Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[talkshowhost86]

Honestly think we should play Kulu and Madders for most games

Kulu is a strong lad and can defend from in there as well.

Best 11
Vic

Pedro
Roms
Mick
Udog

Biss
Kulu
Madders

Wilson
Dom
Sony

I'd certainly be happy with that against teams who come to try to shut up shop.

But if we do start with that team then Ange has to be ready to change things early if it's not working.

 

[Hotspur33]

Honestly think we should play Kulu and Madders for most games

Kulu is a strong lad and can defend from in there as well.

Best 11
Vic

Pedro
Roms
Mick
Udog

Biss
Kulu
Madders

Wilson
Dom
Sony

With everyone fully fit and on form I still like Bentancur over Biss, and I like what I’ve seen from Kulu centrally, but against the big boys, when we will have to do our fair share of defending, I’m not sure Madders and Kulu will work.

 

[Mr Pink]

With everyone fully fit and on form I still like Bentancur over Biss, and I like what I’ve seen from Kulu centrally, but against the big boys, when we will have to do our fair share of defending, I’m not sure Madders and Kulu will work.

I think it will work. Kulu is a work horse and offers a lot more quality on the ball than Sarr.

Personally think Sarr is a great option to have, especially to close games out.

Bentancur is quality on the ball.

But Biss, on form, is more mobile and adept at mopping up with blocks, tackles and interceptions.

Think the three Ive listed provide the best balance.

 

[only1waddle]

Honestly think we should play Kulu and Madders for most games

Kulu is a strong lad and can defend from in there as well.

Best 11
Vic

Pedro
Roms
Mick
Udog

Biss
Kulu
Madders

Wilson
Dom
Sony

It'll be interesting to see if he deploys that false 9 system we saw against City, maybe not as we now have cover up top now but it was some of the best football we played last season.

 

[Tucker]

Nice problem for Ange when Dom & Rod come back

Especially if he brings Emu with him.

 

[only1waddle]

Especially if he brings Emu with him.

He'd get a better reception than Rod...

Too soon?

 

[gavspur]

So the tactic to over come our midfield problems, is to bypass the midfield by having Madders and Deki high up behind the strikers. Ange is mad. But if it works, great! We basically played one midfielder yesterday, and he opened the scoring with a belter! It’s actually hilarious, but as others have said, I’m not sure if it works against the better teams.

 

[Trix]

If Ange can get Bissouma to be a productive member of the squad then that is a huge feather in his managerial cap.

I think he's dealt with it very well and hopefully yesterday was the first sign of that rubbing off on Biss.

This balloon stuff isn't a one off as far as Biss is concerned. I had posted about it before all this even happened(behind the scenes) that he was on shaky ground with the coaching team. Ange was happy to let him go if an offer came in along with Skipp, PEH, Emerson etc. There's a reason Ange has played this like he has, and why he's said some of the things he has publicly. If he were a cat I think he'd be on his 9th life right about now, and he's been fortunate Bentancur has picked up this injury, because it's given him an immediate chance of redemption.

He had a great game yesterday, and let's hope he's understood where he is at in his career, because if he doesn't shape up he will be gone sooner rather than later.

I still wouldn't be surprised if he went this window if I'm honest.

 

[talkshowhost86]

This balloon stuff isn't a one off as far as Biss is concerned. I had posted about it before all this even happened(behind the scenes) that he was on shaky ground with the coaching team. Ange was happy to let him go if an offer came in along with Skipp, PEH, Emerson etc. There's a reason Ange has played this like he has, and why he's said some of the things he has publicly. If he were a cat I think he'd be on his 9th life right about now, and he's been fortunate Bentancur has picked up this injury, because it's given him an immediate chance of redemption.

He had a great game yesterday, and let's hope he's understood where he is at in his career, because if he doesn't shape up he will be gone sooner rather than later.

I still wouldn't be surprised if he went this window if I'm honest.

Yeah I don't think he plays if Bentancur is fit and I certainly got the idea that this really was a last chance.

We'll see what happens but let's hope he can build on yesterday rather than it being a one-off.

 

[mil1lion]

This balloon stuff isn't a one off as far as Biss is concerned. I had posted about it before all this even happened(behind the scenes) that he was on shaky ground with the coaching team. Ange was happy to let him go if an offer came in along with Skipp, PEH, Emerson etc. There's a reason Ange has played this like he has, and why he's said some of the things he has publicly. If he were a cat I think he'd be on his 9th life right about now, and he's been fortunate Bentancur has picked up this injury, because it's given him an immediate chance of redemption.

He had a great game yesterday, and let's hope he's understood where he is at in his career, because if he doesn't shape up he will be gone sooner rather than later.

I still wouldn't be surprised if he went this window if I'm honest.

Rather just keep him while the youngsters settle. It will be interesting to see if Bentancur extends too. We could still be looking at midfield reinforcements next summer.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Rather just keep him while the youngsters settle. It will be interesting to see if Bentancur extends too. We could still be looking at midfield reinforcements next summer.

I personally still think we need a more reliable senior central midfielder but that seems pretty unlikely at this stage.

 

[mil1lion]

I personally still think we need a more reliable senior central midfielder but that seems pretty unlikely at this stage.

That's the trouble, I just don't see anyone the level we would need in the final week of the window so best to stick rather than twist now.

 

[Trix]

Rather just keep him while the youngsters settle. It will be interesting to see if Bentancur extends too. We could still be looking at midfield reinforcements next summer.

Double edged sword.....

We have a number of impressionable youngsters needing to settle around a senior player who is not being fully professional. If it's a one off moment of stupidity, fine. If it's a series of moments followed by this very public one it's another thing altogether.

Like has been said, let's hope the pennies dropped.

 

[GutBucket]

 

[Hotspur33]

This balloon stuff isn't a one off as far as Biss is concerned. I had posted about it before all this even happened(behind the scenes) that he was on shaky ground with the coaching team. Ange was happy to let him go if an offer came in along with Skipp, PEH, Emerson etc. There's a reason Ange has played this like he has, and why he's said some of the things he has publicly. If he were a cat I think he'd be on his 9th life right about now, and he's been fortunate Bentancur has picked up this injury, because it's given him an immediate chance of redemption.

He had a great game yesterday, and let's hope he's understood where he is at in his career, because if he doesn't shape up he will be gone sooner rather than later.

I still wouldn't be surprised if he went this window if I'm honest.

We may not remember Conte fondly, but, talent wise Bissouma should have been playing in Contes team, but he wasn’t and there was obviously a reason.
It sounds like he is quite high maintenance, needs to be given plenty of motivation etc.

 

[Tezza1978]

I think Bissouma does deserve one final chance as there is a great player in there, he just needs to stay consistent, professional, arrive on time for training etc and not piss about doing stupid things like nitrous balloons. Interesting to hear that Ange has had concerns for a while, Conte was probably of the same frame of mind about him. Agree its make or break time for him, performances like yesterday on a regular basis and professionalism will mean Ange will want to keep him next season. Any more off the pitch screw ups /regular poor performances on it and he will be rightly out the door.

 

[thelak]

It's more difficult to do that when the "told you so" brigade make an appearance. Fact is it's just one game where we have won emphatically, which is ironic because the post he was replying to was aiming that "I told you so" at people who were critical of Monday, which again was just one game.

Let's give it a while shall we before we overreact in either direction. It was a good win today, just as it was badly dropped points on Monday.

Long way to go before we really know where we are.

Agreed

early season form always hard to judge unless for a v settled team

we’ve also just played arguably the two worst teams in the league

Nice win but hard to extrapolate given how bad Everton are

 

[arunspurs]

I am bit pissed that the whole window , we didnt address the one issue we should have. I thought Ange would have addressed it. Thats no6.

I am still one of the biggest critic of Bissouma - for his lack of awareness, lack of tracking runners, inability to keep ball, giving away possession under no pressure...and so on. His best attribute is, his ability to wriggle out of 3 or 4 opponents around him - but then its useless if you are going to give it away seconds later when no opponent is pressing you.

I dont mind writing this on back of a game, he just scored his 1st goal. Bissouma is good player but a squad player. There are better no6 than him in atleast 10 of the PL clubs.

In above picture of player map, for this Ange formation to work, the best player in the side has to be a no6. Pep plays this style & it works for him because he has Rodri to do the job and keeping the ball and recycling.

Ange is trying to play similar way but given unreliable Bissouma or Bentancur who sadly only can play at his peak for 45minutes.

Gray has been tried but he is not a natural no6.

If we should splash the cash in Jan or next summer, it should be no6.

Of all the players in squad, Bergvall for me has the best temperament and ability to play no6 - he has done it in some of the games last season. For him to level up in PL, I hope Ange tries him as no6 than Gray. Gray IMO, is a better fit for no8 on right side than a no6.

 

[mightyspur]

Funny comment from Ange on MoTD saying banning Biss obviously worked, so he's going to ban him next week as well

 

[nicdic]

I am bit pissed that the whole window , we didnt address the one issue we should have. I thought Ange would have addressed it. Thats no6.

I am still one of the biggest critic of Bissouma - for his lack of awareness, lack of tracking runners, inability to keep ball, giving away possession under no pressure...and so on. His best attribute is, his ability to wriggle out of 3 or 4 opponents around him - but then its useless if you are going to give it away seconds later when no opponent is pressing you.

I dont mind writing this on back of a game, he just scored his 1st goal. Bissouma is good player but a squad player. There are better no6 than him in atleast 10 of the PL clubs.

In above picture of player map, for this Ange formation to work, the best player in the side has to be a no6. Pep plays this style & it works for him because he has Rodri to do the job and keeping the ball and recycling.

Ange is trying to play similar way but given unreliable Bissouma or Bentancur who sadly only can play at his peak for 45minutes.

Gray has been tried but he is not a natural no6.

If we should splash the cash in Jan or next summer, it should be no6.

Of all the players in squad, Bergvall for me has the best temperament and ability to play no6 - he has done it in some of the games last season. For him to level up in PL, I hope Ange tries him as no6 than Gray. Gray IMO, is a better fit for no8 on right side than a no6.

Nah come on that's massively overstating lots of this. There are very few 6s better than Bissouma in the league, especially if we're talking about the specific way the role works in our system.