Andre Villas-Boas - Head Coach

[SlumDilla]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

The EL has been crucial in keeping the wolves from the door for AVB. Its given the illusion that we can score a few and win a few matches. I don't for one second agree we should ditch tournaments. I want us to win trophies. Our squad is absolutely massive in midfield, we need the extra matches to get everyone enough game time. Otherwise we'll get some seriously unhappy players.

Plus its just a craap excuse anyway. Did the EL effect us today? No.

In the big picture yes, EL performances have affected us. You mention happiness? I cannot for the life of my begin to believe that the players are happy in this current system that we play.We are struggling to integrate players into the team, struggling to create any semblance of attacking or cohesive play in the final third. The EL is reason that these performances have actually continued because the EL is solidifying AVB's idea about how the team should play, the EL is the key and reason that AVB justifies some of these tepid performances. I'm saying take away this crutch of his for a season and focus entirely on bringing this team up to speed. Like i mentioned in my previous post, pochettino has been having immense success with his team because he has instituted double sessions in order to hasten the gelling/solidarity of the team, and isn't that what we want?

I dont think the EL is having the remotest impact on our league performances. We have plenty of players and rotate enough. The EL cant be blamed for us not creating chances - if we were playing well for 60 or 70 mins then fading then you might have a point, but we're utterly devoid of any attacking tactics/ideas/structures for the entire 90 mins

Our decent run in the EL has given AVB the firm belief that his current style/system is the way forward. That is why i feel the EL is giving us a false sense of improvement/growth because we attempt to carry these feel good results in the League, which i have i feel is the priority, and end up with EL type performances against Prem opposition. We would be better served with double sessions to aid the team's collective growth as a unit.

 

[AdamB]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

"It was a difficult start," Villas-Boas told Sky Sports.

"Obviously conceding a goal in 15 seconds puts your plan in doubt and everything that you've been preparing. It's difficult to take.

"We had a very, very good reaction to the goal we conceded, and that's probably the only positive of the game that we have.

"Everything went bad for us. From being one of the best defences in the country to conceding six goals, there's not a lot we can say.

"We can say City were excellent, but we were extremely poor today and we paid a heavy price.

"The good thing is that, in the Premier League or in a top club, there's always another game coming and another possibility to bounce back.

"We have a game on Thursday where we have to show that we are present, we are there and to continue to do our job.

"We have to see now the mistakes we made and reflect a little bit.

"We've created so many chances before, and it's an ongoing conversation we have to make sure we have to finish up the chances.

"The team is capable of creating, it's not finishing which is the situation right now."

I really hope that he doesnt believe this and that these lines are just for the media.

Anyone who think we've created a lot of clear cut chances this season doesnt understand football. Most of our 'chances' are long range pot shots or similar which are low probability. We create very few clear cut chances

 

[SlumDilla]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

I really hope that he doesnt believe this and that these lines are just for the media.

Anyone who think we've created a lot of clear cut chances this season doesnt understand football. Most of our 'chances' are long range pot shots or similar which are low probability. We create very few clear cut chances

I honestly think he is counting the EL games when he says that.

 

[AdamB]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

In the big picture yes, EL performances have affected us. You mention happiness? I cannot for the life of my begin to believe that the players are happy in this current system that we play.We are struggling to integrate players into the team, struggling to create any semblance of attacking or cohesive play in the final third. The EL is reason that these performances have actually continued because the EL is solidifying AVB's idea about how the team should play, the EL is the key and reason that AVB justifies some of these tepid performances. I'm saying take away this crutch of his for a season and focus entirely on bringing this team up to speed. Like i mentioned in my previous post, pochettino has been having immense success with his team because he has instituted double sessions in order to hasten the gelling/solidarity of the team, and isn't that what we want?






Our decent run in the EL has given AVB the firm belief that his current style/system is the way forward. That is why i feel the EL is giving us a false sense of improvement/growth because we attempt to carry these feel good results in the League, which i have i feel is the priority, and end up with EL type performances against Prem opposition. We would be better served with double sessions to aid the team's collective growth as a unit.

Fair enough. Understand your point now because the EL clearly isnt impacting our performances

 

[AdamB]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

Most bookies now have AVB as second favourite for next manager to be chopped. Jol is short odds favourite, then AVB at 8/1.

 

[SlumDilla]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

Most bookies now have AVB as second favourite for next manager to be chopped. Jol is short odds favourite, then AVB at 8/1.

I hope he doesn't get fired. All we really need from him is some humility/humbleness to admit that things haven't gone the way he expected and from that have a serious sit down with the staff and players and hash out any potential issues before they become full blown problems. Maybe follow in Jol's footsteps as he did with Meulensteen and bring on a experienced coach to add an extra set of ideas/opinions to the fold.

 

[indianspur]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

I hope he doesn't get fired. All we really need from him is some humility/humbleness to admit that things haven't gone the way he expected and from that have a serious sit down with the staff and players and hash out any potential issues before they become full blown problems. Maybe follow in Jol's footsteps as he did with Meulensteen and bring on a experienced coach to add an extra set of ideas/opinions to the fold.

i do wonder about AVB's chubby portuguese mate...what are his credentials, what does he do?........Freund was never the smartest of players, nice guy but does he also have what it takes to put a team together on the training pitch?

 

[90sSpursBook]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

Lets be frank....AVB has made Spurs boring to watch. If you're going to be boring then you can get by if you are picking up results but as soon as this stops you're in big trouble.

Fact- under AVB we have never scored more than 3 goals in a game at White Hart Lane.

When was the last time you came away from WHL thinking 'wow I really enjoyed watching Spurs today'?

We got great results against City, Liverpool and Arsenal last season but they were down to excellent 20-30 min spells but never throughout a whole game. That aside, particularly against the weaker sides we are dull as dishwater....cant really see any difference between what we're seeing now and George Graham except we have much better players now.

 

[Bonsaiboy]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

He'll be remembered as the guy who brought out all the potential in Bale then spunked away all the money we sold him for on dross.

 

[SlumDilla]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

i do wonder about AVB's chubby portuguese mate...what are his credentials, what does he do?........Freund was never the smartest of players, nice guy but does he also have what it takes to put a team together on the training pitch?

Ah yes, Luis Martins, he is always the first to go whenever i start a new game on FM

But seriously, AVB may have alot of yes man around his circle instead of people challenging him in helpful ways to grow as a manager.

 

[Yossarian]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

Andy Jacobs of TalkSxxxe, a longstanding Blue Scum supporter, loathed AVB while he was there and came up with the following, to the tune of The Jackson 5's ABC:

AVB, no better than you or me
He'll be gone by January
AVB, AVB...

That was 12 months ago....

 

[BrainOfLevy]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

He'll be remembered as the guy who brought out all the potential in Bale then spunked away all the money we sold him for on dross.

I can't understand this attitude towards our players. They are excellent - we have a ridiculously strong squad that is performing well below its potential at the moment.

We've signed good players in almost every position. We just need to get them comfortable. I really don't know what happened because from the second half of the Chelsea game onwards it's been a complete regression. We looked to be getting somewhere and now I don't know why it has fallen back.

We need to change something. I just wonder if AVBs idea of system and style suits the PL. And if he has to change, is it worth him being the manager or having someone that we know works in this league?

I feel sorry for the guy because as Dubai says, he has always protected the players. And if they are still on side, then we can be ok. If they are not, then questions do need to be asked about what we do as this kind of result can seriously damage confidence in methods. Which is then enormously frustrating as it's another year stepping backwards.

 

[DHSF]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

Ah yes, Luis Martins, he is always the first to go whenever i start a new game on FM

But seriously, AVB may have alot of yes man around his circle instead of people challenging him in helpful ways to grow as a manager.

I said that someone needs to have a honest and frank word with AVB and tell him his ideologies and footbaling methods are ****e and simply not working. I dont think he is getting that - so you may well be correct

 

[BrainOfLevy]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

I said that someone needs to have a honest and frank word with AVB and tell him his ideologies and footbaling methods are ****e and simply not working. I dont think he is getting that - so you may well be correct

I think you are being too harsh on the guy there - his methods aren't ****e and got us record points last season. Not working now - absolutely. But I don't think it is about him not being challenged or not being flexible enough in his thinking.

Basically before he joined us you had a lot of people worrying that he would try and implement his system straight away and not change it because that's what he did at Chelsea. Where as with us, it was a gradual progression as to how he implemented the changes. He also went 442 for a stretch of months because the squad seemed more comfortable with it and that's not something he would have done before.

And I would say, today is the type of game that can lead to changes being made. Before, if we take the Saudi Sportswashing Machine game where we faced a goalkeeper in great form and did create good chances, there is an argument to say we are almost there and with a bit of perseverance the methods and style will bear fruit. But with a humbling like today, it may be that he decides he won't gain the confidence of the squad unless he makes some big changes for example.

Wouldn't be surprised to see us go 442 until January and alter the squad then to suit.

 

[SlumDilla]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

I think you are being too harsh on the guy there - his methods aren't ****e and got us record points last season. Not working now - absolutely. But I don't think it is about him not being challenged or not being flexible enough in his thinking.

Basically before he joined us you had a lot of people worrying that he would try and implement his system straight away and not change it because that's what he did at Chelsea. Where as with us, it was a gradual progression as to how he implemented the changes. He also went 442 for a stretch of months because the squad seemed more comfortable with it and that's not something he would have done before.

And I would say, today is the type of game that can lead to changes being made. Before, if we take the Saudi Sportswashing Machine game where we faced a goalkeeper in great form and did create good chances, there is an argument to say we are almost there and with a bit of perseverance the methods and style will bear fruit. But with a humbling like today, it may be that he decides he won't gain the confidence of the squad unless he makes some big changes for example.

Wouldn't be surprised to see us go 442 until January and alter the squad then to suit.

And it really shouldn't have to be anything too drastic. How about wingers on their stronger side who set out to cross the ball and maybe play with more all around urgency.

 

[Viper]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

Any macaron knows that Dawson and Kaboul can't play together. Every time they do it is a disaster.
Holtby & Lamela was a gamble, two 21 year olds expected to open up a champions league defense?
He is try to get himself the sack just like Ramos

 

[DHSF]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

And it really shouldn't have to be anything too drastic. How about wingers on their stronger side who set out to cross the ball and maybe play with more all around urgency.

Because I dont think its so much to do with personnel. I think its to do with what he tells them to do and how he wants the team to play. It is a drastic change though as he wants a more controlled game i.e. possession possession possession. What you (and most of us) want him to do is play a free flowing quicker and more urgent passing game - that means there will be times when we lose the ball hence going against his ideology of a possession based game.

BoL - I agree that this game was a game that would instigate changes and will raise questions from himself too - but thats just a reactive Manager that it takes something so bad (which has been coming) for him to change his ways. Like I say i dont want him fired and he should have an opportunity to change it but for that to happen - progress has to be evident starting with Manure.

 

[King of Norway]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

I can't understand this attitude towards our players. They are excellent - we have a ridiculously strong squad that is performing well below its potential at the moment.

We've signed good players in almost every position. We just need to get them comfortable. I really don't know what happened because from the second half of the Chelsea game onwards it's been a complete regression. We looked to be getting somewhere and now I don't know why it has fallen back.

We need to change something. I just wonder if AVBs idea of system and style suits the PL. And if he has to change, is it worth him being the manager or having someone that we know works in this league?

I feel sorry for the guy because as Dubai says, he has always protected the players. And if they are still on side, then we can be ok. If they are not, then questions do need to be asked about what we do as this kind of result can seriously damage confidence in methods. Which is then enormously frustrating as it's another year stepping backwards.

Whilst I agree that AVB is not getting the most out of our squad, I don't agree that we have a ridiculously good squad. Not compared to the teams we are fighting against at the top of the table at least. We have one left back, who is relatively unproven at the top level, and he also happens to be injured at the moment.

In Kyle Walker we have a right back who is very much up and down, and who is without competition for the position.

At center back we have decent options. Vertonghen is a good player, but in my opinion not quite as good as the hype would suggest. He is a bit too slow, and makes mistakes now and then. I like Michael Dawson, and he can do a good job for us in a lot of matches, but he is often found out against the best teams as he was today. Kaboul was excellent a couple of years ago, but has been injured since, and it remains to be seen if he can get back to that level. Chiriches does look promising.

In central midfield we have some strong lads, but not one of them can ****ing pass the ball. That is very much a concern. Paulinho looks like a nothing player to me. He is simply not a good footballer. Unless he scores a handsome amount of goals, he will not be worth the outlay we made for him.

In the wide positions, we have some decent options, but not enough end product from Lennon (who I am actually a big fan of), or Townsend, so far. Lamela looks like he will need time. Chadli looks pretty average, and Sigurdsson is a good footballer, but often a bit too slow, and not actually a wide player.

Eriksen has quality in him, but has been on and off so far, but I do have faith in him. Holtby is a decent squad player, but not a top class player.

Up front, we have no one who has proved he is good enough in the last season or so. Adebayor can be good enough if he gets his head together. Defoe never will be. Soldado looks extremely limited, and doesn't fit in with the way AVB wants us to play.

Okay, I am perhaps exaggerating a bit. We do have some good players, but when you compare our squad to our competitors, I think we come up short. In that sense, I don't actually think it is realistic for us to expect a top four finish. I would say that City, Chelsea and Arsenal definitely have better squads, adn they have more players at the very highest level. They all have some shortcomings too, City at center back, Chelsea up front(?), and perhaps at center back too, and Arsenal are thin in certain areas (up front, right back), but overall they come out of it better than us. Man Utd and Liverpool perhaps don't have much better squads, but both those teams have a lethal duo up front in Rooney/Van Persie and Suarez/Sturridge. That counts for a lot of points over the course of a season.

But I agree, we should do much better than we are and AVB doesn't, at this moment, look like he has the ability to make us play good attacking football, and he also, quite worringly, doesn't seem to realize that we aren't actually playing good attackign football. He thinks we are doing well, judging by his comments.

What I am saying, however, is that I don't think we have the right to expect a top 4 finish with the players we have at the moment. On the other hand, AVB is also responsible for assembling those players. He has spent a lot of money.

 

[paxtonwolf]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

Lets be frank....AVB has made Spurs boring to watch. If you're going to be boring then you can get by if you are picking up results but as soon as this stops you're in big trouble.

Fact- under AVB we have never scored more than 3 goals in a game at White Hart Lane.

When was the last time you came away from WHL thinking 'wow I really enjoyed watching Spurs today'?
We got great results against City, Liverpool and Arsenal last season but they were down to excellent 20-30 min spells but never throughout a whole game. That aside, particularly against the weaker sides we are dull as dishwater....cant really see any difference between what we're seeing now and George Graham except we have much better players now.

Absolutely spot on.

And that, Mr V-B is one of the reasons for the current atmosphere in home games, give us something to get excited about.

I used to absolutely love driving down to London for the matches, these last few months it been a bit meh, and it starting to knock the enthusiasm out of me.

 

[SlumDilla]

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

Because I dont think its so much to do with personnel. I think its to do with what he tells them to do and how he wants the team to play. It is a drastic change though as he wants a more controlled game i.e. possession possession possession. What you (and most of us) want him to do is play a free flowing quicker and more urgent passing game - that means there will be times when we lose the ball hence going against his ideology of a possession based game.

Ahh i see what you mean. I do firmly believe that instilling a free flowing style will actually be easier with this team, now all that's left is to find someone to show AVB how to do that.