I have to completely disagree with this. We NEEDED a goal. It was late in the game, and we were losing. Ok it was not one of JD's better games, and no, he's no Jimmy Greaves. I saw the real one play enough times to know that. However, from our current squad there is absolutely nobody who is more liable to pop up and score. No matter how quiet he had been so far in the game. Taking off your top goal scorer in those circumstances is just plain stupidity, IMO.
The subject of the TW has come up in this thread, its clear we need to do business, a striker and playmaker every single one of us agrees with...well, apart from our manager it seems!... "But Villas-Boas has denied that he needs to dip into the transfer market in January to solve his problems. He added: “What we need in January is to recover the players we have injured." Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag...will-not-repeat-Wigan-woes.html#ixzz2BMdL458o
I know he has pressure but then it seems to me that by making the defensive subs is a sign that he's crumbling under it. I can't say how I'd feel if I was him, but if I took the position of a club that has the pressure he has now, I'd play the way I WANT to play and not try and keep things secure and safe which doesn't work for Spurs. AVB has been known as a manager who likes to attack yet and that's what I want to see but so far with us he's been so defensive it's ridiculous. He needs to come out his shell, just go for it, I don't mind losing or drawing as long as I feel that the players and manager have given it a good shot and we've thrown our "kitchen sink" at them. With AVB and the current squad, I don't get the feeling this is the case, when plan A isn't working, the players look out of ideas and AVB hasn't a clue what to do and seems to have no plan B. I don't think he has done too well in all honesty mate. We had a decent period with wins over Reading, Utd and Villa but them games aside, we've not put in a decent performance. Yes as I've said for the thousadnth time we have injuries (just thought I'd bold this out so people do realise I appreciate the situation ) but I don't think injuries can be solely blamed for continuous poor performances. Our whole first team squad are footballers of good quality, we're blessed to have players which would usually occupy our bench that'd walk into many first teams in the league but the performances we've seen vs WBA, Norwich (twice), Wigan, Soton (2nd half), QPR (1st half - needed an own goal to get back in it too), Europa League games would suggest otherwise and I think a lot of the blame needs to be with manager for his tactics, formations and motivation of players.
Managers are rarely honest about transfers and as much as it might appease the fans to some degree you don't want to be declaring that your squad isn't good enough at this stage as it's difficult enough to get players off other clubs in January and announcing our intentions just makes us seem despereate. Also we've still got 2 months until the window opens so we don't want to start hinting that players currently with us will be replaced.
Normally I'd agree YV, but in this instance its plainly obvious to all in football, its hardly top secret, there's nothing to hide from anyone. We need to ADD a striker not necessarily replace, we only have TWO remember, and a playmaker, so if that upsets Hudd, well I'm not too bothered. If you recall, AVB was adamant he had enough strikers...TWO! this says to me had decided not to use 2 up front from the outset, not even as a planB...and its possible he's hinting the same again...worrying!
"what we need in january is to recover the players we have injured"?? what difference is that particular month going to make?! has January got some special healing powers that I was unaware of? the standard cover up so we don't let other clubs we're desperate, which then lets them take the piss out of us financially!
Definitely agree about the need for another striker, but what would be the point in pissing off Huddlestone at this point in the season, when we can't bring anyone in or shift him out?
it's 6 of one, half a dozen of the other mate, re the defensive subs. like i've said, maybe he doesn't have faith in the midfielders at the moment, and feels shutting up shop with a 1 goal lead is a better option. well it certainly isn't the "spurs way" andre!! it's a mixture for me SOS. - before the last 5 games or so in all competitions, we'd played really well and not so well. the "not so well" games were more towards the start when we didn't even have some of the players we now have. but it got better and we look like we were settling and i was beginning to see where it was going. I'm still a big believer in this, but not with the current circumstances we have, which we've spoken about to death today. i just want to see the manager be open to change.
Do you really believe not knowing will improve his performances over the next few weeks...not really if we're honest. My point is would it make any difference! The others should realise they are not playmakers, so I don't see that particular point. As a pro footballer you can have two attitudes... 1. sod that I'm a crybaby and I'm off. Or 2. sod that, I'm going to dig in and prove him wrong. ...some might call it man-management. Set a someone challenge, your idea of wrapping in cotton wool doesn't work for me.
Knowing that he's going to be replaced is bound to negatively impact his performances, Notso. That's just human nature. It's not a challenge to say that someone's going to be brought in to do your job. It's a statement that you're finished. Villas-Boas has left that door open. If Huddlestone doesn't improve and start to have a bigger influence on games, then we can bring someone in. We don't need to make that decision now or mention it to the media.
If any player knows for sure that he's going to be replaced no matter what, then I agree with PNP, it's bound to affect his performances. If it's a matter of, you have to prove you're worth your place or you'll be replaced, then I agree with NotSo. When the going gets tough, etc....
Tbh PNP, you're creating a situation I'm not suggesting, I really shouldn't have to agree its a poor idea to sit one player down and say that to him. All I said was about the positions we need to strengthen imo, well, everybodys really. But, for AVB to answer a simple question about TW activity in general is not giving anything away is it? This is the normal situation at any club looking to improve, again, I wasn't suggesting he should reveal all, even though its pretty obvious.
it's pretty clear that there's a 2 or 3 glaring holes in the squad. but next question... will we realistically sign anyone in January? it's the month to be ripped off, where every tom,dick and harry in football knows that you're in desperately in need of replacements. whether we publically blurt anything out or not, our performances and/or league position will say enough. That doesn't sound like Levy to me. I can't see him buying another creative midfielder and a striker. That's 2 of the most expensive players in a team at the worst time of year. so, the thought of all this gets worse!
It's very early. Most of the key members of the first team can't play right now. The team just plain won't work without 1/3 of Dembele, Sandro and Parker, and it won't work very well without 2/3. How do Spurs rate with, say, Kaboul, Dembele, Sandro, Parker and A-E healthy? I'd say fourth or fifth. How about with them all out, then? I'd say 10th - 15th. There might be some improvement over a couple of weeks, if subs can rise to the occasion. But right off the bat you'd expect total disarray, which is more or less what happened. Injuries may not be the reason we were awful against Wigan, but it certainly should be. Sandro was the straw that broke the camel's back. He's been very good, and taking on more and more of the load. Once he went out, there was nobody. Leaving aside the injuries, I'd say AVB is doing well, better than I expected. To have this team with this list of injuries tied for fourth on points would be outstanding--except it's more a case of the other teams stumbling badly. The big issue is AVB not playing a 4-4-2. I can see both sides of this. As a fan, I'd rather he give it a shot. But surely AVB wasn't hired to put in a 4-4-2. Trying it now, as a desperation measure, may please the fans but I'd be amazed if it helps. AVB probably looks at it as a waste of time.
I do give AVB credit for not using it as an excuse. To me (coming at this from watching sports where everyone got five solid months rest, and no extra games during the season), it's another sign that football rests its players too little. What I'd like at this point is some kind of regular information about when people are coming back. I'll hope for the best in the meantime, but I think without Sandro, Dembele and Paker, we're dead in the water, and with only Sandro or Parker, we aren't getting points against the top teams, I don't care who the manager is, or what formation he plays.
from the 'physio room' for what it's worth: S Ranieri Knock no return date J Livermore Knock 11th Nov 12 M Dembele Hip/Thigh Injury no return date B Assou-Ekotto Knee Injury no return date Y Kaboul Knee Injury 27th Dec 12 S Parker Achilles Tendinopathy 17th Nov 12
