ange Postecoglou
Mikey Moore has made a significant impression with his performance during Thursday evening’s 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League. Moore, seen as a potential star for Postecoglou’s team, requires careful management to ensure a successful developmental trajectory.
Ange Postecoglou said, “Look, understanding that getting into first-team level is not the destination. I think sometimes, particularly players that have undoubted talent, those are the ones that people highlight. They get to the first team and sometimes they think they have made it. What we know is that is not the case. Because for every sort of [Lamine] Yamal, who is 17, there are probably a hundred who debuted at 17-year-old who don’t [make it]. There is a cautionary tale there that just because you make it as a young player, at a young age, and you start well…I think that is the biggest pitfall. Not just for the players themselves but for everyone around him. Whether that is the club or his network of people, to say that getting to that level is great, but it’s not that unique. That’s the biggest of the journey. Regardless of the issues that could prove problematic, the Spurs boss believes that his player is in a good position to handle the challenges ahead. Absolutely. Guys of our vintage mate, without casting aspersions on your own age…they have grown up in a different world, I think a little bit more aware of it than we are. If it was me for my kids, I’d certainly be frightened about it. But hopefully young people are getting educated along the way, they have probably seen others and understand that. The people around them are really important. Clubs are more aware of these sorts of issues, which could potentially happen. Again, whether it’s today or 20 years ago, there are always pitfalls that are potentially there. I can only speak about Mikey and from what I have seen, I think he’s well equipped to handle whatever challenges are there.”
Moore quickly impressed Tottenham fans and staff since his first training session at Hotspur Way. The club continues to monitor young talents like him as well as others emerging in the ranks.
Ange Postecoglou said, “Players develop differently so you keep an open mind. There’s no doubt when we brought Mikey up last year and he played a couple of times in the Under-21s, he stood out. Simon Davies and the guys in the academy were really strong about his potential, how he trains, his behaviour. As soon as he came into the training environment he showed no fear and that was the first thing you kinda noticed. He settled in really well. With others, you think they probably need more time. There are some others in there. In pre-season he was always a standout for us. There are some others in there, some young boys who are starting to make some inroads, some a bit younger around the 15/16 age group. James Maddison likened Moore’s performance against AZ Alkmaar to Neymar and that was put to Postecoglou and whether the youngster reminded him of anyone. The Australian immediately responded: ‘Mikey Moore’. In fact, he’s very confident that his player won’t be turning up at Hotspur Way rocking a new hair colour or driving a Ferrari. Just to be clear, I didn’t call Mikey Neymar! Address it with my captain [last night]. I think you’ll find that my demeanour around Mikey will be the same today as it was yesterday and that’s what he’d expect. The best indicator is the person himself and I’ve got a feeling that won’t affect Mikey. I don’t think we’ll see him arriving with a different colour hair or a Ferrari. Well, he can’t drive can he! I think he’ll be fine.”
Mikey Moore’s future in the Premier League is a subject of interest, especially with the potential opportunity to replace Son Heung-min due to his injury. Regarding future Opportunities for Moore and Timo Werner’s Position
Ange Postecoglou said, “Yeah potentially. He’s one of the options. Again, two games in a week… The biggest concern I have for him is physically more than anything else. He’s still a growing kid. His body is still adjusting to this level, so to ask to play two games in a short space of time, I’d be cautious about that. But we’ll have a look at how the team shapes up.”
Regarding Timo Werner, who is struggling with confidence,
Ange Postecoglou said “Well, a couple of things there. I am not totally cold and callous in these situations. We are talking to Timo constantly and we have, not just me but the coaching staff. We understand he is lacking some confidence at the moment and everyone has been working hard at that, but with all these things, ultimately it’s incumbent on him to use as much as the support he’s got around here to get himself out of it. Our role in that is to provide that support whether that’s internally or externally, whatever he needs. Obviously it’s then up to him to try to use that to get him back to the levels where he wants to be and where he can contribute for us. Yeah he is but at the same time we do need output and that’s the key part. We didn’t score but three or four really good chances came from it and we need that to happen with the way we play. Whilst the general play is important and Timo has done well, we still need more in that front third and we got it in the second half.”
