Green must feel pretty stupid right now. Left a side where he was virtually guaranteed a start and joined one with similar aspirations this season, then they signed one of the biggest name keepers in the game and he can't get on the pitch. Probably get a run out against Reading tomorrow, though.
Unless Levy has him earmarked as a future Spurs boss, then a couple of years experience would be useful?
Spurcat, any news of Freund, and if his relationship with AVB has improved, or if certain members of the first team still have reservations about his coaching ability?
I gather the relationship is still frosty between the pair of them. Some of the players are not happy with the pre-match warm up routine as they feel it's a bit amateurish. A lot of the short and sharp sprinitng routines have been replaced by just passing the ball between pairs over varying distances. There is a PL ruling on how much time is spent on the warm up routine on the pitch (that's why you always see the coaches checking their watches), and some of the players feel this time is not being as well spent as before. Freund is not the main man in the warm up but he does work with the CB's, though I am unsure as to whether they are amongst the disgruntled ones.
I've noticed that at half-time against Lazio too. It's not as bad as it was under Ramos(.. or was it Jol?) where players were launching the ball around the pitch trying to do trick shots, seeing how much spin they could get on the ball, etc. There definitely needs to be a bit more structure, I think there was only one coach out there and the players seemed fairly static, only Sigurdsson was doing much moving about as he tried to close down Townsend and Mason(I think) when they were taking an extra touch. For me the subs should be ready to come on early in the second half if needed and I don't think they were really.
I think 'structure' is the right word YV. I took a closer look than usual at the warm up at both the Reading game and last Sunday, and there seems negligible structure to it. As you say, one coach out there and too many players seemingly static and uninvolved and one or two others appearing to do their own thing. Two of the subs at Reading were just pissing about during the warm up both before the game and at half time. Maybe that's why they're only on the bench !!
Most interesting thread on here for a while. A welcome distraction from all the Liverpool ones. If Sherwood is so highly thought of upstairs i'd imagine something would be done to persuade him to stay if an offer came in. If Freund isn't working out then what are the chances of Sherwood being promoted to assistant? Surely he would rather be assistant at Spurs than take a no-win position like manager of Blackburn? Do the senior players get on with Sherwood? He's had his fair share to say in the press previously so it may not be a given that they do. What about AVB and Sherwood?
I would've thought Freund was all about discipline and working the players hard from his time on the pitch but I'm sure AVB wouldn't like to see that players were slacking off behind his back. I hope this is something that gets addressed, at least make it an interesting warm up for fans like me who can't get a beer at half-time on a European night
Once again it comes down to the same conclusion for me and that is that the first team manager should choose who he is going to have as his trusted right hand men . It feels like Levy is almost afraid to hand over ultimate power to one man by having his own men around him almost. Abramovich esque wanting the last say always.
The media appear to have picked up the Sherwood to Blackburn story today. It'll be interesting to see how that develops and whether he'll want to take that risk.
Kean has just resigned at Blackburn. Guess there will be huge celebrations in the pubs of Blackburn tonight, and probably renewed talk linking Sherwood to the job.
I can understand Sherwood wanting to try his hand at management and he's bound to have a lot of good will from their fans if he takes the job. They've got a good squad for the Championship, so if he could get them to play to their level then they'd probably come back up, but the ownership situation seems a bit dodgy. Our apparent search for a DOF might make it look even more tempting an offer, though.
I see that Corriere dello sport is now saying that Baldini will be joining Spurs next season as director of football.
Expect an announcement fairly soon to confirm Alex Inglethorpe leaving to become Liverpool's new reserve team manager.
He's done well for us though, hasn't he, SC? Is this a part of the whole restructuring thing or have they offered him a better deal? Might be a short term move for him, with the way Rodgers is going. A new manager might want to bring in his own people.
He has done well PNP. He has brought stability to an area of the club where stabilty is vital. I think he was hoping for an opportunity to work with the under 21 squad, but Sherwood preferred to involve Chris Ramsey more. Ramsey has been around the club for a few years now, but I think his elevation prompted Inglethorpe to think maybe he had gone as far as he could at Spurs.
