Andre Villas-Boas - Head Coach

[SUIYHA]

It is not the fact he wanted the England job which irked most people - more the way he went about it. But that's another argument all together

Denying he'd had any offer and only talking about the job he had to do at Tottenham? I think he went about it the right way. The alternative would have been to publically state he wanted the job, forcing Levy's hand there and then. Fine, results went to brick, but I've never attributed that to the England speculation - more the fact that Harry didn't rotate the squad enough in the first half of the season so everybody burnt out at the same time, and everyone assumed he'd be off at the end of the season so Levy didn't give him any money to invest in January.

As for AVB...he was a die-hard Porto fan, who said he wanted to build a long term project with them and wanted to lead Porto into the Champions League. He was asked constantly throughout his great season with Porto if he was leaving, only to always declare his commitment to the club and how he was already in his dream job. In May 2011, at the end of the season, he said:

"My future, as you know, is completely linked to Porto,"

But instead of leading his boyhood club into the Champions League, he fudged off a month later and took the first other job that was offered to him.



There is no such thing as loyalty in football, not from anybody. The sooner you accept it, the easier it becomes to take.

 

[Roy1983]

He did state he wanted the England job.

'Its a job no Englishman could possibly turn down'.

Anyway, just a small correction, back to AVB.

 

[onlyme]

Talking about "fails"after we sacked Ramos he became manager of guess who 2 months later where he had a win rate of 67%.
He currently is manager of another club where he has a win rate better than AVB's at Spurs

 

[Roy1983]

Didn't he join Madrid after he left us? Why did they sack him with a win ratio of 2/3????

 

[milo]

Denying he'd had any offer and only talking about the job he had to do at Tottenham? I think he went about it the right way. The alternative would have been to publically state he wanted the job, forcing Levy's hand there and then. Fine, results went to brick, but I've never attributed that to the England speculation - more the fact that Harry didn't rotate the squad enough in the first half of the season so everybody burnt out at the same time, and everyone assumed he'd be off at the end of the season so Levy didn't give him any money to invest in January.

As for AVB...he was a die-hard Porto fan, who said he wanted to build a long term project with them and wanted to lead Porto into the Champions League. He was asked constantly throughout his great season with Porto if he was leaving, only to always declare his commitment to the club and how he was already in his dream job. In May 2011, at the end of the season, he said:

"My future, as you know, is completely linked to Porto,"

But instead of leading his boyhood club into the Champions League, he fudged off a month later and took the first other job that was offered to him.



There is no such thing as loyalty in football, not from anybody. The sooner you accept it, the easier it becomes to take.

Spot on and put far more eloquently than I have managed in the last few pages.

 

[onlyme]

Didn't he join Madrid after he left us? Why did they sack him with a win ratio of 2/3????

Why did they sack the bald bloke after they won Champion's League?

 

[SUIYHA]

Didn't he join Madrid after he left us? Why did they sack him with a win ratio of 2/3????

He won practically every single game he managed there...except the only ones a Madrid manager is absolutely not allowed to lose. In the Champions League to Liverpool (0-1 at home and 0-4 away) and the two Clasicos with Barcelona (0-2 away and 2-6 at home).

[video=youtube;fP9hrj5AJsc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP9hrj5AJsc[/video]

 

[Jordinho]

Denying he'd had any offer and only talking about the job he had to do at Tottenham? I think he went about it the right way. The alternative would have been to publically state he wanted the job, forcing Levy's hand there and then. Fine, results went to brick, but I've never attributed that to the England speculation - more the fact that Harry didn't rotate the squad enough in the first half of the season so everybody burnt out at the same time, and everyone assumed he'd be off at the end of the season so Levy didn't give him any money to invest in January.

As for AVB...he was a die-hard Porto fan, who said he wanted to build a long term project with them and wanted to lead Porto into the Champions League. He was asked constantly throughout his great season with Porto if he was leaving, only to always declare his commitment to the club and how he was already in his dream job. In May 2011, at the end of the season, he said:

"My future, as you know, is completely linked to Porto,"

But instead of leading his boyhood club into the Champions League, he fudged off a month later and took the first other job that was offered to him.



There is no such thing as loyalty in football, not from anybody. The sooner you accept it, the easier it becomes to take.

I think the amount of compensation on offer to Porto played a big part. They are a selling club and it might as well be the manager rather than a player.

 

[BrainOfLevy]

Spot on and put far more eloquently than I have managed in the last few pages.

There's a difference between building a project at Porto and doing it in England.

Porto is always going to be the stepping stone if he wants to do something truly great. I'm not basing the fact I think he will stay on any quotes that he has done with us, because all he has said is that he has signed a 3 year contract. The fact that he left Porto doesn't change my opinion. He wanted to build something special, and had to take the chance to move to the league that would allow him to compete with the best. No-one will remember his legacy if he only stayed at Porto and carried on everyone else's good work.

I don't think he will be poached. Teams may try their luck, but I still can't see why he would want to leave. He has everything he actually wants, right here.

 

[onlyme]

I really do not get this "loyalty" shtick. Wenger is loyal to Arsenal..but I heard the other day he is the best paid manager in the world. Should pop stars be loyal to the label that gave them their break or go to a bigger label that promotes them better and gives them more money?
All I expect is that every employee at THFC does the best they can while they are here, does not try to rip off the club and treats the fans with respect. Not all THFC employees have done this.

 

[BrainOfLevy]

I really do not get this "loyalty" shtick. Wenger is loyal to Arsenal..but I heard the other day he is the best paid manager in the world. Should pop stars be loyal to the label that gave them their break or go to a bigger label that promotes them better and gives them more money?
All I expect is that every employee at THFC does the best they can while they are here, does not try to rip off the club and treats the fans with respect. Not all THFC employees have done this.

I'd just say that I don't think money is what necessarily drives AVB. He comes from a rich family, and I get the impression he has come into football management to prove he is the best, to do something no-one else can do. It's not necessarily about loyalty, it's simply that we represent the best chance of him proving that he is the best, to the world.

Because to win the league with Spurs, doing things the 'clever' way, and without the money, that is ultimate proof. And I think that is what he wants to show. What makes people sit up and take notice more? Winning the league with Spurs or winning it with Real in a duopoly? It's winning it with us, and AVB is just a crazy enough motherfudger to believe he can do it. And I love that about him.

 

[onlyme]

I'd just say that I don't think money is what necessarily drives AVB. He comes from a rich family, and I get the impression he has come into football management to prove he is the best, to do something no-one else can do. It's not necessarily about loyalty, it's simply that we represent the best chance of him proving that he is the best, to the world.

Because to win the league with Spurs, doing things the 'clever' way, and without the money, that is ultimate proof. And I think that is what he wants to show. What makes people sit up and take notice more? Winning the league with Spurs or winning it with Real in a duopoly? It's winning it with us, and AVB is just a crazy enough motherfudger to believe he can do it. And I love that about him.

I did not know that he comes from a wealthy family. But for sure with his payoff from Chelsea he is a wealthy man now.
I hope he is driven by pride and ambition. If he is we are in for good times because he is a WINNER!!!!

 

[Golfball]

Talking about "fails"after we sacked Ramos he became manager of guess who 2 months later where he had a win rate of 67%.
He currently is manager of another club where he has a win rate better than AVB's at Spurs

I'm not sure too many managers have lost 5 league games in a row as Real Madrid. brick manager, was considered a joke in Spain up until Sevilla.

 

[spasm]

Levy will sort him out. immense.

 

[metalgear]

things change, people change. only AVB and his family knows what he'll do next.
at the moment as things are settling down i'm more curious to understand:
- how the coaching team - portugeezers + Freund are gettinig along together
- our search for a 'recruitment specialist' and how this role dovetails with AVB's plans
- levy, is he in or out after the new structured is settled.

hard to get any information these days, probably due to the club going private.

 

[ArcspacE]

Denying he'd had any offer and only talking about the job he had to do at Tottenham? I think he went about it the right way. The alternative would have been to publically state he wanted the job, forcing Levy's hand there and then. Fine, results went to brick, but I've never attributed that to the England speculation - more the fact that Harry didn't rotate the squad enough in the first half of the season so everybody burnt out at the same time, and everyone assumed he'd be off at the end of the season so Levy didn't give him any money to invest in January.

As for AVB...he was a die-hard Porto fan, who said he wanted to build a long term project with them and wanted to lead Porto into the Champions League. He was asked constantly throughout his great season with Porto if he was leaving, only to always declare his commitment to the club and how he was already in his dream job. In May 2011, at the end of the season, he said:

"My future, as you know, is completely linked to Porto,"

But instead of leading his boyhood club into the Champions League, he fudged off a month later and took the first other job that was offered to him.

There is no such thing as loyalty in football, not from anybody. The sooner you accept it, the easier it becomes to take.

I never mentioned loyalty - simply made reference to common sense and logic which strongly suggest AVB would much rather stay with us for a few seasons and try to rebuild/improve his stock, instead of going to another mega-rich club and risk destroying his career, possibly beyond repair. Not to mention the mere fact he has to prove himself again first, seeing that his previous appointment hardly worked out so I doubt Real Madrid and Bayern Munich would be queuing up for his signature.

Furthermore - I think the Chelsea offer was his first serious shot at the big time so - don't forget the Mourinho links and the fact he had already worked there in the past (as scout/assistant) is it wasn't merely a massive offer but one from a club which held strong links for him. People often overlook that point.

As for your Redknapp comments - personally I had absolutely no problem with him taking the England job and to this day still maintain he would have been, in my view a much better appointment. However - the constant media circus and skirt-hitching had an impact on us as much as/if not more than squad rotation so for me it should have been handled far more elegantly - much like Hodgson did in fact. The FA were never going to base their decision (a little perhaps) on the media reacharound or what some manager declared in an interview - every man and his dog knew Arry was keen even before Capello walked - so all it could have taken was one hint and then a simple 'kill-off' - instead of the prolonged agony which ultimately destroyed our season in many ways, imho.

I don't have any illusions about loyalty, not only in football but life in general. However - I do believe one should behave in a professional manner at all times and always represent and look after the interests of his employer until such time both parties decide to separate. So in short - as long someone is on our payroll - I expect nothing less than professional behaviour towards the club, board and fans.

 

[milo]

I never mentioned loyalty - simply made reference to common sense and logic which strongly suggest AVB would much rather stay with us for a few seasons and try to rebuild/improve his stock, instead of going to another mega-rich club and risk destroying his career, possibly beyond repair. Not to mention the mere fact he has to prove himself again first, seeing that his previous appointment hardly worked out so I doubt Real Madrid and Bayern Munich would be queuing up for his signature.

Furthermore - I think the Chelsea offer was his first serious shot at the big time so - don't forget the Mourinho links and the fact he had already worked there in the past (as scout/assistant) is it wasn't merely a massive offer but one from a club which held strong links for him. People often overlook that point.

As for your Redknapp comments - personally I had absolutely no problem with him taking the England job and to this day still maintain he would have been, in my view a much better appointment. However - the constant media circus and skirt-hitching had an impact on us as much as/if not more than squad rotation so for me it should have been handled far more elegantly - much like Hodgson did in fact. The FA were never going to base their decision (a little perhaps) on the media reacharound or what some manager declared in an interview - every man and his dog knew Arry was keen even before Capello walked - so all it could have taken was one hint and then a simple 'kill-off' - instead of the prolonged agony which ultimately destroyed our season in many ways, imho.

I don't have any illusions about loyalty, not only in football but life in general. However - I do believe one should behave in a professional manner at all times and always represent and look after the interests of his employer until such time both parties decide to separate. So in short - as long someone is on our payroll - I expect nothing less than professional behaviour towards the club, board and fans.

I agree, two or three years with us feels about right. If he does well he will be offered a bigger job, if he doesn't he will be replaced.

 

[Jordinho]

Team Focus: André Villas-Boas' Tottenham

Ever since he assumed control of Tottenham in the summer, André Villas-Boas has been given relatively short shrift when making the assertion: "We are almost a new team."

The apparent reluctance to accept his claim is, in part, explicable from the perspective that the players most associated with his predecessor Harry Redknapp's style of play, wingers like Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon, remain as influential as before.

There's also the awareness that Tottenham failed to bring in João Moutinho, the playmaker so identifiable with Villas-Boas's philosophy and his own success at Porto.

The perception that nothing much had changed and that this was still the team of old, however, was misguided. As Villas-Boas pointed out after Tottenham's come-from-behind win against QPR, which, incidentally was their first of the season at White Hart Lane, he was without several players once considered key under Redknapp.

For instance, Emmanuel Adebayor, Scott Parker, Younes Kaboul and Benoit Assou-Ekotto were injured. Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart left the club and Ledley King had been forced to retire.

By anyone's standards that's a lot.

Of the six new players signed, only one - Gylfi Sigurdsson - did a full pre-season and it mustn't be forgotten how protracted Adebayor's permanent move from Emirates Marketing Project was either. Moussa Dembélé joined on August 28, followed by Hugo Lloris and Clint Dempsey on transfer deadline day, by which time the season was already two games old.

One of the themes of Villas-Boas's press conferences has been that the players need to get "reacquainted" or, in some cases, simply get to know each other in the first place. With that in mind, it was perfectly rational and only fair that Villas-Boas be given time to implement his ideas. A month or so after the transfer window closed, they appear to have been absorbed.

While Tottenham's first win away to Manchester United at Old Trafford since 1989 will understandably be the highlight of the season so far among the supporters, Sunday's 2-0 triumph at home to Aston Villa was, perhaps, their best all-round performance.

Earlier in the campaign, there was a pattern to Tottenham's games. They'd start well, then fade in the second half and concede a late goal. It proved to their cost against West Brom and Norwich, as Tottenham drew games which they should have won.

Villas-Boas touched upon this again after the Villa match in order to underline the progress that has been made since. He said: "We noted that we had the chance to start [the season] well and we didn't get the results we wanted in the beginning, but we're getting consistent now."

His biggest satisfaction was that, for the first time this season, Tottenham "managed to play both halves with the same intensity." That stems from improved fitness levels, but above all greater understanding.

Villas-Boas spoke of how "we welcomed the packing of the fixtures because it allowed the players [to] meet more often and more quickly get to know each other and we are benefiting from that fact."

It does seem that everyone is now beginning to grasp what their role is within the team.

The turning point can be traced back to the second half against QPR when Villas-Boas replaced Sigurdsson with centre-back Steven Caulker, moved Jan Vertonghen - who had been partnering William Gallas - to left-back and pushed Gareth Bale up on that wing. Clint Dempsey then shifted across to occupy the position Sigurdsson had relinquished behind striker Jermain Defoe.

After handing QPR the initiative in the first half, inviting their opponents onto them so space might be left in behind for a series of counter-attacks, Tottenham instead played higher up the pitch after the interval, were a lot more aggressive and overturned the 1-0 defeat in prospect to a 2-1 win. That second half may on reflection prove to be the foundation on which their season is built.

What was interesting after that match was how, rather than attribute it to a tactical shift, Villas-Boas spoke in terms that appealed to English stereotypes, highlighting how "the desire made a big, big difference."

Often harshly typecast in England as a coaching equivalent of Napoleon Dynamite, sketching out a Liger on one of his notepads or chalkboards to the incomprehension of those around him, the slightly geeky caricature of Villas-Boas shouldn't overshadow the Machismo he brings to the touchline.

When he's not wolf-whistling, as though participating in a sheepdog trial instead of a football match, he prowls the touchline, hands down by his side, unclenched as if poised to draw a pair of pistols from his belt.

To some, it's nervous tension and there's certainly an element of that, but to others it's the personification of the all-consumed, fully engrossed intensity with which he wants Tottenham to play. If Villas-Boas were on his own in acting like this there's a chance he might not be taken entirely seriously but in this regard he is complemented by his assistant, Steffen Freund.

Their shared mentality is worth discussing further. Villas-Boas has sometimes cut an isolated figure in England. Remember how Porto wouldn't allow his trusted assistant Vitor Pereira to follow him to Chelsea a year ago. He had to start afresh and form a new staff, convince the makeshift backroom that his ideas were valid and have faith that they would support him unreservedly.

The suspicion that this wasn't the case at Chelsea was further aroused when Villas-Boas was fired and replaced by his No.2, Roberto Di Matteo. Whether it was a betrayal or not, to some it was a stab in the back. "Personally I don't like it at all when the manager gets sacked and his assistant stays in charge," Gianluca Vialli told Talksport back in March. "I thought they were a partnership."

From the outside looking in, the unity of purpose between Villas-Boas and Freund appears total. Maybe that - in addition to the presence of first team coach Luis Martins, fitness coach Jose Mario Rocha and head of opposition scouting Daniel Sousa - is why his concepts have been accepted and are being applied with relative success.

Tottenham have stood out in a number of ways this season. As one might expect with Bale and Lennon in the side, they have been exceptional on the counter-attack, leading Europe's top five leagues in fashioning 16 attempts on goal from these situations. This owes a lot to their ability to win possession. Only Chelsea have recovered the ball on more occasions in their own defensive third than Tottenham (185 to 172) and it's perhaps no coincidence that these teams have scored the joint most Premier League goals on the counter this season (3).

But as we've already established, Villas-Boas isn't the kind to set his side out to sit back. He wants his team to play high up the pitch and win possession in their opponents half. No central midfield pairing has recovered possession more times than Sandro and Dembélé (a combined total of 91 times) in the Premier League this season, and the screen that they provide has contributed to Tottenham conceding the second fewest shots in the division too (71 to Emirates Marketing Project’s 68).

All of which doesn't completely explain why Villas-Boas has witnessed his team win their last five games in a row in domestic competition, but it does give a sense of what they're doing right.

There are a number of encouraging signs for him ahead of his first confrontation with former club Chelsea, which comes after the international break. "For us it will give us a chance to finally break into the top four and join the elite in the Premiership," he said. For Villas-Boas it will maybe bring final redemption and the acceptance in England that he by now deserves.

http://www.whoscored.com/Blog/9wpcc5rorkkkugnfcishkg/Show/Team-Focus-Andre-Villas-Boas-Tottenham

 

[WookieD]

Brilliant article Jordinio

 

[parklane1]

Great read, thanks for posting.