Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[Stamford]

He should get the season, there is no point in changing again. We never learn.

 

[Styopa]

I think the PL may have a higher calibre of coaching than the Australian or Japanese league, but it's the assumption that it's also superior to the "farmer's leagues" of France, Germany, Spain and Italy that I often question.

I think we place too much emphasis on tactics and coaching, when I think a lot of it is actually motivating players, rather than being some tactical guru that unlocks teams. Motivating teams and getting them to be more than the sum of their parts is probably a highly relevant skill for a Spurs manager.

As ever, I'd love to see what Pep or Klopp could do with Halifax Town - when the genuinely elite players are removed, how much of their superior tactics allows them to shine and how much of their success is actually down to better players (and squads of players) than almost everyone they come up against.

For sure the quality of player is king. Without the quality of player, there's only so much a coach can do.

But you see this phenomenon across all walks of life, don’t you? Great film directors achieve outstanding results when working with talented actors rather than with a local drama club. Top chefs create exceptional dishes by using the finest ingredients.

Similarly, different skills are required at different levels. For example, a CEO of a major corporation might excel in strategic vision and managing large-scale operations but may struggle with the hands-on, detail-oriented tasks necessary for running a small business. On the flip side, a small business owner who thrives in a close-knit, flexible environment might find it challenging to handle the strategic complexities and scale of a large organisation.

 

[muppetman]

For sure the quality of player is king. Without the quality of player, there's only so much a coach can do.

But you see this phenomenon across all walks of life, don’t you? Great film directors achieve outstanding results when working with talented actors rather than with a local drama club. Top chefs create exceptional dishes by using the finest ingredients.

Similarly, different skills are required at different levels. For example, a CEO of a major corporation might excel in strategic vision and managing large-scale operations but may struggle with the hands-on, detail-oriented tasks necessary for running a small business. On the flip side, a small business owner who thrives in a close-knit, flexible environment might find it challenging to handle the strategic complexities and scale of a large organisation.

Exactly, so managing a team of athletes to succeed in Australia or Japan or England - it's all largely the same skills. Therefore, his background is mostly irrelevant because he has been successful in multiple places. This idea that the PL is so superior that skills aren't transferrable just doesn't work for me - motivating individuals, creating strong teams and giving them belief they can succeed is not so different at Yokohama or Celtic or Spurs.

I really doubt we'd have seen many of the comments if he was Spanish or Italian for example. We wouldn't discount a great actor, director or chef if he was from Armenia or Belarus - we'd judge him on the films, meals etc (all getting a bit tortuous now!)

 

[Styopa]

Exactly, so managing a team of athletes to succeed in Australia or Japan or England - it's all largely the same skills. Therefore, his background is mostly irrelevant because he has been successful in multiple places. This idea that the PL is so superior that skills aren't transferrable just doesn't work for me - motivating individuals, creating strong teams and giving them belief they can succeed is not so different at Yokohama or Celtic or Spurs.

I really doubt we'd have seen many of the comments if he was Spanish or Italian for example. We wouldn't discount a great actor, director or chef if he was from Armenia or Belarus - we'd judge him on the films, meals etc (all getting a bit tortuous now!)

I agree; we shouldn’t dismiss Ange solely based on the leagues he’s managed in so far. Many of the skills are transferable.

But I don’t think the issue is really about Ange's nationality. It’s more about the fact that he hasn’t managed or played in any of the major European leagues. If he had won titles in Italy and Spain, I doubt anyone would question his record. The scepticism seems to stem from doubts about the strength of the leagues where he has experience. I could see similar objections being made if we hired an experienced English coach who had spent his entire career in Leagues One and Two or an experienced Italian Coach who had spent his entire career managing in the lower reaches of Italian football.

But, anyway, he's here now, and he's earned the opportunity. We should give him the time to show what he can do here.

 

[thebenjamin]

Fair fucking play to the boss for this

Postecoglou slams Brennan Johnson abusers and names Spurs star with huge growth

The Tottenham Hotspur boss has rounded on those social media trolls who forced one of his young players to deactivate their Instagram account

www.football.london

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I think the PL may have a higher calibre of coaching than the Australian or Japanese league, but it's the assumption that it's also superior to the "farmer's leagues" of France, Germany, Spain and Italy that I often question.

I think we place too much emphasis on tactics and coaching, when I think a lot of it is actually motivating players, rather than being some tactical guru that unlocks teams. Motivating teams and getting them to be more than the sum of their parts is probably a highly relevant skill for a Spurs manager.

As ever, I'd love to see what Pep or Klopp could do with Halifax Town - when the genuinely elite players are removed, how much of their superior tactics allows them to shine and how much of their success is actually down to better players (and squads of players) than almost everyone they come up against.

Pep and Klopp are also great motivators.

 

[djhotspur]

Exactly, so managing a team of athletes to succeed in Australia or Japan or England - it's all largely the same skills. Therefore, his background is mostly irrelevant because he has been successful in multiple places. This idea that the PL is so superior that skills aren't transferrable just doesn't work for me - motivating individuals, creating strong teams and giving them belief they can succeed is not so different at Yokohama or Celtic or Spurs.

I really doubt we'd have seen many of the comments if he was Spanish or Italian for example. We wouldn't discount a great actor, director or chef if he was from Armenia or Belarus - we'd judge him on the films, meals etc (all getting a bit tortuous now!)

Of course it matters….. you are up against a very high quality of player and manager who rich clubs have spent multiple millions on… and said players and managers are coaching/ playing just like ange is to stop ange and spurs.
The difference is true quality shows in this league and at the high level, you get less time, less space there’s more much tactical thought out plans to completely nullify what you are trying to do.
There’s a reason teams are able to break with pace power and speed on us and it’s because teams are training and have the player level to do so… if those other poor leagues those players won’t have any where near the pace and footballing ability to expose flaws in the system even if the opposition manager identified them… which he more likely might not have done due to the quality of manager.
I agree motivating players etc is the same skill set… we all seem to take the Micky out of arteta but look at the passion his players showed… look at his players killing themselves to track back, watch the videos of his players flooding back when they’ve been countered on them watch ours. So he’s clearly not motivating them to the same extent.
He’s in a league with some incredible managers and it’s showing but I also agree the players aren’t good enough due to failures in our scouting and ability to buy better players.
I’m not saying sack him at all, I’m merely pointing out it’s basically night and day comparing the leagues.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Of course it matters….. you are up against a very high quality of player and manager who rich clubs have spent multiple millions on… and said players and managers are coaching/ playing just like ange is to stop ange and spurs.
The difference is true quality shows in this league and at the high level, you get less time, less space there’s more much tactical thought out plans to completely nullify what you are trying to do.
There’s a reason teams are able to break with pace power and speed on us and it’s because teams are training and have the player level to do so… if those other poor leagues those players won’t have any where near the pace and footballing ability to expose flaws in the system even if the opposition manager identified them… which he more likely might not have done due to the quality of manager.
I agree motivating players etc is the same skill set… we all seem to take the Micky out of arteta but look at the passion his players showed… look at his players killing themselves to track back, watch the videos of his players flooding back when they’ve been countered on them watch ours. So he’s clearly not motivating them to the same extent.
He’s in a league with some incredible managers and it’s showing but I also agree the players aren’t good enough due to failures in our scouting and ability to buy better players.
I’m not saying sack him at all, I’m merely pointing out it’s basically night and day comparing the leagues.

Agree, this is why for example he dominated in SPL with Celtic but had a really poor record in Europe where teams easily exposed the weaknesses in the system, ironically it might work the other way around for him at Spurs.

 

[E17yid]

It’s also about culture. In countries like Japan and Australia football is way down the list of important sports, you’re talking 5 or so other sports that are way ahead. That effects culture it effects things like pressure, wages, player attitude and a million other things a manager from countries like that wouldn’t of had to deal with but when you move to a country like England, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal etc etc they live and breathe football. Pressure, scrutiny and all those things are on a different level and that’s before you go into infrastructure, money, players, coaches and all that other stuff. Man management is what it comes down to thigh for a manager imo, though. And culture and money feeds into that.

Gies without saying he should have the season and I still think we have a very good squad, or at least one good enough to get top 6 as a minimum and a semi final/final in one cup this year.

 

[djhotspur]

Agree, this is why for example he dominated in SPL with Celtic but had a really poor record in Europe where teams easily exposed the weaknesses in the system.

Exactly. Like the Madrid game…Celtic play lovely free flowing football miss a bunch of chances…Madrid adjust tactically at half time and win 4-0.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

The Spurs fide that he played in finished 11th and 8th and current league has much higher quality than 15 years ago... And he couldn't even get a regular gametime then


Yeah, apart from the fact Brennan was signed in summer and was also wanted by Brentford, Chelsea and Atletico. Highly doubt that everyone wanted to sign Peter Crouch who was 28 yrs old and scored 10 goals season earlier but didn't want to sign Solanke who is 26 and scored 19 goals last season either...

Also

Some fair points but I think most on here would take the players he mentioned over what we have now.

Huddlestone (perhaps)
Lennon (definitely)
Defoe (definitely)
Van der Vaart (definitely)
Robbie Keane (definitely)

Also O’Hara was part of a squad which won our last trophy…

His point about which clubs we’ve signed the players from doesn’t stand up as Lennon and Defoe were from championship clubs at the time, but it was obvious Defoe was going to be brilliant, anyone who has half decent football knowledge could tell that.

His general point is that the players we’ve been signing are a bit ‘average’ and honestly with regards to some of them it’s hard to disagree with that, however a lot of them are young so a bit too early to judge them, even Solanke it’s way too early to properly judge him, but I understand O’Hara’s sentiment.

He’s just frustrated mostly.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

This is the squad when we last won a trophy, of course league position wise it was mid table and then bottom of the pile before Redknapp took it back to where it should be.

Would people take this squad over what we have now?

Tottenham Hotspur - Detailed squad 08/09 (Detailed view)

Tottenham at a glance: The detailed squad overview with all players and data in the season 08/09.

www.transfermarkt.co.uk

Id go with: (picking first XI and back-ups not best combination as that is unrealistic)

Vicario
Cudicini

Porro
Spence

King
Van Der Ven
Dragusin
Rocha

Assou-Ekotto
Davies

Bissouma
Palacios

Modric
Bentancur

Maddison
Jenas

Lennon
Townsend

Berbatov
Defoe

Bale
Odobert

Clear to me that it’s our front line that is the issue, the rest of the squad is a mix of both squads and this isn’t even one of our best squads, if we compared to prime Redknapp and Poch very few of our current squad would get a game imo.

However times and football has changed to the need for a different style of player is important and Ange has different tactics to Redknapp and Poch so in a way not a direct comparison.

Interesting though I feel to show the weak areas of our current squad.

 

[-Afri-Coy-]

These next 3 games are important for us to build some momentum and it’s a great opportunity to kill some of the doubt

If we win tonight, we can look ahead to the weekend and EL fixtures with some positivity. Hopefully this will be the catalyst to a good season.

 

[thebenjamin]

Some fair points but I think most on here would take the players he mentioned over what we have now.

Huddlestone (perhaps)
Lennon (definitely)
Defoe (definitely)
Van der Vaart (definitely)
Robbie Keane (definitely)

Also O’Hara was part of a squad which won our last trophy…

His point about which clubs we’ve signed the players from doesn’t stand up as Lennon and Defoe were from championship clubs at the time, but it was obvious Defoe was going to be brilliant, anyone who has half decent football knowledge could tell that.

His general point is that the players we’ve been signing are a bit ‘average’ and honestly with regards to some of them it’s hard to disagree with that, however a lot of them are young so a bit too early to judge them, even Solanke it’s way too early to properly judge him, but I understand O’Hara’s sentiment.

He’s just frustrated mostly.

At the actual time every one of those players, with the possible exception of vdv, was slated by a huge % of our fanbase for not being good enough. Even VDV could only play 60 minutes at a time

 

[Cambridge Spur]

These next 3 games are important for us to build some momentum and it’s a great opportunity to kill some of the doubt

If we win tonight, we can look ahead to the weekend and EL fixtures with some positivity. Hopefully this will be the catalyst to a good season.

I hope you’re right because the media have certainly shifted and are pushing hard to highlight the problems with our form and Ange’s system.

I’m definitely ‘Ange in’ but you can’t help but worry about where things are headed.

It feels like this next run of games are going to be crucial.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

This is the squad when we last won a trophy, of course league position wise it was mid table and then bottom of the pile before Redknapp took it back to where it should be.

Would people take this squad over what we have now?

Tottenham Hotspur - Detailed squad 08/09 (Detailed view)

Tottenham at a glance: The detailed squad overview with all players and data in the season 08/09.

www.transfermarkt.co.uk

Id go with: (picking first XI and back-ups not best combination as that is unrealistic)

Vicario
Cudicini

Porro
Spence

King
Van Der Ven
Dragusin
Rocha

Assou-Ekotto
Davies

Bissouma
Palacios

Modric
Bentancur

Maddison
Jenas

Lennon
Townsend

Berbatov
Defoe

Bale
Odobert

Clear to me that it’s our front line that is the issue, the rest of the squad is a mix of both squads and this isn’t even one of our best squads, if we compared to prime Redknapp and Poch very few of our current squad would get a game imo.

However times and football has changed to the need for a different style of player is important and Ange has different tactics to Redknapp and Poch so in a way not a direct comparison.

Interesting though I feel to show the weak areas of our current squad.

Rocha? Are you taking the piss mate?

 

[Reece_Spurs]

Fair fucking play to the boss for this

Postecoglou slams Brennan Johnson abusers and names Spurs star with huge growth

The Tottenham Hotspur boss has rounded on those social media trolls who forced one of his young players to deactivate their Instagram account

www.football.london

Yeah, glad hes come out and said this.

Was quite disgusting hearing some of the abuse he was getting from our own fans coming through the live broadcast.

 

[mil1lion]

There's a big difference between being a fan and being a supporter. Those who abuse players or the manager, what do they think that will achieve? Surely counter productive to wanting a player to do better. As long as we dont get it in the stands too as the likes of Sanchez or Emerson have endured at times too. Love where he said he'd punch them if they abused him to his face Really feel like our fans can do better to be honest. I don't think the atmosphere was intimidating as it has been in the past for a NLD.

 

[cjbyid]

There's a big difference between being a fan and being a supporter. Those who abuse players or the manager, what do they think that will achieve? Surely counter productive to wanting a player to do better. As long as we dont get it in the stands too as the likes of Sanchez or Emerson have endured at times too. Love where he said he'd punch them if they abused him to his face Really feel like our fans can do better to be honest. I don't think the atmosphere was intimidating as it has been in the past for a NLD.

Yeah it wasn't great. Only time it's been decent was the conte 3-0 but that was an 8pm kick off so everyone was well on it, arsenal were rattled that night.

Anything before 4pm ko is never a decent atmosphere.

 

[Ribble]

This is the squad when we last won a trophy, of course league position wise it was mid table and then bottom of the pile before Redknapp took it back to where it should be.

Would people take this squad over what we have now?

Tottenham Hotspur - Detailed squad 08/09 (Detailed view)

Tottenham at a glance: The detailed squad overview with all players and data in the season 08/09.

www.transfermarkt.co.uk

Id go with: (picking first XI and back-ups not best combination as that is unrealistic)

Vicario
Cudicini

Porro
Spence

King
Van Der Ven
Dragusin
Rocha

Assou-Ekotto
Davies

Bissouma
Palacios

Modric
Bentancur

Maddison
Jenas

Lennon
Townsend

Berbatov
Defoe

Bale
Odobert

Clear to me that it’s our front line that is the issue, the rest of the squad is a mix of both squads and this isn’t even one of our best squads, if we compared to prime Redknapp and Poch very few of our current squad would get a game imo.

However times and football has changed to the need for a different style of player is important and Ange has different tactics to Redknapp and Poch so in a way not a direct comparison.

Interesting though I feel to show the weak areas of our current squad.

That's the wrong season, we won the league cup in 07/08 not 08/09. We got back to the final in 08/09 but lost on penalties.