Pundit compares Ange Postecoglu to the early Jurgen Klopp era
By Tom Vinall
There is no doubt that Ange Postecoglu's time in North London so far has divided opinion, with plenty of people having a lot to say. The latest to chime in is Michael Owen, who has compared the situation to that of the early days of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Speaking to Wide World of Sports, Owen said: "It was a little strange way of setting down the markers and rules I guess but I do remember Klopp being very, very similar at Liverpool. It used to feel like every other week they’d go 3-0 ahead and just didn’t know how to defend the lead.
And then people would say you’ve got to bring in another defender, another central midfielder and tighten things up but he was like ‘no, no, no this is how we’re playing, they need to learn’.
What it also does is expose the weak links in your team, if you continue playing in the right way then it does expose the players that actually can’t carry out what you want. And then Jürgen Klopp went out and bought Virgil van Dijk, he went and bought a new goalkeeper, and more new players because, as I say, I think it exposed the players that couldn’t cope.
So there is definitely that train of thought and the end of the day like anything you’ll just have to judge people on results over a period of time and that will be the test I guess but I do like process and I do understand the process that certain managers do to get there.”
That said, the former ballon d'or winner was asked about the situation compared to the situation at Manchester United, and said things look better for Spurs: "Absolutely [it looks better for Spurs] If I was a football fan of a certain team, if I can buy into a plan and the manager’s on the TV saying we’ll get there in two or three years.
However, we just need to go through this process, we need to be this type of team and then when I switch on the TV or go to the stadium, I actually see that in front of my eyes then I’m happy as Larry. I’ve bought in and I’m ready for the ride.
With Manchester United I just see nothing. I see no plan, after watching them for two and a bit years under Erik ten Hag, I don’t know whether they’re a counter-attacking team, I don’t know whether they’re a possession team or pressing team. I have no idea what they’re trying to do and that would scare the life out of me if I was a Manchester United fan.”
Well, with such a damning statement on Manchester United, let's hope that Ruben Amorim isn't able to make an immediate impact, as the Red Devils are Spurs' quarter-final opponents in the Carabao Cup.
For all of the critcism aimed at Ange Postecoglu, a lot of people have said that you can at least see what he is trying to do, for better or worse, and a clear style of play - for better or worse. You can at least see what he is trying to do, even if you don't like it, or don't think it's going to work.
That's why it is easier to back Ange than other managers that go through sticky runs of form, particularly away from home. You do know what he is trying to do, unlike other managers, it just really depends on if it will work with Spurs. But it isn't for the want of trying, there is no question about that.