Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[Johnny J]

Just as I expected

Well, one thing is for sure: if he stays stubborn and we keep conceding like we are, he won't be around long.

 

[mil1lion]

Sorry but you are so so wrong on this. There's a reason no other top teams defend with an all out zonal set up. It doesn't work, and this has been proven time and time again. We had a set piece coach under Conte and we were one of the best teams in the league on set pieces. You don't need to be a tactical genius to see this is happening by design and is not down to the players losing runners. They aren't picking them up in the first place FFS, let alone track them. They are set in a semi circle around the keeper and they hold that position throughout. That is by instruction, you can see this because it's the same every single time.

Well first of all I haven't said we don't need a better set piece coach and I haven't said zonal marking is ok. I said we also need better quality players to defend them as well as just a new coach. We don't have good enough quality when marking for me. It's not like none of them are marking at the corners either. It's that they're not strong enough at it. How many can we honestly say are strong in the air in this team or stay tight to their marker? City and Arsenal have done well to play a centre back at full back to allow an extra man in the air. Add to that Rodri/Rice who add that extra physical presence. We simply don't have enough quality defending them either, even if we go man to man. One thing Conte was good at was set pieces and he not only had a set piece coach but he had more physicality in his squad. Even swapping Son for Kane in our box makes a big difference.

 

[king_yid]

Ange’s stubbornness on set pieces is massively concerning. That quote is unforgivable — it’s as though he’s in denial that there is a real problem here.

The club hierarchy should force a set piece specialist on him. It should not be his choice. If he resigns in protest, so be it, because persisting with the status quo would inevitably be his undoing anyway.

I think he maybe suggests the players should wise up and get goalside. The whole point of zonal is you can concentrate on your zone. There was a serous lack of that going on today.

 

[midoshairband]

Just as I expected

where we are as a team? what does that even mean in response to the question.

and surely closing the gap would be made easier if we could fucking defend set pieces properly!

 

[mill]

If he doesn't think we have a problem with set pieces (defensively, especially), the alarm bells turn into genuine concern.

Hopefully that’s just what he’s says in public rather than genuinely believes

 

[spurs mental]

Jesus Christ, how can anyone watch that game and not see progress?

The set-piece defending is pathetic and it's insane we haven't done anything about it, but my God, that was one of the most unfair results I've seen this season.

We completely dominated them, created the best chances (did they do anything of note except for Saka's goal?), were unlucky with some crucial decisions, and were by far the better team.

We had 2 shots on target all game. Raya had barely had a tap to do until he passed it to Romero, other than catch the crosses we carressed into the box.

We were good, Arsenal sat in, they were fully aware of out struggles to break down a solid organised defence and our ability to concede on the counter attack.

 

[Mannnos]

Just as I expected

At least put the whole quote. "Our defensive set pieces for those two were very poor". Its not like his head is up his ass

 

[arunspurs]

Being in denial is making this situation even worse.

Of the gate, you are at a disadvantage - 'Proud of boys, we played some awesome dominating football, shame we let in 2 pesky front post goals in corner'....

I am not over reacting by saying this. If this is his attitude as a coach in PL for set pieces, he better resign today or even Levy sack him by summer. If PL manager does not even acknowledge this as a issue, he has got to go. Whats the point playing rest of the 88 minutes well...

 

[philll]

Absolutely but it's the easiest thing to fix without months of training.

Exactly. Get better at defending set pieces and concede fewer goals. It's such an obvious area to improve with the least effort. Swallow your pride, Ange, and get serious people in to coach set pieces.

 

[BorjeSpurs]

Love you Ange and the way you have principles that you stick by but corners is not a hill you need to die on.

 

[Tucker]

He's not forced to play bang average players though is he?

He could pick some one from the youth set up, ready as they may be or not, and it would earn him so extra kudos and earn that young player some valuable game time and experience.

I don't know if we have that player in the youth teams to replace PEH or Bissouma, but he could pick someone other than Maddison or Son too, who have been equally awful.

Laughable that you think any manager would throw in a youngster against Arsenal at home in one of the key positions.

Genuinely laughable. This isn’t Fifa.

 

[13VanDerBale13]

At least put the whole quote. "Our defensive set pieces for those two were very poor". Its not like his head is up his ass

View attachment 140100

It’s one thing acknowledging it’s poor, is another not doing anything about it or, replying ‘no’, when asked if it’s a big issue.

 

[Garbob]

Disagree, it's poor from the players who let their runners go. You have to be intelligent at set pieces, if players disrupt the keeper then someone needs to step in. Nobody leads us in those situations. All the set piece coaching in the world is left aside once the whistle blows and then it's down to the players. The players look lost but top players take control.

We were strong defending set pieces when gio vio was here. I would agree with you if it was 2 or 3 games but not over a course of a season. The players are clearly doing what they are instructed to do which has been pretty all season and it’s been poor

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Well first of all I haven't said we don't need a better set piece coach and I haven't said zonal marking is ok. I said we also need better quality players to defend them as well as just a new coach. We don't have good enough quality when marking for me. It's not like none of them are marking at the corners either. It's that they're not strong enough at it. How many can we honestly say are strong in the air in this team or stay tight to their marker? City and Arsenal have done well to play a centre back at full back to allow an extra man in the air. Add to that Rodri/Rice who add that extra physical presence. We simply don't have enough quality defending them either, even if we go man to man. One thing Conte was good at was set pieces and he not only had a set piece coach but he had more physicality in his squad. Even swapping Son for Kane in our box makes a big difference.

You don't mark players in a zonal system.

That's the whole point.

 

[Joely]

This is extremely worrying comment...
If he cant see what we fans see or opponents see....this isnt going to end well

Think he needed to be a bit more diplomatic and could have answered the question better. Something along the lines of 'always disappointing to concede from two pieces and we'll have a look back and see where we can improve' would probably have sufficed if he didn't want to full out acknowledge we have an issue with defensive set pieces.

Sometimes can be a bit stand offish and stubborn in his answers when questioned on certain things and don't think that'll help him in the wrong run. This is the highest level Ange has managed at and up against teams/managers who will exploit every little weakness which maybe wasn't the case in previous jobs.

 

[ljinko888]

Well first of all I haven't said we don't need a better set piece coach and I haven't said zonal marking is ok. I said we also need better quality players to defend them as well as just a new coach. We don't have good enough quality when marking for me. It's not like none of them are marking at the corners either. It's that they're not strong enough at it. How many can we honestly say are strong in the air in this team or stay tight to their marker? City and Arsenal have done well to play a centre back at full back to allow an extra man in the air. Add to that Rodri/Rice who add that extra physical presence. We simply don't have enough quality defending them either, even if we go man to man. One thing Conte was good at was set pieces and he not only had a set piece coach but he had more physicality in his squad. Even swapping Son for Kane in our box makes a big difference.

Counterpoint: When managers like Dyche and over the years Allardyce, Moyes and Pulis take over teams in trouble at the bottom the most noticeable thing that happens is they handle set pieces well. Because they know their players aren't good enough to get playing expansive open play football so lots of time is spent on set pieces.

We clearly don't spend enough time on defending set pieces.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Laughable that you think any manager would throw in a youngster against Arsenal at home in one of the key positions.

Genuinely laughable. This isn’t Fifa.

Danny Rose.

 

[GutBucket]

Hope he said that just not to shit on Jedinak or whoever, otherwise it's delusional.

 

[spurs mental]

Laughable that you think any manager would throw in a youngster against Arsenal at home in one of the key positions.

Genuinely laughable.

You're picking up on the wrong point completely.

All i was responding to was the comment that suggests he's forced to pick players.

He's not forced to pick Maddison or Son or Bissouma. But he picks them anyway.

The only reason I mentioned youth was because that option is there but he hasn't utilised it. I'm not saying it had to be this exact game.

Laughable that you would think I meant that. Genuinely laughable.

 

[bungle4]

Why all the knicker wetting about the manager not publicly admitting what our glaring weakness is (and throwing one of his coaches under the bus at the same time)?