So I finally changed my vote last night - and gave it more consideration this morning (in case I was being biased after seeing the scousers celebrating (obviously better than it being the gooners but still a sickening sight, albeit it I was more than a tad jealous as well)) and am sticking with Ange Out. Tbh I know it’s the only viable outcome and I also know that has been the case for some time but I was hopeful things might change and having missed a big chunk of our games during the first three months of this year I wanted to see for myself how things looked once I was back going to/watching games. And it’s clearly no change or improvement overall.
The irony is that yesterday’s game was one where I had absolutely zero expectation in terms of result (like most of us I suspect), even more so given the game was just a few days before our SF which I expect to be given priority. Yet it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Not because we lost but because of the manner in which we lost. No fight (maybe players saving themselves for EL?). Our defending is abysmal. We don’t look coached or drilled. Our midfield is hit and miss (not intending to criticise either or Archie or Bergvall yesterday, just generally). We don’t cover our defenders but we don’t have the passing or creativity to make something happen often enough. Our attacking is totally predictable and therefore easy to defend against. Let us play out wide and by the time we’re ready to play the ball into the box, or cut-in, the opposition defence is there waiting for us. I don’t even have a tactical bone in my body - I just enjoy football and love Spurs but even I can see some of the flaws. It’s just so depressing and even if Ange does somehow lead us to EL victory, the thought of more of the same way of playing next year doesn’t bear thinking about.
I feel quite sad about it as he seemed like a breath of fresh air, and his philosophy is exactly what I would like to see play out. And it feels singularly wrong to dispense of a manager if he wins us a European trophy. But it just isn’t working. I mean win the EL and maybe he gets a shot next season (see I’m softening already!) but then if (or most likely when) it all goes wrong again we will probably have missed out on getting a preferred replacement in, no pre-season for that person. And we will start to see players downing tools I am sure.
So I’m afraid end of season is time to part ways.
Just to add : listening to various news items today talking about Liverpool securing the title after “thrashing” Spurs was particularly galling.
