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YOU are the manager

Papercut

Papercut

Jermaine Jenas
There has been a lot of opinion about ABV and his attempts at getting this team to work. Comparisons have been made with Arry and a lot of talk has been had about the money spent...

Each game is different, home and away games need to be approached differently, particular teams need to be adapted to, injuries/mental states/fatigue needs to be taken into consideration. This is what a manager has to cope with... As a supporter we may focus too much on the black and white but not see or even know about the huuuuge GREY matter that occurs at a footie club.

So I wanted to start this thread to see what the wise posters feel AVB is doing wrong or doing right, what are his options? what should he do better?

Examples...:

Sandro should have played more - why wasn't he?
Andros should be dropped for Lamela to give the record signing more gametime.
4-4-2 all the way
Soldado the wrong player for one up top
Eriksen, Holtby, Eriksen, Holtby


It's great there are so many different opionions but I'd like to see posters put their necks on the line here...



One thing I'd like to add is - did AVB get the transfers he wanted? Did he think Bale would leave? Did he realise that Andros would become undropabble? That we'd miss out on another player he wanted (think Mouthinho), etc...

The only question I have is about the left back/left wing back position, something clearly broke down there...


To simplify my view - he has a gameplan, it takes time - it's better to create the system and makes players fit (think Arsene) BUT it takes time!!!
 
I've stickied this (sorry!) so we can discover the new Billy Nic'

Levy has commisioned the site to save some money on a new replacement
 
Most of what he's doing is right, and what we badly needed after the drawbacks experienced during previous managerial reigns. He's solidifying the defence and making us much harder to beat, and he's trying to get us to be more measured in possession, to get our lads more comfortable with the ball and used to holding it under tons of opposition pressure. Both those things are necessary considering our reputation as 'southern softies'. He's also managed to get a formidable team spirit going, and seems like an intelligent, soft-spoken, thoroughly nice guy, in contrast to some of the ego-maniacs and charlatans we've had as managers over the last decade and a half.

He could do a couple of things better, though admittedly I really don't know the full details of what goes on at Hotspur Way with regards to team selection and training performances so this opinion may just be my personal 'gut feeling', so to speak. Firstly, I don't know why Adebayor keeps on getting excluded from games when he's clearly something we could sorely do with in games like today's, offering a different option to the diminutive Soldado and Defoe while packing an aerial threat to boot. Secondly, his insistence on playing relatively strong teams in the Europa League despite being handed one of the weakest groups in the competition is a bit off-putting considering that the performances that follow those games (when many of the same players have to play again after travelling to Moscow or Moldova) generally veer from somewhat disappointing (slow, laboured, 0-0s or 1-0s) to flat out beautiful in a terrifying, self-destructive way (our 0-3 shiner vs. West Ham). Thirdly, I have this nagging feeling that his use of substitutions isn't quite up to scratch. Above adequate, certainly, but occasionally worrisome and baffling.

Finally, the 'gameplan' approach is fine if you plan to stick around long enough to make it work, a la Arsene. If he's going to be here for the next half-decade at least, then planning for a slow-implementation, long-term game plan is fine. However ,he's never given any indication that he sees his long-term future here, and the fact that he's into the second year of a three-year contract is worrying, and doesn't say much for his desire to forge a legacy at this club. If he sees his future away from us in a year or two, then, I'd rather he focus on getting results now using the means available to him rather than build some long-term gameplan that won't even be fully implemented by the time he leaves for Madrid/Portugal/Brazil and Steffen becomes our caretaker manager. It depends entirely on how long he plans to stay, basically.
 
What he's doing right:

Defensively we are solid.

Dominating possession, limits the other team if they can't get the ball.

Playing Paulinho and Sandro.

Sticking with Soldado.

Dropping Naughton and moving Vertonghen to LB, sensible decision.

Things he's getting wrong:

Picking players based on performances in the Europa League against two bob opppsition.

Not playing Eriksen.

Gets every player back for corners, if you clear the ball there is no striker to retrieve it and the ball comes straight back.

Lamela isn't getting any game time at all now in the league. Not saying he should have started today but at some point surely he has to be given a run?

We're too workmanlike, hence AVB preferring Holtby IMO. Can't quite put my finger on what's going wrong going forward, but we need to get more players in the box, to me it suggests he's cautious, even at home.
 
As for 'what I'd do', these would be my suggestions, based of course on incomplete information:

1.) Bring Ade back into the fold, and stick him on the bench instead of Defoe if he trains adequately.

2.)Sort out my long-term future: am I staying at the club for the next five years or am I leaving before that?

3.)If I'm staying, then keep the present system (To give the players time to adjust to it) but rotate the personnel around (i.e, if we want wingers cutting inside to become inside playmakers, then starting at least one of Sigurdsson or Lamela becomes vital).

4.) If I'm going, devise a new system to ensure short-term performances: perhaps a 3-4-1-2, with Daws, Kaboul and Verts as the centre-backs (Kaboul being the 'stopper', coming out ahead of the other two to close down threats), Walker and Towsend/Rose as the wing-backs/wingers, Dembele and Paulinho as the central midfielders, and Eriksen as the trequartista behind Ade and Soldado. Thus, it is a 3-4-1-2 in attack, granting us a plethora of new options and attacking verve, but a 5-3-2 in defense (Walker-Daws-Kaboul-Verts-Rose/Townsend, Dembele-Paulinho-Eriksen, Soldado-Ade) granting us good solidity when not in possession. We also have a sweeper keeper, so really, it's like having four-centre backs at times, which makes it even better.

5.) Ask the chairman for a new left-back in January: either as a replacement for Rose or as a back-up. Ideally, must be a wing-back with an eye for a good pass. Defensive solidity preferred, but not absolutely required: similarly, Englishness preferred (Luke Shaw, hint hint) but not required. Send Fryers out on loan somewhere.

6.) Make Walker practice crosses for four or five hours a day until he can put one on the head of a penny from eighty yards. Also drill into him the need to look up every once in a while and cut-back to the penalty spot/edge of the area (too often Soldado drifts out there and is ignored by our by-line based full-back).

7.) Focus on the Europa League less, at least in the group stages: because if our second team can't qualify from a group like the one we got, then we won't get far anyway because our squad strength is so bad. Trust the second team: the one we have now is far stronger than the one we had under Redknapp, so use it.

8.) In game, make unexpected substitutions sometimes (Dembele on as a striker, for example: he did play there for Fulham, and he's tall and powerful: just what we need when our crosses are finding nobody).

9.) Ditch the tracksuits and go back to tailored suits: I know wearing a tracksuit makes you look more like 'one of the lads', but I've hopefully gained their trust enough by this point to switch back to dressing with verve.
 
I'm not going to talk about the defence as the clean sheets speak for themselves. I'd add that Sandro or Capoue be included in this defensive bracket. Not broken, no need to fix.

In the attacking third I think most would agree we are not as effective as we should be, so that's where I'll focus my fire ;)

In my opinion the first name down on the team sheet should be Soldado (and don't be a pedant here). I've watched him long enough to know what he is capable of and we have frankly not seen it yet. If you start with Soldado as the focal point then the rest of the attacking strategy should be geared primarily to use him as effectively as possible, and we are not. A playmaker or even two behind him is a given here but this will only be effective if the movement of the other players opens up the space. The movement of the the inside forwards and Paulinho are the key and for me this is where it is not working. The runs are for the most part not being made or so infrequently as to be the exception, except for Soldado himself actually.

When Holby or Eriksen has the ball at feet, which happened a lot today in the first half, he must have two or three straight or diagonal runs to aim for and one or two players coming to meet him. Instead we have Soldado running between the CB and fullback and no pass being attempted, and then 4/5 guys ringing the box all rather static. There is no opportunity to build a triangle with Soldado as there's only one side!!! This a training thing not a deficiency in player ability in my opinion.

This is not only one way to score a goal of course but if you choose Soldado then he's not gonna beast players out of possession or make too many towering headers. Horses for courses and it's time for the ball players to take up the AM roles and leave the inverted wingers as plan B.

Time for another beer \o/
 
Its not what he is doing right and its not what he is doing wrong.

What is wrong at present is nothing to do with the first and middle thirds of the team as theyre as solid as hell - its what is happening in the last third. I have seen no improvement as the season has progressed - why? is it new players? is it tactics? is AVB not training this aspect during the week? You can have a last third full of Messi's and Ronaldo's but if they are not trained or tactically incorrect - then they just simply wont perform.

Our middle third is shocking as far as im concerned.
 
I don't understand why Lennon has walked straight back into the team despite Sig playing well and/or would have been a good opportunity to give a start to Lamela in one of the 3 attacking midfield slots.
 
Change to a 433 using Sig and Eriksen as a rotational #8,#10 with Lamela and Chadli/Townsend.
Fine Dawson everytime one of his 40yrd passes goes out of play or is intercepted.
Fine Lloris everytime one of his lofted left foot passes puts our leftback under pressure (this happens too often imo and it was good to see Brad the other night makes some good ground passes to our DM or full back).
Practice attacking corners. We get so many and our conversion rate is aweful. Chelsea and UTD have made it a part of their game for years.
 
Nezza said:
Did that, v West Ham. It didn't end well.
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The title of this thread is YOU are the manager not have a pop.

Defoe was the right choice to start that match but the manager must have striker options on the bench which AVB is not giving himself.
 
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First of all, I think AVB's doing an excellent job rebuilding both our squad and expectations whilst still remaining in the top 4. He has obviously gone for a shape and philosophy which is 'safety first' with regards to possession and strong defensive play; this is, for me, the right thing to do as he solves the puzzle of turning our possession into more fluid attack and goals.


Today was both excellent and frustrating…I'll take the question head-on and say what I would've gone for differently.


I'd have started with Sig. I think he combines with Soldado excellently, and given the license Verts got to storm on today, I think we'd have fashioned clearer chances in the that dominant opening 30 minutes with both of them in tandem. I'd also have had Lennon and Townsend switch for the last 10-15 mins of the half.

I absolutely understood why AVB went with Holtby, he went for his heat, hustle and emotion on the day, but effectively, Lewis for me is the new Freundy, and with Sandro bossing everything (including Lukaku) I'd have liked to see Siggy in that #10 role from the start.

I think it's AVB's biggest conundrum, who to deploy there. Eriksen will take time to settle, and he needs to be a bit stronger off the ball IMO... I PERSONALLY have hopes that Lamela could prove to be the man for that role as he has an eye, great skill and good creative instincts. We shall see.

AVB would be helped by Rose being fit, but today showed that when the shackles are off, Verts is perfectly able to push on and with some style and verve.


I think the real key is that when Soldado is playing we have to find him on the deck, we have to find him in the channels and round the corner and we have to have excellent link-up play. But I trust AVB and believe he's doubtless working on the solution as I write.
 
Papercut said:
To simplify my view - he has a gameplan, it takes time - it's better to create the system and makes players fit (think Arsene) BUT it takes time!!!
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this is a fundamental point but to add, time is not a commodity afforded to managers much these days. We could take our time to bed in new players and a system that may work in the future, and usually this will be at the sacrifice of short term results.

I said last season I would have been happy with us finishing around 7th IF it was obvious in the latter stages of the season that it was starting to come together. ie our final league position was affected by short term losses while we got our **** together.

And this is why AVB is manager and I'm not, as we had our best ever points total last season even with a new manager.

And this season we are second level on points even after losing probably the best player we've had for 20 years and our biggest contributor to goals last season.

So this season I would have expected another short term backward step, but here we are, second on the table.

I don't think AVB is as concerned with the shortcomings in attack as we are. Let's be frank, it would be a problem if we were conceding all the time, but our defence is solid. We are building from the back. We have the best keeper in the league and a defence and midfield that allows very little to slip through. This is the foundation of our team.

The attack will take more time to come together because that is the nature of football. It is easier to defend a goal than to score one. We have our fundamentals right and as long as we are not conceding, we only need to score one. I'm sure this is AVBs philosophy for now while Soldado, Eriksen, Holtby, Lamela, Townsend, Paulinho, etc find their attacking groove.

When we have our attacking **** together, and we can be confident of scoring 2 or 3 a game, there may be more adventurous, but until then I'd rather protect our goal like it is fort knox, as tottenham goals are as rare and valuabele as diamonds at the moment.
 
Superted said:
this is a fundamental point but to add, time is not a commodity afforded to managers much these days. We could take our time to bed in new players and a system that may work in the future, and usually this will be at the sacrifice of short term results.

I said last season I would have been happy with us finishing around 7th IF it was obvious in the latter stages of the season that it was starting to come together. ie our final league position was affected by short term losses while we got our **** together.

And this is why AVB is manager and I'm not, as we had our best ever points total last season even with a new manager.

And this season we are second level on points even after losing probably the best player we've had for 20 years and our biggest contributor to goals last season.

So this season I would have expected another short term backward step, but here we are, second on the table.

I don't think AVB is as concerned with the shortcomings in attack as we are. Let's be frank, it would be a problem if we were conceding all the time, but our defence is solid. We are building from the back. We have the best keeper in the league and a defence and midfield that allows very little to slip through. This is the foundation of our team.

The attack will take more time to come together because that is the nature of football. It is easier to defend a goal than to score one. We have our fundamentals right and as long as we are not conceding, we only need to score one. I'm sure this is AVBs philosophy for now while Soldado, Eriksen, Holtby, Lamela, Townsend, Paulinho, etc find their attacking groove.

When we have our attacking **** together, and we can be confident of scoring 2 or 3 a game, there may be more adventurous, but until then I'd rather protect our goal like it is fort knox, as tottenham goals are as rare and valuabele as diamonds at the moment.
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Great post, well put mate.
 
Two slight tweaks needed IMO.

1) Eriksen and Lamela integrated in in place of Lennon and Townsend. We need craft and guile to utilise Soldado, not dribbling and directness.

2) Fast-track Rose back in or play a winger at LB, to correct our imbalance.
 
Gutter Boy said:
Two slight tweaks needed IMO.

1) Eriksen and Lamela integrated in in place of Lennon and Townsend. We need craft and guile to utilise Soldado, not dribbling and directness.

2) Fast-track Rose back in or play a winger at LB, to correct our imbalance.
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In the spirit of discussion, do you think Eriksen is ready to graft games like yesterday's? I still think he has a bit of a soft centre in that regard…I personally believe that Lamela will absolutely start to have an impact in the coming months, but he will also need patient handling.
 
thfcsteff said:
In the spirit of discussion, do you think Eriksen is ready to graft games like yesterday's? I still think he has a bit of a soft centre in that regard…I personally believe that Lamela will absolutely start to have an impact in the coming months, but he will also need patient handling.
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I wrote this in another thread earlier, but I'd use Eriksen on the left (rather than at #10) to break him into the pace of the league a bit more gently, just like we did with Modric.

I do see why Townsend and (and less so, esp considering Siggy's form) Lennon, are starting, but I just think their style of play is wrong for the team. I wouldn't rush Eriksen and Lamela to the extent that it might harm their long term prospects, but we need their qualities as soon as we can starting integrating them.
 
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Do you think AVB's been burnt a bit by the Chelsea experience? In that he went into a team and had little respect for its existing culture and relationships within the team and instead wanted to impress HIS way.

I know we dont have the sort of ****ers in the dressing room like Terry and Lampard, but still you can't discount that it would be possible to upset and unbalance the dressing room by bringing in new players and playing them above other players who have either been first teamers for a long time, or youngsters who have played their way into the first team and more importantly formed relationships with first teamers along the way??

And now, he's perhaps going a bit too far the other way, in playing Townsend and Lennon rather than having them on the outskirts and playing Lamela, Eriksen, Holtby, Siggy etc.

Once bitten twice shy?
 
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