Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[allatsea]

Richardson was so fucking frustrating, we instantly looked more of a threat when he went off. Our squad needs so much fucking work.

Yet we sit 5th in the PL table. Imagine how high we could be when Ange has the squad he wants and has had time to work with them.

 

[Gassin's finest]

It's not concerning. We won't win every match and we are f*cked with injuries. Chill Winston.

I mean... it's this, right? Most of our vastly superior first teamers are out, and we're having to lumber on with the same players who've been demonstrably shite for years now. It wouldn't matter if we play a low block, high press, or 4-4-fackin-2. They're rubbish.

 

[Metalhead]

I mean... it's this, right? Most of our vastly superior first teamers are out, and we're having to lumber on with the same players who've been demonstrably shite for years now. It wouldn't matter if we play a low block, high press, or 4-4-fackin-2. They're rubbish.

Had to chuckle at that last bit.

 

[For the love of Spurs]

I remember being shocked when we sold Sanchez late on with no one coming in.

I thought we'll pay for that.

Now I know Sanchez was far from the complete CB, but he did have some bright spells....and he's a lot better than the current options

yeh I actually thought it was totally reckless, we would be reliant for Romero and VDV being fit every game til Jan to make it work. It looked like the act of a gambler not a professional football club.

 

[HildoSpur]

we really ought to treat the Bournemouth game as a nothing to lose situation.

play Philips or Dorrington as RCB.

Play a 6 who can actually show for and play the ball. As crazy as it is I think I would play GLC there. At least he can receive and move the ball and at least he’s fresh.

See what happens. Give Donley a shot at the 10.

This is real life not football manager

 

[Gb160]

Yet we sit 5th in the PL table. Imagine how high we could be when Ange has the squad he wants and has had time to work with them.

Which is mainly why im so chilled about things right now.
My only concern is Ange can't do this, Levy has to do this.

 

[Metalhead]

yeh I actually thought it was totally reckless, we would be reliant for Romero and VDV being fit every game til Jan to make it work. It looked like the act of a gambler not a professional football club.

Maybe it was a case of getting him off the books when an opportunity arose.

 

[THOWIG]

Have you seen Emerson royal play at Centre half...

He’s woeful I know, but I haven’t seen the younger defenders so really can’t comment. I do find it really strange that he won’t even pick one central defender. Davies I think has been excellent.

 

[For the love of Spurs]

Maybe it was a case of getting him off the books when an opportunity arose.

it might be but that is such a poor way to run things. Have 2 CB’s only and hope neither get injured or suspended, it’s almost amateur. I have no issue with Sanchez gone if we had a replacement.

We can’t reverse time but I now expect a CB to be given to Ange at the very start of the window. This club needs to stop treating essentials as a luxury, we’d probably be 6-12 points better and in a title race even as a dark horse if we hadn’t been left with such a exploitable big hole at the back. I can’t blame Royal or Davies as they are full backs in emergency cover.

Ange has been a breath of fresh air and to be fair the injury crisis is the worse I can remember but the CB situation is on the board. We have done this so many times in the past as well, leaving holes in the squad that always come back to bite. We don’t learn and it’s very frustrating.

In my working life this behaviour I have seen so many times. Projects with 80% of what they need, concerns raised and ignored then a failed project and blame passed around. I have also seen many projects properly resourced and almost always achieve their goals or most of them. This club always appears to be a 70-80% resourced project.

 

[Metalhead]

it might be but that is such a poor way to run things. Have 2 CB’s only and hope neither get injured or suspended, it’s almost amateur. I have no issue with Sanchez gone if we had a replacement.

We can’t reverse time but I now expect a CB to be given to Ange at the very start of the window. This club needs to stop treating essentials as a luxury, we’d probably be 6-12 points better and in a title race even as a dark horse if we hadn’t been left with such a exploitable big hole at the back. I can’t blame Royal or Davies as they are full backs in emergency cover.

Ange has been a breath of fresh air and to be fair the injury crisis is the worse I can remember but the CB situation is on the board. We have done this so many times in the past as well, leaving holes in the squad that always come back to bite. We don’t learn and it’s very frustrating.

Certainly there is no excuse - we're not waiting to get someone off the books.

 

[yido_number1]

I think its a sign of how far ange has taken us that we have so many out injured and suspended and we've gone to Brighton expecting to beat them and being disappointed not to.

Hopefully we can give him the strength in depth that's needed and have a real go at the second half of the season with players coming back.

 

[Nebby]

yeh I actually thought it was totally reckless, we would be reliant for Romero and VDV being fit every game til Jan to make it work. It looked like the act of a gambler not a professional football club.

This is getting so boring. We have cover in every position. You might not like the options, but to turn your own dislike of players into an attack on the club’s professionalism is daft.

 

[PaulM]

I think its a sign of how far ange has taken us that we have so many out injured and suspended and we've gone to Brighton expecting to beat them and being disappointed not to.

Hopefully we can give him the strength in depth that's needed and have a real go at the second half of the season with players coming back.

Brighton were missing 9 themselves last night. I can't remember going to Brighton and not being very hopeful of a win.

 

[Danny1]

Is Ange immune to criticism, no.
Does it need to be tapered with the knowledge of our injuries, yes.

Romero
Van De Ven
Bissouma
Bentancur
Maddison
Sessegnon
Solomon
Perisic

For me, that is 5 first team players out, all who are massively integral to the way Ange wants to play.

This season is a bit of a write off for me anyway. Historically Anges teams struggle in the first season getting used to the football, add our injuries plus AFCON, plus Asian Cup then it means this season is one that we just need to get through, and if we can get CL football then that’s fantastic. I really don’t have that many expectations and am just enjoying our football to be honest.

Hopefully next season we will have less injuries, plus additions in the 2 transfer windows and we will be in a much better place to really push on.

 

[RuskyM]

Ultimately, the difference yesterday was two daft penalties. Annoying? Yeah. Seismic? No.

I think we need a more clinical lad up top, but not necessarily a CF; the way Salah came in and just added so much to Liverpool. A proper wide forward would make a lot of the annoying cuts inside feel much more dangerous.

 

[Nebby]

He’s woeful I know, but I haven’t seen the younger defenders so really can’t comment. I do find it really strange that he won’t even pick one central defender. Davies I think has been excellent.

Agreed. And it was daft not to start Dier last night.

 

[For the love of Spurs]

This is getting so boring. We have cover in every position. You might not like the options, but to turn your own dislike of players into an attack on the club’s professionalism is daft.

Not attacking Davies or Royal, they are doing their very best as full backs covering CB, I have no issue with our players who are giving their best.

 

[FrankSpencer]

Brighton were missing 9 themselves last night. I can't remember going to Brighton and not being very hopeful of a win.

We also had the following internationals start in our team.

Richarlison
Kulusevski
Johnson
PEH
Sarr
Son
Davies
Udogie

The CB situation is obviously not good, but the team we put out was still more than strong enough to do better than we saw (especially given BHA’s injury issues too)!

 

[hop22]

Is Ange immune to criticism, no.
Does it need to be tapered with the knowledge of our injuries, yes.

Romero
Van De Ven
Bissouma
Bentancur
Maddison
Sessegnon
Solomon
Perisic

For me, that is 5 first team players out, all who are massively integral to the way Ange wants to play.

This season is a bit of a write off for me anyway. Historically Anges teams struggle in the first season getting used to the football, add our injuries plus AFCON, plus Asian Cup then it means this season is one that we just need to get through, and if we can get CL football then that’s fantastic. I really don’t have that many expectations and am just enjoying our football to be honest.

Hopefully next season we will have less injuries, plus additions in the 2 transfer windows and we will be in a much better place to really push on.

No need to write the season off. Still only four points behind the Arse, who are having a great season (if you trust the pundits). With Key-players coming back from Injuries and new players coming in, still anything is possible. Bournemouth will be very tough but I think a top 5 finish is very likely. Nobody thought, that Ange's style of football would work that quickly. We just need to carry on!

 

[DanielJohnCosta]

Both Phillips and Dorrington are better on the ball than Emerson especially Dorrington imo although Phillips has other attributes.

As I said earlier if the plan is to cement this formula into the players brains so it becomes second nature, what's the point of doing that to a back up right back who has no long term future in that role. Of he were doing an adequate job right now I'd understand, but he isn't.

As I say I don't know if Alfie is the answer. I do know 100% that Emerson is not.

how would we even know this?