Ange Postecoglou

Yep. Watched highlights of MONs game during the week and was looking for a similar statement today

 

I don't think it is arrogance. It think it is about the bigger picture and testing the squad to see who can stand to adversity.

 

Aye I was probably a bit harsh on kobayashi, I wouldn't be writing him off just yet, but a least we got to see him in a difficult game.

Would ange be confident bringing him on in a champions league match, doubt it, he's not ready for that yet. But that game today exposed his shortcomings on which he'll hopefully improve.

 

No issues at all with the staring eleven. Some of the changes were enforced, some obviously had one eye on the treble. No problem with that at all. The problem lies with the level of performance. It was embarrassing. The huns changed their team as well, so blaming the defeat on Ange making changes is ridiculous. That performance was on the players.

So many passes coming up short. Hart should be palming the first goal out for a corner, Kobayashi bullied for the second, and the third goal just summed up the players performance.

If we win against Inverness, nobody will care about today, and rightly so, that’s all that really matters. However, the players on the park today should be * ashamed of the performance they served up. That’s unacceptable when you pull on the jersey, and they should be * told so as well. Dead rubber or not.

 

Aye if I'm Ange I'd be thinking of brining in Centre Half cover with a bit more experience and proven track record. We were without both Starfelt and at times CCV during last UCL campaign and right now Kobayashi isn't ready. He might well be in a season or two and it's worth giving him time, CH mature a little later but for now I'd want an experienced head in.

 

See the fact we made no changes at half time with who we had on the bench then waited beyond the hour to do anything off the bench told you how much this game meant in the grand scheme of things.

If this had been taken seriously Bernabei would have been off at half time probably along with Abada.

Even our senior players like McGregor and Jota were a shadow of themselves. I genuinely would give Starfelt a pass and no one else for today we were so poor.

Hart, poor at the first goal that should have been easily held if he gets his body behind it.

Ralston so limited.

Kobayashi terrible at the first two goals.

Bernabei just horrific, constantly turning over the ball with nearly every pass.

Hatate much like Bernabei continually gave the ball away.

McGregor uncharacteristic mistake riddled performance which eventually led to the total * up for the third goal and also just let Cantwell ghost past him for the first.

O’Riley missed two guilt edge chances.

Abada heart of a mouse and wasteful in possession.

Jota not at it today at all.

Oh had his one chance and hit the post when he had to score.

You can’t have 10 of 11 players all of it and expect anything. We will no doubt hear how good they were when in reality they took their chances and we didn’t, they didn’t make as many defensive howlers and we had about 5 which 3 were punished.

 

The strength in depth stuff is pish. Today showed that we need to strengthen as the so called back-ups for every position aint good enough. Imagine CCV gets an injury next season which keeps him out for 6 - 8 weeks.

 

He's partly to blame today but it was a worthy experiment imo. Taught us a lot about the squad and some of those on the fringes.

 

That’s the way I look at it.

This was an experiment. Who can stand up to the hardest game during our season when the pressure is effectively off. Many of the guys failed.

Abada and O’Riley will be away for good money. Berna and Yuki seem to be a couple of poor signings but given the success we have had with signings, it’s understandable. Hart needs replaced also.

Oh should have done better with his chance but he had * all the rest of the day.

The experiment failed. We will address all that come the transfer window.

 

Aye that's my take from it too. Yuki won't be out the door because he only just joined but we will sure be looking at another CB. Bernie will be out the door, on loan or otherwise, and Abada and O'Riley are certs to leave imo. Then, as you say, a GK is a must.

If we can improve on all those positions - big if I know - our squad will be top drawer.

 

Feel quite annoyed thinking on it. He did say (at least) in his interview "I probably made too many changes" but he must have been thinking that at half time too. Think it was criminal not to make sweeping changes at half time.

 

While I agree with the vast majority of the post, most would've had Maeda, Kyogo, Mooy, CCV, Taylor and Johnston in their strongest XI. Mooy only being the contentious choice there.

That being said, we had more than enough on the pitch to win that but we simply didn't turn up and they did.

Bernabei isn't cut out for here and now there's huge question marks over Kobayashi and Oh. Both have plenty of time on their hands to prove themselves. Hard on Kobayashi being thrown in like that and Oh has shown he has potential but if we want to progress as a team, center back and another striker will be on our shopping list in the summer.

Staggering drop in quality depth in some areas but I'm expecting that to be addressed in the next window.

 

On another day we could have scored 3.
1. Oh right after theirs(would have been sickening for them) and was a sitter imo.
2. Abada chance where he powder puffed it.
3. O'Riley chance.
Bonus 4 if there wasn't a special rule that Goldson is allowed to play keeper when in his box.

 

Aye, like I said, we had more than enough on the park to win that game if they actually turned up.

 

I didn't disagree with his selections pre-match but having seen how bad Bernabei, O'Riley and Abada were floundering I was amazed he didn't shake it up at half time.

 

Agree with this. We could have thrown Bernabei in next week and maybe he defends ok and sets up a nice goal, and everybody is thinking 'ahhh he's coming along nicely'. But players like him, Kobayashi and Oh need to be able to perform against Sevco and in Europe, because we're only ever 1 injury away from having to play them in big games. And you're only ever going to know by testing them.

Hopefully this will be a timely reminder that certain positions need strengthening.

 

An experiment gone wrong, only worry is they had some * on the park too but still strolled it. Both teams were weakened.

Other slight worry is since Beale has came in he's negated us quite a bit, bordering on making us look pretty average in these games but we've got through with individual performances. Been way to lax against them since he's came.in.

 

Oh lacked sharpness dues to lack of minutes on the pitch

Lack of pressing without Maeda and Kyogo

3/4 of our back 4 were gone

Hatate and Abada were not fit


Lesson learned for next season. Going into the the 1st game there next season, we should see a different team.