I would say that even a week or two ago we saw balls played into the big vacant spaces where full-backs should be. We saw our central midfielders ahead of play and the opposition running directly at us. City league was won on the high press. I would say City cup was more like last night, especially the second half when we defended that 1-0 lead and played more counters.
I just want to see more and more of this ability to switch between systems as the game dictates. The one size fits all has been the common theme for most of the 18 months, I'm hoping we now see a deliberate expansion of the tactics, and it is just not out of necessity because of the fatigue.
I think Ange could do really well at Spurs, but have always felt he might plateau at some stage at a subtly lower level than we need. If we remove him, it won't be anything like the last 3 or 4 managers. It will be about trying to get from 90 to 100%, not meltdown time.
Just to say, I support the club first and Ange second
Anyway...Ange has been very clear about he wants us to play our football and how he wants us to approach games. He is not a 'cone' manager in the sense of, say, Conte, who would literally demand that players learned exactly where to stand and where to move at specifc moments in matches, and would blast players for being a couple of yards off. Ange wants players to learn the phiolosophy and also learn how to control games.
I have found it interesting to see some people and pundits say Ange would be 'mad ' if players went long. This is clearly not the case. Romero pings them, Vic sometimes does, Kinsky we can see is almost Pirlo-esque. It's about decisions. Where do those balls work, versus where are they simply to 'get us out of a moment'? Similarly, I've read lots about how we play in one gear. Clearly not true. We have sometimes been far too patient for me, sitting and sitting, lateral movements trying to wait for the moment, almost showing a lack of desire to affect the game by taking. chance.
I believe Ange wants this young side to learn when to seek and when to be smarter within the remit. The FBs have been attacking a little less, but it looks as though the players themselves are working through their decision-making as to when to go and when not. Critically, when they DON'T recently, they have not lacked positive intent; they aren't sitting too deep and they aren't in some sort of hard defensive shape. They're adjusting 7-10 yards and still leaving themselves in place to go front-foot the split second it makes sense.
IMO the players are left with a certain degree of autonomy -albeit obviously the coaches must be offering, err, coaching- to find the balance THEMSELVES between all-out and finding balance. Ange wants to control the ball and thus the match. I feel this season we're making up the hard yards in learning that.
I really feel we have had some disasterous luck since November. I knew we'd pay a big, big fudging price for Vic's injury, and we did/have. It's been discussed why, but IMO, and through no fault of his own because he is who he is, Forster has cost us many points. Again, he has given everything he can, but there is a lot which he cannot do. I further feel we have deserved much more fromm this horror spell...
...the key for me is that we did not fold for 'short-term gain' versus the players seeing that Ange will not throw people under the bus for making mistakes. The ONLY time ha has called a player out has been when they've failed to show application. It's significant.
I remain of the view that this season is about completing that lerning curve and squad strength, that everything we're doing will mature next season. If we get a trophy this season it would be fantastic but as long as the growth of these players -and our squad- continues, that's what I want to see.
There's been some great discussions recently, long may they continue, but here's to how players like Gray, Bergvall, Spence, Deki, Solankle and Pedro continue to develop as game controllers, dictators and leaders. The Gray/Bergvall sum total 32 years old ascension learning curve has been joyous. Audere Est Facere!!!
