Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[-Afri-Coy-]

Tactical game management so much better as well.

Sitting deeper and not holding the suicide line all game with the tactical changes and substitutions at the right time.

Dare I say it perfect game management.

 

[-Afri-Coy-]

Yea it's a two leg semi final

No idea why but I assumed they removed the 2 legs this season? Or am I thinking of another competition?

 

[djhotspur]

It’s always the same. Every single time.

Manager isn’t backed and we start to struggle . Info comes out about failed targets and people wanna jump in and say he wasn’t what we needed or just dismiss the info as it doesn’t suit them.

The point is it’s another manager struggling, another season of transition and Likely failure and yet still the pattern isn’t apparent to some.

It’s not about Gallagher or eze , it’s not about our personal tastes. It’s about a transfer window that has left us way short and we have seen it all before.

Exactly - rinse and repeat. Its excuses after excuses, its oh we cant back porch for 18 months (a manager we trusted) because the stadium is being built, then its oh the stadium will elevate us to compete, now its we need to reduce our wage bill which is already low, so cant even sign players like Gallagher, eze or neto.... its just excuse after excuse and well never compete. We got incredibly lucky for years, with players like Eriksen, Alli, Bale, Kane, modric etc, and levy thinks that's the norm.

I have given up on expecting us to compete. the sad reality is whilst levy is at the helm nothing will ever change

 

[SpursSince1980]

What I like about Ange, is what I liked about Jol, Poch and Rednapp… they didn’t fear other teams.

Rather lose being brave, than lose because we were too deferential.

Also would prefer a manager who doesn’t shit on the hand that feeds.

Sure, if you think Howe, or Potter, or some other flavor of the month will prove you right, than way to go, bro. But from a ‘history repeating’ POV…. it’ll be the same ‘ol shit, being squeezed from a new sphincter.

Im sure if we lose to Villa there will be the same people who think another manager change will be the panacea cure. Just the way it is for some… they get so frustrated with Spurs being Spurs, that when the bacon turns bad, the only pig they can butcher is the one who can be easily replaced… the coach.

 

[Cavehillspur]

No idea why but I assumed they removed the 2 legs this season? Or am I thinking of another competition?

Think they did away with them for a season or two during Covid.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Perhaps it was a trick of the camera angle or something, I dunno, but he's got really big feet. Like proper big plates.

 

[Wig]

Never been in doubt for me. I keep saying we are capable of beating anyone, and I mean anyone. As long as we are capable of putting in the level of performance like Palace, Brighton and Coventry though as I say the jury is out. Good teams lose games, what they don't do is stink the place out to a man. That has to change, even if the results are up and down.

I always value your opinions and you are a voice of reason, but immediately after an important victory like this it just saps a little joy. Come on, there's never any guarantee for the next game, so when we do have positives like this let's enjoy the moment and praise what we did right

 

[mpickard2087]

See it’s interesting because personally from what I have been watching the football, or at least how we get "outcomes", has changed a bit, whether that is by accident or design. In recent weeks/months most of our good moments have come in transition type situations where we’re breaking into and attacking space.

In some ways that is not surprising – It suits Son, Werner, Johnson more. A lot of fans are sucking off Kulusevski for his performances/role this season, but I think he’s mainly doing his wingery stuff rather than midfield stuff and his contributions come from rumbling forward attacking space. I think Solanke is also more comfortable operating in these situations.

It’s been less about what we’d consider the key components/ethos of the managers tactics - structure, possession/territory, 2-3-5 shape and constructing through patterns and combinations down the flanks, etc – and more attacking/countering space in transition, with the play being more direct.

The conundrum for AP is how much he embraces that. Obviously last night was a game we were forced to play on the counter somewhat given the opposition. We also got the West Ham game the other week where the HT change saw Sarr brought on to add ballast in midfield and allow Son to stay up front and play more direct to him (which got a goal). Obviously in certain match situations you will be dictated as to what you do, but it will be interesting to see does this become a bigger focus/aspect of our play, or do we continue to strive to play with possession and territory and focus efforts on improving how we break teams down.

 

[Trix]

I always value your opinions and you are a voice of reason, but immediately after an important victory like this it just saps a little joy. Come on, there's never any guarantee for the next game, so when we do have positives like this let's enjoy the moment and praise what we did right

You mean like this post that I posted before the one above?

I could nitpick bits out of that, but it would be totally unfair.

Superb all round from all involved.

Fact is though we have to take each game as it comes right now, don't get too excited that we have turned a corner with every good result, and don't get bogged down that it's all doom and gloom when we are piss poor. Until we start seeing some consistency it's going to be this way unfortunately.

 

[$hoguN]

Others have commented but taking a step or two back from the mega high line was a small adaptation that made a huge difference against them.

Well done Ange, if we can choose when to play out from the back, when to use a mega high line, and when to vary the attack to let Udogie, Porto and Spence overlap that will be genuine progress

 

[thebenjamin]

If losing to a team that hasn't won all season and then a few days later winning against a team that hasn't lost all season isn't proper Spurs then I don't know what is.

 

[Trix]

Others have commented but taking a step or two back from the mega high line was a small adaptation that made a huge difference against them.

Well done Ange, if we can choose when to play out from the back, when to use a mega high line, and when to vary the attack to let Udogie, Porto and Spence overlap that will be genuine progress

Indeed. Horses for courses.

 

[muppetman]

Perhaps it was a trick of the camera angle or something, I dunno, but he's got really big feet. Like proper big plates.

The content I'm here for!

 

[mil1lion]

If losing to a team that hasn't won all season and then a few days later winning against a team that hasn't lost all season isn't proper Spurs then I don't know what is.

Like under Conte when we oost at Burnley then went to City and won

 

[SpursSince1980]

You mean like this post that I posted before the one above?



Fact is though we have to take each game as it comes right now, don't get too excited that we have turned a corner with every good result, and don't get bogged down that it's all doom and gloom when we are piss poor. Until we start seeing some consistency it's going to be this way unfortunately.

Amen, Brother Trix.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Morning all, so in the Big Ange flip flop show I’m guessing after last nights win we are all believers again?

 

[Trix]

Others have commented but taking a step or two back from the mega high line was a small adaptation that made a huge difference against them.

Well done Ange, if we can choose when to play out from the back, when to use a mega high line, and when to vary the attack to let Udogie, Porto and Spence overlap that will be genuine progress

What I'd ask is does anyone think yesterday's approach compromised an attacking philosophy?

I mean we had less possession and territory, but the attacking principles of playing out from the back, pressing high up and looking to get forward whenever possible were all still clearly the game plan. We just did it from deeper for large parts of the game.

It proves that we don't need to always do it with 10 men camped around the oppositions box. There are times to play every man that high, and times not to.

It's all I've been asking for tbh, tweaks to the system and positioning. It doesn't mean we have to abandon the ethos and intent.

 

[wiggo24]

What I'd ask is does anyone think yesterday's approach compromised an attacking philosophy?

I mean we had less possession and territory, but the attacking principles of playing out from the back, pressing high up and looking to get forward whenever possible was all still clearly the game plan. We just did it from deeper.

It proves that we don't need to always do it with 10 men camped around the oppositions box. There are times to play every man that high, and times not to.

It's all I've been asking for tbh, tweaks to the system and positioning without abandoning the ethos and intent.

Agree completely - concern here though is that I think the depth of our line and the occasional direct play was probably more the result of City having enough quality to force us to do it rather than an active tweak from Ange.

Actually think he's probably more likely to have been disappointed by the above than encouraging it. Will need a lot more evidence before I start thinking we're going to be more tactically versatile against teams like Palace/Brighton who we're able to control the ball against.

 

[WiganSpur]

Others have commented but taking a step or two back from the mega high line was a small adaptation that made a huge difference against them.

Well done Ange, if we can choose when to play out from the back, when to use a mega high line, and when to vary the attack to let Udogie, Porto and Spence overlap that will be genuine progress

It’s a multitude of things he’s got to learn including:

When to have 5 minutes of keep ball. Eg opponent has changed shape and we don’t know what it is, the game is too heated and we’re in a comfortable position.

When to punch balls in behind (like yesterday) and when to play to feet. Probably more the former against better sides that will have a go.

When to put a leash on one of the full backs. When you’re facing quality opposition wingers and a team with a devastating counter.

When to tweak the build up shape. When you’ve had problems playing out 2-3 times.

When to have the full backs overlapping or inverting

When to dial back the pressing for 5-10 and keep shape (probably can go off live telemetry data)

The good news is, I think these are the sort of things that come in 18 months- 2 years after a new manager comes in and imprints his philosophy on the team. I’m not saying Ange will do all of this but he should do if he wants any chance of sustainable results.

I guess there’s also a question of competence thrown in there too. Some of it is simple but some of it is the art of knowing how to intervene and when.

 

[PLTuck]

Can we collectively drop the "no plan B" rubbish now please?