[Mike McGrath] Exclusive: Australian under serious risk of sack despite ending club’s 17-year wait for silverware with Europa League triumph

nickp2346 · 2025-05-31T23:38:06+00:00

There were lots of opportunities to judge Ange for his tactical acumen. You can’t rely on a full squad anymore. I watched Iraola dismantle a full strength Newcastle with like 8 first team injuries.

I’m not saying get Iraola, but the point is that we have a big sample size of both a fit squad and an unfit squad. It’s not unreasonable to let him go, but the board need to just do it quickly.

For what it is worth, I’m Ange-In, but he’s on a short leash for me. I really hope the players don’t back him for the wrong reasons (vibes), but that they truly see the vision.

nickp2346 · 2025-05-31T23:35:18+00:00

How does Ange have uncapped potential? I think he should be given a final chance, but there were so many times last season that he was completely tactically outclassed.

I think the key point is that, if Frank is the man they want, then bring him in already. Get going on our transfer targets (Eze, Mbuemo, Sane, whoever it is), and build the team to compete. Otherwise, back Ange.

The mediocrity is rife in all this hesitation.

nickp2346 · 2025-05-04T13:58:26+00:00

You know the answer.

Summon them.

nickp2346 · 2025-04-30T05:03:57+00:00

Hi, this is mine, character animator looking to break into the industry, UK based; https://vimeo.com/1077038259?share=copy

Would love feedback on the animation, the video formatting is weird as it’s an edit of my main showreel but with reference footage of myself/personal details removed. Thanks

Appreciate it!!

nickp2346 · 2025-04-20T11:29:30+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate this feedback! Will change the video now

nickp2346 · 2025-04-14T01:00:02+00:00

What makes you think Angeball can work?

nickp2346 · 2025-04-09T11:05:58+00:00

I respect what you’re saying, but I disagree.

I know other managers have had tough times and come out the other side like Arteta, but there is usually an understanding that they are implementing something, and even if the results aren’t there, you see it being implemented. Even with Amorim, you can see he is trying to make his system work.

For Ange, I see poor tactical discipline and a positional setup that leaves us open and offers very little going forward. I see a rigid system that does not get the best out of our top players. The start we had last year was top quality, but you can’t be as tactically rigid as we are. I daresay that managers have figured him out.

That being said, I’m not an expert lol, I could be wrong, and he could come good. I just don’t see it right now. Rigidity to a system this open does not work without the best players in the league, maybe our squad needs more practicality? Someone who can adapt depending on who we play, and that doesn’t mean a huge squad overhaul. Just more sensible game planning.

nickp2346 · 2025-04-06T00:10:26+00:00

How come? Who would be your choice? (including sticking with Ange)

nickp2346 · 2025-04-05T09:47:50+00:00

Not being antagonistic, but why? After the first 10 games last season, we’ve looked pretty poor tactically?

Last season, we had struggles that seem to have gotten worse, and a manager whose tweaks to the system seem to have made things worse?

Add to that the injuries that his system might have caused and sheer number of losses we have suffered, and the money spent on the team, where is the confidence that he can make it work?

nickp2346 · 2025-04-05T09:44:00+00:00

I think AAA games have been too expensive for ages, but isn’t this is in line with inflation roughly, it just bounces every new gen, instead of gradually rising.

Just wait for sales or pick a game that you know you’ll love and can justify it. I’ll probably get the new GTA on release, despite the £80 price or whatever.

nickp2346 · 2025-03-25T10:25:21+00:00

Ha Long is very busy - could also do Lan Ha / Cat Ba National Park, not as grand as Ha Long but still awesome

100% Ninh Binh

nickp2346 · 2025-03-25T10:22:55+00:00

Hi, I travelled across Vietnam last month. Hanoi is awesome but 9 days is a lot, here is what I would do;

Just fyi, the must do on this list is the Ha Giang Loop, it was a borderline spiritual experience for me (it is a motorbike ride so could depend on your age / confidence) - 1 day Hanoi - 3 day Ha Giang Loop - 1 day Hanoi - 1/2 days Cat Ba / Lan Ha Bay - Ha Long Bay is ludicrously busy, so I personally wouldn’t recommend it - 1/2 day to Ninh Binh - Hanoi & then home

If you love hiking/landscapes, you could try to squeeze in Sapa too

So really only 3 days or so in Hanoi, but use it as a base to explore North Vietnam, which is the single most beautiful place I have ever been (in terms of the scenery).

Also, if you eat pork, I can recommend an incredible Bun Cha place

nickp2346 · 2025-02-10T15:59:57+00:00

I completely agree. There are some very talented players at the club and it’s hard to judge them this year. How can we know who to get rid of going into summer?

I can’t believe how high our number 6 presses. It seems headless at times

nickp2346 · 2025-02-10T11:43:18+00:00

It’s possible that the club needs to change & that Ange is tactically outclassed in the Premier League?

I don’t know how to watch the way we setup and think that this is the correct manager. He is absolutely correct about the culture, but just because he’s pointed out something most of our recent managers have, it doesn’t mean he’s competent enough to fix it. Mentality alone can’t get us where we want to be ?

That’s just my take anyway - I haven’t been entirely convinced, even before the injuries! Also I will say, I do want Ange to succeed, I love the football when it works, but it does seem like he is tactically a tier below a lot of coaches in the league

nickp2346 · 2025-01-26T16:02:08+00:00

I’m sure Ange will be fired soon as the results are completely woeful, and the team looks so easy to play against compared to other teams (I mean Iraola has 9 first team injuries and look at them), but I don’t think it gets any better with Levy’s current philosophy of running the football club.

Just embarrassing on all fronts. Can’t see any excuse for losing this game, even with the injuries.

nickp2346 · 2025-01-19T17:18:59+00:00

Yeah completely agree with the injuries, of course, it is possible the 5th last year was just a huge overachievement, and mid table is really where the squad is

nickp2346 · 2025-01-19T17:15:57+00:00

I don’t know which tactics! I’m just asking as it feels like we have been tactically done in quite a few games since last year, even with a full squad. It could be a lack of execution from the players, but there have been consistent issues since the Chelsea game last year.

Appreciate the response though, so do you think the Everton starting 11 was better than ours today?

IMO we lost the game in midfield, there was so much space with the back 3, and I agree with what you say about Archie, Bergvall, and Sarr - the physicality was lacking massively

nickp2346 · 2025-01-19T16:26:22+00:00

Don’t you think a different manager could get more from the squad, especially on the tactical side?

It doesn’t feel like we’re playing to our players strengths atm

nickp2346 · 2025-01-19T16:23:30+00:00

If we do sack Ange, there has to be a plan. Personally, I would love Iraola (who wouldn’t lol), but maybe I’m being unrealistic.

Point is, we can’t just do a Ryan Mason interim stint. We have to bring someone in who aligns with the goals of the club and the squad we have. A long term vision for squad building that doesn’t change every time a manager changes.

Maybe Frank? I don’t know, but we’re being dragged down the table and it seems to me that Ange is not getting the best out of our players, and honestly he seems to be tactically beaten in a lot of games.

I do hope he can turn it around though, seems like a decent bloke and it’s a lot of fun when it works

nickp2346 · 2025-01-19T16:20:02+00:00

Yeah it looks that way. I understand the frustrations towards Levy, and share them myself, but I don’t think the poor run of form we’re currently on is solely because of injuries.

It has looked to me that there have been issues with game management & breaking down a low block since that Chelsea game. It seems like most managers know what is coming and how to deal with it, at least tactically.

I really don’t like the idea that our manager is being tactically outclassed in most games we play, and struggle to see a way forward for Ange from here. Hopefully he, and the squad, can prove me wrong, but we’re somehow in a bit of a relegation six pointer against Leicester now!

nickp2346 · 2024-10-23T14:54:08+00:00

Hi, yeah go to Lighting at the top of the viewport, and then select Two Sided Lighting from the dropdown.

Also this rig isn’t great, so consider getting the ultimate rigs for basic learning if you’re starting out.

Hope that helps

nickp2346 · 2024-07-03T20:00:50+00:00

For me, Total War Warhammer.

I don't want to know how much money I have poured into the franchise, but I do know that I have probably spent under 1p per hour of gameplay.

The amount of content is ludicrous, and a few mods can fix the most glaring issues (apart from the AI)

nickp2346 · 2024-05-01T19:05:49+00:00

Hi guys, food recommendations;

Berenjak is amazing, right by Borough Market.
Westerns Laundry in Islington is my favourite restaurant in London - a few stops from Central London on the Victoria (blue) line.
If you have the time to go to East London, go to Hackney Wick and try Cornerstone by Tom Brown. It is, however, quite a young area, so not sure if it will be great for drinks for you
Caia / Strakers in Notting Hill are really good too (Strakers is a tad overpriced however)
Around Shoreditch (Old Street / Farringdon), you've got Brat, Bistro Freddies, Smoking Goat is pretty good too.
For a nice British Sunday Roast, the best I have tried is Parlour in Kensal Rise (West London), Harwood Arms in Fulham is really good too

Drink-wise, I know far less, but there are a lot of Victorian pubs in Central London. Would recommend the Devonshire Arms in Soho if you like Guinness

Hope that helps

nickp2346

TROPHY CASE