Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[dricha1]

You can’t play as open as we do and expect to win every game. Don’t seem to be a plan B, subs can be bizarre at times. First doubts about Ange creeping in. Doubt he’s anywhere near top 5 for Liverpools next manager.

Top 4 is there for the taking this season, we might still do it but Villa and United are probably better odds than us now.

 

[philll]

Needs to have a Plan B.

And this is exactly why he won't be on any "big" teams' lists. When it's good, it's good but we just keep trying the same things over and over because it's the only way he knows how to play.

I remember something he said in a press conference earlier in the season about how all of the best teams have styles of play and they don't deviate from them. That's all well and good but they're *capable* of deviating from them when the circumstances demand it. Like, the managers know how to play in other ways and coach the players accordingly so it's something they can do. Liverpool have a style of play but were they camped on the half way line and throwing half the team forward when they were down to 9 men at the Lane? Were they fuck. They were sitting back and defending for their lives.

 

[cjbyid]

Not gonna really judge him first season.

Disappointing today though and the last few games. We don't really seem to know what we're supposed to be doing.

 

[Doctor Dinkey]

You can’t play as open as we do and expect to win every game. Don’t seem to be a plan B, subs can be bizarre at times. First doubts about Ange creeping in. Doubt he’s anywhere near top 5 for Liverpools next manager.

Top 4 is there for the taking this season, we might still do it but Villa and United are probably better odds than us now.

Yeah reckon we'll get reeled in by Utd. Finishing 6th

 

[King of the Lane]

We have been coached really well in terms of our attacking play and you can see that we are 2 wide forwards away from being very threatening. However, I am very worried about our defensive shape and coaching. We look awful defensively.

 

[T-Bone]

The last 3 performances are a worry. We got away with 2 of them but today was clueless. Really worrying performance. I think we have been found out.

How he left Emerson on the field is absolutely baffling

 

[mattspur1]

You can’t play as open as we do and expect to win every game. Don’t seem to be a plan B, subs can be bizarre at times. First doubts about Ange creeping in. Doubt he’s anywhere near top 5 for Liverpools next manager.

Top 4 is there for the taking this season, we might still do it but Villa and United are probably better odds than us now.

The doubts were there from day one. This type of football doesn't suit this league. It's so obviously too risky.
He has to change it or he will not be here long term, and I like the guy!

 

[dricha1]

We have been coached really well in terms of our attacking play and you can see that we are 2 wide forwards away from being very threatening. However, I am very worried about our defensive shape and coaching. We look awful defensively.

Does Ange actually coach?? Have read that he leaves the actual coaching to the other coaches and he’s the motivator, decision maker.

 

[RuskyM]

Villa had to have title winning form for half the season to be two points above us (and now have a load of injuries) and Man United are shite. Relax.

 

[Misfit]

OK. The hyperbole is beginning. Time to exit. Have a good one everyone.

 

[quackers]

You can’t play as open as we do and expect to win every game. Don’t seem to be a plan B, subs can be bizarre at times. First doubts about Ange creeping in. Doubt he’s anywhere near top 5 for Liverpools next manager.

Top 4 is there for the taking this season, we might still do it but Villa and United are probably better odds than us now.

I'm a hipster ball has been found out. Its one dimensional - side to side and hope a tap in happens at the far post.

We also play a ridiculously high line and have no defensive structure at all - relying on the athleticism of players.

Its no wonder no other club took a punt on him.

It may work in inferior leagues where you are top dogs and have the best players but not in the premier league. found out twice by gary oneil and one has to say not unfairly but by a squad with much more inferior players.

 

[Crow]

Low blocks are not the problem. You just condense the space so that when you turn it over the low block team have absolutely no passing options because you are pressing them so hard. That leads to a panicky clearance that the pressing teams wins and the pressure continues like that until the low block is broken

Unfortunately our players don't press anywhere near good enough, one player jogs to the ball carrier and the rest just stand there watching, not closing down the passing options. Teams just play through us easily and we end up halfheartedly chasing back and leaving the back line totally exposed.

The club needs to be ruthless in the transfer windows, if the players we have can't or wont press to the level demanded of the system then they can go elsewhere to earn their living.

 

[SpartanSpur]

I'm absolutely keeping the faith. I get people are frustrated but progress is never going to be a straight line.

We may only have one game a week but the disruption this season has been mad. Even this week losing BOTH starting full backs. We may have been able to cope more losing just one.

Very impressed by O'Neill today and he did another number on us. It was a dangerous game due to the stylistic match up and they were better than us man for man. End of the day though we tried that style of football and it didn't pan out.

Anges football when it works does vibe with us. He needs to snap us out of this funk but he also needs time. Arteta was woeful for 2-3 seasons really but it looks to be paying off again now. This style of football has to be properly ingrained in a squad. We're still at the baby steps phase.

Two big weeks on the training ground to reflect and work hard on things. Could be very useful timing. Let's hope we can finish the season strongly.

 

[thekneaf]

And this is exactly why he won't be on any "big" teams' lists. When it's good, it's good but we just keep trying the same things over and over because it's the only way he knows how to play.

I remember something he said in a press conference earlier in the season about how all of the best teams have styles of play and they don't deviate from them. That's all well and good but they're *capable* of deviating from them when the circumstances demand it. Like, the managers know how to play in other ways and coach the players accordingly so it's something they can do. Liverpool have a style of play but were they camped on the half way line and throwing half the team forward when they were down to 9 men at the Lane? Were they fuck. They were sitting back and defending for their lives.

And lost as they invited pressure.

I actually agree with your overall point though, just don't think that's the best example

 

[RuskyM]

I'm a hipster ball has been found out. Its one dimensional - side to side and hope a tap in happens at the far post.

We also play a ridiculously high line and have no defensive structure at all - relying on the athleticism of players.

Its no wonder no other club took a punt on him.

It may work in inferior leagues where you are top dogs and have the best players but not in the premier league. found out twice by gary oneil and one has to say not unfairly but by a squad with much more inferior players.

People bring up the high line like we're conceding goals from counter attacks where the player has the freedom of the half every week. It's just an easy thing to point at and say "that's not working" which ignores all the ways that it *does* work.

 

[THFC_SWE]

We have been coached really well in terms of our attacking play and you can see that we are 2 wide forwards away from being very threatening. However, I am very worried about our defensive shape and coaching. We look awful defensively.

The thing is, I think Anges style of football is a part of the problem. He has no plan B, so he keep going with his inverted wingbacks no matter what. Sure, Porro and Udogie looks great, but in the end, is it really worth it? In Anges style of football, the wingers should hold max width. Is it worth having our best goalscoarer so far out wide he barely get into areas where he can shoot? Is it worth having a creative player like Deki so far out wide? I feel like its easy to defend against. And I dont think new wingers will fix the problem as long as Ange can't mix it up more and be more flexible with how our wingers and wingbacks attack.

 

[yojambo]

Our defensive set pieces are terrible, press is non existent, building from the back not a patch on earlier in the season, up top looking lacklustre. And not just today.

It was a good start, but your in the big leagues now Ange. Time to go to work.

 

[GioW]

 

[quackers]

People bring up the high line like we're conceding goals from counter attacks where the player has the freedom of the half every week. It's just an easy thing to point at and say "that's not working" which ignores all the ways that it *does* work.

when has it last worked for us?

 

[mattspur1]

Not gonna really judge him first season.

Disappointing today though and the last few games. We don't really seem to know what we're supposed to be doing.

Not judge him, really?

If it continues like this, he won't last that long. This is clearly not the way to play.