Porto are the Celtic (and what Rangers were) of the Portuguese league. They're expected to dominate on the domestic front. Whilst the percentages of wins are impressive, I highly doubt he'd have achieved that with Academica had he stayed there and not gone to Porto. He inherited two of the best strikers in the world football (along with players who are arguably the best in their position in the league) who are far too good to be playing in the Portuguese Prem, stick Rooney and van Persie in the Championship and that's a similar situation to that of how Falcao and Hulk were (Hulk still is mind) in Portugal. The Europa League triumph was impressive but again Porto had a side that was one of the favourites to win it anyway, referencing back to Hulk and Falcao - they'll give the best of defences a torrid time (just ask Chelsea fans how they felt about Falcao! ), let alone in a competition that doesn't have the best of the best from each country. Players very rarely bad mouth a former manager in fairness. Out of respect, they'll always say "he's a great coach with amazing ideas" as it works as a reference for the manager when trying to find a new club. Maybe AVB's tactics are just more suited to continental teams because thus far, it definitely hasn't worked in his time in England
I actually believe we would be no better off so far if we still had harry as manager given the circumstances
i think we, well no not me because i havent been that way inclined but many of us are showing fickle traits with AVB and this new squad of ours....... when in a battle not everything goes smoothly..but when one looks over one's shoulders and sees many men wearing the same colours as you and supporting you..then it makes your job EASIER.
