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Manager Ange Postecoglou

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Got to say, I’ve been very supportive of Ange because I could see consistent methodology at work, I could see weaknesses improving and the underlying metrics support that strongly.

Last week I was just plain impressed with Palace, who according to their own fans, played their best game of the season. They were outstandingly good, and That can happen.

But this week was a really hot mess imo, that was more like the dark days of last season than anything we’ve seen this season. There was very little of the ethos or tactics that Ange has preached relentlessly, that we have mostly seen this season, and this despite Villa being fucking insipid.

I thought the team selection was inviting the kind of creatively void performance we got first half. In the first 45 minutes we’d not had a single shot on target, had an XG of 0.17, and not even dominated the ball like we usually do (53%). That’s also got to be the fewest passes we’ve completed in a game, and not just second half. In other words not the usual Ange performance markers. That’s also possibly the highest XG we’ve conceded all season. Again, against an abjectly insipid Villa.

I hope today is an outlier, I enjoyed the goals and result, but I didn’t see a coherent methodology. I saw some slightly whacky idea mud balls being flung at the wall and luckily some stuck. We allowed more chances than usual and got away with it. We’ve played much more coherently and not got a result.
First thought reading this was that you and Think tank are at completely different ends of the same spectrum. He saw and appreciated the set up after half time when most people were bringing out the pitchforks. Now after a 4-1 you're going full Ange out 😂

I think you are just overreacting to Madders losing his spot to Kilu and don't appreciate Sarr's strengths enough. What we've seen last two games is - for want of a better term - "Plan B".

We have strength and depth especially in midfield now but the mix requires different approaches. I don't think it's Ange going away from core principles. I don't think he's capable of that tbf
 
Got to say, I’ve been very supportive of Ange because I could see consistent methodology at work, I could see weaknesses improving and the underlying metrics support that strongly.

Last week I was just plain impressed with Palace, who according to their own fans, played their best game of the season. They were outstandingly good, and That can happen.

But this week was a really hot mess imo, that was more like the dark days of last season than anything we’ve seen this season. There was very little of the ethos or tactics that Ange has preached relentlessly, that we have mostly seen this season, and this despite Villa being fucking insipid.

I thought the team selection was inviting the kind of creatively void performance we got first half. In the first 45 minutes we’d not had a single shot on target, had an XG of 0.17, and not even dominated the ball like we usually do (53%). That’s also got to be the fewest passes we’ve completed in a game, and not just second half. In other words not the usual Ange performance markers. That’s also possibly the highest XG we’ve conceded all season. Again, against an abjectly insipid Villa.

I hope today is an outlier, I enjoyed the goals and result, but I didn’t see a coherent methodology. I saw some slightly whacky idea mud balls being flung at the wall and luckily some stuck. We allowed more chances than usual and got away with it. We’ve played much more coherently and not got a result.
Why are you the way you are?
 
Our stats are all title contending more or less. We cleaned up our defence to those levels too. All in the second season.

We lack consistency game to game. That's what separated the good from the great. There's another level yet, hopefully. Early days in this project.
Our away form certainly isn’t title contending. He’s got to fix that before we make real progress. Right now we’re a home team, we can probably compete against anyone. Away from home we are bang average.
 
First thought reading this was that you and Think tank are at completely different ends of the same spectrum. He saw and appreciated the set up after half time when most people were bringing out the pitchforks. Now after a 4-1 you're going full Ange out 😂

I think you are just overreacting to Madders losing his spot to Kilu and don't appreciate Sarr's strengths enough. What we've seen last two games is - for want of a better term - "Plan B".

We have strength and depth especially in midfield now but the mix requires different approaches. I don't think it's Ange going away from core principles. I don't think he's capable of that tbf

I'm definitely not Ange out, and have very much been on board, generally I think he's working pretty well with a pretty weak hand (for various reasons - age, experience, quality), I've been a vocal defender because what I've seen is coached method and underlying metrics telling me he's getting things pretty right.

What I saw today was a total lack cohesion and creativity for 45 minutes. I saw a pretty insipid Villa have a tone of the ball, make some great chances, and have an XG of 2.49 (higher than ours 2.10), nearly double the XG of our worst game previously all season.

I happily defended Ange when he was being criticised when I thought it was unfair. And I've definitely not piled on during some of the bad results, if I generally like what I see in terms of the coached basics and methodology. And I'm not saying it's all gone to shit from one game now. But I didn't like some of the things I saw today, because I don't believe turning games into incoherent basketball games is a sustainable route to success. I have questioned his selection and subs before (who hasn't) but I definitely didn't agree with the selection today, and I still don't, I thought it was counter intuitive to what the ethos is supposed to be.

I've never criticised him for not having a plan B, don't buy into the whole plan B bullshit, especially if plan B is to open up the game for both teams, relinquish control of the ball and chances. I'm happy for Ange to stick to planA and just keep trying to improve it, and add better players to it.
 
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I'm definitely not Ange out, and have very much been on board, generally I think he's working pretty well with a pretty weak hand (for various reasons - age, experience, quality), I've been a vocal defender because what I've seen is coached method and underlying metrics telling me he's getting things pretty right.

What I saw today was a total lack cohesion and creativity for 45 minutes. I saw a pretty insipid Villa have a tone of the ball, make some great chances, and have an XG of 2.49 (higher than ours 2.10), nearly double the XG of our worst game previously all season.

I happily defended Ange when he was being criticised when I thought it was unfair. And I've definitely not piled on during some of the bad results, if I generally like what I see in terms of the coached basics and methodology. And I'm not saying it's all gone to shit from one game now. But I didn't like some of the things I saw today, because I don't believe turning games into incoherent basketball games is a sustainable route to success. I have questioned his selection and subs before (who hasn't) but I definitely didn't agree with the selection today, and I still don't, I thought it was counter intuitive to what the ethos is supposed to be.

I've never criticised him for not having a plan B, don't buy into the whole plan B bullshit, especially if plan B is to open up the game for both teams, relinquish control of the ball and chances. I'm happy for Ange to stick to planA and just keep trying to improve it, and add better players to it.
When did this happen ? Cos it wasn't today.

You sure you're watching the right game?
 
I'm definitely not Ange out, and have very much been on board, generally I think he's working pretty well with a pretty weak hand (for various reasons - age, experience, quality), I've been a vocal defender because what I've seen is coached method and underlying metrics telling me he's getting things pretty right.

What I saw today was a total lack cohesion and creativity for 45 minutes. I saw a pretty insipid Villa have a tone of the ball, make some great chances, and have an XG of 2.49 (higher than ours 2.10), nearly double the XG of our worst game previously all season.

I happily defended Ange when he was being criticised when I thought it was unfair. And I've definitely not piled on during some of the bad results, if I generally like what I see in terms of the coached basics and methodology. And I'm not saying it's all gone to shit from one game now. But I didn't like some of the things I saw today, because I don't believe turning games into incoherent basketball games is a sustainable route to success. I have questioned his selection and subs before (who hasn't) but I definitely didn't agree with the selection today, and I still don't, I thought it was counter intuitive to what the ethos is supposed to be.

I've never criticised him for not having a plan B, don't buy into the whole plan B bullshit, especially if plan B is to open up the game for both teams, relinquish control of the ball and chances. I'm happy for Ange to stick to planA and just keep trying to improve it, and add better players to it.

i was being very tongue in cheek about the "Ange Out" quip. I know your stance and respect it.

I'm not sure I agree that this was an "incoherent basketball game". I thought it was clear that Ange wanted to oppose their strength in midfield with Sarr's high energy intercept game as opposed to Maddison's more classical footballing game. It looked stodgy first half because both sides were very cagey and compact but second half Sarr's game broke them.

And I didn't think they looked threatening at all in this game. In fact it was as poor an attacking performance by Emery's Villa as I can remember.

I also think you've taken a position on Kulu that you're unwilling to row back on despite him clearly beginning to learn and flourish in the role. He's not as "beautiful or skilled as Maddison but he has other strengths.
 
i was being very tongue in cheek about the "Ange Out" quip. I know your stance and respect it.

I'm not sure I agree that this was an "incoherent basketball game". I thought it was clear that Ange wanted to oppose their strength in midfield with Sarr's high energy intercept game as opposed to Maddison's more classical footballing game. It looked stodgy first half because both sides were very cagey and compact but second half Sarr's game broke them.

And I didn't think they looked threatening at all in this game. In fact it was as poor an attacking performance by Emery's Villa as I can remember.

I also think you've taken a position on Kulu that you're unwilling to row back on despite him clearly beginning to learn and flourish in the role. He's not as "beautiful or skilled as Maddison but he has other strengths.

Sarr was good today, and Sarr has merits and a role to play in the squad, likewise Maddison and Kulusesvki, merits and roles to play. I'm just not in agreement with the remits as applied sometimes, like today.

I'll row back from my position if circumstances dictate it. Great ball by Kulusevski today for the goal, but he was barely involved apart from that (17 passes in 100 minutes) my issue is absolutely not about "beautiful" it's the opposite, it's about substance and his lack of involvement and ability to disappear from games for long spells - which Maddison doesn't do - whilst Maddison still creates (and his XA has constantly been better than Kulusevski's and still is, as his actual assists 3v2 in 100 less minutes).

It doesn't have to be a Maddison v Kulusevski issue, but if it is, then my choice is Maddison. More productive, more involved (with and without the ball), more conducive to the "method" IMO.

We only just edged Villa for possession today (which is miles under our usual), and that was consistent throughout, and as I said, that was the most chances/XG we'd conceded all season.

Sometimes goals alter perspective.
 
What I saw today was a total lack cohesion and creativity for 45 minutes. I saw a pretty insipid Villa have a tone of the ball, make some great chances, and have an XG of 2.49 (higher than ours 2.10), nearly double the XG of our worst game previously all season.

What I saw was a team that kept the ball for the first 45 mins and barely gave Villa a sniff. The goal was unfortunate, but I feel the game plan was not to blow our load in the first half and to turn it up a gear later in the game when Villa were tired.
 
i was being very tongue in cheek about the "Ange Out" quip. I know your stance and respect it.

I'm not sure I agree that this was an "incoherent basketball game". I thought it was clear that Ange wanted to oppose their strength in midfield with Sarr's high energy intercept game as opposed to Maddison's more classical footballing game. It looked stodgy first half because both sides were very cagey and compact but second half Sarr's game broke them.

And I didn't think they looked threatening at all in this game. In fact it was as poor an attacking performance by Emery's Villa as I can remember.

I also think you've taken a position on Kulu that you're unwilling to row back on despite him clearly beginning to learn and flourish in the role. He's not as "beautiful or skilled as Maddison but he has other strengths.
Spot on. Some people become immovable on their position.
I don’t know if it’s blind stubbornness or a fear of ridicule for being proven wrong. Or maybe both.
But there’s something that will stop some folk from just holding up their hand or even giving proper credit where it’s due.
Kulu has been in great form this season and absolutely deserves to start ahead of Madders if it’s one or the other.
That isn’t taking anything away from Maddison either.
On his day he is superb and his goal today was a thing of true beauty.
 
At this point, the two biggest concerns will be

1) Can he turn our away form around?

2) Can we maintain this style of play, all season long without massive amounts of injuries?

Our squad depth is definitely better this year but with both center backs out now we have to be careful. Hard to not like what we’ve seen lately. In Big Ange we trust.
 
What I saw today was a total lack cohesion and creativity for 45 minutes. I saw a pretty insipid Villa have a tone of the ball, make some great chances, and have an XG of 2.49 (higher than ours 2.10), nearly double the XG of our worst game previously all season.
Where are you getting those numbers? Everywhere I look has Villa around 1.86 with 40% of that coming from their goal.

Meanwhile, those same outlets have us at 2.44 and as high as 2.83.
 
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