Manager Watch: Ange Postecoglou

[Meercat]

On game 10 I never would have imagined I’d be thinking there was any chance he wouldn’t be here for years to come - it was such an incredible start. What was it, 26p out of a possible 30, such a distortion of what I’d expected with the talk about there being ups and downs with Ange…but to have only managed 32p from the next 23 games, that’s lower mid-table form, sustained… and that’s worrying beyond a one game performance. If this continues through the last five games and we average the same 1.39ppg we are looking at 67p… which would suggest squeaky bum time for Europe, and if, having been in the driving seat for that extra revenue for the entire season we blow that, I can imagine a lot more pressure on him over the next 12 months.

 

[nedley]

Well, one thing is for sure: if he stays stubborn and we keep conceding like we are, he won't be around long.

Yep..

He's losing fans big time.

 

[arunspurs]

I reckon 99.9% of fans would have had Sarr in this starting 11.

The selection was shit. Full stop.

Yes, I am in that 99.9% too....
Only I feel, we should have started Hojbjerg Sarr instead. Sarr needed for legs in transition. Hojbjerg for his relative form against all of his fellow CMs.

 

[RuskyM]

Were set-piece goals a problem in the early parts of the season and we were just scoring more to mask it? Or did teams just all notice Vic's weakness at them after the City game?

He's not gonna come out and say "we'll overhaul that" because no manager can come out and say "I was wrong", as helpful as that'd be. The issue isn't what he's saying, it's that it keeps happening.

 

[-Afri-Coy-]

I reckon 99.9% of fans would have had Sarr in this starting 11.

The selection was shit. Full stop.

Sarr should literally be the first or second name on the sheet after Romero/VDV imo. Hasn’t put a foot wrong all season for me, which says a lot given how young he is.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Were set-piece goals a problem in the early parts of the season and we were just scoring more to mask it? Or did teams just all notice Vic's weakness at them after the City game?

He's not gonna come out and say "we'll overhaul that" because no manager can come out and say "I was wrong", as helpful as that'd be. The issue isn't what he's saying, it's that it keeps happening.

The scary thing was someone posted an athletic article from his Celtic time, and the subheading was about how 'zonal marking doesnt work and the keeper is rooted to his line'

Which is exactly the problems we're having now.

 

[Whazam]

We suffocated them at times, but we still ended up 3 down.

I'm saying they didn't deviate too much from their plan from the first half, they had more of the ball because we had to be more aggressive with our passing and pressing and they played through it better.

The finishing yes, it was lacking, but also the speed of our build up was lacking at times, and if we moved the ball a bit quicker we create better chances.

Yes, but again (more or less back where we started now), not from setting up they way you suggest they did.

Ok, so when we gained momentum again and pinned them back after our goal, that was because... we stopped playing aggressively? Either way, you are basically saying when we controlled the game, it was because Arsenal were smart, and when they got into the game, it was because we were poor at being aggressive? If you really can't give us any credit for the way we played this game, against this opposition, you are very, very, very hard to please.

We can always do better, and we should always aim to. However, that we could have created ever better chances doesn't change that we did create a lot of good ones today.

 

[arunspurs]

Absolutely. I thought at times second half we clicked into our early season fluidity a little and looked better, Just too little to late

Flip side, I would argue, Arsenal managed the game brilliantly. They were 3-0 up without taking any risks. If not for Raya stinker, we would not have gone back into game at all. And Arsenal never had to shift from 2nd gear.

They had more on bench - fact that they only used 2 subs should say the reality of it.
We did reasonably well, but for me (sucks to admit), Arsenal never lost control

 

[DiscoD1882]

It may sound simplistic but we need to press better and get behind the ball when we lose it , whether it’s lack of work rate or not understanding what the managers tactics are - we need to do both of those parts of our game much better . It’s very easy to open us up cos we leave huge gaps everywhere and don’t press from the front .

Even more simple is to play the ball
Over the top a bit more. We give the opposition too much time to get into shape. We played two or three balls over the top. And caused them
Problems. But continued to build up the slow play. Which makes life fo
Much harder for us.

 

[mil1lion]

PEH hasn't got the wrong side of anyone. He's held his ground. PEH was from a standing start and runners have come from behind him up the inside. The second goal was the same but they've just come from behind us at pace and got in front of us.

If you really can't see it I guess you can't see it, but I know you as a poster like to double down so I'm not sure if you are just refusing to see it. Take a look at everyone else's comments, everyone else can see it but you it seems.

Not being funny but if you think it's so floored and that professional coaches at this level don't see it then I can help you either I'm afraid
There's a method to zonal marking and I'll take what Ange says over anyone in here, whether in the numbers or not
To suggest the players can't do anything about it is simply absurd

 

[RuskyM]

The scary thing was someone posted an athletic article from his Celtic time, and the subheading was about how 'zonal marking doesnt work and the keeper is rooted to his line'

Which is exactly the problems we're having now.

But if this was such a clear issue, I'm confused as to how it's not been exploited more frequently, because it's effectively a silver bullet. I just cannot imagine such a clear issue being ignored by oppositions for so long. (I don't have an Athletic subscription so can't read the article unfortunately).

This isn't me denying it is a problem - you can't deny it - but given how much teams try to get marginal gains, this seems bewilderingly easy, and for all the talk of this not being the SPL those teams at least do *some* preparation.

 

[spurs mental]

Yes, but again (more or less back where we started now), not from setting up they way you suggest they did.

Ok, so when we gained momentum again and pinned them back after our goal, that was because... we stopped playing aggressively? Either way, you are basically saying when we controlled the game, it was because Arsenal were smart, and when they got into the game, it was because we were poor at being aggressive? If you really can't give us any credit for the way we played this game, against this opposition, you are very, very, very hard to please.

We can always do better, and we should always aim to. However, that we could have created ever better chances doesn't change that we did create a lot of good ones today.

I've given us plenty of credit for the game. I felt we started well, controlled the tempo and Arsenal didn't really lay a glove until they got the set pieces and came into the game.

We still made some sloppy mistakes.

I thought we controlled the ball well, and was very disappointed and annoyed at the way we conceded the same goals we always seem to lately.

I think Arsenal allowed us to dominate possession, somewhat the same way they did v City, probably because of how good defensively they are and they are assured in their ability, however we were very good at winning it back from them early on in the first half. We were just too slow to build on that with passes backwards rather than runners forward.

We allowed them into the game and we looked like we lacked a bit of belief when we went 2 down.

I thought we deserved a draw to be honest but when you defend the way we did for their two set piece goals you don't deserve anything other than the mountain you give yourself to climb.

 

[Trix]

Not being funny but if you think it's so floored and that professional coaches at this level don't see it then I can help you either I'm afraid
There's a method to zonal marking and I'll take what Ange says over anyone in here, whether in the numbers or not
To suggest the players can't do anything about it is simply absurd

It doesn't matter how much evidence was put in front of you, you'd argue black is white.

We will leave it there.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Not sure who we can sign in Anges system that will stop us conceding goals. We’ve 2 of the best cbs and pretty decent wing backs. Bissouma isn’t good enough imo. But the system will always cough up lots of chances for the oppo. Need to be better up top for it all to work.

I suppose a target man type striker and Rodri like CDM who can both head the ball away at set pieces would be good.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

But if this was such a clear issue, I'm confused as to how it's not been exploited more frequently, because it's effectively a silver bullet. I just cannot imagine such a clear issue being ignored by oppositions for so long. (I don't have an Athletic subscription so can't read the article unfortunately).

This isn't me denying it is a problem - you can't deny it - but given how much teams try to get marginal gains, this seems bewilderingly easy, and for all the talk of this not being the SPL those teams at least do *some* preparation.

First 11 games we didn’t concede once’s from a corner the last 16 games we’ve conceded 9 from corners.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

1) We HAVE to improve our defending, especially set pieces but also transitions, Ange can says it’s mostly focus but some of it is clearly tactical as well
2) We HAVE to improve the squad this summer in the following areas : ST, WF, CM, CDM, 4th CB and ideally improve our back-up RB & LB’s
3) We HAVE some real positives to build on, when we string the patterns of play together with confidence we cause teams real problems, but if we want to improve and find that consistency then points 1&2 need to be addressed.

 

[sidford]

Yep..

He's losing fans big time.

It's just some things are so obvious but he isn't fixing them. We are terrible at set pieces, both defending and attacking. We are being targeted by sides with set pieces with our keeper in particular being targeted yet it wasn't until we conceded another 2 set piece goals today that we actually helped vicario out and put someone close to him.

He says he doesnt believe in set piece coaches but if he doesn't change his mind on this and adapt a little in other areas then he won't get a full 2nd season.

 

[yido_number1]

Were set-piece goals a problem in the early parts of the season and we were just scoring more to mask it? Or did teams just all notice Vic's weakness at them after the City game?

He's not gonna come out and say "we'll overhaul that" because no manager can come out and say "I was wrong", as helpful as that'd be. The issue isn't what he's saying, it's that it keeps happening.

I don't think we conceded a set piece goal for half the season

 

[mil1lion]

It doesn't matter how much evidence was put in front of you, you'd argue black is white.

We will leave it there.

Well we know you don't like people having different opinions to you
Apparently I double down when simply putting my own opinion across
Sorry but there is no black and white on this, it's just opinions but yeah you're right and I'm wrong

 

[jpascavitz]

Not sure who we can sign in Anges system that will stop us conceding goals. We’ve 2 of the best cbs and pretty decent wing backs. Bissouma isn’t good enough imo. But the system will always cough up lots of chances for the oppo. Need to be better up top for it all to work.

To me when we started the season as we did, two differences stand out to me:

1. Our midfield was our strength and I think it makes our RB/LB look better and our side on a whole better defensively.

2. We pressed together and now we press in pieces if that makes sense.

I do think having an out and out striker helps on defensive set pieces.