Ange Postecoglou | New Spurs boss on 4 year contract

Telsim

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Doing a good job so far, regardless. Spurs were just horrific last season. Their summer window will be interesting to see, and next season won't be a freebie for him. He will be expected to deliver according to their ambitions.
 

crossy1686

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Lost Kane and spent over 200 million on shite it is what it is
Who of the same ability as Kane was available and wanted to come to Tottenham? People keep saying we should sell Rashford but the reality is we’d just end up doing the exact same thing with the money because a player that can score goals isn’t cheap and isn’t available.
 

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Don't understand why so many people seem so bitter about Ange and Spurs.

By all accounts a great guy who's grafted his way to the top all the way from a footballing backwater. More than what can be said of most of his peers.

And yes Spurs won't win much but when have they ever? They historically aren't a huge club and don't have state money. Without either of which you really can't win anything in football anymore.
Yeah, that was my point.
 

SambaBoy

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So when Ange has to deal with lots of injuries it's not his fault, but when Eric has to deal with a lot of injuries, he's a fraud.

When Son has a shit season, this excuses Ange, but when Rashford has shit season, Eric is a fraud.

And all that because he plays high line.
Incredible.
Son hasn't had a shit season under Ange.

The Ten Hag critics are on his back because he's in his second season - and it seems United are going backwards, with no discernible style of football implemented from the get-go. He did a good job last year in terms of winning a trophy and getting top four, but it's been a bit of a disaster second season for various reasons including the injuries.

Ange has come in and got Spurs playing an attractive style of football. He's not a miracle worker, he's had bad results and a few thrashings since he took over but he's already implemented a recognisable style of football within 8 months and it seems Spurs are going in the right direction. There isn't the toxicity that existed under Conte, plus the lost their best player in the summer so all in all he's done a good job so far. If this time next year, they have regressed then like Ten Hag at the moment, questions will be asked.
 

UnrelatedPsuedo

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They lost arguably their best ever player (Kane) during the summer and came into this season with their 2nd best player (Son) having the worst season of his career at Spurs.
Harry Kane is nowhere near Spurs best ever player. He was a phenomenal player for them but there’s a bunch of players above him that played for the club.
 

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Harry Kane is nowhere near Spurs best ever player. He was a phenomenal player for them but there’s a bunch of players above him that played for the club.
Who is in that bunch do you think?

Gazza? Hoddle? Greaves?

There's absolutely players who hit higher heights than Kane has so far, but not at Spurs (Modric, Bale).
 

UnrelatedPsuedo

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Who is in that bunch do you think?

Gazza? Hoddle? Greaves?

There's absolutely players who hit higher heights than Kane has so far, but not at Spurs (Modric, Bale).
The three you’ve listed with a question mark, absolutely. They were all better footballers and all won something at the club. Though I’d have Gazza behind the other pair.

That’s no slight on Kane. Obviously a great player, but the majority of Spurs fans won’t have him down as their best ever player.
 

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Son hasn't had a shit season under Ange.

The Ten Hag critics are on his back because he's in his second season - and it seems United are going backwards, with no discernible style of football implemented from the get-go. He did a good job last year in terms of winning a trophy and getting top four, but it's been a bit of a disaster second season for various reasons including the injuries.

Ange has come in and got Spurs playing an attractive style of football. He's not a miracle worker, he's had bad results and a few thrashings since he took over but he's already implemented a recognisable style of football within 8 months and it seems Spurs are going in the right direction. There isn't the toxicity that existed under Conte, plus the lost their best player in the summer so all in all he's done a good job so far. If this time next year, they have regressed then like Ten Hag at the moment, questions will be asked.
Bit weird to read the claim that Son has a shit season :lol: 14 goals and 8 assists while also being a pressing maniac. Son is still one of the best forwards in the league. He would be our best forward if he signed for us.
 

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I honestly couldn't give a feck about what Spurs are doing right now. As much as I respect Ange, he has his flaws and Spurs generally show a first season big bounce under their managers before it goes tits up. I'd rather see how Ange fares in the medium term than just this season.
 

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Harry Kane is nowhere near Spurs best ever player. He was a phenomenal player for them but there’s a bunch of players above him that played for the club.
He’s top 5 or 3, by default, I’d say.

Danny Blanchflower, Jimmy Greaves and Gascoigne maybe above him outright with Hoddle and Dave Mackay jostling for position. Only Greaves has his longevity, and delivering over such a long period of time is massive. Kane and Greaves go straight into their all-time xi. Nowhere near doesn’t sound apt, especially at a club where trophies are so sparse.

Think I’d go with Kane 3rd behind the aforementioned at the opener of 2nd paragraph, with Greave #1; Hoddle and Gascoigne might have the talent, but not much backing it and much weaker over an extended period of time:

Raw talent:

1. Gascoigne
2. Blanchflower
3. Hoddle

then the rest, so not topping either type of listing for me, but not in another clear tier below that he can’t be discussed along side them.
 

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We're talking about collective. Spurs arent going to win anything or expected to win anything. Believing in your approach and winning 65% out of 100% while playing good football is better than being pragmatic and still losing 35%.

It's abit ironic laughing at him considering where we are at the moment
But it’s not though is it? Pragmatic managers have won silverware for smaller clubs than Spurs. If they ever want to rid themselves of that thing of being ridiculed for winning nothing then they might want to think about a bit more of a pragmatic approach.
 

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Could have easily been a 4-0 spanking by Fulham. I think at the start of the season people predicted, and rightly so, that Spurs could be on the end of a few big defeats. Just did not think it would be to Fulham.

I think overall he is doing an ok job, they lost their best player and a guaranteed 20+ goals a season striker in Kane. And are in the mix for top 4 without him, Son has looked so much better under Postecoglu compared to Conte. Even Richarlison had found some form before his injury.

When Kane left and Postecoglu came in I would have said about 8th-10th would be where they will finish. I did not think they would be competing for top 4, I guess technically they could tail off and out of the top four race, but atm they are well in the mix.
 

Fallon d'Floor

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Harry Kane is nowhere near Spurs best ever player. He was a phenomenal player for them but there’s a bunch of players above him that played for the club.
In your opinion. I did say arguably.

He's their all time leading goalscorer, came through their own Academy, and is the only one out of Greaves, Hoddle and him to have played in a European Cup/Champions League final.

If you don't think he is, that's fine. He's certainly the most influential player they've had in the 21st century. It was a huge blow to the club.
 

UnrelatedPsuedo

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In your opinion. I did say arguably.

He's their all time leading goalscorer, came through their own Academy, and is the only one out of Greaves, Hoddle and him to have played in a European Cup/Champions League final.

If you don't think he is, that's fine. He's certainly the most influential player they've had in the 21st century. It was a huge blow to the club.
Yeah I was a little punchy. He’s definitely one of their best modern day players and among their best ever. He’s just a level below their absolute best I think.
 

ThierryHenry14

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The three you’ve listed with a question mark, absolutely. They were all better footballers and all won something at the club. Though I’d have Gazza behind the other pair.

That’s no slight on Kane. Obviously a great player, but the majority of Spurs fans won’t have him down as their best ever player.
Kane's longevity and consistency beat those three easily.
 

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Cooksen

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The two things I credit him for is breaking the Spurs tendency to overly rely on a single great player. Plus the fact he is openly very ambitious. But people should stop pretending he has produced a revolutionary season.
One thing about Ange is that being manager of spurs is going to be his biggest job.

I know he has been my national teams manager and he did win us an Asian cup, but he took the long way and is managing one of the biggest clubs in England (and lets be real the world, spurs are a meme but they are a worldwide meme)

Man is doing what he has always done, try and play good attacking football with what he has.
 

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There were some fundamental problems with Ange's tactical approach to the game that the media just chose to completely ignore much of this season because they love a good narrative and the Big Amiable Aussie provided one.

-You can't invert both fullbacks and push them high up into the pockets without leaving yourself completely open to being done on the counter.
-You can't rely on out-hustling and manically tackling your opponent at the expense of defensive structure and have it last in the long run.
-Other PL managers are very smart and will figure you out eventually so you need to be able to play in multiple ways from match to match and within matches rather than just sticking to your "identity" no matter what.

All these points are really obvious when you think about them. And they are showing on the field, well before today. Spurs have a worse XG differential than last year, and they are miles worse than they were in Conte's first year (when they were genuinely good). Ange isn't going to last unless he changes.
 
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Conor

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There were some fundamental problems with Ange's tactical approach to the game that the media just chose to completely ignore much of this season because they love a good narrative and the Big Amiable Aussie provided one.

-You can't invert both fullbacks and push them high up into the pockets without leaving yourself completely open to being done on the counter.
-You can't rely on out-hustling and manically tackling your opponent at the expense of defensive structure and have it last in the long run.
-Other PL managers are very smart and will figure you out eventually so you need to be able to play in multiple ways from match to match and within matches rather than just sticking to your "identity" no matter what.

All these points are really obvious when you think about them. And they are showing on the field, well before today. Spurs have a worse XG differential than last year, and they are miles worse than they were in Conte's first year (when they were generally good). Ange isn't going to last unless he changes.
It was quite obvious as well from early on, it is basically a kamikaze approach, no idea why people were talking like he was some messiah.
 

Idxomer

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This is the first Spurs game I've seen in a while, and his team doesn't really look good.

After buying a new backline in the last 18 months, they've conceded more goals than United. Their attack isn't scoring enough goals to compensate for that, and their underlying stats indicate they've actually been overperforming this season both in defence and attack.
 

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Conceding more than United this season is special.
 

ThierryHenry14

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This is the first Spurs game I've seen in a while, and his team doesn't really look good.

After buying a new backline in the last 18 months, they've conceded more goals than United. Their attack isn't scoring enough goals to compensate for that, and their underlying stats indicate they've actually been overperforming this season both in defence and attack.
Have possession way more than arsenal, almost 70% to 30%, is really outstanding. I am no expert but may be he just like Arteta needs time and also better players to implement his idea.
 

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Have possession way more than arsenal, almost 70% to 30%, is really outstanding. I am no expert but may be he just like Arteta needs time and also better players to implement his idea.
Not a crazy idea. I remember Arsenal completely dominating City in a game a couple of years ago before losing to a late goal. Definitely showed the trajectory they were on.
 

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Spurs fall behind far too often. The odd comeback win in a season is no bad thing but Spurs rely on them far too often.
 

Idxomer

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Have possession way more than arsenal, almost 70% to 30%, is really outstanding. I am no expert but may be he just like Arteta needs time and also better players to implement his idea.
Arsenal doesn't have a problem giving up possession in games like this; it's happened a few times this season already. Spurs deserved a draw today, but mostly because Arsenal made some dumb mistakes.

They definitely need better attacking players. They don't usually create as many chances with their possession as you would expect. His problem will be that there's also a limit to whom Spurs can sign.
 

Desert Eagle

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Have possession way more than arsenal, almost 70% to 30%, is really outstanding. I am no expert but may be he just like Arteta needs time and also better players to implement his idea.
Not really when you consider they were down big for most of the second half and Arsenal just sat on their lead. They did start well before the first goal but those possession stats are flawed.
 

GoonerGirly

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Have possession way more than arsenal, almost 70% to 30%, is really outstanding. I am no expert but may be he just like Arteta needs time and also better players to implement his idea.
I think we were happy to let them have the ball for the most part. They got to our box a lot but then looked a bit clueless in the final third. They didn't have a shot on target until Raya's error (I think). Of course they hit the post early on. But I think they have a soft underbelly and concede too easily.
 

Ludens the Red

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He’s a really bad loser isn’t he :lol: The set piece and var comments. Very good manager but an overly miserable fecker when he loses.
 

SirBillNic

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There were some fundamental problems with Ange's tactical approach to the game that the media just chose to completely ignore much of this season because they love a good narrative and the Big Amiable Aussie provided one.

-You can't invert both fullbacks and push them high up into the pockets without leaving yourself completely open to being done on the counter.
-You can't rely on out-hustling and manically tackling your opponent at the expense of defensive structure and have it last in the long run.
-Other PL managers are very smart and will figure you out eventually so you need to be able to play in multiple ways from match to match and within matches rather than just sticking to your "identity" no matter what.

All these points are really obvious when you think about them. And they are showing on the field, well before today. Spurs have a worse XG differential than last year, and they are miles worse than they were in Conte's first year (when they were genuinely good). Ange isn't going to last unless he changes.
This I've been saying for a while. Basically a 2-3-5 formation in possession, and anyone can see that leaves so much space in the wide areas on the counter. Both Newcastle and Fulham exploited that.

I thought our shape was a bit better today but again weak at set pieces as we have been all season. You're right that we need to be able to change shape when a team sets up to counter our default formation and tactics.

My hope is those things will come with time and more suitable signings. I see what he's trying to do, and I do think it's important to force the players into playing in a way they may not be comfortable with and seeing who sinks and who swims. I think we're seeing who can do it and who can't. Once we have a team we know is able to dominate games then maybe we can be more pragmatic when necessary. But I do think being rigidly ideological is probably necessary to actually get there.
 

SirBillNic

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Arsenal doesn't have a problem giving up possession in games like this; it's happened a few times this season already. Spurs deserved a draw today, but mostly because Arsenal made some dumb mistakes.

They definitely need better attacking players. They don't usually create as many chances with their possession as you would expect. His problem will be that there's also a limit to whom Spurs can sign.
We still have players that are most suited to the transitional style of Jose/Conte. They struggle to break down a low block.

But I'm not sure why we signed some of the players we did after Ange was appointed if we're trying to be a possession-oriented team. Johnson also seems like someone who would thrive on counters, but doesn't have the technical skill to operate without much space. Same with Werner. Son was always best in the Jose/Conte systems.

Perisic and Manor Solomon might have worked better as wide players in Ange's system but of course they both had season-ending injuries.
 

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I think we were happy to let them have the ball for the most part. They got to our box a lot but then looked a bit clueless in the final third. They didn't have a shot on target until Raya's error (I think). Of course they hit the post early on. But I think they have a soft underbelly and concede too easily.
This video explained much better than I ever can.

 

Rooney in Paris

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Not a crazy idea. I remember Arsenal completely dominating City in a game a couple of years ago before losing to a late goal. Definitely showed the trajectory they were on.
This game is sometimes brought up and it's becoming a total myth by now. They didn't "completely dominate" City, City were quite happy to give up possession and hit them hard when they were exposed. If anything, it was a good example of Arteta's naivety.
 

ThierryHenry14

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I don't understand why people think the school of LVG possession based football will ever happy to give up possession and play on counter on purpose. Keeping the ball is the fundamental principle of their football.
 

Powderfinger

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This I've been saying for a while. Basically a 2-3-5 formation in possession, and anyone can see that leaves so much space in the wide areas on the counter. Both Newcastle and Fulham exploited that.

I thought our shape was a bit better today but again weak at set pieces as we have been all season. You're right that we need to be able to change shape when a team sets up to counter our default formation and tactics.

My hope is those things will come with time and more suitable signings. I see what he's trying to do, and I do think it's important to force the players into playing in a way they may not be comfortable with and seeing who sinks and who swims. I think we're seeing who can do it and who can't. Once we have a team we know is able to dominate games then maybe we can be more pragmatic when necessary. But I do think being rigidly ideological is probably necessary to actually get there.
I think that's a fair assessment. The big question going forward is whether Ange, having entrenched that baseline style of play, can add different layers and wrinkles so that the side can deal with various match situations and opponents, as well as ways to win matches when you're playing twice a week again and won't always be able to rely on playing with extreme intensity.

Yesterday's match summed up a lot of the Spurs season in a nutshell I thought. Incredible energy and really effective counter-pressing that allowed you to dominate the match between the boxes. But lacking enough quality and creativity in the front players to really unlock an organized defense and prone to being done on counters and set pieces.
 

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I don't understand why people think the school of LVG possession based football will ever happy to give up possession and play on counter on purpose. Keeping the ball is the fundamental principle of their football.
You don't understand why some teams would have a gameplan that would take the other team by surprise and maximise their chances of winning? Particularly when it pans out exactly that way?
 

ThierryHenry14

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You don't understand why some teams would have a gameplan that would take the other team by surprise and maximise their chances of winning? Particularly when it pans out exactly that way?
I just don't remember that's ever the game plan in LVG's school of football. If the team is 1 or 2 nil up and then switch to a midblock press instead of a full press, then it happens very often. Just simply give up the ball and hit on counter, not really.
 

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There's much to admire about his approach to football but he doesn't scream title winner to me. So Spurs is the perfect club for him I guess.