Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has told Ange Postecoglou to move away from his Celtic mentality to improve Spurs. Tottenham were 2-0 up at home against Chelsea yesterday before the match was turned on its head and Enzo Maresca’s side won 4-3.
After the game, Merson told Sky Sports that the 59-year-old needs to remember where he is and that the mentality of managing Celtic, with the best team, won’t work at Spurs.
“I don’t want to have a go because I like Ange and I like watching Tottenham play.
“But I’m watching the game and it’s like: ‘We’re 2-0 up against Chelsea, let’s just keep on going.’
“It’s like they’re playing against Kilmarnock or St Mirren and ‘I’m the Celtic manager and I’ve got the best players.’
“I haven’t got the best players at Tottenham. I haven’t got the best players so I have to change. I’m not Man City when I can go: ‘You have a shot, we have a shot and we will destroy you,’ like they have over the years.
“You’ve got to be cute. you’ve got to say: ‘Right, we’re 2-0 up here. Sit back and let’s counter attack.”
Spurs have one win in seven – a brilliant win away to English Champions Man City – and fans have been clamouring for improvement. Ange can point to squad depth and key flashpoints going against him; however, he’ll be aware of the value of winning matches.
Ange’s style has had many detractors in his managerial career but has been steadfast in his approach – this is his style and he is sticking to it. Game management, though, is one thing that fans and pundits will be shouting for the manager and the coaching staff to make some adaptations to their play and Ange did do this – think about the win away to Rangers at Ibrox in his first season.
The Australian will be looking to make a statement and get a victory against the Govan club when the sides meet on Thursday night. Ange’s last match at the stadium resulted in a comfortable win for Michael Beale’s side but the season was over and it was a dead rubber. Ange had to put up with some stick from the hosts that day and he’ll be looking to bruise them before they face Celtic on Sunday.
