Ange Postecoglou and Arsene Wenger – what do they have in common? At first glance, not a lot.
However, the new Tottenham Hotspur manager and the ex-Arsenal boss can relate through a shared history in Japan, where both managers spent time in the J-league before later arriving in the Premier League.
After his time at Monaco, where he secured a league title, Wenger took his talents to a struggling Nagoya Grampus Eight. The Japanese club finished eighth during the first phase of the league and then plunged to the bottom of the standings in the second phase.
Under Wenger, Nagoya managed 17 wins from 26 games which led them to second place in the later stage, eight points behind first place Verdy Kawasaki. Success also followed into the Emperor’s Cup which Wenger’s team lifted at the end of the season.
Yet his time in Japan also allowed for the development of his famously strict approach to diet, nutrition and fitness.
Whereas Wenger spent only 18 months in the country,, Postecoglou opted for a longer run with Yokohama F. Marinos, spending over three years at the club, delivering their first J-League title in 15 years.
Dan Orlowitz, sports journalist at The Japan Times, describes him as “undoubtedly a Marinos legend and considered one of the best managers to have coached in Japan.
“I think overall there was optimism at his appointment,” Orlowitz tells i.
“Perhaps in contrast to his two UK clubs, I think J-League fans actually understood what his accomplishments in Australia for club and country had meant, especially in a period when Australia had become Japan’s top regional rival in a lot of ways (and remains so today).
“Yokohama FM had been lost in the weeds for many years since their last title in 2004, and especially with club legend Shunsuke Nakamura leaving at the end of 2016 it was kind of adrift, even despite the addition of CFG [City Football Group] to the ownership picture.”
It has been suggested Spurs could now turn to the J-League for new recruits and target Celtic duo Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate.
“Any club that hasn’t learned from Celtic’s success in the Asian market can and should be described as short-sighted,” Orlowitz adds.
“I’m sure Spurs know from Son’s performances how much potential there is in the region. I think the world has woken up to Japan’s talent in a big way these last few years and if any Japanese players are wearing the white kit next season it will be a huge thing for the game here.”
One of Postecoglou’s most notable moments in Japan was not a usual league game, but a pre-season friendly against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. The Australian’s side managed 58 per cent possession and although Yokohama lost 3-1, they attempted to play Guardiola at his own game, using an energetic press and a high defensive line with some success.
They recorded five shots on target and out-passed City by 607 to 455 – and this was a City line-up featuring Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, and David Silva.
At the time, Postecoglou told Optus Sport that it had taken “courage and conviction to take on a team like City or coached by someone like Pep – because there is the fear that if it goes really badly you can be very exposed.
“That sort of fear and trepidation, it stops many teams from challenging them and you almost play into their hands – they start most games of football knowing they’ll have the ascendancy.
“Then, they have the quality, for the most part, that will make the most of that, unless it is an aberration or a one-off game where a team does manage to pull off a result sitting back.
“For the most part, they have an advantage before the game even starts.”
At Yokohama, Postecoglou implemented a 4-3-3, utilising forwards who were comfortable in 1v1 situations ahead of a fluid and combative midfield, which allowed the full-backs to move into space via underlapping runs. Those in defence had to be comfortable on the ball, particularly the full-backs, who often supported the single pivot midfielder.
The 57-year-old is able to change systems, as he has done coaching Celtic and his home country, Australia, who he led to 2014 World Cup qualification using a 4-2-3-1 and 5-2-3.
With Tottenham in need of a manager who can install a strong identity, he could be a great strategist to bring stability back.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/9OdXrqs
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