Welcome Ange: To Dare is to Didgeridoo

[Muttley]

Matt Wells said something like they flew home after the Gala game and landed at 2am on Friday 8th and went straight to the hotel in the training ground for a few hours sleep, then out onto the training pitches to do a mix of warming down and stretching for those who played, and warming up for those that didn't play.
Then Saturday 9th they talked to the team about what to expect from Ipswich, then Sunday 10th was the match. A very tough turnaround.

It's an interesting choice by Spurs. You're arriving at 2am, but your body is telling you it's 5am from your destination.

The alternative is be tucked up in bed locally by midnight after the match. Then get up, have breakfast and take the 4 1/2 hour flight home, being back in the UK only 90min later on the GMT clock. Plenty of time left to stretch after the flight, eat and either stay at The Lodge or get back to families. Early night.

I'm sure the football clubs know what they're doing though. There must be a reason to have those guys on the late, late flights.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

It's an interesting choice by Spurs. You're arriving at 2am, but your body is telling you it's 5am from your destination.

The alternative is be tucked up in bed locally by midnight after the match. Then get up, have breakfast and take the 4 1/2 hour flight home, being back in the UK only 90min later on the GMT clock. Plenty of time left to stretch after the flight, eat and either stay at The Lodge or get back to families. Early night.

I'm sure the football clubs know what they're doing though. There must be a reason to have those guys on the late, late flights.

Adrenalin may be a factor
Why not travel when they may not be able to sleep well
I really don’t know of course having never done it
But as you say, you should assume they know a thing or two about it

 

[Muttley]

Adrenalin may be a factor
Why not travel when they may not be able to sleep well
I really don’t know of course having never done it
But as you say, you should assume they know a thing or two about it

I think you might be right. I've done loads of business travel but don't do any nowadays. You're always planning to the lowest common denominator. I used to be able to sleep on planes no worries. Other work colleagues didn't get a wink on 11 flights back the US. There will be some players like that and the club will need to factor in how wired they all get. Some will take it in their stride. Others won't.

You're a musician as well from memory. Trying to sleep too quickly after gigs can be tough for some. Same thing.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I think you might be right. I've done loads of business travel but don't do any nowadays. You're always planning to the lowest common denominator. I used to be able to sleep on planes no worries. Other work colleagues didn't get a wink on 11 flights back the US. There will be some players like that and the club will need to factor in how wired they all get. Some will take it in their stride. Others won't.

You're a musician as well from memory. Trying to sleep too quickly after gigs can be tough for some. Same thing.

I travel loads and never sleep on planes
My wife can sleep standing up
Yeah after a decent gig (haven’t dine one in ten years mind) the high is just that
We used to just get tinkled
Biggest issue I have now is when I’ve been to a gig that’s give me that rush, getting to sleep after can be a killer
Also driving home after a late match because the focus on the driving means you don’t switch off

 

[thfcsteff]

@thfcsteff - just keen to understand what you mean that you hope the manager is ‘properly’ or ‘fully’ supported. I’d be genuinely interested in your definition of these here.

Absolutely mate.
If he asks for one or two specific players, I hope he gets them.
It is clear he wanted Solanke, so great.
Despite the doubt around it, I have it oin good authority he wanted Eze. We didn't get him.
He wanted Gallagher. He didn't get him.
He was reportedly very keen on Neto. We didn't get him.
Personally, I don't care for Neto and Gallagher is take or leave for me too, but I'm not Ange and he wanted them.

I absolutely appreciate that you cannot always have your favoured player for a position, and that in the past he has had his way (Van De Ven over Tapsoba being a good example).
What I am hoping for is that we at least are looking to balance out top tier deliveries versus options off a list deliveries. Again, I am not naiove to the way football works, and even the closest deal gets pulled last second. To that end, I remember Willian who was getting pur physical when his agent basically tried to squeeze more from us and he was told to do one; I think that is the right thing to do at that moment. Equally, when Poch wanted Grealish, and when we had Grealish done, just do the deal rather than tinkle about for a few quid.

As has been stated by others mate, no-one knows every detail and we all rely on scraps of information (I read little on social media about this stuff). Which is why I place these thoughts in conversational conjecture.

I think Ange is close to establishing who he can trust 100% of the time and who he cannot. I think he will surprise people with who he doesn't trust/wants to sell, and I hope that whatever that looks like, we trust him, back him on that, and buy the appropriate replacements. I thibnk even 2 out 4 top tier would be acceptable. This is, of course, if we as a football club want to give him and his plan the tenure and time it deserves. Which I think we should.

Hope all is well mate.

 

[thfcsteff]

Adrenalin may be a factor
Why not travel when they may not be able to sleep well
I really don’t know of course having never done it
But as you say, you should assume they know a thing or two about it

In my line there's lots of travel like this. Post-event, the main thing they will want to do is get back to 'home base' as soon as possible. Adrenaline will have something to do with that, also the concept of waking up and not having to 'go again'. I think the interesting bit is what the club do prep-wise on that arrival day. If you land at 1 o2 2am, you're not getting to sleep until 4 or 5. The player hotel is outstanding BTW, just off the hook luxury, so that is a decent option, but I'd love to know what time that training session would start. Surely not before noon. And even that is only leaving you with at best 6 hours sleep.

I suspect the training program is developed through the year to accomodate these 'weeks' where the travel chops things up.

 

[Mrs Vert]

Our poor performances in the prem have coincided with playing after the europa game midweek.
Thurs to sun is a killer for us. Not just tiredness but minimal prep time.

We better prepare ourselves for whatever us dished on Sunday then

 

[thfcsteff]

I think you might be right. I've done loads of business travel but don't do any nowadays. You're always planning to the lowest common denominator. I used to be able to sleep on planes no worries. Other work colleagues didn't get a wink on 11 flights back the US. There will be some players like that and the club will need to factor in how wired they all get. Some will take it in their stride. Others won't.

You're a musician as well from memory. Trying to sleep too quickly after gigs can be tough for some. Same thing.

It doesn't happen in my experience. I know no touring musician who leaves the venue and is in bed (for sleep) within anything less than 3 to 4 hours.

 

[thfcsteff]

Not luck

- City came out the blocks really hard (to be expected) but after the goal we managed the match (they had probably two good spells, first 12 minutes then a bit in 2nd half)
- Ange setup to expose their FBs, especially Decki on Gvardiol
- Our FBs did come in but didn't push up as much
- Maddison's heat map is super interesting, basically (first 20 minutes aside), he spent a lot of time offering a pass option in front of the LCB, part of a broader (in my opinion) view to ensure Dragusin wasn't pressured on the ball too much (he does look better at RCB than LCB)
- A lot of City shots were rushed shots from edge/outside box.
- We pressed well and almost all the chances were from us wining the ball back off of them
- Son was used to pull a lot of City players out of position time and time again, created room for everyone else (and Son's passing was insane)
- All three subs contributed to final goal

Summary, we exposed their weaknesses (in midfield and at FB), covered ours (Dragusin & Davies), everyone worked their nuts off and we actually could have scored more (Solanke had a good chance, Edison had two good saves, one against a classic Son curler, one in 2nd half that was elite)

More importantly, City (x2), United, Villa show Ange's system can work at top level.

Yes yes and yes.