Welcome Ange: To Dare is to Didgeridoo

[Lemonade Money]

I think Deki and Solanke are usually really good.But they are knackered. And the goons are essentially Paella Pulis level physical.

 

[harr1984]

There is a variety in what other teams do that we don’t have (although there has been the odd sign of it of late). Other teams tend to take some account of what their opponents do, and adapt their own play as a result; under Ange we generally don’t.

I haven’t heard any managers or players say it about other teams in the league this season. Strange that.

Do you listen to post match interviews of players for every club in the PL then? I've certainly heard players say that exact thing, our own and opposition - it means nothing and just an easy thing to say when you win.

There has been variety in our play the whole time Ange has been here, just because as a whole we have always been a front foot attacking team doesn't mean otherwise. People on here have highlighted specifics @Finney Is Back especially on the subtle tweeks during games and people either just don't see it or choose not to because they don't agree with it....

 

[veryoldspur]

This would be the critical ingredient. No lurching. With regards to the journey, I was referring to the stack of issues right now, from injuries and fatigue to Ange simply not getting what he needs at a critical moment. It's Jan 16th. We knew what we needed in late November/early December. Just to say, I don't think a soingle supporter feels good right now, let alone feels it is good enough regardless.

The fact is though we were dreadful even before the injuries, and losing to sides we should beat. Even with the injuries does anyone actually believe we should be 14th with the players available, of course not. Despite what the players are saying publicly I don't believe they have any faith in Ange's tactics. Top managers don't use the same method as Ange for a reason. It may have worked in Japan and Scotland, but it won't work in the prem. Don't get me wrong, with the squad we have and the lack of ambition from our owners we won't win anything, however I do believe we should be doing an awful lot better. I very much suspect Levy is lining something up now, and I just hope he does it sooner rather than later

 

[Mulletperm]

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

That's because that is exactly what has happened previously.

I am pleased that perhaps he has finally learned a lesson though.

That's simply because we now have 3 revenue streams as opposed to 2 (like we use to and like most other clubs).

So if we don't make Europe...not a big thing, we have the safety net to take a longer view.

It's not a lesson lol....it's a benefit of the long term plan.

 

[Mrs Vert]

I didn’t mention Sonny because I’m fed up of flagging up how poor he is now
We did mess around with it but their gaols didn’t come form that
I don’t remember them even have a shot from it
Their goals came from a corner that wasn’t to an OG
And some messy play from Bissouma and some poor defending from Drago and a bounce over the keeper when he should have done better
Very very low quality chances

And we still found a way to lose. It's just sensational now at this point.

 

[glorygloryeze]

That (in my opinion) is a red herring, there is always a coach who will take the job for the money we pay. Said it before, Iriola is on 1M/yr, zero chance he wouldn't take a 6X-10X salary increase

I actually think the club is giving him the benefit of the doubt because they are acknowledging the rebuild and context (injuries), and Ange was brought to be more than a coach, he was supposed to give us a style.

The results will kill him in the end ..

No more a red herring than the idea Ange was brought to bring us 'a style' and that being the reason why he's till being held onto despite possibly being our worst PL manager since Christian Gross...ANY front-foot, attacking coach that was progressive would have done that, given who we had previously.
Also, it's not like Ange was first or even second choice either..

 

[JerusalemMan]

It obviously doesn't mean much, but it's odd looking at the table, as we've got better goal difference than Forest sat in third place - we've got the fifth best goal difference in the league. Consistency, where art thou? That holy grail, how near, how far.

It's such an odd thing that 11 of our 12 losses have been by a single goal.
Which, to me, shows how close we are (or can be) to an upturn or form and fortune.

 

[braineclipse]

It's such an odd thing that 11 of our 12 losses have been by a single goal.
Which, to me, shows how close we are (or can be) to an upturn or form and fortune.

Good point.

Also how many games we've conceded first in, I think particularly at home. Some of that may be down to style of play, individual errors, quality etc. But some of it really is just coincidence imo.

I know for those who are Ange out this all seems like me believing in unicorns, but I do think there's a good chance we click into gear with some key players back and a bit of luck on our side.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

For those that like to check facts someone has done some great work here on players availability and injuries

https://twitter.com/x/status/1879877407676772497

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Good point.

Also how many games we've conceded first in, I think particularly at home. Some of that may be down to style of play, individual errors, quality etc. But some of it really is just coincidence imo.

I know for those who are Ange out this all seems like me believing in unicorns, but I do think there's a good chance we click into gear with some key players back and a bit of luck on our side.

What your saying is if we have our best players we might be better, as we have seen before
It’s a definite possibility

 

[JerusalemMan]

What your saying is if we have our best players we might be better, as we have seen before
It’s a definite possibility

Yes. But it shouldn't even need all our best players back.
For small margins, only a small change may be required.
The return of one player, a consistent run in the team for a specific group that allows them to strengthen their on-field understanding, a bit more game time for one or two players to adapt more fully to Ange or for their mentality to evolve.
Who knows?

 

[Mikey10]

What your saying is if we have our best players we might be better, as we have seen before
It’s a definite possibility

The Tottenham mantra...Once we get X back/in the team everything will be good! Over many years supporting the club I've always been amazed by how our best players are often those not on the pitch in any given game!

 

[Muttley]

What your saying is if we have our best players we might be better, as we have seen before
It’s a definite possibility

I'm hoping what happens is that the experience of the last 2-3 months makes the entire squad stronger. Not only will we have the original first teamers back, but we now have Kinsky, Spence, Dragu, Gray, Bergval etc. Hopefully Richi gets going, whilst we actually get a long run of Bents being available. Perhaps another transfer in as well.

How can that not be stronger when we et to use 16 players every game?

 

[Bedfordspurs]

The Tottenham mantra...Once we get X back/in the team everything will be good! Over many years supporting the club I've always been amazed by how our best players are often those not on the pitch in any given game!

So you think we have our best players available now then?

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I'm hoping what happens is that the experience of the last 2-3 months makes the entire squad stronger. Not only will we have the original first teamers back, but we now have Kinsky, Spence, Dragu, Gray, Bergval etc. Hopefully Richi gets going, whilst we actually get a long run of Bents being available. Perhaps another transfer in as well.

How can that not be stronger when we et to use 16 players every game?

I posted a twitter link earlier that highlights the players we have and haven’t had available
It aligns to your last sentence very well

 

[braineclipse]

I'm hoping what happens is that the experience of the last 2-3 months makes the entire squad stronger. Not only will we have the original first teamers back, but we now have Kinsky, Spence, Dragu, Gray, Bergval etc. Hopefully Richi gets going, whilst we actually get a long run of Bents being available. Perhaps another transfer in as well.

How can that not be stronger when we et to use 16 players every game?

Going by what Ange has said this period could be useful for development of the players already playing regularly too.

Our squad is looking significantly stronger now than it did 3-4 months ago. Just that we still have a lot of it missing.

 

[DeanoAustin]

It's such an odd thing that 11 of our 12 losses have been by a single goal.
Which, to me, shows how close we are (or can be) to an upturn or form and fortune.

It doesn't mean a lot to me. In some games, we've been lucky to be within a goal of the opposition (Chelsea, Arsenal and Bournemouth for example). The difference between clawing a goal or two back in those games to get a point or three is massive compared to, say, Son's goal against Chelsea to reduce the deficit.

We have a problem winning tight games. That's not just bad luck or us being close to being great IMO.

 

[JerusalemMan]

It doesn't mean a lot to me. In some games, we've been lucky to be within a goal of the opposition (Chelsea, Arsenal and Bournemouth for example). The difference between clawing a goal or two back in those games to get a point or three is massive compared to, say, Son's goal against Chelsea to reduce the deficit.

We have a problem winning tight games. That's not just bad luck or us being close to being great IMO.

But (relatively) it's a better position than if we were losing all these games by two or three goals.
And we're usually winning games by more than one goal too.

 

[Spoonman]

It doesn't mean a lot to me. In some games, we've been lucky to be within a goal of the opposition (Chelsea, Arsenal and Bournemouth for example). The difference between clawing a goal or two back in those games to get a point or three is massive compared to, say, Son's goal against Chelsea to reduce the deficit.

We have a problem winning tight games. That's not just bad luck or us being close to being great IMO.

This is key for me. One of the most alarming aspects of those narrow defeats is how we seem totally incapable of building any pressure towards the end to try to force an equaliser. No balls chucked in the mixer, no being camped on the edge of their box. No panic is created at all for our opponent. They simple cruise unflustered through the last 15 mins while we meekly surrender.

Maybe fatigue plays a part but you just never feel we are going to get that goal.