Philosophy over pragmatism, for Postecoglou the ends will justify the means…
It’s fair to say that that with recent results the first real questions of Ange Postecoglou’s time at Celtic have started in earnest. Whether some or all of that criticism is justified or not it’s out there and it is something Celtic’s new manager is going to have to get used to, but that shouldn’t and won’t mean he has to change.
There are a multitude of reasons for Celtic’s momentum dropping off in recent weeks and in turn has seen inconsistency, initially in results and now perhaps in performances, creep in.
A late start to his role was the first real issue, then a transfer window when, as Celtic habitually do, players were delivered too late to fully participate in pre-season and others who were in the squad and getting up to speed deciding to seek alternative employment has hindered the manager. Add to that a lack of a footballing infrastructure around him, culminating in the departure of a 72-day CEO, hasn’t helped and a Head of Sports Science who left in July only being replaced last week is far from ideal, especially considering the high intensity both in training and in games the manager demands.
If as supporters, we didn’t know our board were entirely inept at planning anything we’d possibly verge towards allegations of sabotage so poor is the footballing structure around the new boss despite months of time being available to correct the deficiencies.
Then having eventually concluded the transfer business and assessed the playing staff he inherited, Ange Postecoglou has found himself in a bit of a fix. 12 players have been added to the squad, all at different levels of fitness and match readiness, and with a Sunday – Thursday schedule, little time to bed players into his playing philosophy. And all of this with an inherited coaching staff themselves scarred by criticism and last season’s catastrophic failures.
Ange then must have been glad to see the transfer window close and get down to deciding who his first eleven would be, have them build up an understanding and get into a rhythm of play. Sadly, the challenges for the new man weren’t quite over as an injury list started to grow to the extent square pegs in round holes has become the norm and the best and most influential of the inherited players, Callum McGregor and James Forrest, have been side-lined, as has the most impressive of the newcomers in Kyogo Furuhashi.
That’s not to say Ange Postecoglou is absolved of all blame, there has been a frustrating lack of use of players available to him and you could point to tired players dropping levels during games perhaps being due to a highly intensive training regime as well as a draining fixture calendar to boot.
Yet it is becoming apparent a squad that seems on paper to be numerically sound is lacking in players the manager trusts to carry out his methods, at least at this juncture. What other reason could there be than a lack of readiness for an Ange playing philosophy for the likes of Liam Shaw and Ewen Henderson not playing some part in games to assist the likes of Tom Rogic and David Turnbull, players now being asked to play 90 minutes every three days despite having Celtic careers prior to this season where early indications were a singular hour and half was beyond them? It also says a lot that those some of us expected, myself included, to fill those gaps such as Luca Connell and Scott Robertson have been allowed to go on loan rather than come in and build their reputations with 20- and 30-minute cameos.
Ange will know better than any of us if players can do what is required and if they can’t just yet. As frustrating as that lack of squad rotation then seems from the outside looking in, it is clear Postecoglou is confirming a circle of trust around him and it looks, in midfield in particular, that tiring players are more trusted options than some who may be fresh but not up to the required standard.
Then there is the question of pragmatism. Ange, we know has a playing philosophy he will not veer from. It has followed him from Australia to Japan, brought success, and now has arrived in Scotland. Ange has made it clear he trusts implicitly in his vision and he will not budge from the demands he places on the players to fit in. He will not change his system bar minor tweaks to personnel and on field decision making, and alternative formations are simply not a consideration. In recent times that has been used as a stick to beat the Celtic manager but is it a case of damned if you do damned if you don’t?
First things first. We all knew, having as we all did emerge ourselves in Ange’s career up to now, what we were getting. A 4-3-3 formation, an aggressive press, a high defensive line – and an exposed one at that – inverted full backs with as much attacking responsibility as defensive obligations, a deep lying playmaker, two number eights, who have to play like 10’s in attack and defend like box to box No8’s when we lose possession, a mobile striker and wide players comfortable hugging the touchline, but also expected to come inside when required and in turn their defensive duties are diluted with those inverted full backs expected to protect the deep lying midfielder when we are countered. All of this is played at pace.
None of any of that has changed at Celtic, but what is evident particularly as the injuries add up, is that when we drop from first picks, to second picks and even third choices, the abilities to play the system dilutes in line with the quality coming in. So, it is understandable that when that is clear from watching performances like Livingston there will be demands to change the style of play, yet in truth that is likely to be counter-productive to the long-term aim, to get this style of play to become second nature to everyone who is capable of playing it and ultimately, when it’s proven some players can’t do it, they will be moved on and replaced by those who can.
This is a gamble from Postecoglou that much is certain, he’ll be aware as anyone that Celtic’s last season was poor and this season patience, as has been evident, will be finite. He’ll also be aware that changes in formation and so-called pragmatism don’t necessarily yield improvements in performances or results, nor do they negate inconsistencies.
Last season Neil Lennon tried three formations and all failed. Meanwhile down south Arsenal’s Arteta has seen criticism for his chopping and changing of formations as the rod for his back that has seen Arsenal struggle to settle down this season. Yet conversely managers who have stuck to their own principles, despite early pressure in their respective times, such as Bielsa at Leeds, derided after his initial promotion attempts were spectacularly derailed, and Klopp at Liverpool, criticised, like Postecoglou, for over training players and having teams who ran out of steam as a result, stuck to their guns, their respective Boards backed them, despite pressure, and both have now brought a high level of both success and respect to the way they play the game.
As such, whilst the call for pragmatism may make short-term sense to a support wishing to see wins rather than necessarily the development of a sustainable playing philosophy, with no guarantee of success should he do so, and with an evidenced history of ultimately building a successful playing side with his own style of play, it is unlikely Ange Postecoglou is going to bow to any pressure and change the habits of a managerial career that have got him to this point, and nor should he. We knew what we were getting and he knows what he can deliver and whilst he’ll be acutely aware he’ll need time and patience and may not get it, that will be a gamble he is willing to take and it’s one I’d back him in.
To see this through however Postecoglou will need help. The attacking options in midfield are limited and in Rogic and Turnbull both can attack but neither is adequate in transition. It could well be the January transfer market and the Japanese close season is where the final pieces of Postecoglou’s first season jigsaw lie. As such the board will need to back their man in that window. To get there however Ange will need to get players back fit and hope it’s enough to stay in touch in the league title race. And to ensure the current squad is performing at its full potential the behind-the-scenes support is essential and needed quickly.
There is no transfer window for sports science staff, for analysts, scouts and recruitment experts or Ange’s choice of coaching assistance. And if we are to believe Ange Postecoglou is the man the board trust to bring in a new philosophy and ideas on and off the pitch, he needs backing with the support staff to ensure players can train hard, play twice a week and develop well enough to come in and play when injuries and suspensions kick in. The manager will need help to do this and this can all be done now – if those above him realise it.
In the meantime, we as a support can also do him a favour and realise the tough hand the manager has been dealt and not ask something of him that he’s never done before. To deviate from his tried, tested and successful managerial methods.
Much like Klopp at Liverpool and Bielsa at Leeds, Celtic fans knew what we were getting with Ange Postecoglou. Perhaps then we all need to hold firm, and I include myself in that, and believe the ends will ultimately justify the means. Listen to Ange’s Mainstream Media conference today and you’ll hear him tell you all this himself, see below.
Niall J
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