Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[eddiebailey]

As a result of the failure to develop youth over the past decade, we lack strength in depth under UEFA rules and we lack players with a strong connection to the club. The current buy young approach is partly intended to address this, and partly intended to enable us to buy players we couldn’t afford or attract if we waited for them to be the finished article, but for now our core squad is small and lacks experience. Playing twice a week we are going to struggle.

I don’t agree with all Ange’s decisions and sometimes he frustrates me, but at least under him I see a way forward, which I didn’t under Conte or Mourinho whose only solution to squad building was to splash the cash. Spurs are never going to outspend our rivals, and if we tried it would almost certainly be a disaster that set us back years.

I do think we lack leaders on the pitch. Son, Romero and Maddison are not it. That’s something we need to address in the summer as much as a new LB or LCB.

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

For the 100th time,let me try....

Best attack in PL - 23 goals. Tottenham.

Debate over on the front line !

So whats the problem...well it’s thing called defensive organisation that the team lacks....

Don’t know if this has been answered as only got to here so apologies if it has but no not really that isn’t how football works. In the same way teams like Everton, Burnley and plenty more have had some really good defensive records in premier league seasons past, but quality wise not the best. They defended deep, with numbers at the expense of territory, creating and scoring chances.

we’re the other way. We overload forward areas. Quality wise in the league it’s not in the top 6. The balance isn’t right admittedly but probably has to be a bit like that at the moment until we get better quality in attack where they don’t need as much territory, numbers in support and they’re just more cutting edge when in those positions.

 

[SA_Spurs]

The fan base cycle of a spurs fan is a thing to behold.

When it comes to Ange, i cannot see any logic in wanting him him gone.

For once, I've seen glimmers of an actual coach to player strategy from the board. Younger, technical talent that paves a way for a longer term playing base. It's not perfect, and there are still questions marks over the due diligence on player psyche. (When the chips are down etc) But largely good signings that will, given time and a bit of luck, fit the coaches style.

He has got to remain in situ for this and next season. For any chance of consistency to shine through. For once, this has got to be a medium to long term appointment to make any sense.

Of course, palace and Ipswich performances are bound to raise questions. But you'd hope it would be enough to galvanise the team.

There's glimmers of a very good side here.

Otherwise it is yet another rinse and repeat. Also, who takes the job? Careful what you wish for.

This is spot on - thank you bud! There seems to be more clarity on recruitment (from board, to coach to player) and we have invested in young players who we believe fit the mould. The miss I believe was not bringing in at least 1 more experienced player (Eze, Neto) or another 6 to relieve some pressure on the likes of Gray, Odo, Bergvall, Moore, etc. You can see now why they opted to take Timo on loan again - experience!

There's definitely a few technical challenges the team need to overcome, namely, in-game management, far post defending, defenders preventing crosses & actually working together as a defensive unit instead of individual defensive roles (including Vicario cutting out his panicked arm flailing at every corner. Attacking wise, we need to be far calmer & more clinical but I do believe we've demonstrated progress on all these elements this season. It's just inconsistent & hit/miss at present but soon, I believe we will put it together for a longer run of games, which will build confidence & make us every stronger from the belief in what we're doing out there.

I think this is where Ange & coaching staff needs to step up to help build the structures and tactics to develop the above faster - to demonstrate we're not conceding the same kind of goal to different teams. He demonstrated he can adapt from last season, and I believe he will do it again this season. The personnel may be young and inexperienced, but they will learn from the experiences they are gaining (good & bad) provided Ange can manage them (shelter them) through that process.

Lastly, the team needs a different maturity - we can't capitulate every time a team starts time wasting from the 5th minute. We need to stop getting caught in that game & becoming rash! We need a leader out there that can marshal the troops to remain calm & stick to our gameplan. We need to prioritize being in control of ourselves & how we play.

There's definitely glimmers of a very good side emerging. We've shown we can dominate sides (and play a different way e.g. Vs City in Carabao) when we're up for it. We need to back this setup for now or until it breaks fully & that will mean rallying behind the squad & coaching staff. We can rail against the board & chairman - but not at the expense of the team. I think they deserve a chance to demonstrate they will learn & grow until the end of this season when we can re-evaluate.

I think we're in for a challenging but potentially exciting balance of the season. We could yet win a trophy this season & still push for top 4. There is no doubt the ride is going to be bumpy! There will amazing highs and ridiculous lows, but we just need to stay believing (call me a dreamer or romanticist!)! COYS!!

 

[Whitey]

I'm sick of thinking that now, it's always the next window and it's never happened.
My patience has gone, as has any hope that Levy is ever going to push us any further than the bare minimum.

I was actually quite happy with the business we did over the summer but even I thought we left ourselves one or two senior players short to properly compete.

By the time the youngsters are good enough to depend on, the seniors will be past it and we start the cycle again.

So for me, it's thank for what you've done Daniel but it's past time to go now.

It's funny how Levy can plan and mitigate risk on our business and commercial operations in his sleep..... Yet he's not figured out risk when building a squad... Our squad is great! If there's no injuries with no drop in form.... Levy has fabricated the illusion that he's handed off the recruitment to Lange and Co.... It's boring now... this cycle of false hope... I'll enjoy the highs, ignore the lows.... That's my mitigation for happiness as a Spurs fan

 

[knowlespurs]

As a result of the failure to develop youth over the past decade, we lack strength in depth under UEFA rules and we lack players with a strong connection to the club. The current buy young approach is partly intended to address this, and partly intended to enable us to buy players we couldn’t afford or attract if we waited for them to be the finished article, but for now our core squad is small and lacks experience. Playing twice a week we are going to struggle.

I don’t agree with all Ange’s decisions and sometimes he frustrates me, but at least under him I see a way forward, which I didn’t under Conte or Mourinho whose only solution to squad building was to splash the cash. Spurs are never going to outspend our rivals, and if we tried it would almost certainly be a disaster that set us back years.

I do think we lack leaders on the pitch. Son, Romero and Maddison are not it. That’s something we need to address in the summer as much as a new LB or LCB.

Leaders cost money and wages

 

[muppetman]

Ange in for me. It’s not quite clicking yet, but it’s clear and obvious what he is trying to do.

Maybe it never quite clicks, but if it does it could be absolutely glorious, so to bin that off for the Brentford manager? Nah!

 

[neogenisis]

Ange in for me still, definitely feel like there has been a shift in support though.

 

[E17yid]

You're not wrong but we've seen before that Levy doesn't like it when the focus is on him, so while we can't force him out, maybe we can make him see that we support the manager more than we do him.
Maybe that way he'll actually back someone to a decent degree.

We'll always be clutching at straws while Levy is in charge but I'm sick of him buying another 18 months of us fans waiting to see how another manager does, only to see them fail because of the same reasons.

I'd said previously that not backing Conte was the last straw for me, only to get sucked back in again.
I'm only backing Ange so hard because he's the current manager (and I do like the bloke) but Levy has really got to be shown that the jig is up and the fanbase are wise to his ways.

Maybe, I just think it’s pointless. Levy doesn’t really give a shit about the fans too much, at least not enough to make him decide on a particular course of action but it could effect it I suppose so no harm in trying I guess. I think you’re better off just singing Ange’s name loudly and leaving it at that to be honest. If the fans can show a united front in their support of Ange that might buy him some more time.

But to be honest, what would be good is for people to acknowledge that we all have our lines or limits that we don’t want to cross. Some people are all in on Ange at the moment but I can guarantee you that if we lost our next 10 games every **** on this forum would want his head on a spike and while Levy is also a **** people have to accept that there is a possibility that maybe Ange isn’t that guy.

Either way, I actually don’t think people’s positions have changed that much tbh. There’s a few more Ange out fans admittedly but most people, like me, don’t see any point in sacking him before the end of the season and are happy to assess how he has done in the summer. A lot can change between now and then so let’s see how we go.

 

[muppetman]

Ange in for me still, definitely feel like there has been a shift in support though.

There is often quite a big difference between the support online and in the ground. As far as I can see the crowd at games are fully behind what Ange is trying to do.

 

[hughy]

Ange in for me still, definitely feel like there has been a shift in support though.

Yeah, losing twice in 14 days to teams who haven't won a game this season will do that.

 

[idontgetit]

The fanbase shouldn't even be asking these questions about Ange in or out with an entire season to play for. He's owed time to make it work and we should get behind him. What is perfectly acceptable is some genuine criticism of the approach, especially if we make repeated mistakes.

 

[marion52]

Some great post on here yesterday. Maybe posting immediately after a loss should be banned as everyone seems more chilled 24 hours or so later

 

[muppetman]

Some great post on here yesterday. Maybe posting immediately after a loss should be banned as everyone seems more chilled 24 hours or so later

You know how it is, men get so emotional!

 

[Stamford]

I like to see how he would do with some actual leaders in this team. He's got Maddison, Romero and son. Nothing is going to happen with them at the helm

 

[HighVoltage]

Goal article

 

[sidford]

Goal article

That's a fair and reasoned article and reflects what most are saying here.
Most fans know he's ultimately on a hiding to nothing (as any manager is at this club) and even if results continue like this it's difficult to see him getting much vitriol like say Jose or Conte did.

 

[SA_Spurs]

I like to see how he would do with some actual leaders in this team. He's got Maddison, Romero and son. Nothing is going to happen with them at the helm

agree. I think Son is too passive, Madders too petulant (he likes to wind ppl up which sometimes helps his game, most time seems to hinder him) and Romero is an odd one - he seems very quiet. Seems like we coached the fire out of him, he's only had 1 booking all season so I do wonder if he's toned down his game to the detriment of his defending. I think Deki is a good shout for captaincy - he's vocal, a strong performer, never afraid to get stuck in and seems well respected across the squad.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

You know how it is, men get so emotional!

My (current) favourite is when, after a loss, someone says 'weekend ruined' or a variation of that

 

[mattspur1]

It's a weird one with Ange, I really like the bloke and wanted him to do well but it just hasn't worked to now. I don't think he has helped himself with his kamikaze tactics and lack of plan B. Plus, who the hell do you bring in if he goes?

 

[mattspur1]

I like to see how he would do with some actual leaders in this team. He's got Maddison, Romero and son. Nothing is going to happen with them at the helm

Great shout that. They just aren't top class leaders that can influence the team and that is what we are massively lacking!