I'm just wondering if any other fan is experiencing the same thing I am with regards to their feelings on Ange? I keep flip-flopping on wanting him out. I'm as inconsistent of thought as we are as a side. Why is that? How on earth can we sit very nearly 15th after tonight but still have some doubts over his sacking? Is it because when we're good, we're really good? Or is it because I know the blame lies further up the ladder? Does responsibility higher up relinquish Ange of blame? It's more than possible both are wrong. Either way, I think Ange's survival under these circumstances feels unprecedented. The trigger hasn't yet been pulled largely because Levy maybe feels the same way a lot of fans do. So much feels right apart from that one crucial part - results.
His style of football, his commitment to youth and alignment with long term club goals. So much feels right. He has an assurance about him that most managers with the same record wouldn't dare to expose. Is that a signal that patience is required and that if we keep the faith, eventually "success will be glorious"? Or is he, as that one line could attest to, just a salesman, good at one-liners to give the illusion of genius. I guess we don't know, none of us do so all we can measure are the statistics, which are grim reading. In truth, the only things we can cling to for hope are the empty parts - the speeches, the promises, the grand plan. There are no tangibles.
I didn't doubt that the sacking of Jose, Nuno and Conte were absolutely the right decision, yet I'm undecided on Ange, whose record is far worse than any of theirs. That makes little sense.
The only reason I can think of for his stay of execution, aside from the alignment of values above, are that we've ultimately hit a dead end. Us fans know this story. We've seen it a thousand times before and we've tired of the hiring and firing culture. Perhaps Levy has too? Maybe a level of apathy has set in. We're just not on board with another 'one'. Is the only reason he's still here because we've got nowhere else to turn?
The process to me just all feels so tired and that's a hierarchical issue. There are so many reasons why we need new owners and it's not just about finances. It's about ambition. We know what Levy is all about and how he operates. We know he's not hungry for the success we are and that kills hope and infects the culture of the club.
Does anyone else feel the same way? I hope Ange turns it around, I really do.
The Ange quandary
posted on 16/1/25
Ali Gold not pulling any punches in his criticism of Levy tonight. He’s basically slating our lack of transfer activity when we’ve only got about 14 first team squad available whilst other clubs are strengthening left, right and centre. So that excuse about January being difficult doesn’t seem to be the case for other clubs.
Everyone is noticing the total lack of ambition at board level apart from a few disciples like Dev.
posted on 16/1/25
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 23 minutes ago
Ali Gold not pulling any punches in his criticism of Levy tonight. He’s basically slating our lack of transfer activity when we’ve only got about 14 first team squad available whilst other clubs are strengthening left, right and centre. So that excuse about January being difficult doesn’t seem to be the case for other clubs.
Everyone is noticing the total lack of ambition at board level apart from a few disciples like Dev.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd be hesitant to go for signings at this stage. The league is as good as done for us and I don't see us getting relegated, realistically. I mean we'll be getting players back from injury soon and that will at least give us a better chance of not losing so many matches. Feels pointless to just get cheap signings in January for the sake of giving the squad more numbers. If we go for actual well researched quality then fair enough but I fear this won't be so much the case and they'd probably just be panic buys that Levy isn't willing to spend much on. May as well leave it until the summer to do any proper business.
posted on 16/1/25
Yeah January is a terrible time to buy. Get a loan in
posted on 17/1/25
I havent read the comments but commitment to youth? Hasnt Ange only played any youth when hes literally had no other choice?
posted on 17/1/25
He picked Bergvall over Maddison cos he's been playing better
posted on 17/1/25
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 8 hours, 24 minutes ago
Ali Gold not pulling any punches in his criticism of Levy tonight. He’s basically slating our lack of transfer activity when we’ve only got about 14 first team squad available whilst other clubs are strengthening left, right and centre. So that excuse about January being difficult doesn’t seem to be the case for other clubs.
Everyone is noticing the total lack of ambition at board level apart from a few disciples like Dev.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ali Gold.
He has zero influence, just like the rest of us. He is just giving an opinion like you and I do.
Honestly Fridge, I thought you were brighter than that.
posted on 17/1/25
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 14 hours, 1 minute ago
comment by Bãleș left boot (U22081)
posted 1 minute ago
The injury crisis really is like Newcastle had last season, the big difference being the level of sheit Ange is getting in comparison. Lazy, toxic narratives that our own fans have bought into. Also big signings like Guimeres and Isak who have a huge impact on how games go
I really want Ange to succeed - I don't believe that the way he wants to play is so unachievable or whatever, that it's bound to fail. But we can't keep losing games all the time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not sure of the answer to this but my guess is that with the injuries and Tonali's suspensions last year, Howe made certain concessions to his philosophy in order to win certain games. Therein lies the difference.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And what games should he have won since early December with half the team missing? Should Spurs have beaten Arsenal, Newcastle, Chelsea, Liverpool and a flying Forest away? They have only actually played two teams who you would expect them to beat in two months. Southampton and Wolves. They thumped one, and should have won the other. So in reality have only lost matches in the last couple if months you would expect with key players missing.
posted on 17/1/25
Levy is a cheapskate pure and simple, he pretends to have no money and refuses to pay the wages to attract top players.
This is why we no longer have any top drawer players, and the problem just snowballs when potential players see low wages, limited ambition, no real demands on them to achieve anything etc
Levy out.
posted on 17/1/25
Loads of teams have strengthened in January to notably change the course of their season in the past
Us included under Conte
I don’t buy into the fact it’s pointless signing players when most teams in our position go and spends in our situation.
If you are forgetting the league fine but we are in 3 cups and the squad currently isn’t good enough to win the Europa or fa cup for me
Can get some luck to win the league cup with current team I guess
posted on 17/1/25
Ange is an old school manager like fergie. You have to give total control of the players he signs and if you back him he will bring you success.
The reason I think it hasnt worked at spurs is levy not letting him sign the players he wants.
When at Celtic Ange used to interview players to see what their personality was like to see if they would fit in. I doubt that happens at spurs and probably why its not working.
Still think he will win you a cup this year but he badly needs a poacher to fit into his system.
It was the very first signing he made at celtic as its pivotal to his tactics.