Not a bad manager - has win trophies in all his jobs. Great motivator and psychologist. Also has a philosophy and principles. That it has t clicked together with us doesn’t mean it isn’t there. The biggest annoyance from me is the press. It is t sophisticated enough. Leaves us exposed and our forwards shagged. But Ange likes to play one way - which I respect as it keep things clear for players. Mid season he’s not going to change and this way of playing does work. The press was similar with Poch - whose results dropped off when he tried to evolve away from pressing all game.
As for pushing what is possible to the limit: isn’t that what makes all successful winning sports teams and individuals! Why wouldn’t you want that!?
It's Bielsa Mk2
- Tore up the championship with Leeds
- Surprised everyone in initial spell in PL
- Got found out and destroyed
His system has hit a ceiling, the specific issue is at this level, if you give up 4 high quality chances in a game, you get punished, at lower levels, teams may not take those chances. At lower level, fitness and being able to outrun teams can be a thing as well, at this level, teams will match you for physical intensity.
If you take a look back in Ange's career it lines up
- His system actually doesn't use player quality, it's all about outrun (our win/loss stats when the opponent runs more than us is crazy) the opposition, it's great when you are trying to make something out of an Australia (no offense, but a side with limited top level players), brick when a simple setup would allow better quality players to win the game for you (e.g. us vs. Leicester, Ipswich, Everton, Wolves, etc.)
- It also fails when the opposition is at a level where mistakes are punished at higher frequency, e.g. Celtic in Europe, Spurs in PL/Europe.
Here's what can't be fixed
- Go look at the Wolves games, how many times did they have 3v3 or 4v3 in game from one or two passes, your opposition should have to earn those chances, not get gifted them because your system opens you up
- How does his press/overloads allow us having better players count? answer it doesn't. Look at Pep/City, Pep has two basic tactics, one is similar to Ange, i.e. create overloads, numerical superiority in an area, but he also creates isolations, plays where he will put his player in a 1:1, and in that scenario he knows (most of the time), he has the better player.
- Game control, pick a time to press, pick a time not to, score a goal, ensure you don't concede in next 5 minutes, start a game, don't get caught out, have your senior players know (experience) they can slow the game down. they can sit back if the opposition has momentum.
Listen, everyone uses hyperbole today, no player in the PL is truly brick (levels above even players 2 leagues down, farless semi-pro or mortals), no manager is truly brick, but he's been found out at this level, and he hasn't been able to adapt (first part happens to everyone) and his results are the worse in Spurs history, and that is inexcusable.
Every excuse anyone could come up with for Ange works if we were sitting in 10th-12th, it simply doesn't fly at 14th-17th.
