This Week’s Manager Watch: Ryan Mason

[septicsac]

Probably because he does actually love the club, and not like Kane and co he actually is Tottenham through and through you can see how much it hurts him on the bench

Bit harsh on Kane, the player who def comes out with most credit this season, he has effectively being playing up front on his own.
Just because you love things doesn't mean you potentially commit career suicide, taking the Spurs job is like playing Russian roulette with Putin.

 

[joey55]

Probably because he does actually love the club, and not like Kane and co he actually is Tottenham through and through you can see how much it hurts him on the bench

Well, now he's in charge, he can order some cushions.

 

[Misfit]

I wonder if the players committee wear special ceremonial robes during meetings, like the Freemasons.

They've got sashes as well. The whole 9 yards.

 

[worcestersauce]

We are now in exactly the same position we were in two years ago with Ryan Mason taking over until the end of the season and apparently all in for Nagelsmann to join us in the summer. What happened then was Bayern Munich sacked their coach and went for him, possibly because they knew he was available and they may lose him, and we ended up with Nuno and Conte neither one right for us and two wasted years. So it is by way of a reset, let's hope it turns out best for us this time.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Basically we’re after Bart Simpson.

¡Ay, caramba!

 

[ultimateloner]

Good luck to Mason.
For what it's worth this will be good experience for him. He gets to see first hand the emotions

Whilst it's good in principle. It really should only be a last line of defence if there's a serious problem the manager or Captain can't solve... like the problem IS the manager.

We are past that point now I think. For starters we have no manager and no DOF. We've also lost a few times from winning positions and now the 5 goals in 20 mins. It's getting worse.

 

[mpickard2087]

Outrage over the fact that we have a players committee is some proper tinfoil hat shit. I bet every single club in the country has a committee, formalised or no, of senior players, and it would seem to be a sensible concept.

I swear that some just want to be angry at any half-understood tidbit of information. It must be bloody exhausting, because just reading it all is proper drudgery in itself.

Yep, this.

And if you read between the lines seems pretty clear this "meeting" was about him telling the players yesterday was totally unacceptable and trying to galvanise a reaction for the remaining games - and obviously getting some sort of feedback/response/promise from them which is referenced in the press release. Now whether that's just a token reply from the players, you have faith in Levy's motivational abilities, they take any notice of it and lift themselves, we'll see... But to me at least it's pretty obvious he was there to give them a bit of a bollocking and knock some heads together, and not tickle their tummies and tell them how wonderful they are that darling Ryan is now in charge for them.

 

[JW72]

They've got sashes as well. The whole 9 yards.

They really took a shine to that 2015/16 home shirt

 

[eddiebailey]

Any word on his backroom staff?

Chirpy has agreed to stay on as his assistant.

 

[Saoirse]

Chirpy has agreed to stay on as his assistant.

We said wing-backs, not wings!

 

[aussiespursguy]

I believe in Ryan Mason.

Not because I think he’s a top manager, but because I know whatever he does he believes will be in the best interests of the club. He might get things wrong, but we’re in such a horrid state that I just want to believe someone cares like I do, and I believe he does.

Top post sir.

 

[JacoZA]

Apparently Redknapp has offered his services. Idiotic not taking him up on it imo.

76-year old Harry Redknapp who hasn’t worked as a manager in 6 years after he got sacked from a Championship club? That Redknapp?

No thanks. Not even on a temporary basis.

 

[C0YS]

Really, if we were well set up, Ryan should be able to step in and get the team playing well. Why not? Well, because we are not well set up. We should have a style, an idea, an identity, but we don’t. The fact that most of our CB’s are not suited to a back 4, as they are not good enough to play that way, we need an extra CB in to cover for lack of quality. That is on Levy and the way we have been set up badly behind the scenes.

Good luck to Ryan, but due to injuries and lack of quality, he’s got a very very tough few days ahead.

Its not a lack of quality. A league 1 team can create a solid defense against a PL side with a back 4. Similarly it isnt naturally easier to play a back 3. In fact a back 3 can sometimes be tougher as things like holiding your line and positionally it is much more complicated than a back 4. It might be a weakness but it shouldnt be a collapse.

The issue is the team needs to know what they are doing in the system and you need to do it with balance.

Right now we cant play back 4 because we dont have the full backs more than anything else. A back 4, defensively, needs to be a line, needs to keep shape. Thats not what happened last weekend. Dier is better in a 3 but has more experience playing in a 2 when it comes down to it. And has had good performances there. Romero played well in a back 4 for argentina.

The issue is Dier doesnt like players running at him and Romero instinctively wants to press the ball. You need to build a system that can compensate for those weaknesses. Easiest way is to let romero press but have the rightback tuck in. Or have Dier cover the space but then the left back needs to follow him. For Dier the trick might be for the midfield to focus on blocking runs onto Dier, to try and channel play more towards Romero, or the flanks. Or it could be for another defender, the left back or Romero to put pressure on the ball as Dier tries to hold shape. Again, that would require the fullbacks to follow.

That's the thing. All Players have strengths and limitations a good team works collectively. A lot of the time people have a go at individuals, sometimes its warranted but the bigger issue is how such problems are allowed to emerge from a collective standpoint.

Now, we have two issues defensively.

The main one is psychological, and its been an issue for a long time. We play with a lot of fear and anxiety, the players and the fans kinda feeding this onto each other. It is leading to individual errors and a sense of caution and retreat when we are in bad positions This is quite tough to deal with. But, in fairness Mason could probably help here by framing things in a more positive rather than punitive sense.

We have had a lot of managers which are demanding in a way which might help breed this anxiety. Trying to convince the players that they are actually, I dunno, not terrible and that they should maybe enjoy things a little more might go a long way, though it is the opposite instinct of what a lot of peeps would like to see. This psychological element wont be fully fixed for some time mind, if ever.

The second problem is that the defensive unit is not synergising well. The line we are holding is often not working. Porro has been caught out a lot, so has perisic, were it not for injuries neither would be starting. But Porro in particular has kind of been hang out to dry. A good functioning wing back should be allowed to take the odd risk in possession but defenders need to be reacting to that. Romero or Sanchez need to predict where the danger might be if possession is lost. Perisic may be unable to effectively shut down crosses and attacks coming from those flanks, but the CB needs to be well positioned and ready for the delivery. Errors are unavoidable and defenders need to be pessimists.

How to solve this? A pre-season will help, though this is mental too. In the short term a back to basics approach may help. Simplify. That might be a more static Back 3 where CBs, unlike under Conte and stellini stick to their positions and avoid supporting the attacks, or, sure. The easiest defensive set up. A solid flat back 4. But this means no perisic and probably no Porro for now. Might mean Tanganga at RB if hes fit (I have no idea). The third option, is to not adjust. Try and feed in positivity tweek a few things and move on. This is the safest option. Problems in defense will likely continue but you look to componsate elsewhere.

The advantages mason has is he isnt fixed on one system like the others and is generally a positive guy (with quite clear tactical ideas of his own) so he isnt badly placed to deal with these issues. The main weakness is he isn't exactly separate from this mess it might be hard to introduce a new fresh vibe when you've been running training sessions.

 

[Monkey Bastard Hands]

I believe in Ryan Mason.

Not because I think he’s a top manager, but because I know whatever he does he believes will be in the best interests of the club. He might get things wrong, but we’re in such a horrid state that I just want to believe someone cares like I do, and I believe he does.

Couldn’t agree more. Mason should have been put in charge when Conte got sacked, not necessarily because he’s going to suddenly change our form and lead us on to a 10 game winning streak but because he’s actually someone who knows the club, has passion for the club and can do a much better job of getting the fans behind the team.

Stellini will have clearly wanted to do well but frankly I’ve felt like he’s an imposter at the club, our club, my club, the club I’ve supported my whole life. I’m sure he was doing the best he could but there’s never been a connection with him.

Having Mason in charge means there’s someone at the helm who lives and breathes the club. It’s probably not going to result in a huge change and I expect us to get thumped against United this week, but the fact that there’s someone in charge who loves the club as much as the fans creates a connection that was never there with Conte or Stellini.

I’d also hope that he can get the players motivated more so than Stellini did. Get a decent coaching team around him who live and breathe the club and you never know we may get a few wins to see off the season. The way the other teams around us are playing I expect us to drop down the table but hopefully we can get a Europa League spot.

 

[Russ1201]

Sure.

Yep and look where the player power has suddenly put them now? Look what player power has done at Chelsea and now Spurs.
It needs to be stamped out, it's shameful that players can put in gutless performances like Sunday just so they can get a manager the sack, and damage their career.

Worst bit it they don't have any shame or pride for the club getting the managers sacked is far more important than glory or league position....

 

[allatsea]

Good Luck to Ryan !

 

[bigfrooj]

I think the biggest error for a long while is thinking our front three are sacrosanct when in fact Son and Kulusevski have been passengers for too much of the time. I am interested to see if Mason thinks this is where he can get a bit more out of the team, either by employing a 352 formatiion or bringing in the legs and spirit of Danjuma and Richarlison from the start.

 

[THE SPURSBOY]

I believe in Ryan Mason.

Not because I think he’s a top manager, but because I know whatever he does he believes will be in the best interests of the club. He might get things wrong, but we’re in such a horrid state that I just want to believe someone cares like I do, and I believe he does.

I’m sure chelsea fans thought that about lampard taking over too

 

[topcert]

Anyone know who Ryan's assistant is, maybe worth a bet to take over before the end of the season.

 

[cockerel downunder]

Good luck Mase! Win, lose or draw at least we will have a go now.

be fascinating to see if he sticks to the back 4, which surely is his inclination, after what happened on Sun. Maybe if Davies is fit, and bring in tanganga at RB.

I also have a sneaky suspicion he will fancy playing Kane as a 10 in a 4231.