Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

fishhhandaricecake · Apr 2, 2024

Some ridiculous disappointing knee jerking, OTT reactions and comments in the match thread tonight.

We are clearly on an upward trajectory under Ange but this season has been incredibly disrupted, it’s only now we’ve started to get all of our players back and near to match fitness.

Yet in a managers first season with new players and losing Kane and an entirely new style of play, some of you seem to expect us to win every single game and dominate and thrash every single team, I have news for you, that ain’t going to happen, not even City,Liverpool or Arsenal are doing that this season, the PL is tough and we are only 3/4 of one season in with a new manager and a new group of young players.

There will be ups and downs and good performances and lesser performances, but overall the style of play and work rate and attitude and playing to win and nice football and dominating the ball and coming back from behind to win games etc etc these are all very positive things to build on.

It’s very clear that the squad still needs work and Ange has said that is the case.

Honestly some of you need to take a step back sometimes and read what you are writing and see the bigger picture here.

Anyways rant over but I and others have said repeatedly from day 1 this season there will be ups and downs, tonight wasn’t even really that much of a down, it was a tough away derby match against a 7th place side who recently won a European trophy and who in the pouring rain with a low block are not easy to play against, could we have played better? Yes? Is it the end of the world and drama that some of you are making out? Absolutely not.

Ange fully fully has my backing and I’m excited to see this journey continue especially if we can hopefully get him some new quality attacking player upgrades this summer.

Tucker · Apr 2, 2024

Bluto Blutarsky said:
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.

Gassin's finest said:
Also meh - I'm starting to have questions.

Surprised at you both.

Fickle.

ajspurs · Apr 2, 2024

Just need to improve the level of quality in certain areas IMO. I'm really frustrated with the result tonight, but I actually think we did a lot right. Where we really came up short was with the lack of composure, assuredness and ability in the final third.

I liked a lot of the build up play today, but it was so frustrating to see us as loose with the ball as we were in those attacking areas at times.

fishhhandaricecake · Apr 2, 2024

ajspurs said:
Just need to improve the level of quality in certain areas IMO. I'm really frustrated with the result tonight, but I actually think we did a lot right. Where we really came up short was with the lack of composure, assuredness and ability in the final third.

I liked a lot of the build up play today, but it was so frustrating to see us as loose with the ball as we were in those attacking areas at times.

Exactly this

Joely · Apr 2, 2024

This season was always going to be work in progress. New manager, a number of new players in the starting 11....was never going to be straight forward. Ange will have learnt a lot so far and think he'll be quite single minded in what we need this summer, specifically the profile of player he wants.

I think we currently have a couple of positions where Ange is playing players who probably don't fully fit the profile of player he wants in that position. Good players, but maybe not natural fit's for Ange's style. Not an overnight process of getting the right profile of player in but in the last two windows we are headed in the right directions.

Ange knows he needs specific qualities from the players in his system and get the impression there's no middle ground with him......you can be a good player but you either have the qualities he needs or you don't. With that in mind, wouldn't be totally surprised to see a surprise exit or two in the next few windows.

mattstev2000 · Apr 2, 2024

People talk about the squad, but I think it's the best it's been in a number of years.

There are no obvious gaps anymore like there was at CB before we signed VDV and Dragusin. Some better backup fullbacks would be good and another midfielder, maybe a more productive forward but honestly none of the glaring holes that used to be present.

I think at the moment we're underperforming a bit.

SA_Spurs · Apr 2, 2024

fishhhandaricecake said:
Some ridiculous disappointing knee jerking in the match thread tonight.

We are clearly on an upward trajectory under Ange but this season has been incredibly disrupted, it’s only now we’ve started to get all of our players back and near to match fitness.

Yet in a managers first season with new players and losing Kane and an entirely new style of play, some of you seem to expect us to win every single game and dominate and thrash every single team, I have news for you, that ain’t going to happen, not even City,Liverpool or Arsenal are doing that this season, the PL is tough and we are only 3/4 of one season in with a new manager and a new group of young players.

There will be ups and downs and good performances and lesser performances, but overall the style of play and work rate and attitude and playing to win and nice football and dominating the ball and coming back from behind to win games etc etc these are all very positive things to build on.

It’s very clear that the squad still needs work and Ange has said that is the case.

Honestly some of you need to take a step back sometimes and read what you are writing and see the bigger picture here.

Anyways rant over but I and others have said repeatedly from day 1 this season there will be ups and downs, tonight wasn’t even really that much of a down, it was a tough away derby match against a 7th place side who recently won a European trophy and who in the pouring rain with a low block are not easy to play against, could we have played better? Yes? Is it the end of the world and drama that some of you are making out? Absolutely not.

Ange fully fully has my backing and I’m excited to see this journey continue especially if we can hopefully get him some new quality attacking player upgrades this summer.

good post, but your reference to knee jerking is frankly offside. Quite simply, you are choosing to to see glass half full whilst others are choosing to see it half empty. I implore you to be objective - go see many games where we played with a depleted side, no depth on bench and played better quality football. This excuse of players coming back from injury is weak - we are playing 1 game per week - at most! You also assume that those of us 'knee-jerking' are NOT behind the team or players - you must be joking mate?

I support the team fully but it's getting pretty tiring when people on the forum can't make critical posts. I'm not Ange out or rubbishing players week in week out. I support the club - that means I support EVERY player that is on our books, I want us to win every game we play - I don't expect it, but I want it, like most other fans. It's just tiring when rose tinted glasses refuse to acknowledge that Ange is now starting to show he has some deficiencies or at the very least, some favourites (he played deki all through his bad form and dropped him for this game, he continues to select Biss despite his poor form, equally, he's played madders whenever available, despite poor form and lack of output. He's refused to adapt his tactics, even though many can now see clearly our game plan (and the fact we have misfiring players who can't execute it). What is the end game? Is he trying to prove to DL he needs better quality players? Is he trying his best not to use the full squad at his disposal but complaining about injuries or tiredness? I honesty don't know BUT I respect him as our coach and I will support him & the players. Maybe his masterplan will be revealed at the end of the season in the transfer window when certain players are moved on?

In saying this, it's pretty annoying to see our talent not being given a chance (GLC, Donley, even PEH) and me voicing my opinion doesn't make me any less of a supporter or make me someone who wants us to thrash every team we play against. I just want to know we are leaving no stone unturned in our quest for victory and honesty our last 10-12 performances don't show that at all - its shows us going backward at at alarming rate, despite getting more & more players back from injury. We've not learned from mistakes we've made earlier in the season (us conceding goals from corners is shambolic - especially with Vic still standing behind opposition players which prevents him getting the ball! Same with our man marking / zonal at set pieces).

You wouldn't like it if I called you someone who refuses to acknowledge reality, equally, stop calling other posters knee-jerkers cos their opinion is different to yours. Again, I'm no less a fan or supporter than you are and AGAIN, I want this team and this coach to succeed - desperately! But we need to call out poor performances and poor tactics, coaching etc when it happens. Same with good performances and outstanding tactics / coaching. Criticism, if viewed constructively, is after all how we all get better and improve - in all walks of life.

COYS and strength to us all for the remaining matches of this season - it's gonna be a rollercoaster of note!

EssexSH27 · Apr 3, 2024

I went back on my notes for my pre season predictions I made in august. Had us 8th.

The belly aching tonight screams to me that Ange has been a victim of his own success.

yankspurs · Apr 3, 2024

essexyiddo27 said:
I went back on my notes for my pre season predictions I made in august. Had us 8th.

The belly aching tonight screams to me that Ange has been a victim of his own success.

The only criticism I’d have tonight would be I think a bit more adventure with the subs would have helped. I don’t think going like for like was the move with 1st subs. Probably could have taken off Bissouma instead of Maddison.

Misfit · Apr 3, 2024

From memory I was among the more optimistic on here before the season started and had a top 6 finish as doable.

Anyone disappointed to the point of 'questioning' things RN is merely a victim of the mild euphoria we all felt during the first 12 games IMO.

rossdapep · Apr 3, 2024

ajspurs said:
Just need to improve the level of quality in certain areas IMO. I'm really frustrated with the result tonight, but I actually think we did a lot right. Where we really came up short was with the lack of composure, assuredness and ability in the final third.

I liked a lot of the build up play today, but it was so frustrating to see us as loose with the ball as we were in those attacking areas at times.

Yeah exactly.

You can see what we are about and that is often the trickier aspect to get drilled in.

Look at Ten Hag. Look at Poch.

We are about 70% there.

The final third, decision making, risky touches in build up, switching off at moments and defending set pieces are all things that may take a bit of time.

But we certainly are not struggling with how we play or approach a game (mostly).

I'll say it again.

Arteta's Arsenal were poor largely for 2 plus years. They were very ineffective in the final third and gave up sloppy goals.

We are ahead of his early period there

Gassin's finest · Apr 3, 2024

Tucker said:
Surprised at you both.

Fickle.

Nah, he needs to adapt to this league. Love the swashbuckling style but too naive.

fishhhandaricecake · Apr 3, 2024

SA_Spurs said:
good post, but your reference to knee jerking is frankly offside. Quite simply, you are choosing to to see glass half full whilst others are choosing to see it half empty. I implore you to be objective - go see many games where we played with a depleted side, no depth on bench and played better quality football. This excuse of players coming back from injury is weak - we are playing 1 game per week - at most! You also assume that those of us 'knee-jerking' are NOT behind the team or players - you must be joking mate?

I support the team fully but it's getting pretty tiring when people on the forum can't make critical posts. I'm not Ange out or rubbishing players week in week out. I support the club - that means I support EVERY player that is on our books, I want us to win every game we play - I don't expect it, but I want it, like most other fans. It's just tiring when rose tinted glasses refuse to acknowledge that Ange is now starting to show he has some deficiencies or at the very least, some favourites (he played deki all through his bad form and dropped him for this game, he continues to select Biss despite his poor form, equally, he's played madders whenever available, despite poor form and lack of output. He's refused to adapt his tactics, even though many can now see clearly our game plan (and the fact we have misfiring players who can't execute it). What is the end game? Is he trying to prove to DL he needs better quality players? Is he trying his best not to use the full squad at his disposal but complaining about injuries or tiredness? I honesty don't know BUT I respect him as our coach and I will support him & the players. Maybe his masterplan will be revealed at the end of the season in the transfer window when certain players are moved on?

In saying this, it's pretty annoying to see our talent not being given a chance (GLC, Donley, even PEH) and me voicing my opinion doesn't make me any less of a supporter or make me someone who wants us to thrash every team we play against. I just want to know we are leaving no stone unturned in our quest for victory and honesty our last 10-12 performances don't show that at all - its shows us going backward at at alarming rate, despite getting more & more players back from injury. We've not learned from mistakes we've made earlier in the season (us conceding goals from corners is shambolic - especially with Vic still standing behind opposition players which prevents him getting the ball! Same with our man marking / zonal at set pieces).

You wouldn't like it if I called you someone who refuses to acknowledge reality, equally, stop calling other posters knee-jerkers cos their opinion is different to yours. Again, I'm no less a fan or supporter than you are and AGAIN, I want this team and this coach to succeed - desperately! But we need to call out poor performances and poor tactics, coaching etc when it happens. Same with good performances and outstanding tactics / coaching. Criticism, if viewed constructively, is after all how we all get better and improve - in all walks of life.

COYS and strength to us all for the remaining matches of this season - it's gonna be a rollercoaster of note!

When I say knee jerking, I’m referring to the OTT posts in the match thread, of which there were plenty, constructive criticism is fine, posters saying things like Ange has no clue and no plan and we haven’t improved and the style of play hasn’t changed and our performances are consistently crap etc etc is just a load of rubbish, people throwing their toys out of the pram because we didn’t win a difficult away game and aren’t understanding that it is a process and it takes time the same as it took, Pep, Klopp and Arteta time to be consistent and with much bigger budgets than Ange has had so far.

It’s also nothing to do with half full vs half empty, with some posters it’s just Impatience and unrealistic expectations just the same as when they write off players before giving them more than a few matches.

Anyway onto the next one and COYS.

spurs mental · Apr 3, 2024

We need a fix to the teams that park the bus and camp on their own box. .

A striker like Richy was needed far earlier. We got in so many great areas to put the ball in the box with Johnson and Porro but couldn't cross because it was Sonny and Timo in there. Richy would have given us that option sooner and pinned them back further giving them something else to think about.

I think the midfield selection was right last night but the subs were poor. Madders was dictating when he took him off.

I'm still scratching my head at the last two games where we've been camped in both Luton's and West Ham's half though, when we get in areas around the box, why we don't shoot or take a chance to shoot. We have the most lethal finisher in the world who consistently over performs his xG by a country mile compared to the next player in Son, we get him in good positions regularly but don't see him shoot. Even earlier in the season we saw a few more but they've become non existent since about November. It's strange to me.

And it's one thing that we're definitely getting wrong, whether it's Ange telling them to work the options or the players deciding not to, I don't know. Probably a bit of both because we are not decisive enough in the final third

Trix · Apr 3, 2024

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.

philll · Apr 3, 2024

Trix said:
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.

Agree about set pieces. We're really bad at them at both ends but especially defending. Every time West Ham got as much as a throw-in in the final third it was panic stations and I'd love to know what the plan was for Zouma's goal - it was either a shit plan, shit execution or a combination of the two.

We need to bite the bullet and sort that out. I'm sure Ange's justification for not having a dedicated set piece coach was that he thought they could do it themselves but they very obviously can't.

Tucker · Apr 3, 2024

Trix said:
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.

Mason does the attacking and Jedinak does the defending set pieces. They both need to up their game a bit. It’s such an important part of the game.

Tucker · Apr 3, 2024

fishhhandaricecake said:
When I say knee jerking, I’m referring to the OTT posts in the match thread, of which there were plenty, constructive criticism is fine, posters saying things like Ange has no clue and no plan and we haven’t improved and the style of play hasn’t changed and our performances are consistently crap etc etc is just a load of rubbish, people throwing their toys out of the pram because we didn’t win a difficult away game and aren’t understanding that it is a process and it takes time the same as it took, Pep, Klopp and Arteta time to be consistent and with much bigger budgets than Ange has had so far.

It’s also nothing to do with half full vs half empty, with some posters it’s just Impatience and unrealistic expectations just the same as when they write off players before giving them more than a few matches.

Anyway onto the next one and COYS.

I usually give knee jerking in the match thread the benefit of the doubt. It can be really frustrating when things don’t click, and that’s been true under every single manager we’ve had. Match thread is a place to let off steam a little.

felmani26 · Apr 3, 2024

Trix said:
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.

A 'worldie wide player' is getting on the end of those low crosses in to which Werner was dawdling around and not sniffing out space.

Still think to where we want to be in Ange's system the whole front line needs upgrading, including phasing out Son gradually or at least not utilise him as much down the middle.

philll · Apr 3, 2024

Spurs conceded their 10th goal from a set-piece this season in this game as Kurt Zouma rose unmarked in the box to head home the equaliser. That's the sixth-worst record in the division - and five out of those six worse teams are relegation candidates.

Postecoglou's side are also in the bottom three for Expected Goals conceded from set-plays. It is relegation-standard defending in this department.

Tottenham have a set-piece problem as Alexander Isak shines again for Newcastle - Premier League hits and misses

Plus: Everton scramble a draw at St James Park - but is the same result enough for Burnley at this stage of the season? West Ham are still missing a striker, is Morgan Gibbs-White the answer after a stunning display for Nottingham Forest?

www.skysports.com

Forums

What's new

Matches

Sportsbook

Members

Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

Well-Known Member

Shitehawk

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Enic Out

President of The Niles Crane Fanclub

Well-Known Member

C'est diabolique

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Shitehawk

Shitehawk

SC Supporter

Well-Known Member

Similar threads