Let's hug
Sunday, August 19, 2012 at 8:33PM Played well without being outstanding, could get away with using the old cliché 'we'll play worse and win this season', tactically sound in parts, made a couple of mistakes, one or two players not firing on all cylinders, Bale could have done with being further forward, Sigurdsson looked bright, high line worked, defensively sound, bossed shots on goal but lacked cutting edge, draw would have been fair result. Defoe did well, had more shots on goal than Newcastle did, although perhaps you could argue he could have done better. If we're ambitious we need to be world class in forward positions. Defoe and Kane, not enough for the long run. That sum it up?
It's okay to rationalise this defeat because we're still in transition from last season. One game, it's one game, and we are missing chess pieces. Can't quite play the game at full strength without them.
I don't want to delve too deep into what was basically our first ever competitive match with VB, practically akin to pre-season without the 'pre' and not quite enough seasoning to warrant bad taste. Would I have preferred to see us go there and smash 'em 3-0? Sure. Reality tends to dish out far harsher truths this early on.
Obvious we need to conclude our transfer business asap, two forwards, a winger and a Modric replacement. I'd add a sweeper goalkeeper to that list too but it almost feels like we're going to be disappointed in one area. Hope it's not detrimental to our season but can't judge until after window closes. Not enough creativity in the middle without an out and out playmaker. Also, unfortunate that two yellows for our holding mids limits the thunder they can clap. I've been off-line this weekend. Temps too hot to be sat in-front of pc so don't know enough about the Huddlestone tweet to comment.
Final word. Utterly no point in defending VB, because he's not guilty of doing anything wrong. My assumption is the media have kicked started their campaign against him, so apologies if I'm wide of the mark with that. I've not opened up a newspaper today. It's one game, good to have Spurs back and confident in coach that he will seek out and improve what needs fixing. Over to the chairman for the lending hand.
One certainty, seems nigh impossible for us to conclude all business earlier on in the summer. We would do well to appreciate all the variables at play. It's one thing wanting to be decisive (which is possible as seen early on in the window) it's another having to deal with the complexities of signing players where middle ground is only found during those last desperate hours. Although it does seem amazing how long we've gone without cementing a forward, on a permanent. But not so amazing when you consider our targets and strategy changes from one summer to the next. More so this summer with the change in head coach.
Something is about to give way. Hopefully an announcement or two on the official website.
Coys
Reader Comments (62)
@wisky tom - funny........and topical seeing as we were shafted by a pair of fulop flops at the arse end of last season.
So much speculation, so much to be worried.
I was wondering why AVB chose not to use Vertongen, Huddlestone or even VdV from the start. Newcastle away is not an easy game and some might say we got away lucky or we were unlucky.
I however disagree. Newcastle could have been beaten, and AVB needs to learn fast.
We looked unable to penetrate until the first goal went in, then we were really struggling. That shouldn't happen. When BenArfa scored, I thought, that's it, we have no plan B.
~ Bizarrely, he chose Livermore and Sandro in the centre of the park. Sandro is supposed to break play up, Livermore is neither creative yet nor a destroyer. So what does he bring? At least Huddlestone can hit long passes, or try some volleys.
~ Vdv plays the same role as Gylfi. So why replace him with someone similar. Newcastle will only need to handle a new face doing the same thing.
~ Defoe is not the tallest man around. Having Bale cross from the left wing won't do anything. Defoe relies on his pace and a powerful shot. the game was crying out for maybe a touch of GDS or some other creative type, that could slip the ball to Defoe. I don't know if he was available, but he might have made a difference .... Also why not use Bale as a second striker?
~ AVB does not know how to react. There is no flexibility to be able to outthink the opposition. The commentary team remarked that Pardew changed tactics after half-time to be more effective. What did AVB do?
~ I am worried he has his favourites, just like HR, and will freeze out good players. Read that Dawson, Huddlestone, Bassong are not in favour. JJ worryingly is in his good books. Probably no one wants Bentley. GDS we should keep. We need a good squad who will change play and use different tactics instantaneously. We should not bleat about getting in too many new players. WE SHOULD FOCUS ON GETTING THE CURRENT PLAYERS TO GEL AS AN EFFECTIVE UNIT. SETTLE THE BLOODY TEAM FAST AND LEARN TO WORK TOGETHER.
~ AVB must learn to use the players at his disposal properly. I am not a professional manager or coach, but even I know that if your opponents know your tactics and can counter them, you need to be able to react on the spot, and use your substitutes to change your gameplan. Be proactive, not wait to concede before changing anything. If Kane is good enough, bring him on from the start, or at half time, not near the end when he could do squat.
~ here in Singapore, I have to put up with the loads of crap from the Liverpool-loving media, Arsenal fans, Chelsea fans(most recently) and Man United fans, not to mention the new flavour of the month, Man City fans. AVB is giving them ammo to stuff more crap down my throat.
Ok we need Levy to go. 2 coca cola cups in 12 years isn't good enough and we fail to build on good teams every time. The probelm is Levy and same old same old this season. To not sign Ade is Levy at his best! We will miss out on champions league by a few points. These points will be because his 'mesiah' complex where he needs to swoop in in the final few hours of the transfer window and grab all the headlines for himself! It's a stupid policy and it will mean we will not be at full strength until 5 game sin..how many points lost? His handling of transfer is a joke and it was his fault we failed last year! He didn't give Harry transfer funds for two windows! He only cares for profit and not trophies! We need to start a movement to highlight why he needs to go and email me if you are interested in toppling Levy. Maybe spurs fans can buy spurs!
AVB is happy losing the game? we played ok, he said we we proved we were the superior team, I guess we'll write the league off this year then?
I cannot believe my eyes!! AVB is ready to loan Huddlestone out!!
I heard about Hudd's silly tweets but does this coach not know how to settle disputes? Must he make an example out of every player who crosses him in the slightest way? AVB, PLEASE WE NEED HUDDLESTONE! DON'T MAKE THIS MISTAKE!
I will not comment anymore on this club until after our tenth game.
Bassong gone.
Calm it down a touch.
I cant believe after 1 game we have people knee jerking and ranting about AVB, his lack of tactical awareness and ability to change a game. We lost away at Newcastle, not ideal but hardly a happy hunting ground for us over the past few seasons.
As for the potential of moving the likes of Thud and Dawson out, firstly this is all rumor and ITK BS until we see a statement from the club (or receiving party). Secondly AVB is going to make changes, deal with it! I actually like Huds and Dawson but you have to admit if we are going to play a high line and pressing game these players aren't the obvious choices.
Something else to consider is that we may have to shift players to get a couple of decent signings in? its been mentioned before but its not just the transfer fee that needs to be considered, but wages, signing on fees and bonuses etc all get taken into account. I imagine Daws and Thus are relatively high earners, if not pivotal it makes sense to move them on.
I don't pretend to be happy about our lack of transfer activity so far, or the defeat on sat evening, but please lets wait till we have 2 points from 8 games and Owen up front before we press the panic button please.
As timed at 16.20 - ""Sky Sports understands Tottenham are close to finally agreeing a deal to sign Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City""
Only taken just over 70 days to sort out....
And Dawson looks to be on his way - QPR official bid made.
£5million !!?!?!
Adebayor done. No shocker there.
trust me six games no wins should prove me right two many leaving means a team in transitional mode you are right to worry about Livermore being on the pitch the idiot who is now our Manager is sending Huddlestone out on loan with a sell on clause and Stoke or some other team will have the best passer in Europe and a great thunder shot He is also flogging Dawson to Qpr who could beat us again and stop us getting out of relegation because this maniac could send us down the Ramos route. Playing this expansive way means we will have robots chasing the ball and then bad injuries stupid penalty's from Midfielders trust me i have tried to stop this way of playing but i have lost the battle along with some players sudden deaths . Just look at the state of the Everton players coming of the pitch dangerously drained and Fellani had incredible states during the game and looked ill and gaunt looking in the after match interview. The Premiership is looking at all the players performances through the season because i think they are finally worried about the game having to many deaths ? I want our fans to say to Spurs Avb nooooooooooo to pressing yes to attractive football and NO to Huddlestone playing for another club at 25 and a player we have missed and No to Dawson who could help take 6 points of us for Qpr.
'what's wrong babe'?
'nothing why'
'you seem preoccupied'
'I'm fine'
'Really'?
'Really'
'how was work today'?
'fine'
'fine'?
'yes fine, look can you just leave it'
'it's TOTTENHAM isn't it? What now? Has Jurgen Kingsmann broke a toe nail'?
'it's klinsmann, and no'
'eyelash'?
'klinsmann hasn't played for us in ages, for God sake, there's nothing wrong'
'ok, only asking'
Even she can sniff it.