Quote:
Originally Posted by Locke
And this, I think, is what makes any evaluation of Ange (and I use his first name because his last name is a pain in the ass) very difficult.
Yes. His League Form was almost unforgivably atrocious. 38 Points in 38 games is brutal. Almost anyone else would have been fired months ago.
But...was that form a result of him throwing all of his eggs in the EL basket? I think it very well was. Thats a hell of a risk, almost reckless, but it paid off.
If he'd smoothed his resources out over all competitions would his record have been better to more appropriately argue to keep his job? Maybe? Would that tactic have likely cost him the EL Trophy and thusly CL money next year? Almost certainly.
So. The question is...was he incompetent? Under-supported? A bad manager? Or just a gambler with gigantic iron balls?
Because the way I look at it is...if management goes to him at the beginning of the season and says to him:
"Champions' League football next year. By any and all means necessary."
Then he did his job. He took a HUGE goddamn risk doing it. But he accomplished the task and provided a European Trophy in doing it.
It wasn't pretty, but it got done.
I dont know about what the players think about him, or about how he adjusted his tactics or what the framework was when he seemingly changed his mind about 'F### everything else, we're all in on Europa' and I dont claim to, but it very clearly happened.
But if I were Spurs management looking at CL football next season? I'd be exhaling heartily with relief and then kissing his feet and then getting to work making sure he doesnt have to throw 'Hail Mary's' next season.
|
Excellent post.
Football is a business. He did what was best for business while giving his club’s fans something to shout about at the end.