Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[ljinko888]

I don't think it is at all coinicidental our form especially on the road has turned to crap with an out of form Bissouma being asked to control the entire space between the edge of our box and the halfway line on his own. Our front three can't hold the ball up to save their life. It's not their game. So if Maddison and Bentancur are bombing forward the opposition in one interception and pass takes out 5 Spurs players

 

[Kirito]

There is an echo in here

 

[only1waddle]

That's fine but Klopp and Pep constantly tweak their systems too. They've both changed it up in the last 2 seasons alone.

We are so naive it's outrageous

They've been in the league years though, slightly different scenario.

 

[ItsBoris]

I don't think it is at all coinicidental our form especially on the road has turned to crap with an out of form Bissouma being asked to control the entire space between the edge of our box and the halfway line on his own. Our front three can't hold the ball up to save their life. It's not their game. So if Maddison and Bentancur are bombing forward the opposition in one interception and pass takes out 5 Spurs players

it actually takes out 7 or 8, because Bissouma is often the one losing it and Porro/Udogie are in front of the ball too. Even Romero is ahead of the ball sometimes lol.
That’s why I say we don’t play like City at all. They use players behind the ball to open teams up too

 

[ajspurs]

Suppose we won’t know until we give Ange at least one more big transfer window and more time.

There have been positive signs from it and also concerning signs.

I think if we had a top class LW then they’d have headed that Werner chance back across and into the goal to make it 1-0 and it’s a completely different game for example.

Also we have to remember that Sarr is 21, VDV is 22, Udogie is 22, Johnson is 22 etc so this team and these players also still need time to develop.

For me the personnel issues are clear:
1. ST - Son can’t play against a low block/back 5, sign a top class proper striker who can hold up the ball and move son back to LW next season
2. WF - we need to sign 1 ideally 2 top top class wing forwards to can cross and score, Werner is far too wasteful to be a starting LW and Johnson is still young and inconsistent albeit a great prospect.
3. DM - Biss and PEH neither seem to be the answer, compare them to likes of Rice and Rodri etc they are miles off what we need especially in a system like this
4. Back-up creative AM who Ange will use. Since his injury comeback, Maddison has been well below par, Ange doesn’t play Lo Celso and Kulu isn’t really proven quality in that area
5 4th CB
6 Improved CM option compared to PEH & Skipp
7 & 8!Better back-up RB & LB if Porro & Udogie get injured
9 Younger more suitable back-up GK to Vicario

1-5 are a must this summer.
6-9 are needed at some point.

And then we will know if Ange needs to tweak his system a bit or if it isn’t sustainable at this level but I think it’ll be fine with more time and better players, it took Pep, Klopp, Arteta etc all a few seasons for it to click and with far better players and bigger budgets than Ange has.

I do agree, and I'm most certainly not calling for him to be sacked. To be fair it is mostly the openness that I have a problem with. I really don't like the massive space we consistently leave behind the fullbacks, and I think that will come back to bite us irrespective of who we have out on the pitch.

If for instance we decided we were going to keep one full back behind, and at least have a back three present most of the time and to go along with an accomplished CDM, I'd instantly be a lot more optimistic.

I basically just hope there is at least some sort of acknowledgement of the need to tighten our defence. It hasn't been shown so far, but I don't mind if it takes time, as long it's something we are working towards.

 

[cliff jones]

That was of course unacceptable. Ange’s inability to get his team to defend corners, and quick counters, is hugely worrying.

But worst of all they didn’t look motivated, played with no courage or fight.

More of the same will see cricket scores in the next few weeks.

Honeymoon well and truly over

 

[npearl4spurs]

That's fine but Klopp and Pep constantly tweak their systems too. They've both changed it up in the last 2 seasons alone.

We are so naive it's outrageous

These results happened under Klopp too. It's what you would expect from a squad still young, inconsistent, and short in quality in some areas.

 

[jackson]

Exactly mate, it’s the nature of modern society, react short term to everything without looking at context and long term.

Alex Ferguson never would’ve lasted at Man.U in todays society…

I’ve seen enough positives that are worth making sure we give ange a good good amount of time and patience to properly implement his system and improve these young players and sign him a good 5-6 players he needs this summer.

That being said there is certainly an argument that he needs to tweak his tactics a bit as they are getting exposed at this level quite often now and hard to say how much of a difference better new players will make.

We beat Newcastle 4-1 at home, they beat us 4-0 at home, it is what it is.

This is my concern with the defence, normally we've got glaring holes in the personnel, however individually I don't see many upgrades in the starting back five, so going to need a tweak of tactics, better coaching or level of competence to improve.

I think it perhaps stems from bissouma falling off a cliff from earlier season that gave the defence a better easy outlet?

 

[funkycoldmedina]

This is my concern with the defence, normally we've got glaring holes in the personnel, however individually I don't see many upgrades in the starting back five, so going to need a tweak of tactics, better coaching or level of competence to improve.

I think it perhaps stems from bissouma falling off a cliff from earlier season that gave the defence a better easy outlet?

It's time to give Romero a bit of a break for Dragusin

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I do agree, and I'm most certainly not calling for him to be sacked. To be fair it is mostly the openness that I have a problem with. I really don't like the massive space we consistently leave behind the fullbacks, and I think that will come back to bite us irrespective of who we have out on the pitch.

If for instance we decided we were going to keep one full back behind, and at least have a back three present most of the time and to go along with an accomplished CDM, I'd instantly be a lot more optimistic.

I basically just hope there is at least some sort of acknowledgement of the need to tighten our defence. It hasn't been shown so far, but I don't mind if it takes time, as long it's something we are working towards.

Great approach and agree might need to tweak the system a bit in addition to some new better players

 

[arunspurs]

I do agree, and I'm most certainly not calling for him to be sacked. To be fair it is mostly the openness that I have a problem with. I really don't like the massive space we consistently leave behind the fullbacks, and I think that will come back to bite us irrespective of who we have out on the pitch.

If for instance we decided we were going to keep one full back behind, and at least have a back three present most of the time and to go along with an accomplished CDM, I'd instantly be a lot more optimistic.

I basically just hope there is at least some sort of acknowledgement of the need to tighten our defence. It hasn't been shown so far, but I don't mind if it takes time, as long it's something we are working towards.

If it were up to me, I would like us to keep 3rd player back along with 2 CBs...atleast away from home
At home, I dont mind full blooded Ange tactics of leaving only 2CBs at back.

Ange has to learn and be adaptable. Not keep saying I will only play this way.

Control is the most important factor. Away from home, being a bit more stricter in defense is only way to progress.

But I cannot see Ange changing his way. And this will be his downfall eventually whether its in 1 or 2 3 years from now

 

[spurs-r-us]

Ha ha you can see that everyone is tiptoeing around the "he's got to go" line, waiting for someone else to say it.

We can't do better, but he needs to do better atm

 

[Misfit]

We don’t play at all like City though, even theoretically.

In the general sense of dominating possession/imposing your will etc. Not as in replicating Pepball itself.

Like I say, I'm not at all sure it's possible to do myself tbh. Not without 2 or 3 £100M players in crucial positions and that's never going to happen with us.

All we can do is wait and see I guess.

 

[ItsBoris]

If it were up to me, I would like us to keep 3rd player back along with 2 CBs...atleast away from home
At home, I dont mind full blooded Ange tactics of leaving only 2CBs at back.

Ange has to learn and be adaptable. Not keep saying I will only play this way.

Control is the most important factor. Away from home, being a bit more stricter in defense is only way to progress.

But I cannot see Ange changing his way. And this will be his downfall eventually whether its in 1 or 2 3 years from now

Thing is we don’t gain anything with that extra body forward, while we lose so much not having a DM. It’s ridiculous

 

[Gb160]

Exactly what I thought when I saw that quote. Where's the growth in 2024, Ange? Pain is there in abundance, but I've not seen any growth.

We're getting visibly worse. It's the exact opposite of growth.

 

[Misfit]

Whilst growth may be true, it’s also insanity to think this is sustainable.

Outside of him seeing exactly who is up to it and who isn't going forwards, not sure what potential for growth he's seen in recent weeks. If that's what he means then fair enough.

 

[funkycoldmedina]

Outside of him seeing exactly who is up to it and who isn't going forwards, not sure what potential for growth he's seen in recent weeks. If that's what he means then fair enough.

I think he does and as painful as that is for us it's a crucial lesson to be learned. We have plenty of sellable assets and I'd back him to make tough decisions this summer.

 

[soflapaul]

Still all in on the Ange train as we were way ahead of schedule at the beginning of the season but the train is falling behind. The primary concern is whether or not his tactics can work in the EPL if he has the squads he wants AND if he doesn't have the squad he wants, can he adapt his tactics fast enough to match others realizing how to effectively play against us. Today was another perfect storm of inferior tactics combined with less than steller execution. The percent of passes that weren't hitting players in stride was ridiculous.
We have several needs including an alternate type CF who can hold up play or at least slow down opposing play and if we don't have that, we need to have a more defensive approach to DM.

 

[Misfit]

I think he does and as painful as that is for us it's a crucial lesson to be learned. We have plenty of sellable assets and I'd back him to make tough decisions this summer.

Would be for the best. Strengthen, refresh and send a message without needless aggro to the remaining players.

 

[ItsBoris]

In the general sense of dominating possession/imposing your will etc. Not as in replicating Pepball itself.

Like I say, I'm not at all sure it's possible to do myself tbh. Not without 2 or 3 £100M players in crucial positions and that's never going to happen with us.

All we can do is wait and see I guess.

Even this season we’ve looked our best on the counter. That’s how we should play imo - defend well and rip teams apart on the counter.
Against worse teams we can push higher up and dominate possession. That’s how teams like Bayern have done it for the last 15 years.
We kind of had that sort of style with Poch but ofc Levy didn’t invest properly to get to the next level and it was squandered