it’s too much of a risk, with the results we have on paper, to go into another season with him as manager, even if we win the EL. I’ve said before that we could genuinely win the EL. - Not because we’re that good, but just because the general level is lower than the PL. But our PL form/results have been so bad that we can’t keep him on as manager. Evidence tells us we could be in big trouble if we do. Winning the EL would mean CL qualification, a competition which we will be out of in the early stages. So next season could be a situation where we could be praying for a decent domestic cup run whilst having similar erratic PL results akin to this season? Not for me, thanks.
That would be my preferred option, without doubt. (I haven't changed my vote and won't be regardless of the EL outcome). I was merely stating the obvious: he wins the cup, he keeps the job - at least until the end of September, when we will have lost 4 or 5 PL games and the first CL game....and a new coach will come in without having had a pre-season to work with squad and new signings ... We're Spurs...that's what we do ...
Got rather caught up watching extra time & penalties last night to reflect on a win that was quite unexpected. Not a great match for the purist, but we scrapped and fought hard, showed a mental toughness that not many of us thought we had and got across the line. The back 4 and Bentancur were very good, possibly the best match Romero has had all season. Bergval and Tel come out with credit as well. In the early exchanges I thought we were going to be open as usual, but whether by accident or design the full backs actually played as full backs and we were more competent as a result. That said we rode our luck at times but equally so did they in the first leg ,and Vicario one excellent save apart was not very busy. Overall over the 2 legs we deserved to get through, and whilst we must not underestimate Bodo/Glimt if you offered us them as semi final opponents earlier in the competition I think we would be delighted. But they are fantastic at home and we will need to establish at least a 2 goal lead in the first leg which hopefully Daniel will price sensibly in order to ensure a full house.
It was the type of performance we’ve all been crying out for. The effort, the will to win, the change in tactics was everything we’ve been missing for most of the season. See the difference in someone like Porro when he’s not being asked to tear through the middle and still be expected to defend with no cover. No one wants Ange to fail, we’d all love him to succeed and if he wins this competition then that’s definitely earned him another season. The tactics may change but that will to win and effort should be something we see in every game going forwards.
I can’t believe we are in the semi final. What a performance last night. It wasn’t sexy. It took a penalty to win but last night I saw a team, tactics and determination with a will to win. Bravo. But I was so looking forward to the possibility of Ange getting the sack this morning! Let’s hope this change of tactics and mental toughness continues going forward. I still want Ange replaced.
The change of tactics was admirable but the reality is that so-called "Ange Ball" is a complete myth. The manager was hired to deliver exciting attacking football after three successive defensive coaches, but his approach clearly doesn't work so much so that apart from patches here and there, for the majority of matches we look exactly like a Conte side.
There were some chicken jockeys out there who were actively hoping we lost last night so we could sack Ange quicker
The good thing is that for 2 or (please God) 3 European games we are all behind him hoping for success. Next season is next season and that can wait.
I'm already looking at Monday night to see what team shows up. The whole squad looked very together last night s will it carry over? Purely selfish of course, as it is a bit painful at home at the moment, although the local team had a bit of a reality check last weekend....
...and how will they play? What caused last night's more pragmatic, less suicidal approach? Ange? The players? Circumstance? Will it be repeated in the league or is it saved for special occasions only?
That's a lot of good questions! A 4 - 0 home win would go someway to helping me get over the trauma of the season. I'm suspecting last night was on the manager, with possible healthy input from the "senior" pros. I do think that Monday will an interesting watch..
im not surprised we’ve got to the semi finals to be honest. I’ve said previously a couple of times that I think we can win it, and I stand by that. On our day, with the talent we have in the team, we’re good enough to come away with that trophy. I’m in a minority, but I’m surprised so many of our fans were writing us off. The EL standard is about where we’re at right now, and IMO, we’re one of the best in that category. It also highlights a glaring difference in standard between the PL and the EL, too. Many of the lower positioned teams in the PL are of a good standard and would likely do well in the Europa, despite not qualifying for it. Again, I’m probably in a minority, but I don’t even think we played that well in either leg against Frankfurt. We were fairly solid which was nice for a change, but I think we’re so used to dishing out dross from week to week, that a couple of refreshing half decent performances has made us overrate the displays in both legs, somewhat. - I mean this as a good thing rather than a negative, as I feel there’s still a couple of gears left in us. We’re still better than what we’ve seen so far. If we can somehow find a way to up our game further, we’ve got the makings of being a hard side to beat in this competition, and could go all the way.
No myth, but : 1. it was soon understood by PL opponents 2. was nullified by the business end of last season 3. hardly been played to its best since then 4. the players who were delivering it so well at the first third of last season (Bissouma, Maddison etc) appear to be incapable of doing it now which has result in the team degrading to Portu-ball (I refer the reader to the previous 3 Spurs managers and their fate when they did this) .
I think the first leg performance - at least from the 5th minute - was as good as any game in the last 4 or 5 months. Yesterday wasn't pretty, but it was functional, spirited and we got the run of the ball unlike last week. But until the team puts 4 or 5 decent 90 minutes performances together then for me it's 'plus ca change'! One of my big questions from last night is - what's Postecoglou's issue with Djed Spence. One of perhaps 3 players who have any credit from the season, yet he doesn't start nor get a run in such an important game. And he would have been the ideal sub for Johnson at 60 mins (latest) - adding more pace, energy and defensive nous. And as I said last night, he threw Kulu in there straight off the back of a long absence and he was clearly off the pace and blowing hard after a few minutes.
I’ve been so rotten the last couple days I missed the last 35 or so mins last night. Completely KO’d on the sofa til about 2am. Great heart and effort by the boys though. Whilst I've doubted the management, I’ve always felt we’ve had the capability of winning this thing, this squad is nowhere near as bad as it’s been made to look. Very happy for Ange though, my view of his management is one thing, my view of him as a bloke is another and I seriously hope he keeps up his “I win things in my second season”.
Ange seems to have a first choice 11 and they will always play in a big game unless they’re unavailable. Spence and Gray will always be subs if others are available regardless of form.
But I'm talking about the substitutes, not the starting 11. Just another reason why Ange needs to be replaced. Poch had a similar failing to some degree (particularly when it came to Kane) but I cannot recall a coach with such an intransigent attitude that he fails to see the bleeding obvious staring him in the face.
Kaua Santos has ruptured a cruciate ligament and will be out for months. That really was a disastrous challenge on Maddison, wasn't it? I hope the poor bloke has a quick and full recovery. He looks a real prospect.
