Can I have a go because I realised that I have very early history of questioning the running of the team. Firstly can we talk about Coaching competence not managerial. As to my mind coaching speaks to the the football strategy training and tactical preparation of the first team and it's resources.A serious question because it tends to somewhat beat me if I am being entirely honest.
I have my ideas, but with all things being equal, just how do you make the assessment, on good, bad or indifferent?
Was Pochettino for example the beneficiary of having some excellent players at his disposal or do we really believe he would be doing so much better with our current squad? Flip that round and would Postecoglou be so much worse with the players Pochettino had by comparison? And if yes/no, why?
I am genuinely intrigued, because at present, I look at some of the likely managerial options and think which one should it be,because they will definitely provide that, whatever that may be.
Baffling.
I questioned the coaching of Jose Mourinho when we were top of the league. Much to the consternation and anger of lots folks on this forum. I questioned the coaching of Ange Postecoglou after the Chelsea game (whilst still being optimistic about the progress). In both cases sustainability of the approach was central to my concerns under Jose the lack of possession of the football and inviting the amount of pressure we did whilst being hugely reliant on converting the few chances we made. It could never last
Under Ange the built in acceptance that we would concede the amount of chances and even goals as a matter of course was incredibly naive, and in a league with as many talented forwards as the EPL was suicidal.
Then there were issue with Ange beyond the tactical that were about ethos 'we don't stop' is frankly foolish in an era where the calender both international and domestic has never been more taxing. It's also utterly at odds with the kind of squad Levy will allow to be built.
Then you can simply look for the signs of what poor coaching looks like. Spurs under Ange start games woefully slowly poor focus little or no tactical adjustment made for an oponents strengths. The marking at corners, the confusion between zonal and man to man responsibilities. The lack of clearly coached set peice and dead-ball routines.
Honestly I could go on but it's too long a post already. Football isn't as complicated as some hipster will have you believe but if you tune out the spin and focus on what you are watching basic operational certainly in the players, their comfort and confidence in where and when they should be in and out of possession speaks directly to the work on the training ground. Five million a year to watch teams beat you the same way repeatedly tells you what's happening.
Pochettino and his team of coaches work was evident to me Jose and Ange Postecoglou lack of diligence was also evident. I also ducked but will address the human element. HR the way you treat people. Mourinho flaws are manifest but sadly Postecoglou has been a huge disappointment. I'll simply say Djed Spence was failed by him in a very shocking and distasteful way and he then told lies and played to the worse kinds of dog whistles that young men like Spence already have to contend with. It was a huge red flag. I could also talk about the goalkeepers the situation is so amateur its baffling.
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