Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[Metalhead]

I’ve not seen a single post calling for change. People are rightly questioning the tactics and if this style will ever lead to anything more than entertainment but unless I’ve missed them not one person has asked to change the manager.

No-one is going to actually come out and say it for fear of ridicule but we've all read the playbook before. Few 'doubts' creep in and we go from there.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

I’ve not seen a single post calling for change. People are rightly questioning the tactics and if this style will ever lead to anything more than entertainment but unless I’ve missed them not one person has asked to change the manager.

Large cohorts of SC, for about 6 months. or more before Conte was given the Spanish archer............... 'I don't care about winning as long as the football is entertaining"

We're a bunch of fickle idiots who lurch from one point of view to another to accommodate the negativity

 

[SpursForever71]

Wish I could like this twice. People have been talking on social media as if the low block (also since when was it called that, it’s just a fancy way of saying playing defensively) is some sort of unbreakable system.

The problem for us is that we throw full backs into very aggressive positions so on the break we only have our centre backs in position to defend. As a result, we cough up 3-4 glorious chances a game. That will be the case no matter who the CBs are. Ange needs to sort the defence big time, which means adjusting his system, because we’re easy to play against.

Yes Udogie and Porro are big misses but even when they were playing, we were coughing up lots of chances. Blaming Royal and Davies for today, as mediocre as they were, is papering over the cracks.

This. Wolves 2nd goal was when Bissouma lost the ball on the edge of their area. one break away and we were done for as everyone was attacking, this was at 1-1

 

[SpursForever71]

I think if you have faith in the plan then you have to stick to it. Not all the changing to plan B/C/D etc that we have been reading about in here the last few weeks.

its called game management, changing tactics within a game when things are not working

 

[Locotoro]

its called game management, changing tactics within a game when things are not working

It's a fine line between changing a system that is giving you absolute dominance but lower chances to more chances because you're more direct or pragmatic and less dominant

 

[Dov67]

Large cohorts of SC, for about 6 months. or more before Conte was given the Spanish archer............... 'I don't care about winning as long as the football is entertaining"

We're a bunch of fickle idiots who lurch from one point of view to another to accommodate the negativity

I was the reverse, and probably in a minority - prepared to endure the worst most boring football you can imagine, if it led to one lousy caraboa cup.

 

[worcestersauce]

It's a two team league - what any manager achieves in Scotland is no basis for their suitability to the Prem - just ask Stevie G.

The point is that his detractors are saying what he did at Celtic don't mean a thing because anyone would win the league with Celtic yet they are not winning the league right now. Plus he won it by miles and everything else with it.
They are talking bollocks.

 

[Yantino]

First of all, it’s important that I say I am in full support of Ange. He is the right man for us. He wants us to play the same, exciting football that we do. And he wants to win, make no mistake about it.

Secondly, success is not a straight line. It is going to take time for our players to be consistent in the way they apply themselves and play in Ange’s system. At the start of the season the players were doing this. As we’ve progressed through the season we have become more and more inconsistent at it.

Lastly, there is nothing wrong with agreeing with those top two points but also criticising some of the tactics, subs, selections etc that Ange makes. It’s perfectly fine to do both.

 

[allatsea]

Large cohorts of SC, for about 6 months. or more before Conte was given the Spanish archer............... 'I don't care about winning as long as the football is entertaining"

We're a bunch of fickle idiots who lurch from one point of view to another to accommodate the negativity

At times SC is embarrassing.

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

Somewhat bizarrely, Anges winning start is most likely what has caused any detraction. If he'd started slow and built up, I doubt these conversations would be had. With all the injuries and international abstractions, it's meant a very disjointed period that's proven hard to get a rhythm.

Ange has said himself, there will be downs in his first season. Prepare for it.

 

[Styopa]

I’ve not seen a single post calling for change. People are rightly questioning the tactics and if this style will ever lead to anything more than entertainment but unless I’ve missed them not one person has asked to change the manager.

Depends what you mean by change. Every second post is about Ange needing to change his tactics or style of football.

 

[Styopa]

its called game management, changing tactics within a game when things are not working

Yeah, but I don’t think this is really what people are talking about. Because Ange does switch things up during matches. He was actually heavily criticised for doing so last week when he made a triple substitution. He also does things like bring on an extra CB towards the end of matches.

 

[iddebu52]

Somewhat bizarrely, Anges winning start is most likely what has caused any detraction. If he'd started slow and built up, I doubt these conversations would be had. With all the injuries and international abstractions, it's meant a very disjointed period that's proven hard to get a rhythm.

Ange has said himself, there will be downs in his first season. Prepare for it.

Imagine if we had European football!!!!!!

 

[Styopa]

It's a two team league - what any manager achieves in Scotland is no basis for their suitability to the Prem - just ask Stevie G.

To be fair, the same might be said of the Premier League these days. This will probably be the seventh season since anyone other than Man. C or Liverpool have won the league, and Man C have won it six times out of those seven seasons.

Also, Pep’s Man C get points totals comparable to the the winners of the Scottish league, and also comparable goal differences in Pep’s best seasons.

 

[Trees]

A little bit of a perfect storm atm.

I think some of this stems from both Maddison and Bentancur coming back from long term injuries. They are still getting up to speed and also with each other.

We have had players away with international commitments and injuries.

Missed our 2 full backs who in the modern game are the most important players IMO in any team.

Teams have worked out that if you put pressure on Bissouma or tbf AN Other holding player sooner or later he will cough up possession as he is the holding player.

Teams have also worked out that if you keep an attacking player wide you will get some joy against our system.

I still feel that this season minus Kane is a bit of a free pass. However like most of our fan base I have had the odd sneaky doubt just lately. We have just lacked a bit of tempo to our play with all of the above points mixed in.

 

[Trees]

To also add. 2 weeks ago the knives were out for Poch. Now it is ‘happy’ at Chelsea. At Christmas it was Arteta. We will be ok under Ange.

 

[Styopa]

To also add. 2 weeks ago the knives were out for Poch. Now it is ‘happy’ at Chelsea. At Christmas it was Arteta. We will be ok under Ange.

And for ten Hag. A couple of months ago a lot of the talk was about him being sacked or only keeping his job whilst the takeover was proceeding.

 

[Stamford]

I need to see a great performance rather than a result at this point. We haven't played well in so long, that's more concerning to me.

 

[Styopa]

I need to see a great performance rather than a result at this point. We haven't played well in so long, that's more concerning to me.

I think we need both. The problem is if we play well but lose it will lead to lots of the same criticisms about the playing style not being sustainable etc. I think we need some convincing wins to lift the mood around the club again.

 

[PLTuck]

It's going to be a long 2 weeks on here.
Plan B is a myth that fans of every club trot out when things hit a sticky patch. You stick with your principles, not abandon them at the first sign of choppy waters. That's how you create and develop a team with an identity.

I really don't think we have been as bad as some are making out. It's all fine margins. No we haven't been dominating games but again I think that's a myth unless you are one of the top clubs with long term managers in place.

Fans want it all now and seem to me to always underestimate the time needed to turn a club around that has been in a funk.

My biggest worry isn't Ange or the players, it's the fans. For once I wish we would just hold our nerve when things got difficult. The knives are already out in some quarters.