I've hung on his every word this week. Why? Because this is the important stuff. Yes we need to play progressive attacking football to entertain, and yes we need to score more goals, and concede less, but the psychological bit around changing our fundamental approach to the game, and removing the chip we have on our shoulder, that is absolutely priceless.Thanks for that. I think he's recovered the situation and explained his position really well. I'm more all in on him than I've been after this week. I love the fact he admitted he got it wrong and I fully respect his viewpoint on it.
Two other things I'll say about Ange in today's press conferences. He is strong with the media in that, like Fergie, he controls that relationship. You can see here and in others that it can become a bit awkward when someone asks something stupid or goes somewhere they shouldn't or labours a point. Fergie was more of a tyrant about it but I think Ange controls the narrative pretty well and that's very important.
Secondly, I loved the bit from the other clip about the fan he got involved with. At the time, I thought it was a bad move but when he explained it, I absolutely loved it. "Yeah, we had words but he's welcome to take his seat next time and voice his opinions but if he does it that way, I'll react the same." Mature and respectful of the fans. Other managers, and some of the ones we've had, would have used their power to have that fan moved or ejected.
Again, good on Ange, he really couldn't have handled today any better and I was very concerned about how it might go.
For too long there's been a culture of "not quite good enough" within Tottenham, we've gone into the finals we have reached not fully believing we could win, we have fallen short in title challenges and generally the mood of the fans has reflected the way the staff at the club have felt deep down.
I firmly believe that if Ange gets time to make the changes he sees necessary, there will be a day soon when every OMT is about how much we think we will win by, how the players will rise to the occasion of beating city/goons/utd/cheatski, and how the latest young player has come through the ranks, and having been immersed in our winning culture is contributing far more than young players have in the past for us.
That's what being a big club means to me, and if I had my way Ange would have a 10 year contract.