We can be proud of 72 points, regardless of what happens. Only the idiots will disrespect us and give us the "channel 5" abuse And that'll be because they are threatened about what we're going to be capable of in the next couple of years under AVB For AVB's first season in charge, 72 points will be a great achievement. We might not understand his tactics at times, but he's got to have done something to achieve (if he does) our highest premier league points tally. Then there's everything he's had stacked against him.... Well done Andre, you're surpassed my expectations so far
I think he has surpassed what i expected in terms of points. I was expecting 5th (which we may well get) but to be 1 pt down with 2 to jump is better than i thought. Considering the way his Porto side played and considering how we played last season i think we've been a bit unentertaining. I was expecting more flair. At the moment he gets the benefit of the doubt as he may well be "building from the back" for the long term. I would hope for some more flair next year, maybe if "Chelsea Ade" turns up more eh! Post half time we tend to be good. That couples well with the fact we've scored more goals (42 i think) in the 2nd half than any other team. We seem to falter a little early though, maybe something for AVB to work on. 70-72 points would be a fine first season haul and history tells us would be unfortunate to not get 4th.
when we've got some more players who possess those characteristics, I expect we'll see exactly that. But Ade (the usual one), Dempsey and a few others don't offer us that. The entertainment will come next year, once he's got the players he needs. - let's not forget he identified and signed Mata. - That says it all.
72 points would be an impressive total regardless of where we finish, you're right. He's got to get us there first though, if we did drop any points in our last 2 games it would be hugely disappointing, especially if Arsenal did too.
Surpassed my expectations as I thought the guy was a waste of space. Has impressed me a lot (though with the views I had on him that wouldn't have been hard to impress ), still unsure whether I think he's the right man for the job, I've not seen anything for me to say A) It was the right choice to sack Harry for him and B) He'll take us to another level next season but he has done a "stable" job in my eyes. For me, he needs to finish in the top 4 as otherwise I think the season would've been a disappointment as we wouldn't have achieved our league target nor did we do too well in the cups. I don't like the style of football under AVB but I do admire the never give up attitude he's given the lads and I love his passion. It's also credible that he never slates players in press talks, even if they fully deserve to be.
Agreed. The big question is though, what happens if we have a deeper squad (i think depth is the problem not necessarily the quality, apart from up front) next year and we don't play more entertaining stuff and we finish 5th? Do we go back to the "good" old days of sacking our manager every 1-2 years or do we persist? What do we require? I'm not sure i know. 4th+ would obviously be enough but would finishing 5th like heroes be enough? For me it would, i watch football to be entertained firstly, but what about the board?
Yeah, he's done o.k. For me. I still remain to be completely convinced. It's just some of the things he does - some of his selections, etc, that make me wonder. Why could he not see that Hudlestone was going to be way too slow to catch the likes of Mata, Oscar, and Hazard, For instance? It was pretty obvious to most of us. Having said all that, to finish 4th, or even 5th, considering the players we have lost through either transfer or injury, is not too shabby.
Really though? Playing them both at a pretty good time. Villa are pretty much safe and whilst in good form, have a very poor record against the top 7 this season. We've hammered them earlier in the season too. Everton will always be tough but are not as strong away from home v the top sides and will again really have nothing to play for plus the Moyes leaving factor may dishearten them. Stranger things have happened but taking all into account I would be shocked if we didn't get the 3 points we need from 1 of those games; and that's assuming you get 6 from yours. Stoke away will be hard and Sunderland may still be in a relegation fight.
everything is an "if". but we can only go on what we've seen this year, with what he's had available. when he's truly got the players he wants, that's when we judge him, IMO. The signs have been encouraging this season, and for a first season in charge where a bigger more difficult/disappointing transition could easily have been the case, he's coped very well. it's now down to the board to allow us to be entertained and stop restricting us. AVB has done brilliantly in 1 season, but now they've got to back their man and show us why they were right to sack redknapp. But the signs are definitely there.
Ok, if they back him, what is the minimum you would expect? Eg, play like this season get 4th+ entertain but 5th Which would you prefer of those 2 options? Ignoring cups
I can't speak for AVB, but I suppose there's always the argument that Hudd's ability to pick out and deliver a perfect pass, plus dead ball delivery, was a risk worth taking. Sadly he didn't offer that either - although I think it was his pass that Bale was running onto when Cole blocked him off and we got... nothing. Also I think if Dembele and / or Sandro was available he wouldn't be playing anyway.
Villa are playing well at the moment and Chelsea have the distraction of the Europa League final, but it's hard to ignore the 8-0 at Stamford Bridge. You'd have thought that there would be a few players in the Villa squad looking to make a point and restore a bit of pride, though. Man Utd have screwed us over again by destroying Everton, annoyingly. If they can stuff the Spammers on Sunday then they'll have nothing to play for on the final day anyway. Hard to see the Goons dropping points, but they've ballsed up against both Wigan and Newcastle in recent years, so I guess it's possible. Shame Diaby won't be available to spark any comebacks by the Geordies.
We beat Wigan 9-1 and then the next season it was a draw at wigan and we lost at home (if i remember). Villa look a different team now to then (even though they still beat Pool in the 'then' stage, lol)
I agree, Spurm. Their front 3 of Benteke, Agbonlahor and Weimann all look dangerous, Vlaar and Lowton look good at the back and they seem to have some belief about them. Their midfield's pretty ****e, but if they can keep things respectable til the last quarter, then they might benefit from Chelsea's tired legs, especially with the running that their forwards have in them.
does barry banana still get a game for them? One of the worst players i've seen in the prem. I thought he was stuck in the mud in one match
i don't think it's a case of having to choose mate. I think we are always going to be in a battle with 4 other clubs, maybe 5 next year depending on what Liverpool do over the summer. - we can't expect 4th as it's always going to be tough. However, next season I'm sure our football will improve as the players will have another preseason with AVB. There will be new faces to strenghten us and we'll be competing for the top 4 feeling like we're in the strongest position to do so in a long time. I'm sure there will be games where we'll be poor but grind our results, but that's fine by me. - that's where we've always struggled, but where we've drastically improved this season. As long as most of the season is entertaining, 4th is quite likely to happen providing we are able to add this "grinding out results" factor to our season. get this right, and we will be up there next season looking very strong, I have no doubts about that.
They is is an option, that if AVB had acted to get Spurs out of the Europa League Cup thing after the struggles with Lazio, especialy during the first game, we would not be in this situation now. An exit from the Europa thing-gy around November would've been worth at least 4 points in the Premiearship for Spurs IMO. It doesn't take a mathematical expert to work out that those same points would see us needing just a win and a draw against a relatively relaxed Stoke and a disarrayed Sunderland, for Champions League. It is also my option that given the above circumstances, Arsenal would buckle under the strain with just the two games to go, and Chelsea would be so worried about not getting the last automatic qualification spot, that they too would be mentally adversely influenced. This of course, could only have resulted, in good for Spurs. Playing-on in Europa without adequate depth within the squad, this year, was a mistake that has cost us dear. And another grieving fact is; Spurs may not get a better opportunity for years to come. AVB might well develop into being a very good manager and will be good for Spurs but his love affair with the Europa League Cup thing-gy has ultimately contributed to all of our wows., right now.
To be fair to AVB our sponsorship deal that means we have one company for the Premiership and another for Cup competitions meant he would have been under pressure to keep us in Europe as long as possible
I don't think I go along with this 72 points thing. It would mean nothing if it didn't get at least a top 4 place. I gather Steve Clark has taken West Brom to a record points total in their history, yet if I tried to say that made him a better coach than AVB because he's done that with very limited resources, I'd get shouted down. The points tally might look impressive when compared with history, but in reality doesn't mean a great deal.
