'He's not hopeless': Ange Postecoglou defends Timo Werner after Tottenham struggles
Ange Postecoglou says he will "persevere" with misfiring forward Timo Werner, likening the German's form to that of Brennan Johnson before his current hot streak.
Werner twice had tame efforts saved by goalkeeper Andre Onana after going clean through in Spurs' 3-0 drubbing of Manchester United last weekend and missed another one-on-one in their Europa League win at Ferencvaros on Thursday.
The former Chelsea forward, who is on loan from RB Leipzig for the season, has often struggled to be clinical in front of goal in the past but Postecoglou likened him to Johnson.
The Wales winger faced criticism for his early-season form and deleted his Instagram account after the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal following abuse from supporters.
No, he's not ‘hopeless’. All footballers at this level are very, very good footballers.
Ange Postecoglou on Timo Werner
He has since scored in five consecutive matches, however, including the opener against United and what proved to be the winner in Budapest.
Asked about Werner's form, Postecoglou said: "It was 14 days ago those questions were asked of Brennan. It's where we're at in this world. We just think, 'he's missed two chances, so he's hopeless'. No, he's not hopeless. All footballers at this level are very, very good footballers.
"Actually, last night Timo, in his first action, took on the winger and put in a brilliant cross for Will [Lankshear] and Will didn't quite get on the end of it.
“If that goes in, he's had a great assist. He then gets a one-on-one, if he scores that, if in the last two games he gets a couple of goals, then we'd be having a different conversation. But that's the fine lines.
"In terms of his general play, I think his last two games have been really good for us. He's been taking on his players, getting in the right areas.
"Yes, goals help. We've seen that with Brennan. But that doesn't mean he's not a good player and that's where I get really annoyed when they put everything on that moment to say he's not a good player. Of course he's a good player. He's a fantastic player.
"Scoring goals would help him, would help us, yes. But we'll persevere with him because I still think he's contributing to the team.
"Fourteen days ago I was sitting her answering questions about Dom Solanke and Brennan. Now we're talking about [Solanke] in the England team and Brennan's scoring, so it's that fine balance. I think [Werner's] performances in the last two games have been better for us in terms of doing his role as a winger in our team.
"Yes, a goal would be great for him but [that's] not to say I expect more from him in that position."
Werner is facing competition from teenager Mikey Moore but expected to keep his place in the XI for Sunday's visit to Brighton, with Spurs captain Heung-min Son set to miss out and Richarlison and Wilson Odobert still sidelined.
We’ve got a hell of a lot of games and we want to be competitive in all of them. I can't wait to get Richy back available.
Ange Postecoglou
Postecoglou says he "can't wait" to welcome back Richarlison after the international break and revealed the club are taking extra precuations with the Brazilian's recovery.
"He’s going well. Hopefully post-international break we’ll get him involved in team training," the Australian said of Richarlison, who will have to force his way past Solanke when he returns to fitness.
"I would love [him to compete with Solanke], it’s exactly what we want," Postecoglou added. "That was the plan at the start of the year and then you end up, second game of the season, neither of them is available.
"We’ve got a hell of a lot of games and we want to be competitive in all of them. I can't wait to get Richy back available. When he played for us last year and was fit, he scored goals.
"To have him and Dom as our strikers - and Richy can play wide as well - can’t wait to get him back.
"His recent history over the last two or three years is that he hasn’t been able to sustain it, he’s broken down. What we’re trying to do this time around is do everything right so that when he comes back, he stays back. That’s the key with Richy and hopefully that is the case."
Spurs have tended to lurch between different styles of coach under chairman Daniel Levy, whereas Brighton have seemingly transitioned seamlessly from Graham Potter to Roberto de Zerbi to Fabian Hürzeler in the last two years, thanks to an ingrained style of play.
"It just makes important decisions in a club a lot easier in my opinion, if you know you want in terms of style of play, style of player," said Postecoglou.
"And there's plenty of evidence. You look at a manager and how have his teams played? You look at a player and how has he played? But if you don't [look at that] and just say, 'He's a great manager, let's bring him in but I want him to play attacking football' but he hasn't done that [in the past], then it's more likely to not be a good fit. It's the same with players."
