I know this might sound a bit silly but just hear me out.... Whatever people think of AVB, he shouldn't be judged on how he performed at Chelsea, no moreso than any other manager at any previous job they'll have been dismissed at. He has earnt the right to be given a chance at least in my book. Every Spurs fan I know or have communicated with on forums dreads United away more than any other fixture. AVB has often talked about the Europa League being taken seriously to change the losers mentality into a winning mentality. With the injuries United have I can't help but think this is a great opportunity for AVB to really stamp his authority at THFC as manager. From what I gather Spurs fans have split opinions on AVB but if he were to get a win at Old Trafford on Saturday it would probably help unite the fans and relieve some of the tension that seems apparent at WHL. When you beat Arsenal for the first time in donkey's there was a notable change in mentality and mood at your club. I know I'll probably get accused of being a WUM or something but this is a genuine question. It was very similar for us at Chelsea until we beat Arsenal in the Champions League and similar for City until they beat United in the FA Cup Semi. I think once Spurs believe they can compete and beat with the top clubs then Sky is the Limit and a win at Old Trafford would go a long way to convincing the fans and the players that can happen. I'd appreciate some feedback if possible. It's one of the rare occassions I don't want you guys to lose no offence, I'm sure you feel the same with us this weekend as well
I'd say his biggest games are the NLD and both Chelsea games - both for obvious reasons. Besides, everyone is expecting us to get ****ed over by the Foy/Clattenberg partnership at the Theatre of Schemes, so unless we draw or win the match is written off.
That doesn't come across WUMish at all. I don't think it is his most important game. I still think that was Reading. If we hadn't won that then things could have gone pear flavoured very quickly. As it was, we then beat QPR and Carlisle, so we are on a little streak. Man Utd at old trafford is kind of a no lose situation. Fans expect us to lose. Media expect us to lose. So if we lose then it isn't a big deal (as long as we don't get absolutely humped). If we win though, you are right, big confidence and less people questioning AVB (although there will undoubtebly still be some)
True but beating United in the long term would go along way to building up the confidence for those games. As an outsider I'd probably rank it up there with those, just simply so you can get the monkey off your back.
I posted to Luke that when we beat you and Arsenal for the first time in a while more wins followed after that and the same will happen when one day we beat Utd again. It's his sternest test of the season so far but as for the most important well that remains to be seen. By the way,we were winning doubles and European trophies when you were in div 2.
Let's not turn this into Chelsea, nothing to do with CFC just Spurs. I agree with the non WUM part of your post though. Winning breeds confidence, when we beat Arsenal for the first time I don't think they beat us again in any competition for about 3/4 seasons. Spurs managed to beat Liverpool in 08/09 and since have beaten them countless times, have you even lost to them since Pav got that goal?
all this AVB stuff,the fact is he has'nt lost a game yet,the sign's are good that we are getting used to the way's he want's us to play,having said that i don't expect us to win at o/t,to many things go against us there.
Who rates him? The media don't, many Chelsea fans don't nor do football fans in general because of the first thing I mentioned. How can you be "overrated" if nobody rates you? I've said the same thing re: Lampard and Terry so many times. If you don't like AVB that's your opinion but to say he is overrated is myopic IMO. It would be like me saying Stoke's style of football is overrated.
Before he went to Chelsea he was supposed to be "the new Mourinho" and hw failed at Chelsea and then got a job at Spurs...
I actually had a dream we beat Man U 2-1. Sandro was at the center of the scene. He had a cut on his leg, just below his knee. I don't know if he scored the winner, got a red card, or drew one. I'm looking forward to finding out if this dream has any predictive qualities. I can hardly recall dreaming of the outcome of a game before it happened. On topic, I wouldn't exactly call it a big game for AVB, because no one's going to blame him if we lose (which will be a first). But, sure, a win would be his biggest win. I'm looking forward to seeing how he and the team handle the game, and am hoping for a very aggressive approach.
The media only made those comparisons because they were both young and Portuguese. Very prejudicial and xenophobic of the English media to presume they were similar due to the aforementioned. The Portuguese media and those that worked closely with Mourinho/AVB said they couldn't be more different. They are chalk and cheese. For starters AVB hates the media, Mourinho doesn't. AVB's style is different, he prefers it when his sides are in possession of the ball, Mourinho prefers counter attacking football with far more emphasis on wing play and stretching teams. AVB favours the 4-3-3, Jose traditionally always favoured the 4-4-2 whereby the midfield was more solid and compact but less fluid. AVB's philosophy is different, tends to be far more open but more positive, Mourinho hates open games. The myth about him being negative and boring is exaggerated but Mourinho would never want to win or lose a game 5-3. AVB is more a dictator, whereas Mourinho was more democratic AVB works closer with the players during training re: tactics, Mourinho doesn't There are so many differences. As personalities they are also completely different as well. AVB is a complete introvert whereas Jose is a showman.
He won more trophies in one season than Southampton have. Ever. If we lose at Old Trafford then I don't think he'll get much flack from Spurs fans, unless it's a total disaster, but the media will have their knives out, again. If he manages to get anything else up there, then I think it'll be a big positive for him, especially if we put in a good performance. Most important game of the season, though? No.
How are you judging "failure" at Chelsea? His record last season was better than Di Matteo's. No one's calling Di Matteo a failure. How do you know that AVB might not also have won the CL and FA cup, had he actually been given the chance to see it through?! More importantly... which club do you think Ramirez will sign for in the summer?
Errm...Newcastle? Somebody else posted the differences between our team last season and this, not least having to compensate for Modric, VDV and King being gone on top of the new formation and tactics, yet we seem to be acclimatising ahead of schedule (certainly quicker than Chelsea last season, almost as if they never intended to...) Do you even know what "overrated" means? Who rates him? The press don't - he's not Henry James Redknapp for one, and the other it is easier to write about the bloke who failed at Chelsea failing at Spurs than it is to write he is succeeding at Spurs in spite of his time at Chelsea, there's a section of Spurs fans who want someone else and will take some time to change their opinion, and Chelsea fans have it in for him more than any of their other former managers (including Avram Grant) Overrated managers? Try someone whose tactics rely on referees doing them a favour every week, or having a larger transfer budget than any other club in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain.
back to the thread... DL, United are our biggest bogey team. we very rarely get a result against them. This shouldn't be AVB's "biggest" game, as our record is awful. he should be treated no different. However, if the result is a bad one (quite likely) the media circus will be in full flow, criticising him for something. Anyway, we're buggered this weekend, regardless. Foy is the ref. We might as well not travel.
I wouldn't say Mourinho doesn't work with the players on tactics. Tactically he's quite experimental at times and one of the best in the World at making big calls.
