I have to say I disagree with a lot of Spurf's comments also. The counter attacking football is well suited to away games, which is why we have performed well against teams who 'come out and play'. I think in that sense AVB has done a good job, and arguably better than Harry. However our Home performances this season are of particular concern, we have a distinct lack of flair, creativity and invention. Harry was the most successful manager we have had for years, he had the style of play nailed to a tea for the most part, so to suggest that he was getting it wrong is a mistake. Of course he had problems with his tactics, just like anyone, but to suggest that isn't the best football we have seen at Spurs for a LONG time means you either suffer with memory loss, don't get to enough games or are blinded by Harry's late career anctics that ultimately cost him his job, and popularity among Spurs fans (most of which was justified). I am a big fan of Defoe, and yes he has scored goals, but for me, playing him alone upfront stops other players from being able to join the attack, and makes us too direct as was mentioned earlier. Adebayor is far better suited to the lone striker role, which was proven last season. We simply don't have the creativity through the middle to play them both. If it was up to me, I would give Sigs a run in the team as the VDV and keep Dembele where he is. The ideal selection as I mentioned in another forum, would be to move Dembele forward and have a Moutinho in the creative role, however we don't have that option at the moment. Also to note on Spurf's last comment, this time last season we were 9 points better off, with a goal difference of +15 and a game in hand on the two teams above us. Of course you can look at a number of reasons as to why that may have been the case, however at the end of the day we can only make solid assessments on the facts.
I didn't see the game, just the highlights on MOTD so I can't really comment on that but I was there when we lost to them under 'Arry and I can tell you that wasn't a game full of craft and flair either. Stoke suck the life out of a football match and they're very good at it. From the little I saw of it last night it looked like one of those games where an early goal to us would've set the game going in a totally different direction with Stoke putting defence second. You need a bit of luck to win these kind of games, we got it last week against Swansea but didn't yesterday and didn't against Wigan, that's the way it goes for us at the moment. The best way to beat these teams that are happy to sit back is to play the whole game in their half and just relentlessly test their keeper which I don't think we're at the level to do yet, skill and fitness-wise. It's annoying because I think we're just one or two players away from having no excuse not to beat these sides at home.
I agree with you that an early goal would probably have changed the pattern of the game, but one of my gripes is that we don't go for that early goal. We seem content to allow the opposition to settle and then dictate the tempo of the play to suit their game plan. This has been evident in home game this eason, remember the Wigan game when we were just pasing it along the back line and then back to the keeper, meaning we ended back where we had started a few minutes earlier. To me,good teams dictate the pace in most game they play and for me we don't do it anything like often enough.
We play far too much in the oppo half of the middle third for me, just in front of a defence, usually playing across it side to side, looking for openings that don't appear enough, in tight congested areas....what a lovely afternoon for a defender that is! We've got buckets of pace and little room to use it. Why we don't draw teams out like we used to I don't know, get defenders turned, facing and running toward their goal, give them decisions to make, thats when they make errors, not just 'oh, I'll head that one way, or I'll just cut that pass out' while sat comfortably across their 18yd line.
Kaboul, BAE, Modric, Parker, Adebayor, VDV, all either gone or missing through injury for most of this season. That is over half the team you are comparing the present team to. That negates your argument completely as far as I'm concerned, we are not talking like for like. How long is it going to take for people to get over Harry? He's gone, he's history as far as Spurs are concerned. Did he win something btw?
Most clubs Harry leaves seem to be full of disgruntled fans due to his big gob. the same at Spurs. Id rather a manager who actually looks like he gives a damn..like most cant get over how fascinating he was..i cant get over what a twat he was once his dream job came up....and this for me overides what he did.
this The first half of last season was exceptional but post-Newcastle game we were at best average for the rest of the season and generally poor. There wasn't a great deal of free-flowing attacking football in the final 20-25 games of the season as I recall. But that's already been debated endlessly...... To effectively re-start the Club and continue the development that we have seen over the past 4 years is obviously tougher than if we had finished the season on a high. When you compound that with the loss of (arguably) the two most influential creative players - replaced by quality but differently skilled players - and the loss /delayed appearance of 4 other first team regulars, then you have a significant hurdle to overcome. When put like that, being within a couple of points of 3rd in the PL at Xmas and a place in the last 16 of the EL doesn't sound so bad to me.
I agree with some of what you're saying but the passing it around the defence on the halfway line is trying to draw them out. Unfortunately these teams won't attack in numbers and won't close down outside of their final third. Hitting teams on the break with pace has always been a great part of our game but it's never worked at home against Stoke for us, even under 'Arry.
The game yesterday highlighted for me a major problem - that we still struggle to break down teams who sit deep and defend. In past seasons we've had players like Modric and VdV, fantastic passers of the ball with the vision and technique to regularly play the kind of balls and make the runs that can break down a deep defence. This year we don't have these players. Dembele, Bale, Lennon et al are great players when teams are prepared to come out of their shells and games become more open, as these players can draw others out of position and go past them using pace and strength. And while they can also occasionally open up a packed, organised defence it's not their speciality and they won't do it with any regularity. In January we really, really need a clever passer of the ball in the Modric mould, more so than NEW STRIKER or a cover LB IMO. Dembele is a creative player but in a very different way and we do miss that passing presence. Hudd is not up to the task at this level I'm afraid. Carroll might be one day but not right now. Just my opinion.
Kaboul only became a key player last season with the demise of Ledley, and Caulker has stepped up this season, so that negates that. BAE I agree is a loss, however Vert has been winning man of the match in a lot of games in that position. Parker is a loss in leadership but Sandro proved himself when he stepped in for Parker last season, and continued that this. Adebayor has not been selected correctly even when available. Finally we looked to replace VDV with Sigs and haven't given him a chance. All of these 'problems' you point to are nothing more than excuses, they completely cover up the fact that we are not playing to the same level, but if that's what your satisfied with then so be it. I find your last little outburst about Redknapp slightly confusing. Where did that come from? At no point did I say I wanted Harry back, I am simply looking at where we were last season, and comparing it to this, like any natural football fan? If you are going to sack the man, are we as fans supposed to accept that the club has gone backwards? Your argument also relies on suggesting I have no time for AVB, which again is not the case. Do you actually read posts before replying?
FK these are real people they don't just slot in seamlessly like some kind of board game. If you consider changing half your team and manager is an excuse, I can say no more. Do I actually read posts before replying? Sorry did I miss something? You seem to want me to accept your agenda and only debate on that basis. Sorry it doesn't work like that. FK you have only been on here a short time, it might be a good idea to get to know me a little more before accusing me of not reading posts.
Not wishing to barge in on a personal debate but.... Caulker is no Kaboul just yet - and I think that you will find he has been an important player for us for rather longer than just last season. And by your own admission, YK was a key player for us last year...... Verts is quality but a totally different player to Benny - and the key thing about his absence has been the impact on our left side, particularly with Bale. Naughton has also been playing in that LB role a few times and we have suffered as a result. Parker provides more than just the DM 'role' - no slight on Sandro, who has been terrific, it's Scotty's impact as a leader that we have missed - particularly in the last 10 mins of games perhaps??? As for Ade, not securing his perm trf sooner was a real mistake, but I have yet to see any confirmation that anyone other than Citeh were responsible for that delay. His initial lack of fitness and subsequent injury and suspension cannot be underestimated - and not sure where else he could have played in the games he has been available for so far. But I would also maintain that our play in the 2nd half of last season was nothing to write home about......
Just seen this one as well and another pop from you. First I am not a fan of AVB I am a fan of Spurs. AVB has still to prove himself as far as I am concerned. Your definition of my judgement is based on the fact that I have disagreed with your description of the play which is a little arrogant to say the least. You are entitled to your subjective opinions just as I am but let's not confuse those with facts. And yes I have played football. I am fast coming to the conclusion that you have some kind of agenda, I hope I am wrong. Let's tone it down a bit shall we, it's quite possible to disagree and do so in a respectful fashion.
These are all poor excuses concerning our team quality of play. In most cases the player coming in is of the same level, Caulker for Kaboul, Sandro for Parker, Verts playing full back for Benny. More of this is that AVB insistence in playing Gallas, Naughton as they are passed it or not up to a good enough level and poor tatics in not playing to our strengths. At this moment we are have a pedestrian first 11 which will end up about 6th with one true star. The new players like Dempsey, Ziggy have taken us backwards . Nobody has the talent of VDV or Modric, even our last throw of the dice Dembele is good but not in their league. The "Next Level" . Not on your nelly. There is no room for excuses , a well run club replaces and moves forwards with purpose .
Calm down Spurf it's a football forum. As I have said in pretty much all my previous posts, I think the squad and ability is there to finish top 4, I don't accept however that we are doing enough, whether that is down to the players, the coaching staff or the team as a whole to currently achieve that. Some fans will be happy with finishing 5th or 6th with some consolidation and stability taking place.
This kind of talk I would have an agenda with, again this is a forum, and your 'high and mighty' expectations don't fly here. I am new as you mention, and your attitude does not welcome debate, so I have stumbled on a lack of respect for you yes. I'm hoping you can earn it back.
I also take exception to this, out of the two of us, I am the only one to bring facts to the table. So your subjective opinion maybe needs a re think
Yes it is a football forum, but just take a little while to adjust to this one FK. Telling people to calm down is fine face to face when you can be seen to be smiling, but with just words only, a little care is required to ensure your real meaning is understood. Suggesting people have clouded judgement by attributing false beliefs and suggesting that people have not played football and therefore don't know what they are talking about are some of the tactics you have used in your posts. These posts have been directed at me and I wonder why. I am sure this only a matter of style and misunderstanding and will all sort itself out in time as we adjust to those styles. You can always look back through my posts.
