OMT ** Tottenham Hotspur v Rangers ** Thursday 12 December 2024.

[DeanoAustin]

Don't think he went in that hard considering the performance he had put in. Did you actually see the whole interview or just the bit that is highlighted on teletext? He went on to mention the rest of the team after he was directly asked about Werner. The guy is a professional footballer, put in a terrible performance and Ange said as such. Really don't see the big deal, managers do this all the time and many players step up and show the manager what they're made of....

Managers don't do it all the time to be fair. They give generic answers to questions or criticise the entire group. Ange could have said "Yeah, Timo didn't have the best night but I could have taken 6 or 7 off because we didn't play well" or some other easy answer. He chose to have a go at one player pretty directly in public.

It's a big deal especially in light of what he said in the 24 hours prior. The media have picked up on the contradiction too. I wouldn't have done it in his position but I'm not a football manager and I do wonder if there is something we aren't aware of here. How it plays out will decide if Ange was right or wrong to do it but it's a relatively big deal and it's at odds with how he's managed us to date. It's also risky.

 

[DeanoAustin]

No its because he has the ability. He is also not overused and a bit fresher, in theory. We needed him to step up. But I think pressure destroys him. Whenever through on goal, he crumbles. Whenever the stakes are high he falls apart.


But Son wasn't as bad. Werner couldn't take a simple pass on the by line. Shot over with a free shot on goal on the edge of the box. And his closing down is painful to watch. There is no determination or drive. Its late, and he lacks awareness of other players around. The criticism of Werner was justified. A meritocracy.

If you are taking a player off at HT because they have been zhit, there is no point lying about why you took them off. Quite a few posters on here advocated for hauling him off too at HT. Now Werner knows it is do or die. He has to up his game. He has to respond now.

I love Son but he was absolute poison too. He coughed up the ball time and time again. At one point second half, he gave the ball away very cheaply twice within about 10 seconds. As was Johnson.

 

[SpurMeUp]

Ange: Romero's Spurs criticism not handled well

Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou has said that Cristian Romero's criticism of the club's hierarchy following the team's 4-3 defeat to Chelsea on Sunday was not handled in the right way by the player and revealed he has apologised for his comments.

www.espn.co.uk

I really don't get your point here. As though you can't understand that some things you can talk about publicly, others you shouldn't.

 

[Muttley]

Couldn't have Ange just said "Yeah, Timo was clearly having a bad day at the office. It happens at all levels of football. However, we have every confidence that he will bounce back. He's a great guy and has played well for us this season". That is a professional response.

I think Ange's reaction was more reflective of the pressure the manager is feeling right now as he hates losing. There is absolutely no point coming out swinging in these situations. He doesn't have the credibility and reputation in the PL to be like that. He's not earned that right yet, like some of his peers. He needs to calm down and get his head back together or he will lose the dressing room, and his job. He is feeding the press right now, and we all know what they are like.

Those around him like Munn and Lange need to give him a cuddle or whatever it takes to get his head back. I'd like to think we have a great media comms guy or gal that can help him as well.

 

[SpurMeUp]

I love Son but he was absolute poison too. He coughed up the ball time and time again. At one point second half, he gave the ball away very cheaply twice within about 10 seconds. As was Johnson.

He wasn't great, but a. not as bad imo (and posters here felt Werner was terrible too and wanted him pulled) and b. he's fresher, not having played many games.

I posted around HT that porro, grey and werner were having a torrid time. They seemed to be the worst performing. With fatigue quite a few players get a free pass (how many games has Poro played?). Grey is not playing his position and is just 18! So all things considered he did well. Werner is 28! Grey stood up and and showed bravery and responsibility, Werner shrunk into his shell.

 

[DeanoAustin]

Couldn't have Ange just said "Yeah, Timo was clearly having a bad day at the office. It happens at all levels of football. However, we have every confidence that he will bounce back. He's a great guy and has played well for us this season". That is a professional response.

I think Ange's reaction was more reflective of the pressure the manager is feeling right now as he hates losing. There is absolutely no point coming out swinging in these situations. He doesn't have the credibility and reputation in the PL to be like that. He's not earned that right yet, like some of his peers. He needs to calm down and get his head back together or he will lose the dressing room, and his job. He is feeding the press right now, and we all know what they are like.

Those around him like Munn and Lange need to give him a cuddle or whatever it takes to get his head back. I'd like to think we have a great media comms guy or gal that can help him as well.

It is possible Werner has been a problem or something. We don't know. I wouldn't assume Ange is cracking under pressure or anything. We don't know what's going on behind the scenes. All we know is that he's criticised a lad in public which he's not done before and he said he wouldn't do it not 24 hours prior. It seems an odd course of action to take.

 

[K.D.D.D.D.Soc]

He's had plenty of chances to give Lankshear minutes to give him some experience but he refuses to do it unless it's the 94th min of 96 mins.

I think there is too much expected of Lankshear he need to get a chance when there are players to help him, at present too many players are below form or missing and it would be very optimistic to believe he can change everything.

 

[glasgowspur]

It is possible Werner has been a problem or something. We don't know. I wouldn't assume Ange is cracking under pressure or anything. We don't know what's going on behind the scenes. All we know is that he's criticised a lad in public which he's not done before and he said he wouldn't do it not 24 hours prior. It seems an odd course of action to take.

He's not done it here before, but he has done it before.
What I find odd is the critical assessment of werner but when maddison was hooked at half time recently he defended him.
As maddison has not picked up form ange has decided that certain players no longer deserve protection.

 

[DeanoAustin]

He's not done it here before, but he has done it before.
What I find odd is the critical assessment of werner but when maddison was hooked at half time recently he defended him.
As maddison has not picked up form ange has decided that certain players no longer deserve protection.

Fair enough, I stand corrected on that if he's done it before. I never really followed him too closely anywhere else.

 

[glasgowspur]

Fair enough, I stand corrected on that if he's done it before. I never really followed him too closely anywhere else.

He did it at Celtic when they weren't under pressure, or so I've been told, a couple of players who crossed a line, he called them out publicly and moved them on very quickly.

 

[Mikey10]

I really don't get your point here. As though you can't understand that some things you can talk about publicly, others you shouldn't.

The point is that he criticised his vice-captain for airing his thoughts about the club in public and followed that up by saying that he wouldn’t criticise a player in public; and then, 24 hours later, he does exactly that, and in a pretty brutal way.

I don’t really give too much of a toss about how Werner feels tbh; but I can’t help but think it’s a huge misstep in the management of the squad generally.

I personally think the apparent hypocrisy comes from him being under a level of sustained pressure that he’s never been exposed to before in his career, and it’s a sign that he hasn’t got answers now, other than lobbing one of his players (who he was happy to keep following 6 months of performances not dissimilar to the one he gave last night) under the proverbial bus.

 

[Grays_1890]

He's not done it here before, but he has done it before.
What I find odd is the critical assessment of werner but when maddison was hooked at half time recently he defended him.
As maddison has not picked up form ange has decided that certain players no longer deserve protection.

Maddison had a good first half that game but we were being over run, so it made more sense.

Werner was abysmal yesterday, not sure Ange has said much out of sync here

 

[SpurMeUp]

The point is that he criticised his vice-captain for airing his thoughts about the club in public and followed that up by saying that he wouldn’t criticise a player in public; and then, 24 hours later, he does exactly that, and in a pretty brutal way.

I don’t really give too much of a toss about how Werner feels tbh; but I can’t help but think it’s a huge misstep in the management of the squad generally.

I personally think the apparent hypocrisy comes from him being under a level of sustained pressure that he’s never been exposed to before in his career, and it’s a sign that he hasn’t got answers now, other than lobbing one of his players (who he was happy to keep following 6 months of performances not dissimilar to the one he gave last night) under the proverbial bus.

And also, maybe giving Werner a kick up the arse. Last chance saloon kinda thing. In a press confrence when asked about pulling him at HT, you either bareface lie - in which case everyone knows you thought his performance was shocking anyway. Or you give a straight answer and send a message. Werner has to improve. Postecognlou has stated publicly his performance is not acceptable, which puts the onus on Werner to prove himself now. Which is not so stupid if he does.

 

[braineclipse]

And also, maybe giving Werner a kick up the arse. Last chance saloon kinda thing. In a press confrence when asked about pulling him at HT, you either bareface lie - in which case everyone knows you thought his performance was shocking anyway. Or you give a straight answer and send a message. Werner has to improve. Postecognlou has stated publicly his performance is not acceptable, which puts the onus on Werner to prove himself now. Which is not so stupid if he does.

Yeah, depends on how Werner and imo the other players respond.

Although this was said about Werner the shift from always taking responsibility on himself and protecting the players to calling one out is a pretty clear one. This isn't just a message to Werner imo.

 

[glasgowspur]

Maddison had a good first half that game but we were being over run, so it made more sense.

Werner was abysmal yesterday, not sure Ange has said much out of sync here

Can't agree on maddison, thought he was invisible and for someone who has played in Scotland he should have known what to expect.

 

[Grays_1890]

Can't agree on maddison, thought he was invisible and for someone who has played in Scotland he should have known what to expect.

I am talking about the game he was taken off at half time earlier in season, he was not as bad as made out and the move to Sar worked tactically, so I think Ange was vindicated at all levels then.

 

[glasgowspur]

The gaffer really did chew out Werner in his post-match presser!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1867340935719211107

I really don't see a problem with that, it's the truth, it's not said with any malice and if he's told werner (and the other players he's alluding to) then what's the problem?

 

[Lemonade Money]

I should be ok.
Half Scottish, and lived out side of Edinburgh most of my life.

Apologies if you've already posted, but what was it like in the Rangers end when they scored, looked mental? Did anyone pick you out for not celebrating?

 

[Jordinho]

I really don't see a problem with that, it's the truth, it's not said with any malice and if he's told werner (and the other players he's alluding to) then what's the problem?

It needs to actually have consequences for a player if he isn't performing. Too many are starting every week no matter what.

 

[Chrissivad]

Apologies if you've already posted, but what was it like in the Rangers end when they scored, looked mental? Did anyone pick you out for not celebrating?

They were really good, sang and jumped about all game. I wasn't behind the goals where the hard core rangers fans were.

Some of the stewards picked out spurs fans, but weren't bothered. I was at the back of the lower stand behind the dugout, and noone was behind me. So when the goal went in I just stood at the back. But it went more mental when the disallowed goal went in.