Boas-urns Boas-urns
Sunday, September 2, 2012 at 12:03PM It still quite hasn't clicked for us yet. A consequence of transition. Although a fair few (media included) seem to expect a continuation of what Harry Redknapp left behind to spark our season into action. Even though what Harry left behind was a side that crumbled mentally like a dunked digestive for the last quarter of the season throwing away all the work achieved in the early stages. I guess that's a cheap shot and I shouldn't sit here comparing the past with the present but it seems that the people already on the managers back or slating Daniel Levy for his lack of effort in the transfer window are happily citing Villas-Boas Chelsea tenure and the fluidity of Redknapp's side as reasons for this transition to be renamed a crisis. I guess that makes me an apologist for daring to remain balanced. Probably no reason for me to do so what with the support VB will obviously enjoy from the friendly tabloid hacks.
The pressure will be quite enough from out side the club, I see no productivity in joining forces with the outsiders.
Seems Villas-Boas promise not to change too much hasn't blossomed well. Probably because the reality is things do have to change and it's not a fluid transformation from old to new. If we wanted him to play the way we played before he arrived he might as well just tell the lads to get out there and kick the ball about a bit. Worked for the last gaffer. Is he still available, the last gaffer? We could bring him back in as an advisor. Organise a proper handover.
So are we playing well?
No, not across 90 minutes. In patches we've shown encouraging signs of focused attack and intent but we've been a little too static in shape. The lack of creativity from the middle of the park means we're pushing our efforts out to the wings and it's not quite paying off with neither Bale of Lennon quite finding form. New players in will need to bed in. The same can be said for the system which seems to be very slow in positive movement. No much sign of the high-line either at the moment and far too much sitting back towards the end of games which has cost us (although individual error has been just as responsible).
Lack of leadership on the pitch? Sure, there has been no true accountability. But then there's no King (forever) or Parker currently. Those new players will inject that extra something we're lacking. Shake up a few of the current batch that seem to think it's still pre-season.
The rhythm, the tempo. Its lethargic, disjointed. Ghosting in for a cameo and then disappearing. There's no link from defence to midfield and into attack. Goes to show just how vital Luka Modric was and just how gutting failing to sign João Moutinho is. This is why we can't play to that old swagger tune we've been spoilt with.
Adebayor still doesn't look fit enough (let's blame Levy). Defoe will never quite fit into this system, unable to hold the ball up with intelligence and far too inclined to hold onto it just to shoot the ball into defenders body without any spacial awareness. The two holding midfielders isn't working. Can't play Livermore and Sandro together, there has to be a mix in there and there was a marked improvement with Dembele on the pitch who scored a superb goal. So I can already see how we'll improve post-international break with him in the centre with perhaps Clint Dempsey who will take the place of previous chief galvaniser Rafa van der Vaart, looking to inspire players to match his effort and urgently. Dempsey could even go wide.
Two home games played, we've made hard work to just get our noses ahead and then two very late equalisers - both avoidable yet open invitations on both occasions. It won't breed confidence but then had we sneaked both games at 1-0, even with the disjointed play, they'd be a little bounce about us. Winning when not playing well, we'd have heard plenty of that. Whereas at the moment it feels far worse than it is because we've thrown away four points and haven't looked like a side with a clear identity of style.
On the subject of points:
Huddlestone was stupid. Wasn't as bad as it looked but with that type of tackle you won't get away with just a yellow unless you're playing in red at Old Trafford. Dive in like that, even if you get a little of the ball or appear to pull away last second - it doesn't look good. Ref should have given Norwich a penalty for a shirt pull by Benny (unless I'm misremembering that incident). Erratic.
Vertonghen, Sigurdsson are still settling into the side.
Defence too deep in latter stages of the game. Not much of the high line. But then not sure how much the high line would work currently as side not pressuring opposition enough.
Livermore and Sandro as holding midfielders in a home game is not positive enough (as neither drive forward half as much as they should attempt to do) and it doesn't provide an outlet when the attacking midfielder (Sig) can't dictate play, which is no criticism to the individual. Just a consequence of making do with what we have. He's not playing as a central midfielder, just one that's pushing up to offer support to the striker. Imagine the difference Luka would have made in there. It's that simple. Or at least it would be but we have to move on without him and adapt until January. From what is being said, Mout almost signed. He agreed personal terms. The fee was agreed. The documents sent to us from Porto needed correction and we run out of time.
Sigurdsson (in that forward position) was there to create for Defoe but isolated thanks to lack of flank support. The less possession he has, the less chances will be carved out.
Defoe himself is in a state of limbo. He can't find comfort in the system and we can't accommodate his strengths.
Livermore is getting plenty of game time, confusion on Sandro being subbed off - but not sure if this was tactical or due to a knock. Villas-Boas might be testing the kid or doing something extraordinarily left-field and believing in him. Something a fair few have already given up on.
Bale is not sticking to the left.
Lennon's crossing is far too opportunistic on second attempt.
Not enough composure on the ball. Players not passing the ball, moving and passing. I've said static once already right? They need a rocket up their a*se.
Friedel was superb.
The booing, the fact we've dropped points at home twice on the trot - we should remember that fine line and that we're hardly looking in complete disarray. But then some believe we're looking just that. So either I'm not facing up to the truth or others have already predicted the future.
We started on fire against WBA. If it wasn't for poor finishing we'd have been out of sight. So easy to just ignore that fact. We didn't however start well against Norwich. Villas-Boas has to get that intensity from kick off in how we compete from the off. Because it takes one goal (well two actually to hopefully gauanntee a win) to awaken that sleeping belief and confidence so that both supporters and players truly now a new era has started.
Things are not half as bad as they are being perceived. Some will never give the new coach their full support no matter what as they've already decided he will fail and are behaving accordingly to fit into their belief system (lack of). Remind you of someone else's early tenure?
If he fails, I can't quite believe I'm being forced to even talk about that possibility three games into a season, but if he does at least I'll be able to say I got behind him and the team. I'm I deluded? Am I avoiding the inevitable? Am I in denial? No.
I'm hopefully the majority that will out sing and shout the minority in support of the team.
Some of you are proud of the fact that you believe he will fail and want to fragment yourself from the rest of us and disassociate yourselves from being supportive of him. You wear your disdain like a badge of honour claiming it's your heart on your sleeve. If it was your heart on your sleeve you would muster up words and songs of encouragement instead.
It's not even about the booing. The booing is just a time-stamp on the lack of support.
Seems we are more disjointed in the stands than we are on the pitch. Getting what we deserve at the moment.
Seems we'll have to agree to disagree.
COYS
(title of article plagiarised from here)
Reader Comments (51)
Spot on.At last a Spurs fan who can see what is happening.Disgusted to see AVB put under pressure so early in the season.
i agree,a bit nervey but they need out support not booing,ashamed to hear it after the match,get behind the lads or dont bother going.COYS.....
As my son pointed out to me yesterday, the first three matches aren't a change in fortunes, they are a continuation of the last dozen or so matches last season.
But AVB isn't helping with some of his selections and substitutions. Trying to hold on to a single goal lead isn't going to work, it's Spurs.
I think people are more angry at Levy are they not? For fixing something that weren't broke and breaking it in the process. With the Redknapp sacking, the transfer window let down and the unproved and highly ridiculed AVB brought in, anything less than a bloody good start with bloody good performances was going to provoke unrest.
I agree though, it's way too early and we need to back the team and manager. We need to start playing with style, flair and purpose soon though, even if the results take a while longer to come. If the performances are class and improving all the time, he'll get time, if he serves up anymore of yesterdays dross, he's a goner.
With new players in and Parker to return - what is our best 11 and formation?
SLA said it. No one knows and with the new arrivals we haven't had chance to try it.
Was I alone in seeing the "hissy fit" Gallas threw at Walker and Ekotto in two separate incidents? I swear to Christ the guy refused to pass to Walker for the last 10 minutes. Last week against West Brom he seemed to be having disagreements with Vertongen. If Gallas' ugly traits are starting to surface - then get rid. Something is distinctly lacking in our defence early in the season and usually confident players are looking nervy and unhappy (Walker and Ekotto in particular).
How naive it is to think players will respond to the little people when their multi million contracts aren't enough
If we perform against Reading, like we did against the Baggies, but this time take our chances...it'll be a whole different state of affairs. Get the confidence back in to the team and results will come.
Hopefully then the boo-boys will decide the sun has come out and get back to supporting the team!
Llorris, kaboul/dawson, vertonghen, walker , ekotto, parker, dembele, bale, dempsy, siggurdson, adebayor.... 4-5-1... Defoe shold leave and take the very shaky gallas wit him.. Sandro and livemoore can see out games wen we r leading comfortably....moutinho and any good striker should come in by January... Its Spurs all d way 4 me...
If ever the team needed us, it is now. I'm with you Spooks. AVB has my faith. Things will work out, but only so long as we don't sabotage the team with our anti success campaign
It's worth noting that we struggled to score against sides that sat back last season (and the season before, etc) even with Modric in the side.
We have the problem with players not fitting their current positions, IMO. Obviously Defoe up front by himself isn't going to work, ever. But he doesn't really have any choice at the moment. I do wonder what Defoe will be doing in the next season - clearly not up front, but then can he perhaps he can take one of the wide front positions?
BAE and Walker are pushing very far up the pitch, but don't really seem to know what to do - and in turn this pushes Lennon and Bale further up, which negates their use of their pace. And has been noted, anyone who makes it to the byline looks up and realises there's no point crossing if Defoe's up there alone.
I don't see any of these points as AVB's fault - but he needs to find solutions. Perhaps Ade up front is one, maybe Dempsey in a 4-3-3... we'll see.
I'm still unconvinced by Frediel and his obsession with standing on his goal line no matter what's occurring in front of him. The papers are all quoting him as saying he's not going to be dropped, but that wasn't what I heard in the post-match interviews. I guess we'll see about that too.
Boos and talk of sacking the manager after 3 games is sad. As another commenter said, if you're a supporter you support the team. If you boo, you're not a supporter.
Well reasoned article. I read the booing as aimed at the ref after a few questionable decisions in the last few minutes, born out of frustration, I suppose. The first half was dreadful and that is being kind and yes, I was sitting in the Park Lane and had a good view of Gallas laying down the law.
Only disagreement concerns Freidel, must come off his line more, could be faulted for both goals conceded at home.
Spooky
The frustration is pointed at Levy, I dont blame AVB, Levy was the fool who hired him. I think most of us, if we were running a company would not have hired AVB (I'm sure we wouldn't have sacked Harry but lets not get into that in this particular instance)
AVB almost ruined Chelsea last year, they became a soft touch for some teams, but then di Mateo turned them round ( unluckily for us) so his credentials in the premiership were appalling ( forget Portugal, it's not the premiership).
so to sack Harry then hire a failure was nonsensical, you replace someone with some one better, he didn't, the same with the disastrous transfer window , I really don't want to hear mout almost signed, we had ample time to sign many players dince hiring avb but Levy chose the same stupid last minute route, that's if you believe he has the intention of signing him ( that's another debate also)
For a chairmen to even conduct business in this way is insane then palm us off with poor replacements was not welcome and without doubt the squad is weaker but we shall see.
My point is the vitriol and frustration is mostly at our chairman who no doubt will blame AVB if it all fails, but he hired him.
I personally don't rate AVB but again we shall see in time, unfortunately this luxury of waiting and seeing is going to hold us back 2 years, this is no way to handle a club. I hope I'm wrong.
Big deal if people booh, they are frustrated of being so close and then have it taken away from the again by levy
So bear that in mind.
Depressing times but what can we do apart from booh and blog an support , that's our choice ans teaction at the mess levy has made.
Anyway coys but Levy out!
I don't think there's any pressure on AVB other than the obvious pressure to win that comes from a winner's mentality, but it's a perception that's being created by the media and unfortunately that's where some of us get our opinions from. Some of our play yesterday was the shittest I've seen in a long time though and from that point of view I think some of the booing was justified, but it will take time and with Dembele starting alongside Sandro and Dempsey behind Ade (who'll be a lot fitter by our next game) we'll have some of our swagger back. I back AVB 100% and when things click into place (it is coming) someone's going to be on the end of a merciless beating! COYS!!
Great post. Additionally some of us are a bit self-righteous and reveling in their belief that this high-mindedness is actual wisdom.
And thank you for hitting a nail on a head, Ossie's Dream. I'm willing to give AVB a chance. Levy is a different story. Don't like the smug too-clever-by-half bastard but realize we're stuck with him.
I would never boo, but surely the boos were at levy. I'm sorry but, for me, levy has fucked this window right up. I feel sorry for VB. moutinho was his NUMBER 1 target, the 1 that really mattered. I would of ratcheted secured his signing on Friday than Lloris and Dempsey. Have we improved? In my opinion, no. I wouldn't say we've gone back a lot but it's going to take time. I'm 100 percent behind VB spook but is levy. By not signing his number 1, I would suggest he is more concerned with putting together players that suit him. As I say spooky, I feel sorry for VB , you can't tell me, " but levy tried to get him" bullshit, it is his retarded philosophy that has hindered the progression of the team, what must VB think? Same goes for ade. We all now know we could Of probably wrapped up the moutinho deal weeks ago but DL is more concerned with saving a few quid, another season, no net spend, and don't give me rubbish about turning into a Leeds or Portsmouth if we did get it done earlier. I would never boo but I think the boos were at levy and even though I didn't join in, I wouldn't tell them to shut up either
Get behind AVB and the team, tone down the expectations, early days,
work in progress, everything gonna be just fine in due course.
Patience is the keyword!
COYS.
Levy shouldn't demand 4th from VB this season, but he will. Levy needs to sort his shit out
Let's get this straight. When Levy brought Redknapp in it was a desperate measure to save us from relegation due to the disastrous Juande Ramos regime which has a lot in common with Villas Boas' if you ever take the time to think about it. Levy expected Redknapp to keep us up and then plateau in mid table making it easy to replace him as and when. What Levy didn't expect was a Champions League quarter final and a team playing the best football in the division, so when Levy replaced Redknapp he was setting himself up for just this reaction in the event Villas Boas confirmed his Chelsea form and undermined a side that prior to his arrival had been performing at Champions League level.
People such as yourself in the anti Redknapp brigade seem to bend over backwards to defend Villas Boas but did not afford Redknapp the same courtesy when things went wrong after Christmas last year. I firmly believe there were things going on behind the scenes between Levy and Redknapp over the England situation that affected morale among the squad. But just as you say it's easy to ignore positives about the current situation it seems just as easy to ignore the facts about last season. After a poor start due to Levy's 'last man standing' transfer window technique, we got to a situation where we were actually in title contention at Christmas and but for a clown like goalkeeping display from Martin Fulop at WBA we would still have got third above Arsenal. I have been supporting this club for over forty years and Redknapps tenure is the best I can remember since Keith Burkinshaw brought Ardiles and Villa over in '78. That's a long time to eat crow and look enviously down the road at the other mob winning pots (until recently). With a bit of the support Levy is now giving Villas Boas, Redknapp would have created a squad good enough to battle for top honours for the forseeable future but due Levys strategy which seems dedicated to the production of an attractive balance sheet (there have been rumours of a middle eastern takeover) he got rid of a manager who dared to ask for players the team needed rather that those that could be sold on at a profit after a couple of years. Bottom line is, Spurs was far from broken so Levy didn't need to fix it, but for reasons known only to himself and the board he represents they decided to fix it with a sledgehammer.......Oh and yes you are deluded, you are denying the inevitable and you are in denial. Cheers
Why why why take off sandro instead of livermore. Hes done that twice now! Sandro is twice the player livermore is. It was livermores stupid foul which led to their free kick, and goal.
Walker needs to stop thinking hes Xavi, and Gallas needs to be dropped,hes way passed it. How does a player like dembele start on the bench,regardless of whether we just signed him ot not.
And show me another team that deploys 2 defensive midfielders at home. Joke! Got outplayed by norwich at home.
Yeah, there's no way of really knowing what went on behind closed doors but I strongly suspect Levy didn't want to do the deal with Porto r.e. Moutinho because then HE would be seen as backing down. It's all about HIM and his ability to wrangle money in deals. If he starts being seen as backing down perhaps people will either a) notice he's bald or b) question the size of his manhood. Can't let that happen ...
When he does give in as he had to regarding Real's hardline at the last possible minute we had embarrassing utter nonsense about our "special relationship" with Real.
Watching Sahin today and not feeling very "special."
Perhaps I need some Oxbridge genius to break it down for me.
Concerns over AVB's tactical / team selection competence based on 2 home games which I witnessed.
* A Norwich side which conceded 5 goals in their previous away game comes to WHL with a 4.4.2 formation & AVB selects a 4.5.1 formation at home. A massively negative statement by AVB ....there was no reason to flood our midfield to counter act possible midfield domination by the opposition
* AVB elects to leave Adebayur on the bench believing that Defoe's natural game is suited to a sole striker role which throughout his career he has never achieved success...... Defoe has always played best with a strike partner
* AVB selects two central DMs Sandro & Livermore even though he had a fully fit Dembele to play who dominated Man UTD's midfield at Old Trafford last week
* Livermore has a nightmare 45 mins continually giving the ball away every time he attempted a forward pass. Yet incredibly AVB leaves him on the pitch for the entire game & substitutes Sandro at half time. I have read many reports on the game without finding any suggestion that Sandro was injured.
* Having taken undeserved leads in both home games AVB believes the best way to protect the lead is to take off Defoe for a DM to tighten up the midfield .... OK it didnt work against WBA because we just sat back & invited them on but to do the same mistake a week later shows either real tactical incompetence , arrogance or both.
So its just 3 games & as others are saying we need to give AVB a chance .... I agree but the mistakes he has made so far are monumental errors of tactics & understanding of how the game of football works. So how can we honesty & fairly judge him? By projecting what might happen and carefully examining his track record. I project that based on what I have seen him do particularly against WBA & Norwich both mid table sides at best when we play top 6 sides we will get taken apart .... remember 41year old Friedel was our best player in both home games ! So what was his track record at Chelski ? ..... The general consensus is his system and tactics failed in the Premier League with a group of players who after he left reverted to their old system and won 2 major trophies. I recall one land mark game when they were leading 3-0 against Man Utd at home and coasting the game and he took off attacking players to be replaced by DM players and ended up drawing 3-3. What we have seen AVB do at Spurs is not new .... its a repeat of his earlier failure at Chelski.
This leaves us with his track record of success at Porto ..... I do not have the information on this success ........ Obviously Levy should have closely scrutinised his career in management in Portugal .... Did he inherit a strong dominant Porto side or did he build it ? How close is Portuguese league football to that of the EPL ? ..... How good is AVB at motivating players to want to win with/for him?
I truly hope that the performance of AVB in the EPL to date is not a true reflection of his ability as football manager / head coach and that he has big success at Spurs .... So far the picture is more negative than positive ..... AVB will have to change this quickly or he will quickly become a 2 time EPL failure......... And this would equate to a massive failure for Levy & seriously damage his legacy as Tottenham supremo ......... My prediction ...... If AVB persists with his preferred system he will fail and be out by Xmas .... if he adapts to the squad he has and there are some very good footballers at WHL he can succeed and challenge for top 4.
Spooky, I am now in no doubt that you are both deluded and in denial. But then, perhaps a little bit of blind faith and optimism is what we all need right now. A little bit of Audere est Facere. Keep it up, mate, someone needs to.
Spooky
That was a good article besides yesterday’s article entitled ‘Idiots’. In your 'summing up' on a player by player basis, you had good things to say about Dembele and Friedel but you had complaints with the remainder of the team. Chris Hughton sent out a team and had them properly prepared for the game, had already assessed correctly how Spurs would play and set about counteracting that and playing ‘on the break’. In contrast the 'opposition scout' that AVB has appointed didn't do his homework, didn't supply the correct information to his coach and therefore (with a bit more luck) CH should have been off back to Norwich with three points. The point I am making is that AVB and 'especially you' seem to forget that three points are important as well as preparing the team for the opposition's way of playing. I'm not saying don't change Redknapp's methods, but don't send out a team that isn't going to attack (meaningfully) and nervously passing the ball up and the midfield until you fucking loose it and Friedel has to make a world class save. AVB didn't prepare that team for Norwich yesterday and that's what he's paid to do. I'm beginning to think that without this 'João Moutinho' guy he wouldn't have won as much in Portugal. His start at Tottenham has been very shaky and, I for one am not convinced by him. He 'talked the talk in interviews pre-season and predicted a 'top four' finish, but I'm not at all convinced with him. That doesn't mean I'm not a devout Spurs supporter. I don't kiss badges or sing until I'm hoarse, but I also don't boo the team, but I do have an opinion and that doesn’t make me anti Spurs. The players need to get their enthusiasm and spark from the coach and they didn’t look anything like a g team yesterday, just a bunch of talented individuals. There’s no argument in AVB not having time, he has had as much time as Chris Hughton has at Norwich, but Hughton brought a team that he had spent time coaching and the team were playing with confidence, you could see that. I remember, Ramos in his non-productive time and how the players were playing under him and I think the likes of Dawson, Huddlestone and Gallas could be the start of an anti AVB group within this team unless it's turns itself around very quickly. This is a ‘cut throat’ business and AVB will be aware that, unless he turns it around in a timley fashion, the media, the fans and his own players is where the pressure will come from not the Chairman.
Good post cookiebun but one question--I get Hudd and Daws potentially being part of an anti-AVB coalition (god forbid that happens to be totally honest.) but why would Gallas be part of that? If anything AVB seems to have too much faith in Bill from where I'm sitting ...
Wish I written what you have Spooky. That's all.
No playmaker.....we are bang in trouble in the middle of the park without one. No cover up front, no cover at left-back. Harry said we will make top four....yeah...we would do if he was still the gaffer.
I never liked Harry Redknapp. There, I've said it and I don't care who knows.
He can't keep his mouth shut, seems to be only in it for himself, is only interested in what he can achieve in the short term and, under no circumstances would I by a second hand car off him. I wasn't happy when he was appointed but did I boo? No. I'm a Spurs fan and I supported the team despite the fact that I couldn't stand the manager. My only toys out of pram moment was the Arsenal game earlier this year when the team were so poor, and Redknapp so clueless about how to change things, that I vowed not to watch another game that season. It lasted a month before I was back even though we still weren't playing well and Redknapp still hadn't done anything to change things.
The point of all of this rambling is that Redknapp was the manager for a few years, I have been a supporter for 33. Things change, managers, and players, come and go but Spurs remain. As does my love for them.
And another thing. Do you really think that turning up at the Lane and booing helps anybody? Does it help the team? Does it help the manager? Does it help with the perception of Spurs fans as fickle fantasists with an over blown sense of their own position in the Football Family? In case you were having trouble answering, the answer is no, it isn't helping any of those things.
If you really think that your ideas and thoughts about how the team should be managed are better than AVB's or Daniel Levy's then I suggest that you get involved with a local team and start to do your coaching badges, work your way up and eventally get yourself into a position of being appointed Spurs manager. If you fancy the Chairman's role then make sure that you work your way up through your current employer and eventually get yourself appointed to a position on the Spurs board. If you can't/won't do these things then how can you call yourself a fan? You obviously belive that you have talent so why aren't you putting those talents to use helping your beloved Spurs? Call yourself a fan?
nycyid; Yesterday gallas was bollocking Walker for mistakes 'he himself' was making and he threw Walker off his game. He also stopped passing the ball to walker and it was very noticable that he wasn't enjoying the system as he's too slow these days. Also he's a born 'grumpy' and has upset the 'applecart' at Chelsea and Arsenal and I think he's about to put on a 'strop' that's why I included him. Livermore isn't suited to AVB's system either and I'm not convinced that Benny is either. He was doing insane things yesterday, but he's like that anyway. Cheers.
No playmaker.....we are bang in trouble in the middle of the park without one. No cover up front, no cover at left-back. Harry said we will make top four....yeah...we would do if he was still the gaffer.
We must back AVB. My only concern is the lack of swagger and confidence yesterday, Newcastle was a good performance possibly because it required a more defensive approach being an away game, who knows... As Spooky says, you are allowed to be unsure of a manager or player and still get behind the team. I'm not convinced either, i hope he gets us going soon but for me he has not yet shown that he understands football in this country with Chelsea or with us yet. The way we didn't take it up a notch after going a goal up, compounded by taking off a striker and putting a clearly unfit Hudd on ( a player who was on his way to Stoke two days before) to try and defend it was not encouraging at all. There is a lot of desire and tempo in this league shown by most of the teams in it, often more so by the smaller clubs and one goal is never enough. Surely this is basic stuff? The 'Harry out' mob will be praying the guy succeeds and i want him to succeed because i love the club as we all do but at the end of the day, the only reason AVB is at Spurs is because he has sacked from Chelsea and not unfairly. Yes, he was undermined there but a managers job is to have the lightness of touch and awareness to deal with a transition properly. Anyway, we'll see time will always tell...
Someone please teach Walker how to put a decent cross in!
It's early yet, we'll get ourselves together, you'll see.
WE SING TO WIN NOT WIN TO SING! WE ARE TOTTENHAM FROM THE LANE. WE ARE ABOUT THE GLORY!! WE ARE THE TWELTH MAN!!!!
Thanks for clarification cookiebun. Makes sense to me. Absolutely right about his lack of pace. I'm grateful for the spirited, smart performances he's given us, but I think he's dangerously close to losing the edge needed to cut it in EPL. But as you suggest a different system might give him an extension (see Terry, John).
brilliant performance by gooner scums today , besides all the hatred arsene wanker is one hell of a manager and arsenal looked well drilled and knew what they were doing unlike us yesterday ,carzola looks even better than silva and nasri together.urrrrhhh...
We have finally proved the gooners right, we are a joke club. The last few years finally saw us play some football to live up to the mythical 'to dare is to do' tag we like to bandy around. But then we spoil it all by publicly begging to be allowed to abandon north London to go and move in with the Hammers, pathetic. 10 points clear in the spring, then get shown up yet again by the arse, even with their worst team in premiership history.
We employ AVB on £3m a year just to ruin us. The guy is a fake, why have we employed someone with so little character he had to try and base himself on a successful manager? Now the fans have finally reacted and we have continued our booing from last year. And we like to delude ourselves in thinking we have class.
Where to begin. Spook your words over the last few days have been quite frankly what I've been telling myself after watching, replaying and anaylising our football. I totally agree with your logic and views but unfortunately don't come to the same conclusion. I've been back and forth with how I felt AVB has applied tactics and structure within the team and he has got it wrong right from staying up in the early hours of the morning to watch us take on teams of the MLS. I thought that judging in what he did at Chelsea he would favour a 4-3-3 system and stick to what he knows. What worrys me is in recent weeks instead of having a 'base model' to work on, pick the flaws and find the positives he scraps the plan completely and moves to a new formation. More recently to see JD being a lone striker! Now instead of siting down taking each players strengths and weaknesses into account and working on how to fit the players into a system he seems to chop and change players each week without giving them the opportunity to adjust and adapt to a system. Before you know it it's all change and players are being forced to adapt again. Now any Tottenham fan knows which players should and shouldn't be within the starting 11 and which shouldn't. Going on our success from last season we found the perfect balance and formation and we know what works. Losing Luka and Rafa I admit we're massive hits to this structure but never the less could be worked around. Don't tell me a team falls apart from these players moving on, no one is irreplaceable you just have to slot in new players to let them adapt and work within there strengths although the way they do this may not be what we're used to seeing. Given time Dembele I have know doubt can fill the void of Rafa but we just need to Adapt to Luka not being our central hub anymore. The formation should stay to what we know and swapping players instead of a complete overhaul of a structure which I think fundamentally has ruined our start to the season.
I just hope AVB goes back to basics and rectifys his mistakes before its too late. For his sake and the sake of our beloved club. We've all the ingredients needed for a magnificent season it's just down to getting into a good structure and sense of direction which we lack. How ever much I want this to work under AVB from what can be seen so far he seems to trying to run before he can walk which penultimately could be his downfall.
Let's hope this international break will allow him to reflect on what's going wrong before he decides to keep on trying to cling on to a 1-0 at home to Norwich, which for me is one of hundreds of tactical flaws he's made since taking over.
COYS
In the words of Wayne Rooney responding to the booing after the - "its nice to see your home fans booing ya, thats what loyal support is.." - I always thought he was right in saying so. All of that strife is going to make improvement a lot more difficult and time consuming. Save it for the forums (pub or internet) if nothing else. I've said it before and I'll say it again, believe in the project, believe in us. COYS
@ Ledders regret
I strongly disagree with your assesment.
We Are not a joke club!
Furtermore the booing of our players is
Counterproductive and an utter disgrace!
Time is required for the team to gel so let's give them that, coys.
I am worried about this start and I'm worried about AVB and his motivation of the team. Let's not forget that the squad of players he has inherited is a very good one although I now realise just how influential Moddy was to us. He needs to get the basics right before we can move forward, ie tempo, possession and organization at the back right up to the final whistle. I really do hope he gets it right but apart from dembele's performance I couldn't take anything positive away from yesterday's game. Can anyone understand why Gallas is now above daws in the pecking order?! The players need to pull their fingers out and start not only playing for the manager but for the shirt. COYS
Andre Villas-Boo-Us.
Personally, I prefer the waving of a white handkerchief.
Levy could sell them in the Club Shop. He'd make a fortune. Enough for a Moutinho.
I'll take 2 points from 3 games. With the way we played against Norwich, we could have been left with nothing. I know it's not ideal, but not supporting the manager and the boys could see our run get even worse. I think we'll be a very different team once Ade is fit, Parker returns, Dempsey and Dembele gel with the rest, and Bale finds his feet again.
I'm not too sure what to make of this dodgy start, it's a bit too soon to tell, so long as we have more than 2 points when we've played 8 games I think I could live with it, I think it was always going to be a hard start for any inexperienced manager, he needs time and patience and for the fans to cheer rather than jeer, we had it good with Harry and I still think it was silly for sacking him, he may not have won more than one trophy in 30 years but he came on board with vast amounts of experience and an old school understanding of how the good ol english game should be played, that's what did it for us but AVB hasn't got that he's still young and very promising,Newcastle away is a hard game, so's West Brom, everyone's having a bit of an iffy start this season so I won't be saying if he should go or not anytime soon, way I see it, we still had a sulking Modric and no real sign of activity aside from the done deals in the transfer market, Leaving Dawson out is a big call, players like that should be made to fit into your system but for all we know he might not be doing it in training, we don't really know what's behind the picture, just the frame that were looking at it in, I can hardly say a bad word about Levy, we were all over the place with other chairman in the past, yeah I think sacking Harry was a mistake and yeah I think sacking Jol was a mistake too but he may have felt they didn't have Spurs best interest's at heart, who knows?, all I know is he runs a tight ship and were in no sign of debt or trouble what so ever, were a team that work well within our means, when fair play kicks in there will be a few teams in danger who can't justify there stupid spending, when they knock on Dani boy's door, there'll be 50 million made in outgoing transfers and 52 million spent on incoming transfers, dosen't look bad at all does it?, I haven't seen A.C Milan dip into that 50 million they made on Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, there playing it cool, I am disappointed that we didn't sign Moutinho but it's not the end of the world, if the club alone isn't worth the move and cold hard cash is the only thing that drives him then stuff him, don't want a player like that anyway, chances are we could find someone better suited for us in January and don't forget, we have funds available in January now if we hit a crisis in certain positions, I think Dembele and Dempsey will prove to be good signings for us, were a team that make talent, we have no need to buy it like Manchester city and Chelsea, the day that changes is the day I know we've sold ourself short, we're lucky to be in the position that were in now, give it time and I'm sure we'll get it right :) COYS!
Im not a Spurs fan but i have always had a soft spot for spurs and would like to see you do well.
I keep on reading these reports steering the blame for the poor football away from AVB and onto the players or as the great man himself says (that's a joke by the way) "be patient" needs time for everything to come together....
I am still shocked why anyone would see sense in sacking the man who transformed a club in serious trouble to a club that at some points last year was playing the best and most attractive football in Europe, expected to brake into the top 4, even challenge for the title in the future and turn to a manager with next to no experience.
Many people believe AVB is a talented manager, i ask why??? 2 reason why people could believe this - first is the press, when AVB was linked to Chelsea the press made him out to be the next Jose, the next special one, the best thing since slice bread..... this was coming from the British press...... need i say more.
The other reason why people may believe this is the success AVB had at Porto. - 1 season 2 trophies..... sounds impressive, BUT may i just point out winning the Portuguese league with Porto is not that different to Celtic winning there league, its expected, we are talking about a strong champions league team winning a league with only 1 maybe 2 (Benfica, Sporting) and 1 other ok team (Braga), this is not an amazing achievement, this is what is expected from every Porto manager, not winning the league is a major disappointment, he also won the Europa league, slightly more impressive but still not a massive achievement because as i already said Porto are a strong Champion league team! he won the second tier competition with a team he inherited, a team that was used to winning, he didn't rebuild the team he was only there for 1 season.
AVB has simply had this tag of special/talented manager because of the British love for Jose (the real special one), Jose was managing Porto before going to Chelsea (same as AVB) Jose was a young manager (same as AVB) and AVB previously worked under Jose at Chelsea, for what i can see all this helped AVB get labelled by the UK press as the next special one not by talent!
AVB then went to Chelsea, did a terrible job there and tried to blame the club/players for there serious decline!!! it was the football they played, the lack of confidence, the lack of attacking football (similar to Spurs football now!!!!!) why the team declined, all of these reasons AVB as manager was responsible for.
Then Roberto takes over at Chelsea and wins the champions league, FA cup in the same season and with the same players - surely this proves the bad job he did.
I see the Chelsea experience happening again at Spurs, i'm surprised more people cant.
Spurs were on the right road with Harry, Doing things the right way - not by spending 100 of millions but winning by the football. Now i feel Spurs are declining with AVB in charge. You not winning because the football the players are being asked to play, defensive, not the attacking Harry had you at.
We are going to play lloris eventually aren't we? I know friedal was been outstanding the last two games but what would be the point of signing a 12m international keeper if we bench him most of the time?
i do not think AVB is at fault here, but levy is. levy has bungeled the 3-4 last transfer-windos like an idiot!! and now comming out and say we did not have the time to sign moutinho?? we had 2months to do this, but levy the thight bastard was to ocupied to squeeze out most of the modric deal, to be bothered. than porto said theyre price, and we all know levy only offer halv what others want. shaktar donetsk(the president) said that tottenham(levy) did not sound seriouse?? and that is the chairman talking to the president at a bigger club than spurs, or just as big. they wanted around 20mill£ for willian, levy offered 9,5!!! and avb called hamburgs first offer shamefull, i bet that the first offer from hamburg was more than halv off spurs valuation of VDV. i whis that levy would go all out to get avb`s targets, insted of finding the cheep replacements, that are not as good, but nearly as good. i dont think that AVB is running the show, i think levy does. but the things AVB has done wrong so far are big, big mistakes. to name a few: defoe starting all games, taking off sandro, when livermoore is shit!!! gallas are poor at best, but still get picked over dawson and caulker. and long ball up to a dwarf that is defoe is not just stupid, it is a joke. keeping dembele on the bench was a huge, huge mistake. ade looked like he does, he did try, but he dont get the service he needs. bale do not stay out left, and that is to bad, because he is a left wing in europa top class, whoever he is not that good as a central atacking midfielder, and bale keeps drifting inside. lennon are scared to run at defenders, and defoe are shooting every time he gets the ball, never passes to players in a better position than him. defoe should never ever start a game. and last but not least, the build up tempo is so slow, that my grandmam(dead in her 6-7years) could get back to the opposition defending areas. we are so slow it is a joke, and when we eventually get the ball to theyre 16 meter box, we have no clue what to do now, all standing still, looking at each other, waiting for someone to do something, witch are never going to happend, and we loose the ball, and they come at us at once with speed. and we still cant do anything with set pices, ours or thers, same shit, we have no clue. we need to sort this out. but i do not belive in sacking the manager, he needs time that we dont have. but he must adress the defoe-livermoore-gallas situation. they are not going to fit this system. well we must give him and the players a few games more to see, if things does not improve, than there should be some action. but give him a bit more time. not totaly doom and gloom just yet.
Funny stuff football anyway. Harry is a great motivator, can spot talent and gave the team a flow leaving them to play at their strenghts. No rotation, no plan b, no tactical nouse to turn a tight game, seemed to have no potential to win stuff, gets sacked. I loved his interviews though, especially out of the car window. He is a fantastic geezer!
Then AVB, considered a tactical genius, with methods and work ethic, having won stuff and with the pedigree of "the special one" fails completely at Chelsea. Too much insistence in the wrong concept, odd subs and picking up fights with the big boys (fat Frank and Terry) made him lose the dressing room. To be honest, I would be worried to have him as a leader in the last Chelsea days (remember Birmingham at the bridge and he was shivering in his coat with fans singing to sack him). Seems that he is too much of a gentleman for English footballers, they rather respect a hairdryer from Fergie or Warnock. This is something he would might think about his style.
Then, di Matteo takes over Chelsea. For me all this guy did was let the old boys do the talking, put 8 man in the box defending and hit the Drog! Title won, with a lot of luck (but heart too), season over, lets go shopping. Bought the best young talent around and gets wacked by Atletico.
Now we have AVB and we are hoping he doesnt do the same mistakes at the Lane. Like Harry said in the telly, Spurs has a great squad and sometime it will work. If we look at the other big teams they are wobbling too (althought not losing). City is getting way too much goals, Man United is frail at the back and if it wasnt van Persie they would be looking dire (why does Arsene has no balls to sell talent abroad for a few bucks less?) and Arsenal is well organised, getting clean sheets and first showed a sparkle against a bad and wide open Liverpool yesterday. Lets see the good side of being supporters and let the millionaires have the stress! COYS