better in possession, whilst using his agility and dribbling ability more than he has done for a while.

And when Sarr came on, I did notice that he positioned himself quite far forward when off the ball, which left Bissouma more isolated. I can't remember how many times that occurred but I do remember observing it. Looking at our setup when he was positioned as such made it glaringly obvious as to how we can be so fucked if we do happen to lose the ball. I think that was a glaring issue in the Fulham game too.

 

[Trix]

I don't see us reaching 70 points this season, but then again nor did I before the season started. Would not be surprised if Utd overtook us and we finish 6th.

In terms of league position, top 6 with a new squad and coach is something to build on.

You think this current United side can pull a point per game back on us between now and the end of the season?

 

[newbie]

4th or 5th be a good season.

we have had some dips and we have not rediscovered our groove but we are building and heading in the right direction.

8 games to go still If we win 4-5 I think that would be great, considering who they are against

 

[hughy]

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.

Who are these players who you feel are "along for a ride"?

Such an easy, sweeping statement. Give some examples.

 

[marion52]

He’s right about our front third, need to take more of our chances.
Timo would have had more if he kept up with the play and Brennan’s crosses yesterday

 

[Mr Pink]

West Ham are no mugs and they are an extremely difficult team to beat at home - we haven't managed it since 2019! I'm not sure why people expected us to just rock up and roll them over? We played pretty well and they played pretty well and the draw was a fair result. It's one of our tougher matches of the season and I'm not overly disappointed to get a point.

Agreed.

But I think most understand we played well and they defended well, just a bit more cutting edge would of seen us get the win.

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

So yesterday I thought we actually played reasonably well and the pattern was more like some of our early season games. We had an excellent first 25-30mins of the game and then the opposition came back into it. That's attributed to West Ham getting a lucky goal but I think the goal (which sure did have an affect) really hides the point that teams do adjust to our style of play.

There's something about the style that can cause problems for teams set-up in the wrong way, or who aren't used to having fullbacks popping up as 10's in the midfield. Some teams are not bothered by it, take the recent Fulham game for an example. Others really struggle and never get a hang of it e.g the recent Villa game. The majority though are like West Ham, we get 30 minute periods in the game where it clicks for us before the opposition adapts. Sure other factors come into it like goals or fitness, but this factor of 'adaption' seems very obvious.

Initially we were playing through their midfield with ease, Bentacur and Maddison playing on the turn. Wingers getting early ball, Udogie and Porro popping up here and there. But 30 mins into the game it became a slugfest in the middle. I doubt that's related to a managerial tactical change, just West Ham midfielders and defenders slowly realising where are players are and where they aren't.

So to go up another gear, I think it requires up being able to change up the style of play slightly. Can we start hitting the wingers with earlier ball when the midfield jams up? Switch the wingers, have Son drop deep and Maddison move around more. I have no idea what but being able to rotate to a second variety of Ange's style of football would be really handy.

Agreed.

I thought the midfield did well until Bentancur tired. West Ham tried to go toe to toe with us at the start and we soon asserted ourselves, they dropped to everyone behind the ball and we were the better team.

We lost our flow a bit in the second half and the game slowed to a crawl.

Away to West Ham this ain't a bad result or performance, but that's not say improvements aren't needed, especially in the front third.

Bissouma needs to get more into the game, I feel he's playing within himself at the moment. Kulusevski needs to find some form, he's completely gone off the boil.

On the plus side Porro was better, Bentancur was good and Johnson continues to improve.

Massive potential in that midfield 3.

 

[Misfit]

Fact of the matter is that the disappointments against Wolves and Fulham still grate for me, not last night's result.

The egg-laying is still there, and it's why we don't currently sit comfortably in 4th, but that's been there long before Ange rocked up, and with myriad different squads. The biggest part of his job over the next few years is to try and rid us of exactly that. It appears to be the hardest thing to do in football though.

 

[Trix]

Fact of the matter is that the disappointments against Wolves and Fulham still grate for me, not last night's result.

The egg-laying is still there, and it's why we don't currently sit comfortably in 4th, but that's been there long before Ange rocked up, and with myriad different squads. The biggest part of his job over the next few years is to try and rid us of exactly that. It appears to be the hardest thing to do in football though.

It's abundantly clear we need to somehow tighten up at the back. We are one goal off what City have scored this season but have concede 16 more. We are always going to give up chances with the way Ange wants us to play but set pieces for instance are costing us far more than they should be. 10 of the 44 goals we've given up this season have come from dead ball situations. We are 6th in the league as far as goals conceded from set pieces and those above us are the bottom 5. Eradicating just half of those probably see's us comfortably above Villa.

 

[HildoSpur]

It's abundantly clear we need to somehow tighten up at the back. We are one goal off what City have scored this season but have concede 16 more. We are always going to give up chances with the way Ange wants us to play but set pieces for instance are costing us far more than they should be. 10 of the 44 goals we've given up this season have come from dead ball situations. We are 6th in the league as far as goals conceded from set pieces and those above us are the bottom 5. Eradicating just half of those probably see's us comfortably above Villa.

Yeah it's quite frustrating really as you would think it's a relatively easy thing to sort with the proper coaching.

 

[Trix]

Yeah it's quite frustrating really as you would think it's a relatively easy thing to sort with the proper coaching.

Zonal marking is just not the way forward at all. At the very least you need players picking up the runners because we are giving up free headers as it stands with no pressure on the jumper at all. Even the slightest contact is sometimes enough to put the player off and stop a goal.

 

[rossdapep]

Still work to do but it was again a decent performance on the whole. Two things that are clear to me is that we need a technical penalty box CF who will gamble across his man, and who ever is dealing with set pieces needs replacing(sorry Ryan but you are failing miserably).

No point in pushing the boat out for a worldie wide player if no one is going to get on the end of what's being created.

true.

I think we need a winger/wide player who will gamble on those crosses more frequently.

Like Mane and Salah did.

Johnson has picked up but Deki spends far too much time outside the penalty area and Werner seems a little reluctant to attack the back post.

Need a wide player who thrives on chances.

 

[Trix]

true.

I think we need a winger/wide player who will gamble on those crosses more frequently.

Like Mane and Salah did.

Johnson has picked up but Deki spends far too much time outside the penalty area and Werner seems a little reluctant to attack the back post.

Need a wide player who thrives on chances.

Isn't that Sonny to some extent if we bring in a fox in the box?

 

[jurgen]

Great start, especially considering we've transitioned from an absolutely passive low block team over the summer while the other two up there have been working on the press for years.

 

[Thenewcat]

true.

I think we need a winger/wide player who will gamble on those crosses more frequently.

Like Mane and Salah did.

Johnson has picked up but Deki spends far too much time outside the penalty area and Werner seems a little reluctant to attack the back post.

Need a wide player who thrives on chances.

I can’t believe this isn’t relatively easy to coach. Johnson has already improved leaps and bounds. Werner could jave had 3 tap ins yesterday if he attacks the back post. The first two opportunities he stays behind the defender when he needs to get goal side of them, and the third (the Sarr cross) he has to bust a gut to get in front of his man, exactly as Johnson did for the goal yesterday. Even the Luton OG was lucky imo - again werner should be getting in front of his man.

I don’t think this is the CF’s job in Ange’s system. Like the early pep sides at city when Sterling got 15 tap ins at the far post, the CF should pull back to create an option and leave the crossing line clear to go from one wing to the other.

Ange’s system worked really well yesterday to create those opportunities, unfortunately timo didn’t capitalise. When Ange talked about controlling the players with joysticks and having to focus movement in the debrief I’m sure this is what he is referring to

 

[alfie103]

I can’t believe this isn’t relatively easy to coach. Johnson has already improved leaps and bounds. Werner could jave had 3 tap ins yesterday if he attacks the back post. The first two opportunities he stays behind the defender when he needs to get goal side of them, and the third (the Sarr cross) he has to bust a gut to get in front of his man, exactly as Johnson did for the goal yesterday. Even the Luton OG was lucky imo - again werner should be getting in front of his man.

I don’t think this is the CF’s job in Ange’s system. Like the early pep sides at city when Sterling got 15 tap ins at the far post, the CF should pull back to create an option and leave the crossing line clear to go from one wing to the other.

Ange’s system worked really well yesterday to create those opportunities, unfortunately timo didn’t capitalise. When Ange talked about controlling the players with joysticks and having to focus movement in the debrief I’m sure this is what he is referring to

To be fair, Ange shouldn't have to coach an international winger to attack the back post when a crossing is coming from the other wing.