I said I would give AVB 15 games before I make my judgement, I've given him 16.
So, here goes...I find AVB really hard to summarise and analyse, does anyone else feel like that? I've decided he is a strange manager, and truth be told, probably a strange guy. I can't help but feel we are floating around 4th place, not through our own good work, but through other teams awful form. If Arsenal were anywhere near where they should be, or Newcastle continued the form of last season, I couldn't see us in with a shout. Whenever I tried to look at positives for AVB, because there are times when I want to be positive, I struggle to find the words. Even after our 3 game winning streak, I still never felt able to find compliments about his management style. Now this all sounds very doom and gloom, so I want to stress, I have seen some light in the tunnel with AVB.
The positives
I think the squad we have has the potential to be very strong, with one or two more additions to top things up, I could genuinely see us making challenges in the right places. I completely agree with AVB's starting 11, and what he sees as his 'strongest' team. I also think in the long run he wants to add a creative midfielder and push Dembele forward, which I also agree with.
Our first half performance against Manchester United is one of the best I have ever seen at Spurs, we took the game to them and were fearless, yet devastating in our assault. Which tells me we have that in our locker, the key is making it show more often.
Finally, I love his passion and desire to win every competition we enter. You can see with AVB that he genuinely cares (probably where the fall out with Redknapp arose). I honestly believe we would win a trophy under AVB, this season or next (if he survives).
The problems
AVB is incredibly tactically naive, and for a manager that is supposed to be a great tactician, I find this troubling. I cannot for the life of me understand the persistence with Huddlestone, every time he brings him on when we are winning, disaster sets in. Huddlestone is slow, lack luster and frankly not good enough IMO to be playing at that end of the table. AVB's failure to recognise that is costing him points. The Chelsea game is a good example of that, we were up against a speedy, mobile team in great form, and we were overrun in the middle of the park.
Losing points late on - this is down to the lack of confidence and bravery with his selections. AVB needs to learn that if you want to survive at the top, you need to play like one of the 'big boys'. That means being arrogant enough to believe the team that are ahead in games will see it out. The tendency to switch to the defensive, 'save what we' have attitude is costing us big time. There is plenty of leadership and experience in that team, and I think AVB struggles to trust his players.
AVB can't seem to get the team playing "the Tottenham way" (and I say it like that because I'm always cautious when stereotyping a team on their past traditions). Whether this is down to a lack of man management skills, or confusing training drills (probably a combination of the two), the players don't look comfortable with each other.
Finally on his lack of man management skills, I think AVB over compensates on this by speaking ridiculously positively in the media about his players. Every quote I read, usually contains some form of 'enormous effort, amazing attitude' which annoys me intensely. His appearance on the pitch after we lost 5-2 to Arsenal, congratulating every player as if we had one the game was over the top. Again I think this kind of 'public' image he is trying to create confuses the players.
My biggest worry of all with AVB is, whilst he might recognise some of these faults, he is too set in his ways to change anything. Ultimately this will be at the cost of Tottenham, and unfortunately I think we will need to take steps backwards, before we can move forward. Of course I would love to be proven wrong.
The end
Would be interesting to hear any other Spurs fans, or neutrals, opinions on AVB? I'm certain some readers will disagree with my thoughts.