Ange Postecoglou

The press really needs worked on, opposing teams play through it too easily and one pass and they are through our entire midfield.

We then are sprinting back to defend and it’s a complete waste of energy. We don’t block off passing lanes well enough to implement an ultra high press. And while our forward 3 are quick fast players we really need more midfielders who have a good burst of speed to back it up.

 

Sign a long term deal Ange - then I'll get fully on board!

 

Ssshhh: don’t let the ‘Ange can’t finish chances for them’ brigade hear you talk common sense about his coaching.

 

TBF Shakhtar also didn’t play on the weekend.

 

Midfield is close, we’ve been creating chances, we just need more mobility.

I think you’ve nailed the press, it’s about consistency, so many times do you see one player not go with the press and an out ball becomes available with not enough pressure instantly on the player.

 

Didn't know that. But our press is very energy-intense, and we aren't reaping the desired benefits. Shakhtar's players had energy to spend in key moments, when decisive tackles and runs had to be made.

I know there's no chance in *, but I'd like our next manager to be their gaffer, Igor Jovičević.

 

We are missing a striker in the mould of Dembele

 

Let’s not go talking about who we want to come in, Ange hasn’t even completed 18 months yet.

Agree the press is energy intensive. Think it was best described by Mr Shelby as inconsistent. Further to that, we are playing European elite teams and they are going to break the press, it’s how we recover that matters.

 

Shakthar as well as mate. They were not up to much over the two legs, and even with that being said, they still fluffed a glorious chance against us.
We still are not hard enough to score against.

I can see the progress and I want us to continue to back Ange and his project, but im disappointed with this campaign not to come away with at least one win.

We have done well domestically, but Europe is still the measuring stick and we are still coming up short.

My worry for this side is that we still have a tendency not to turn up when it matters.

 

You make a lot of sense, but Ange's got blinkers on. A defensive midfielder that sits behind the two front midfielders could help in dealing with attacks that break through the press. We could also do a mid-block, making the press harder to bypass.

I can't help but notice a good manager helping his team punch above their weight. And he's doing it by being simple and logical. Ange would progress tremendously if he looked at different tactical styles.

 

TBH, I’ve noticed we have been doing a mid block in the CL. We start pressing the keeper and if that breaks we regroup and then start a mid block. Against RM we actually started mid blocks at times, it stood out to me that there was a change. I actually have a feeling that the two different blocks is the cause for our inconsistency.

 

First time in years we've been back
Ange's first time
The majority of our squads first time at the top table

We'll learn from this. Win the league and come back stronger..

We're no a million miles away. We just need a bit of fine tuning and without doubt....some better quality players in. Qualifying back to back will give us that opportunity..

 

We need to play a different game in European matches than the type of game we play domestically.

The type of football and players we face in Europe are a different breed compared to the players we face in Scotland.

 

Yeah it was always going to be could we beat SD and get third for me.. its kinda like when Ange first came in we all said we didn't expect much at the start once there was improvement. His first shot at this level and we were decent performance wise, results not so much..

Finishing bottom of the group doesn’t look good and will be classed as a failure but there are positives..

Win the league and have another go. My only fear is can we attract players better than we already have? Hopefully the players got valuable experience at this level

 

I think we can if we look in the right places. We don’t need to replace every position it is select areas I think we have been found wanting. Right wing, a clinical striker and more dynamic midfield options from the bench would make a massive difference for me. I think if we get those we can make changes when we start to tire in games in midfield and with a bit more fire power from right wing and up front we can do better.

My biggest worry is we won’t get as favourable a draw again. That’s one thing where you cannot compare Rodgers to Ange in terms of group stage performance, Rodgers groups were seriously tough in comparison we got Barca and Man City along with a Leipzig equivalent at the time in Monchengladbach one year and PSG and Bayern the next.

 

Both things can be true at once to be fair. Our press and defensive setup could use tweaking and improving, but equally it can also be the case that Ange's system is a big reason for us creating a huge number of chances that the players haven't taken.

 

Maybe im being harsh, but I think its been a disappointing campaign and i think the “this is his/his teams first time playing im the champions league” is being light on Ange.
I need to stress that I do like him and the way he has carried himself since he has joined. But i do see flaws in his style of play which have made me sceptical. I think this showing has made us realise that we are perhaps not as good as some had made out. When i look at that side, i dont think there is one player who has played to their best in europe, which also worries me.

I want to give him another two transfer windows to build his team and I feel that going out of europe altogether could be a blessing in disguise to allow for all efforts to go towards retaining the league.

 

That's true. That's why in my opinion is needs fine tuned, not an overhaul. My OP was just to highlight this, not an attack on Ange. He also needs more pace in the middle of the park. Mooy, O'Riley and Hatate are all technically good, but lack that burst of pace, that energy that Shaktar had last night and other technical Euro sides have shown against us also.

We've not been embarrassed in Europe, which is great. And we've drawn against the Pot 3 team twice and should have beaten them in Warsaw comfortably in Warsaw. So we're nearly there.

A bit more quality and and pace, slight adjustments in tactics/press then we we'll go further. Also accompanied by ruthlessness in front of goal.

It's just frustrating going through it. Life of a sports fan eh!!!

But moving in the right direction.