He's proven that his preferred tactics - presumably the reason we hired him in the first place - don't win games.
We reverted to the most puritan Conte/Jose tactics in the EL and it was largely abysmal to watch, let's be honest.
As I've just said to LOTS, if Jose/Conte had also been given the luxury of sacking off half the season, there's every chance they would have broken our trophy duck much sooner.
We are praising Ange for succeeding on metrics that no previous manager has ever been measured against, delivering success in a manner that ultimately was the opposite of the vision he sold when he was appointed. And I will have no part in it. Keeping him on (unless we shatter our wage ceiling and net spend this summer) is a madness.
I think his preferred style
does win games when he has his preferred players playing at the top of their game. Also, his preferred style isn't as fixed as media would have us believe, he has a history of adapting in finals.
In this final, Bissouma and Bentacur finally did the business in the middle of the park. Bissouma was a beast. Where has this Bissouma been?
I frankly don't care how abysmal it was to watch.
We won.
If we had all of the creative attacking weapons available in Maddison and Kulusevski, it might have been a better watch, we also might have been more open and lost, or taken it to penalties.
Who knows? Who cares?
He adapted his tactics to suit the players he had available, and the opposition.
Isn't this what many have wanted him to do all season in the league?
He has proven that he can do it, and also play with a flourish when the right players are available, and rise to the big occasion without losing his nerve.
He has also disrupted Daniel's, and Spurs', pattern of accepting being a nearly team. The man went full pelt in all cup competitions and came out winning one. He was doggedly determined and did not accept coming out of the season empty handed.
He said he wins in his second season, and did it. Mentality monster.
He said, after coming 5th last season, there is no point being in the CL if you don't have a squad capable of competing in the CL. The same is true now. It's on Daniel to give the man the tools to do the job at a higher level. A deeper squad with a little more experience. He's been saying as much for the best part of a year.
Now is the time for Daniel to put up or shut up.
It almost doesn't matter who the manager is at this point. I would keep Ange for at least another season to see if he follows through, but that's not even the main issue now.
There is no point changing the manager and retaining the level as a 'nearly' squad, as Daniel has been attempting to do too many times at historical points of failure. Poch got sacked because things deteriorated after he wasn't backed enough when it really mattered. Conte could be argued was a similar story. Where was the intent to compete in the CL signings wise, when Conte got us into the competition?
Mourinho should not have been sacked before the cup final. Why? To avoid paying some fee? Simply stupid.
Ramos was sacked after winning a cup, but the difference between Ramos and Ange is that Ange has still got the players very much on side. They want to play for him. There are players that have signed that haven't arrived yet that want to play for him. Ange's man management, mentality and character is sound. It's not the same situation.
Ange is getting the squad into the habit of winning things. That starts with the first win. He nailed it.
Yes, the price of the league position was high, maybe this will help show Daniel that the cost of winning is sometimes higher than you hope.
Now we are winners.
It's an indisputable fact. It's now time to continue the behaviour and make it a habit. I agree with you in that money has to be spent, but even if we don't shatter ceilings and go beyond net spends, we need to at very least balance the squad.
Are we going for it, squad improvement wise, or not, Daniel?
Are you gonna build a squad capable of winning the league? The CL?
It's time for the bold statements of intent with signings. Daniel should at least be seen trying to dance on the metaphorical grave of Man U whilst manoeuvring in the transfer window. Sign Eze/Cunha, attempt to get Kane back [even if it doesn't happen it'd be a solid statement of intent, one last Son & Kane season], reinforce the midfield with options strong and experienced enough that things won't go to **** if Bentancur and Bissouma are out. In fact, improve on on the CMs with a statement signing. Same for Solanke. Give Porro some stronger competition also.
Do that and frankly I could care less about sacking the manager, in Paratici I trust. [It'd still be dumb to sack Ange but, I'd be able to come to terms with it easily if the squad was undeniably stronger and more balanced. Why not give Ange a chance with an improved squad?]
Don't do that and it's rinse repeat of potential mediocrity for another who knows how many years.
