Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[Oh Teddy Teddy]

I think we need to look at the coaches too. We are awful at set pieces and that's Ryan Masons department. We can't keep carrying him, I think it's time for him to move on.

Is it? I thought it was Jedinak’s? Or is one on defensive set pieces and the other on attacking? Either way, we stink at both

 

[G Ron]

Is it? I thought it was Jedinak’s? Or is one on defensive set pieces and the other on attacking? Either way, we stink at both

Yep, so much so we’re now resorting to taking short corners every time. Painful

 

[FibreOpticJesus]

Agree with all that, except this reference to kamikaze football.

For their first goal, we have three back v two- Udog loses the 50-50, Romero switches off and VDV clearly forgot Isak has no left foot. We can all see Porro creates the chaos for the second, with VDV repeating his misjudgment with Gordon.

This clearly decisive two mins proceeded an even game, with the rest of the game unremarkable.

BUT… clearly what we can do is defend corners, and show some fight. Their midfield trio fought like hell, won all the battles. None of our first or second shifts came close to matching that.

We lose one nil or whatever and there’s none of this more serious reaction, but it’s here because of the fundamental flaws visible.

The Arse’s early corners will be unnecessarily decisive unless he gets his shit together

I have to wholly disagree with your views on this. It was Kamakazi footy. I was sat behind the goal first half with the geordie fans and before they scored it was clear it was going to be only a matter of time before they scored. It should have already been 2 nil to them before their first. Our defending and shape were shocking and we looked like a pub team. All around me could not believe how amateur our defensive set up was. It could have been six before half time if they could head the ball. The geordies were well pissed off it was only 4. It could have easily been 8.

 

[DannyNZ]

Another week watching Maddison struggle and Ange bringing on an out of form Kulu. For the life of me I don’t get his confidence in these two and his reluctance to give GLC any meaningful minutes. He looks like our only midfielder that has the ability to see passes and move the ball quickly and accurately, that front three of ours need quicker releases not the laboured build up we’re seeing. Ange talks about bravery but his team selections can be a bit safe and predictable. Time Madds Biss, and Kulu got the real message that what they’re serving up isn’t good enough, and that means bench time.

 

[Mr Pink]

Is it? I thought it was Jedinak’s? Or is one on defensive set pieces and the other on attacking? Either way, we stink at both

Yes Mason is attacking, Jedinak defensive set pieces.

 

[parj]

I think the big thing that worries me is the pace of us is possession. We moved the ball so slow that we will rarely get the chances our opponents get.

Maddison and Bissouma were great when they were moving the ball quick, and Romero was feeding the ball forward. But now by the time Son, Johnson, Werner get the ball, there is no space to exploit. Gordon took advantage of the spaces yesterday cos he was given the ball quickly.

We need to fix this tempo issue. PEH and GLC were moving the ball quicker than Madders and Bissouma. I actually think GLC and PEH are better performers right now - and that worries me cos that means our shopping list doubled this summer.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

Bowen is in a West Ham team that play to his strengths and I disagree about Gordon as Johnson had a rough start for several reasons.

But how do you know Johnson wouldn't fair better in their systems?

Because he doesn't have better attributes over than maybe pace.

 

[parj]

I think we need to look at the coaches too. We are awful at set pieces and that's Ryan Masons department. We can't keep carrying him, I think it's time for him to move on.

Whilst I agree, I think people are targeting Ryan Mason for no reason. He isn't defensive set pieces and we hardly get any attacking free kicks in good areas.
For both attacking and defensive corners, if you don't have players willing to attack the ball then it will make no difference. Yesterday, there was no effort from our defenders to actually win a header. Every person standing still and waiting.

 

[Gilzeanking]

At the mo, Ange reminds me of Southgate - not getting the best out of his squad due to his stubbornness and refusal to change his tactics. We’re not playing in a Mickey Mouse Japanese League or the comical Scottish Premier League, we’re in the EPL where pretty much 18 of the 20 teams are capable of turning you over if you’re not on top of your game.

Yep, says it all. Looks like arrogance from a manager with no experience at a high level.

The big question is can he learn and adapt ? No sign of that so far in a man of 58, not a shred of self analysis/questioning/acceptance of responsibility in any pressers so far . Lots of 'we're growing' fluff and praise for how the opposition played which indicates he's regularly being surprised by our oppo
....which you'd expect from someone who reportedly pays little attention to who we are playing in his match preparations. (fine when next oppo is Kilmarnock)

80% of Newcastle corners reached a Newcastle head, like WTF !! .Romero VdV and Vicario obviously not being prepared properly, just one of many malfunctions. Time for a rethink on how to be an effective Prem manager imo.

 

[thecook]

I think we need to look at the coaches too. We are awful at set pieces and that's Ryan Masons department. We can't keep carrying him, I think it's time for him to move on.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Mate LWOS chat so much shit you might as well ignore anything they say.

Last season we averaged 5.2 shots on target per game. This season it's 5.7.

We are averaging 2.7 big chances per game v 2.1 but are missing 1.5 big chances v 1.1 last season and have 5.3 shots off target v 4.6.

In Summary, we are missing Kane.

Yeah I've been burnt by podcaster "stats" before.

Feel like whenever you hear one now it needs the added caveat that it's just hearsay.

 

[SixtyFour]

I'm going to go balls on the line and say that we'll see this 3241 lineup at some stage this season.

View attachment 139500

Would certainly address a few issues. Potential for three actual defenders in the vague vicinity when teams counter attack. Dragusin would assumedly help massively on defensive set pieces, and maybe attacking - he does like a header. Shoring up the vast acreage in central midfield. Porro whipping in crosses. Gets Kulu, one of our strongest as in physical strength, players on the pitch but not noodling away on the right.

Best of luck to your balls.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Yep, says it all. Looks like arrogance from a manager with no experience at a high level.

The big question is can he learn and adapt ? No sign of that so far in a man of 58, not a shred of self analysis/questioning/acceptance of responsibility in any pressers so far . Lots of 'we're growing' fluff and praise for how the opposition played which indicates he's regularly being surprised by our oppo
....which you'd expect from someone who reportedly pays little attention to who we are playing in his match preparations. (fine when next oppo is Kilmarnock)

80% of Newcastle corners reached a Newcastle head, like WTF !! .Romero VdV and Vicario obviously not being prepared properly, just one of many malfunctions. Time for a rethink on how to be an effective Prem manager imo.

1) We are 5th it’s not like we are 10th or something
2) Ange has conviction and belief in his methods which is a good thing
3) We beat Newcastle 4-1 earlier in the season, we thrashed them at home, they thrashed us at their home, it is what it is.

Also until the squad improves Ange’s hands are a bit tied, especially in attacking areas when Richy isn’t fit.

 

[Dov67]

We didn’t lose yesterday because of Ange's style of football tactics, and we didn’t lose/get thumped because they have better players than us - like Fulham, they dont.

We lost because some of our better players like Bissouma and Maddison are not playing to anything like their potential and because VDV who has had an outstanding first season made two uncharacteristically bad errors in a two minute spell.

Players lose form, players make mistakes. That’s why you have big squads.

But what is unacceptable is that the other main reason we lost is that they physically outfought us to every loose ball and were first to every loose ball. They showed balls and grit and fight and we were timid.

I said after the Fulham game, that Ange would have made his mark at this club when results like yesterday and Fulham are as rare as a comet rather than sadly predictable.

 

[Gb160]

Is it? I thought it was Jedinak’s? Or is one on defensive set pieces and the other on attacking? Either way, we stink at both

I was thinking that maybe (as we don't have a clue who does what) that maybe there's been a mixup and they don't know either.
So I've concluded they've both been training attacking set pieces, which coincidentally they're both shit at also.

 

[Albertbarich]

Im still fully behind Ange but I'll share my frustrations.

Our set pieces have to be addressed. Not only that but we awful at defending any sort of crosses and it's costing us. Any corner we concede is terrifying.

Whether Ange replaces Jedinek and or Mason to address this, hires a specialist or simply gives them more time we have to do something.

We lack control in the final third. I think Werner has been very good as have Johnson and son but oh what I'd do to see a Bernardo Silva type up there who can hold the ball, thread passes and beat a man. Everything up there for us is so rushed and it causes games to turn into a basketball type situation at times. And that's not on the club, it's clear the football management have chosen these sorts of players -ones that run away from the ball. Yesterday when he brought Kulu on I was hoping he could try him through the centre as his hold up play is excellent and with Newcastle pushing so aggressively I thought that would help.

And lastly I don't buy into this doubting if the double inverted full backs. It works but it doesn't work in Emerson is playing as he is totally ill suited to the role. Id like to see a little more flexibility at times.

 

[GutBucket]

We didn’t lose yesterday because of Ange's style of football tactics, and we didn’t lose/get thumped because they have better players than us - like Fulham, they dont.

We lost because some of our better players like Bissouma and Maddison are not playing to anything like their potential and because VDV who has had an outstanding first season made two uncharacteristically bad errors in a two minute spell.

Players lose form, players make mistakes. That’s why you have big squads.

But what is unacceptable is that the other main reason we lost is that they physically outfought us to every loose ball and were first to every loose ball. They showed balls and grit and fight and we were timid.

I said after the Fulham game, that Ange would have made his mark at this club when results like yesterday and Fulham are as rare as a comet rather than sadly predictable.

Even if our players were in great form we were lucky not to concede 2-3 goals from set pieces in the first half alone. Coaching needs work too.

 

[TOLBINY]

We needed a project manager, who was prepared to gut the squad, be prepared to go backwards before going forward and not sign lots of players in their late 20's on top wages. I also think his style of football is past it for the Premier League, he suits Serie A, with a relatively big budget for the league.

How many project managers have had success in the Prem? Sir Alex, Klopp, Arteta are often cited as examples of why we should be patient with Ange, give him two or three seasons (which by the way I have posted he should get as long as we are not in freefall and at risk of relegation) but for the life of me I cannot understand why the same did not apply when it comes to Conte. Yes the football wasn't great at times, it hasn't always been as good as some have made out under Ange, so if you are going for a longer term project why not stick with a man who knows what it takes to win the Prem? Conte asked for time and patience a few days before his last game - does that sound like a bloke who doesn't want to be here or does it sound like a bloke who recognises this is a longer term project?

This post is not a dig at you or your views or a dig at Ange, but what is it in Ange's CV that leads people to believe he is a good choice as a longer term project manger for a club that is aiming to challenge for Prem titles? He doesn't seem to stay anywhere that long at club level, he is 58 years of age (older than Conte) with no previous experience at this level, let alone success?

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[Dov67]

Even if our players were in great form we were lucky not to concede 2-3 goals from set pieces in the first half alone. Coaching needs work too.

Completely agree, but a lot has to do with aggressively attacking the ball from corners. I think at one ppint they were first to the ball from 9 out of 10 corners. Some of that is coaching no doubt, but a lot is having balls and playing with aggression.

 

[dontcallme]

Ange has a clear style of playing and is trying to implement it. It's hard to do this in the first few seasons as the manager will never have a squad of players that suit that style.

I get people asking for flexibility but I'm fine with him trying to drill in his playing style.

There is always frustration in this early stages and things like being bad at defensive set-pieces always happens.

My biggest frustration right now is playing a few players who clearly aren't performing. Maddison and Bissouma coming off the bench would be great but they shouldn't be starting right now over Hojbjerg and Lo Celso.