This Week’s Manager Watch: Ryan Mason

[JW72]

Anyone who wants Mason to get the job is part of the problem.

So Mason is part of the problem??? I don't think of the recent posters defending Mason have said they want him to get the job, they've simply - and very eloquently - pointed out some of the qualities he clearly possesses. Whether or not he's ready to step up right now, is another question. .

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I’ve seen people say Conte had no hope and wasn’t to blame because he’s got shit players.

Then judge Mason for not turning them into world beaters 45 games into a season.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

- Every word that has come out about him has been glowing
- Every time he has faced the press he’s handled himself impeccably
- Everything he has said about what it means to be Spurs is sincere and in line with fans
- Everything he has said that we need next as a club is absolutely spot on
- Every single player has been better than pre Mason
- Every game has had green shoots of better tactics and performances for at least parts of the game

To judge him on results alone. Without context. Taking on a disillusioned squad 40+ games into an incredibly long disjointed season is ridiculous.

I’ve had pelters from day 1 of saying I’d be delighted for him to get the job but I’m sticking with it and happy to die this hill.

If he wasn’t one of our own, and had come up through the coaching ranks at any other club then yes. Absolutely. I wouldn't want him, but right now the last thing I want is another mercenary that doesn’t care what we are about or has ‘settled’ for Spurs. To para phrase Mason. If someone doesn’t want or appreciate the badge then fuck off. He’s Spurs through and through and would not accept anyone giving less than 100% for the shirt.

The ‘Levy yes man’ stuff is bollocks as well. He has been as challenging as Conte but in a much more professional and controlled manner. Speaking in a way of “Here’s how we move forward positively together” rather than “here’s why you lot are shit”

I hope the club give him a fair crack to make his case and don’t make a decision based on ‘optics’ or potential fan backlash.

Fantastic brilliant post and also good on you sticking to your guns, I think all of your points are absolutely spot on the money

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Anyone who wants Mason to get the job is part of the problem.

I’ve not seen anyone here say they want Mason to get the job. However, I will say that “those who completely rule out the idea of Mason are a bigger part of the problem”.

The club needs someone who understands the issues of the club and isn’t afraid to get to the root of them without worry about their record or their ego. They don’t need just another big reputation that we all blindly hope will be the man to change things and finally get his way with Levy (isn’t happening). They don’t need someone with a history of winning things that are totally unrelated to the challenge at our club (been there, done that, not fixed a thing). They don’t even need someone with a track record in England or a fancy new formation.

This club needs someone who can get right to the core of the issues. Understand what the board controls, understand where the wiggle room is, understand what the fans demand and understand how to nurture a better future. Nobody has said Mason is the answer. Certainly wouldn’t rule him out of being part of the solution.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I’ve not seen anyone here say they want Mason to get the job. However, I will say that “those who completely rule out the idea of Mason are a bigger part of the problem”.

The club needs someone who understands the issues of the club and isn’t afraid to get to the root of them without worry about their record or their ego. They don’t need just another big reputation that we all blindly hope will be the man to change things and finally get his way with Levy (isn’t happening). They don’t need someone with a history of winning things that are totally unrelated to the challenge at our club (been there, done that, not fixed a thing). They don’t even need someone with a track record in England or a fancy new formation.

This club needs someone who can get right to the core of the issues. Understand what the board controls, understand where the wiggle room is, understand what the fans demand and understand how to nurture a better future. Nobody has said Mason is the answer. Certainly wouldn’t rule him out of being part of the solution.

So spot on!

 

[crippsy25]

If he gets the job mate then backing him all the way and hope he succeeds but my concern isn't his capability to manage spurs, my concern is that it is too much too early and we would basically be ruining somebody who I think could be a superb manager for us in the future. I think that sometimes it is about arriving at the right time and I think with the current situation Spurs find ourselves in, we would be absolutely ruining him. I think he has shown the capability to say he'd be no worse than what Nuno produced, I think he'd do just enough to survive but I think that is an absolute waste of what he could be down the line due to putting him in too early.

In any other job I would say that being chucked in the deep end and learning to simply to survive would be an incredible learning experience but the football management world does not allow for people to develop that way. It expects immediate results and if you don't get it right first time, fans pretty much never buy into the belief that somebody deserves a 2nd chance. Look at what Poch achieved with us and the context, half the fans on here wouldn't give him a 2nd chance, so how do you expect it to go with Mason?

I hope he makes the best decision for the long run and goes elsewhere and follows in Kompany's footsteps who went to Anderlecht, Then Burnley and then instead of jumping at the first opportunity to join a big club, renewed with Burnley. He knows where he's heading and he knows that when is as important as where. You contrast that with Lampard who had a good go of it at Derby, jumped too early and has eviscerated in 3 jobs, any chance of a prem job that he doesn't earn from starting in the Championship, possibly league 1. I really think Mason can be a top manager for us but I don't think he will become that if he takes the job in this moment.

All this experience stuff is nonsense, don't we say about players if your good enough your old enough.
Not having been places and been corrupted by how it's done elsewhere is a bonus for me

 

[wrd]

All this experience stuff is nonsense, don't we say about players if your good enough your old enough.
Not having been places and been corrupted by how it's done elsewhere is a bonus for me

I was thinking about this after what I said as I've argued exactly your point in the past, that a player is never ready until you give them a chance, I would say that you're correct that experience is not the barometer of whether somebody can or can't do the job, it's a useful measuring tool but it doesn't define the person's capability to actually do the job.

I think the problem I'm really analysing is more about how they'll be judged and the impact of that judgement because, when we put a young player in. I think there should be some acceptance that they will rarely smash it from the off, if they do then it'll be inconsistent and at times they'll need a run of games, at times they'll need to be taken out the team and you can management the development accordingly.

With managers they just don't get that ability to ease in and so as I say I think you're completely correct, I think in the long run Mason would become a top manager if (I can't measure these, only those around him and the game can) he has shown he has the raw materials or not even that, the ability to learn is all you need, if we gave him the job and let him develop and accepted the rough with the smooth on the way. I just do not believe that football managers are given that. In my lifetime I've never seen them given it, too young to remember fergie being given time, it's got more impatient as I've got older both with boards and fanbases. Our board and fanbase have shown recently that we're more impatient than most and that we don't know what we want and I fear Mason would suffer the consequences of that. The current situation we're in seems a huge challenge, it's a huge risk for him to take it. I'll tell you something, typing this out makes me want to see him take it I won't lie, it's really exciting to see somebody be brave enough to take that challenge on and credit to him if he does.

I do think pragmatically, he should understand the risks and realise that he doesn't need to rush and perhaps he can instead figure out a way to arrive at the right balance between risk and capability as he develops his skillset. Like Ange coming in and setting up some strong foundations whilst Mason goes and cuts his teeth elsewhere. As I say though, I think you're completely correct and would find it exciting.

Actually to your point about being corrupted, there's a great video with Orson Welles on the power of ignorance:

 

[gaffers]

read my post again and then explain your comment.

At no point have I said he’d be my first choice.

As you've explained it, I'll pass

 

[Oh Teddy Teddy]

Expected to stay on as part of AP’s coaching team. (Ally Gold)

 

[13VanDerBale13]

Surprised he hasn’t decided to pursue those managerial opportunities, that was talked about.
Especially considering how he was saying, he’s ready to manage.

He’s been a coaching staff for a long time now, under numerous managers.

 

[Timberwolf]

Surprised he hasn’t decided to pursue those managerial opportunities, that was talked about.
Especially considering how he was saying, he’s ready to manage.

He’s been a coaching staff for a long time now, under numerous managers.

If he leaves now his best bet is probably a League 1 or a bottom-of-the-barrel Championship club. If that goes badly his first team coaching career could be in tatters and he's back to square one, or going down to League 2/Non-League to get another job. There's also the chance that no decent clubs are willing to take a punt on him and he's stuck in the wilderness, John Terry style, when he could still be here developing and learning.

Given how young he is, I think it could still make sense for him to stay at Spurs for a few more years and keep learning from another experienced coach in Ange - maybe become an actual assistant manager rather than a first team coach? From listening to the way Ange works, he's all about winning over the existing coaching staff and making them a crucial part of his team so I think he could be directly involved a lot more in the next couple of seasons than he ever was under Conte, who lets face it, probably didn't include Mason in his inner circle. Plus, Ange's philosophy clearly aligns more closely with how Mason wants to set up his teams than our past 3 managers so could be an ideal mentor for him.

If he truly feels he's ready then sure, absolutely, go out and fight for a job but 31 is still very young for a manager and I think it might still be a little early for him.

 

[Bing]

Have to say I'm a little disapointed that he has decided to stay. I feel like a fresh break may have been better for Ryan and the club.

Anyway, Ange has a massive job in changing the culture within the club. Let's hope Ryan is more of a help on that front than a hindrance.

 

[Whazam]

Have to say I'm a little disapointed that he has decided to stay. I feel like a fresh break may have been better for Ryan and the club.

Anyway, Ange has a massive job in changing the culture within the club. Let's hope Ryan is more of a help on that front than a hindrance.

I would have been surprised and disappointed if our last coaches hadn't been Mou, Nuno, and Conte.

But since they were, it makes total sense to me that he wants to stay and learn from an offensive coach and generally positive personality.

He's obviously a smart lad, and I'm sure seeing the likes of Lampard and Gerrard bite off more than they can chew too quickly has made him cautious not to rush into anything if it doesn't feel absolutely right.

 

[PCozzie]

Have to say I'm a little disapointed that he has decided to stay. I feel like a fresh break may have been better for Ryan and the club.

Anyway, Ange has a massive job in changing the culture within the club. Let's hope Ryan is more of a help on that front than a hindrance.

Can understand that, but he's still very young in managerial years and I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to work under a number of different coaches and styles before taking the leap.

I think if he's still at Spurs at the start of the 25/26 season (two more years) then it would be fair to ask if he really wants to be a manager or if he's happier as a coach within a setup. He's got time on his side and is clearly one of the good guys.

 

[Darth Vega]

I would have been surprised and disappointed if our last coaches hadn't been Mou, Nuno, and Conte.

But since they were, it makes total sense to me that he wants to stay and learn from an offensive coach and generally positive personality.

He's obviously a smart lad, and I'm sure seeing the likes of Lampard and Gerrard bite off more than they can chew too quickly has made him cautious not to rush into anything if it doesn't feel absolutely right.

Completely agree. He's also only 31. He could stay as an assistant coach for another 5 - 10 years and still have his whole career ahead of him. I think Arteta started at Arsenal at around 38/39, so Mason has bags of time. If Ange is here for a few years then I can see Mason hanging around for a couple of those before leaving partway through to go elsewhere. At that point he'll have picked up more than enough experience to manage in a lower league while still being incredibly young.

 

[Whazam]

Completely agree. He's also only 31. He could stay as an assistant coach for another 5 - 10 years and still have his whole career ahead of him. I think Arteta started at Arsenal at around 38/39, so Mason has bags of time. If Ange is here for a few years then I can see Mason hanging around for a couple of those before leaving partway through to go elsewhere. At that point he'll have picked up more than enough experience to manage in a lower league while still being incredibly young.

Agreed. And although Arteta could be used as a counter-argument to Gerrard and Lampard, I'm sure he knows he won't have the same trust and patience Arteta got from Arsenal.

 

[allatsea]

Agreed. And although Arteta could be used as a counter-argument to Gerrard and Lampard, I'm sure he knows he won't have the same trust and patience Arteta got from Arsenal.

He got trust from Arsenal but not the Arsenal fans. Not many clubs would continue to support the Manager when it seems all the fan base had turned against him. Certainly not Spurs.

 

[Johnny J]

I know Mason is highly rated inside the club, but I do wonder if our players need completely new voices from the coaching staff. I do think we need a fresh approach. Maybe Mason can still be part of that.

 

[spursfan77]

I know Mason is highly rated inside the club, but I do wonder if our players need completely new voices from the coaching staff. I do think we need a fresh approach. Maybe Mason can still be part of that.

I actually think that if there is a lot of change behind the scenes that it will be good to keep him around. I think it’s a good move.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

I can imagine that Mason was pretty encouraged by the vision Ange laid out. It seems like a lot of the small things Mason tried to do at the end of the season were geared to being the foundations for this kind of coach (almost like he was aware that Ange was coming for a while before season ended). It’s a coach that wants to play football, which ultimately is what Mason wants to do. It’s another opportunity to learn from a coach and build in some of those fundamentals into his own thinking.

Also, Ange has mentioned that he likes to be challenged by his coaches and evolve his methods. I can see how that would be refreshing for a coach like Mason who probably had a lot of his thoughts batted away by Conte (that’s a big presumption but just based on the fact Conte always seemed pretty set in his ways).

Ange was also in the situation that Mason is in where he went into management at the club he played for and was suddenly in charge of all the players he played for. Mason is mates with Kane and others and it’s probably a good experience to have someone like Ange around who has been in that situation.

Mason has a lot of qualities but clearly still things to learn. Hopefully he can get a couple of good years with Ange, really develop the skills needed to be able to fully implement and attacking style to a team and then take that with him to a new club as manager.