There's an article on the BBC site about Everton's manager, containing a number of insights from their youth academy manager, Alan Irvine. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17274632 He describes his fellow Glaswegian in a way that just makes him sound like the total opposite of Redknapp. Preparation is everything, training sessions are of the utmost importance, the side are given detailed instructions individually and there's no doubt that he's the boss. If he were to take over at Spurs, as a result of Redknapp departing for England, would there be a massive culture shock at WHL? We tend to thrive on free-flowing football, with a lot of room left for the players to express themselves and do what they feel is best, at times. It seems to bring out the best in players like van der Vaart, who's given a free-role and the opportunity to go where he's needed and can do the most damage. Would that be possible under a coach who seems to want disciplined, by the book performances across the board?
No it wouldn't, putting players in straight jackets gives you exactly what you get at Everton. Disciplined solid performances that over a season keep you in the PL but little else. With that approach I think you would find this current Spurs at 7th or 8th at best.
It does sound quite a bit like Mourinho's approach though Spurf, although minus the man's charisma. He's also known for his attention to detail and thorough coaching methods.
Who is to say Moyes will not develop as a manager with better players? His approach at Everton is fine because if those players play an expansive game then they will get torn to pieces in defence. Imagine Neville or Hibbert defending without much help? Even Baines in a one on one can be got at if he gets exposed. That's just the full backs.
Because they can carry someone like that. They defend as a team therefore players like that are not made to look as bad as they really are.
This. A few years ago, people were saying the same about 'Arry, because he'd never been at a club the size of Spurs, but he seems to have done alright. The people saying that Moyes sets up his teams to stay in the Premier League miss the fact they usually do much more than that, and finish in the Top 8 (much as 'Arry did at West Ham and Pompey) I wouldn't say Everton were a defensive team, either - when they have all the players they need available, they can play some good attacking football. As they don't have any squad depth a couple of injuries or suspensions mean they need to keep it tight, but they tend to get the results anyway - without needlessly deploying Fellaini on the wing, either...
That's a good point. But, you have to ask yourself, "can a leopard change it's spots" ? Is Moyes that flexible in his approach?
Moyes managerial approach is not so much the issue to me, its whether his name carries enough clout to attract, but more importantly keep our best players. Will Modric be clamouring to stay on an improved deal under Moyes?, I really don't think so. The managers name can swing a players mind to sign if he's deciding between clubs.
we are indeed..and id love it if we wanted it..really because from past experiences we do royally balls it up around now or the semi to a team like ermm dare i say it bolton..we need something to tip us over that edge and into a whole new dream!
Lets hope if we do progress, it doesn't become a distraction to the real business of finishing in the league place we're in now...as much as I'd love to win it too.
Indeed we are. But the more this week progresses, the more I feel unsettled about Saturday. I am confident we'll get through, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if we did it the hard way and drew at WHL and scraped through the replay. Every time I look at the Spurs website, there's another person talking about playing at Wembley. Today it's Sir Les, yesterday it was Jake Livermore. Don't these guys ever learn ?? We ain't got there yet, so why bloody talk about it, it's just setting ourselves up unneccessarily.
I agree, SC. Get to Wembley first, then you can talk about it as much as you like. It's arrogant and insulting to Bolton to look past them before the game and it doesn't suggest focus on the game, to me.
Oh thanks mate !!!! I hadn't seen that gem from VDV. Sorry, but button it lads until at least we've got through this tie. Mind you, if our manager can't shut it for 5 minutes, how can we expect our players to.
I should add that providing this enthusiasm is displayed on the pitch I won't mind. I actually think this is perfect timing this game. Having thought about it, I would not want to be facing Stoke in the league this weekend, there would have been serious pressure on the back of the last 2 games imo. Time is a healer and the extra week break from the strain of the PL is quite welcome I'd say. Momentum was mentioned by Les in his OS piece, and he's right it should start here, at least someone at the club knows what it means.
