Andre Villas-Boas - 'Wake Up Call'

Evening everybody. First time poster, long time lurker in the shadows/member of the other side. Written a small blog post based on yesterday's pretty pathetic showing. Figured it would be more suited to the more high-brow side of the 606 landscape. Hope you enjoy and hopefully should be the first of many of my posts on the site. My initial focus is on our attacking struggles under Mr AVB, particular in home matches.


AVB - 'Wake Up Call'

The great German physicist Albert Einstein is widely credited with the saying ‘the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results’. Putting aside the debate over the source of this quote and the unlikely nature that this quote was intended for Andre Villas-Boas’ tactics, it feels rather apt in the face of Sunday’s result against West Ham.

The defeat itself is not hard to explain. An inability to defend set pieces and two goals on the break are prerequisites for a Tottenham home defeat to a side struggling at the bottom of the division. The insanity lies in Boas’ stubborn tactical set up, which again failed to break down a leaky opposition defence at home.

Certainly there are merits to his 4-2-3-1 formation, which has played a key role is making a Spurs side difficult to beat away from home, with a strong central midfield banishing historical issues of Spurs having a soft underbelly. The inverted wingers, have added additional defensive solidity on the road by creating a narrow midfield allowing Spurs to put pressure on the home side and continually turnover possession.

The Andre Villas-Boas Tottenham are certainly hard to beat, but are far easier to frustrate than in recent seasons, particular in home matches. Highlight by the previous six Premier League home games warranting a meagre seven goals, with only Norwich shipping more than one goal. The lack of home goals is therefore not a new concern, with mid-table and bottom half sides sitting deep and narrow intent on soaking up Spurs pressure. In these circumstances Boas’ supposed flexible and dynamic tactics appear rigid and predictable in attack at White Hart Lane, with the inverted wingers stifling creativity.

The premise that both wingers attempt to cut inside onto their stronger foot, appears sound in principle with the inference that both will provide a far greater goal threat than conventional wingers, an example of which would be Hulk under Villas-Boas at Porto. However, against West Ham on Sunday this approach drew Sigurdsson and Townsend centrally where the Hammers were strongest, with a packed defence and midfield.

Townsend, Spurs most dangerous player on the day, embodied this approach. Effective when out wide in the first half running at Rat and crossing, he provided a genuine outlet. With Spurs running out of ideas during the second half his effectively waned, noticeably cutting onto his left foot into traffic giving West Ham ample opportunity to regain possession.

Additionally, Tottenham’s narrow attacking approach was made significantly worse by the predominantly slow build, often drawing Sigurdsson inside in search of the ball. By comparison the quick build up play for his goals against both Norwich and Chelsea last weekend, came from high tempo attacks allowing Sigurdsson came from deep positions untracked to provide a genuine goal threat.

Tottenham’s slow approach rendered Sigurdsson ineffective and his influence centre of the pitch helped to completely negate the influence of Christian Eriksen. With both wide men and Defoe central, the most creative influence in the Spurs side generally had no options to work with in wide positions. In this sense the inverted wingers were not only ineffective themselves, but effectively were treading on Eriksen’s toes in an already crowded centre of the pitch.

A creative player can only create when he has options.

Unfortunately for Eriksen, his options existed almost solely within a central sphere with wide men central and support from the full back positions lacking. AVB’s full backs can be afforded a similar degree of sympathy as Eriksen, with Walker ill and Naughton exposed for what he is, a right full back posing as a left back.

As with any young player Walker needs to be be making consistent progression in his role. As it stands both his attacking and defensive attributes currently have question marks, with his final ball and decision making leaving a lot to be desired. Regarding Naughton, in a game where Spurs we already desperately short of width, having a right footed left back contributed further to the narrowness of Tottenham’s attacking play. It would appear an imperative focus for Andre Villas-Boas to understand the vital nature of having at least one natural left footed player, offering width to an already narrow side.

Fortunately for Tottenham, the international break provides ample opportunity for Andre Villas Boas and his staff to reevaluate Spurs tactical approach in home matches. The lack of width present in the early stages of the campaign currently appears to be hindering his side and could begin to look like ‘insanity’ if Tottenham continue to struggle to break down teams at home. As Villas-Boas stated post match, the 3-0 defeat is a ‘wake up call’. What remains to be seen is whether he reacts to it.

 

Welcome PavonSport, good read. I liked you're intro

Pretty much sums up Avbs approach and mentality, a manager who has a set way of playing and doesn't fully grasp the concept of changing you're tactical setup not just based on the players available, but how the game is panning out.

Regarding you're point on Walker, I wouldn't be so harsh on Walker, as I believe as fans in general Walker is developing into an easy target,and his frantic approach, which at times looks short of ideas and thought, means when he makes a mistake, fans are quick to attack him, I've been as guilty of this as most yet this season he has definitely improved.

Definitely agree about the lack of width, last season Avb tried to play a more controlling game, which generally failed and the majority of our goals where either scored from the counter attack or Bales one man show.

This year Avb has the players he believes can play the system he ideally wants, yet the lack of flexibility is what causes us issues in attack and as you say width is one of them, we're far too predictable and our attacking movement is easily dealt with, you just need to look at the league performances for proof.

 

Motty,say's there is some sort of curse,on teams playing on thursday,then Sunday,he says Wed Sat,it does not effect,apprently the is some scientific,backing for this.

 

Scientific Curses ....... Pahahahahahaha

 

We sorted it out last year to get 3rd and win the Thursday Trophy.

 

Well, this is the kind of game that would give anyone second thoughts. The fact is we're doing better at this break than I thought we would. I'm hoping problems can be corrected with relatively minor adjustments. Bringing in a new system at this point seems extraordinarily unlikely, and for that matter unlikely to work as well. AVB's system relies heavily on fullbacks creating width, and we've been short one for a while (and two on Sunday).

 

Sorry that Einstein quote sounds right for the occasion but doesn't fit at all. Firstly that was intended for physics not football, so just because something seems to fit doesn't make it so. Secondly you are actually saying doing the same thing over and over again should expect the same results not different. And those same results have actually been pretty good up to now. Again this posting is suggesting that the match yesterday is the norm and everything else so far this season is the exception. There is a logical flaw to that. I am not arguing that we should not learn lessons - as AVB says it's a wake up call and a lot of the analysis here is very good. I would say that a more apt cliche is something like if you don't learn from something you repeat the mistake. Well lets see if anything is learned. Also there are a lot of conclusions being drawn upon one match, with suggestions that it was always likely to happen. Well it didn't. So the evidence suggests things aren't quite as bad. But we shall see. One bad game does not a season make, and there has been a massive amount of doom and gloom on here. Of course be concerned, but we have to see how it goes from now. Having said that, welcome PavonSport, sorry not to completely agree with you but I hope you welcome healthy debate!

 

I agree that Walker has improved this year and he is often seen as a scapegoat from a portion of our fans. He does seem to act rashly at times though, which I think causes a lot of the criticism. For example, I watched the game against Arsenal with a friend (a West Ham fan) and found both of us groaning every time the ball came out to him on the edge of the Arsenal area as we both knew what he was going to do. Sure enough he fired shots into the stand. At a time when we desperately needed to keep the pressure on them. Likewise, defensively he does appear to have a tendency to get too tight to attackers and give them the opportunity to go down. One of the goals Inter scored against us last season springs to mind on that one. Don't get me wrong, I think he is a good full back. I just think he does have a lot to learn and could sometimes do with slowing down and not getting too caught up in the moment.

 

Vimhawk - Nice to have a debate. That's what we are all here for. I'm aware that the Einstein quote was intended for physics and not football but I do think in these circumstances it does have some resonance. We have started the season well, but in all honesty I think a poor result at home has been coming. For instance, the games at the end of last season against both Southampton and Sunderland we struggled to break down teams and won thanks to two spectacular goals. The vast majority of the time teams will sit deep at White Hart Lane and we/AVB does not seem to have worked out a way of breaking down these packed defences. Overall I intended to show AVB's stubborn approach to his tactics at home. I personally believed that Townsend should have been switched to the left side during the second half of yesterday in an attempt to stretch the play. I think AVB's approach at this current time is frustrating, but hopefully he does learn from this result.

 

Vim.

I don't agree that we've only had one bad game. The football we've played this season has generally been average, not awful, but not outstanding. We played well against Norwich and ought to have scored many more against Cardiff, the loss to Arsenal was undeserved and we did well to match Chelsea, but otherwise I haven't been particularly impressed. Winning the opening games on lone penalties has glossed over the fact that we create half-chances pretty freely but can't score goals - that's been a major long-standing problem under Villas Boas. And the left-sided problem Even the densest of Spurs fans can see how awful we are down that side without a left footer, why can't AVB? It's been an accident waiting to happen, and AVB should have acted upon it sooner, before the "wake up call" was able to occur.

 

Pavonspur - great post. Agree with most, if not all, of it.

Today I'm more inclined to see the benefits of yesterday's game as a necessary wake-up call. The results (and last season's close run for fourth) have hidden the fact that Spurs are a much easier side to frustrate nowadays as you've described. In fact for much of last season that tactic so nearly worked for many teams, then Bale got a goal.

Whilst there are many criticisms you could have about AVB he does seem to be an intelligent man and I hope that he learns a lot from yesterday.

Any decent side comes down to this: good players playing well. The formation/tactics/strategy, beyond some footballing basics, are all just means by which to make this happen. I think we do have good players (though perhaps not as many and not of the quality of previous seasons - though that remains to be seen as the new signings need to settle). We just need to allow them and enable them to play well.

The current system is clearly more geared to not allowing the other team to play well - not something that should be THE go-to strategy when playing weaker teams at home.

Look forward to more posts, Pavonspur.

 

Agree that yesterday's performance was not unlike many, many performances over the last season and a bit. We have been very lucky and very Bale-y for much of that time. I know that the stats often suggest that we boss games but so often they're misleading - we've had a problem creating chances ever since (surprise, surprise) we sold VDV and Modric and Adebayor decided that he didn't like playing football well any more. And now we've lost Bale, replaced only with untested-in-the-EPL players.

 

Very good first time post mate, all I'd say is Danny Rose's worth is now being seen, and he's been missing 3 matches, the wake up call should have been the first one! Its alarming the predictable consequence of no wide players stretching the back4 out. Our passing and first touch isn't consistant enough for just tight central areas, we need room.

I also think the FB's get unecessary flak for being 'out of position' if we concede, when they're encouraged to be up the pitch as part of avb's masterplanA. Its loss of possession by another player that instantly exposes their position...not their fault, the misplaced pass or miscontrol of midfielders goes unnoticed though, just the opponents pass or run into Walkers space with cries of 'where is he?', well he can't be in two places at once!...where's the cover?

 

It's Sandro we need. Someone who actually enjoys screening the back 4 as oppose to wanting to score and instead achieving neither objective. For me Dembele and Pauline are too similar with intent for such an important position as midfield.

 

Welcome PavonSport interesting post.

I have always thought that managers are too dominant in the game of football. All too often they stifle rather than enable a team. The worst kind IMO are the control freaks and it would appear that we have one in AVB.

This control will be welcomed and applauded just as long as the results are good but slip up and the critics will not provide a gentle let down. You put yourself up there so expect the flack to come your way!

As others have said although results have been good, apart from Arsenal and West Ham, perfomance has not been convincing. Still early days of course and AVB has time to work on his ideas. I was encouraged last season in the defeat at the Emirates (when Ade was sent off) because AVB showed a willingness to react and change during the game. This season he seems to think he does not need too. Well Mr.AVB I hope now you realise that there is always a need to be flexible in your approach.

The manager is the only one who can effect major change DURING the game when needed. Sitting there for 70 minutes watching something not work is not good enough.

Time for change AVB and time for you to realise just how important that part of your role is, otherwise we can sell your seat to a fan for a £100.

 

Very good read, Pavon Sport

Can't say I agree with much of it. I'm sure the quote wasn't supposed to be taken too litteraly but it applies to doing the samething under the same conditions. Scientists often do the samething over and over again with slight changes to the conditions don't they? To extend that you could say we could have lost all 7 league games 3-0 but in the other games(apart from Arsenal) we took at least one of our chances and the opposition didn't take their chances so clinically. Equally we could've won all of our games 3-0 if we were more clinical and the 3 sides that have scored against us this season were not.

I seem to be the only one that doesn't think we were totally outplayed by West Ham all game. Defoe had 2 great chances, Paulinho had a good chance and we were very much on top until they scored. West Ham were playing well, of course, but it was the way they took advantage of getting the opener and cut us to ribbons in the last half hour that needs to be focused on, in my opinion. How clinical we are also has to be looked at as the first goal is crucial but it's taking us far too many attempts to get it even when we do score first.

The effect of the first goal reminded me of our 3-0 away win over Fulham last season, up until the opener there was a few chances here and there but other than a couple of good spells for either team there wasn't much in it. Then in the second half we scored the opener and we picked them off from there to score 2 more. We didn't batter them all game, we weren't the best side for long periods but once we got the lead we took advantage of the hosts opening up and, without having to play that well, the chances came and we took them.

AVB is right, it is a wake up call, especially since the result was very embarrassing for us. Our attackers need to do a lot of work together so make sure they're creating multiple problems for the defence and putting them in difficult situations. You watch pundits analysing goals and they'll often highlight a run that gives a defender a decision to make, they'll blame the defender(often unfairly) for making the wrong decision but the key is to get defenders in situations were they have to make a quick choice. Variety is important to this, there's nothing wrong with cutting inside with wingers and narrowing it but how about mixing it up. Townsend's working hard to mix up his play but is anyone else? When he cuts inside, how about Sigurdsson runs out to the left wing for once. If a defender follows him then it's one less that's crowding the middle, if no one picks him up then Townsend has an easy out ball and Sigurdsson has time to play a cross on which ever foot he likes. It's just an example but so far Townsend and occassionally Defoe/Soldado are the only ones really looking to give defenders choices around the area. Soldado's dragging defenders away from the goal but it's not always working because their defence is always so narrow as a result of our wingers cutting in too often. Defoe's getting some joy by moving into a channel on the edge of the area, it's worked against West Ham and Villa, despite the play being congested but his finishing has let him down with tame shots going across the 'keeper.

Speaking of Defoe and those chances he's had, I think it's time he gave up the ghost trying to be a different player to what he is. After the chance he had against Villa that he scuffed I pointed out that it was a bread and butter finish for other strikers but not him. It was the same story against West Ham, he had 2 great chances, one where he tried to cut in when it was never on and the other where he tried to place the finish and it went tamely towards the 'keeper. He should just go back to wellying it, that's what he's best at and if it means he misses a few more then so be it, the ones he does hit well will be worth it. Even if it goes straight at the 'keeper there's a good chance of someone getting the rebound, or a corner if it's tipped over.

Very true. I can understand why AVB doesn't change things but I was saying before the game(not on here, conveniently) that I felt AVB would do well to throw in a curve ball, which is what Allardyce ended up doing. I wanted Defoe and Soldado to start, it might have been a risk and I'm not saying it would've worked but against sides that are going to primarily set up to stop us it's worth taking risks, especially in the long run. West Ham knew how we were going to play against them and it showed.

 

Good thread Pavon Sport, although I side with YV's analysis over yours on this occasion.

I don't really get this need to change things 'if they are not working'. You only need one moment of brilliance to score a goal. If you are set up the best way to create such moments, surely it would be a mistake to do something different just because it has not worked so far. If we had scored in the 48th minute and went on to win 3-0 which could easily have happened if Defoe had got a decent finish away we wouldn't be castigating AVB at all. We should be too result merchant about this.

 

I don't think it is a case of castigating AVB if I am honest. I believe he has done a lot of good things, such as making us far more difficult to beat away from home. However, over the last few months we definitely have struggled to put 'bottom half' sides to the sword at White Hart Lane. Overall Sunday's game seemed to be a continuation of previous matches in which other teams have been set up to frustrate and we have just about scrapped over the line.

I'm not as it might seem advocating a total overall of tactics for matches at home, rather hoping that AVB and his staff take on what he described as the 'wake up call' and try to find alternative ways of influencing matches from the sidelines. A clear example, as many have also pointed out on this thread was the lack of width on Sunday, where the logical change (possibly in hindsight or back a backseat driving fan) would have seen Townsend move to the left. Sometimes he does appear resistant to making alterations to his system when it is not going to plan and ultimately we are not creating many chances.

 

Not the only one, YV. They defended well for the whole game, which we helped with by making some poor choices, but until they scored their first they barely created anything.
They came to keep things tight and try to nick something and it worked very well, but they hardly dominated from start to finish, as the story seems to have become, probably because of the scoreline.

Nice first post, Pavon.

I think that you're definitely right about a lot of things, but I can't see how Villas-Boas has got so much stick over one poor result, to be honest.
9 clean sheets in 11 games with only one loss and one draw prior to Sunday's appalling display, with a very new side that's had some important injuries.
Capoue started very brightly before Cazorla sat on him, Lennon's our main provider of width, Rose put in a fantastic display that showed why Sunderland were so impressed with him and Walker has been bright.
The two full-backs were basically self inflicted wounds though, as they were involved in games that they shouldn't have been. The manager was at fault there.
Kaboul's ongoing fitness issues have restricted our options at the back, too.

I don't think that it's a coincidence that our best league performance coincided with having Rose, Walker and Eriksen in the side.
The full-backs provided a load of width and were constantly on the move, we had some real creativity in dangerous areas and the inverted wingers were both able to use the space provided on the inside.
Villas-Boas has to have faith in Fryers to deputise for Rose and Naughton should only be used as a left-back in an emergency. He's fine as cover on the right, but he's rarely played there.

I think we'll be fine when the side's more settled, but a few bits of tinkering in January are needed too.
Some of our squad places are a waste (Dawkins, Gomes, Obika?) and Adebayor's future needs to be addressed by then, too.

 

Think you're bang on there. The inverted wingers cutting inside with the full backs providing width on the flanks does make the system far more effective. Unfortunately on Sunday without the width of the full backs we did look extremely narrow and predictable and played into West Ham's hands. Overall I think Big Sam got his tactics spot on in terms of keeping things narrow and flooding the centre.

I believe that Villas-Boas is getting stick for the one result is that this kind of result at home has been threatened for a while now, even going back to the close of last season. For instance, if we hadn't scored the penalty against Swansea and picked up three points he would probably have been met with the same kind of criticism for dropped points as we can't rely on simply scoring one a match and keeping the opposition at bay every game. Without being too negative and seemingly bashing Villas-Boas too greatly, we were likely to come unstuck in this kind of match sooner or later.