Like others have said, 12 games is nothing and he hasn't had a full squad to choose from because of injuries. Also remember AvB wanted Moutinho and like us all thought he was coming and then it fell through. He has made a few mistakes but yesterday showed he is willing to change formation when needed. To call him a clown is unfair and wrong.
Curious post-match speech by AVB... I agree with the guy on the video, 5-2 (from 0-1) isn't a respectable scoreline despite being down to 10 men. We held for a 0-0 draw a few years back against you guys when Eboue got a red in the first half. Like Wenger said "we have won games with 10 men, and lost games with 10 men".
I've never liked AVB so I'm certainly not going to criticise you HIAG for calling him a clown. I mentioned in the Spurs vs Arsenal thread that he did put a slight smile on my face by playing 4-4-2, leaving Dempsey on the bench and starting Lloris but I didn't agree with his defensive selections. A right footer at LB vs Walcott is poor decision making, regardless of Naughton's speed, Walcott's pace against someone on their weaker side was surely going to cause damage and my worries were proved right as Naughton was ran ragged and looked very uncomfortable against a player faster than him. Naughton would be fine vs wide midfielders/ wingers with less pace but against Walcott I felt he was in for a long afternoon. Also didn't like that Vertonghen AND Gallas were at CB, neither are strong in the air and when Arsenal had the likes of Giroud, Mertesacker (who scored from a header), Vermaelen and Koscielny all starting, I was worried with the lack of aerial power we had and I think one of Kaboul/ Caulker/ Dawson MUST start to ensure we have someone powerful in the air to deal with the oppositions height. I'm pretty confident in saying had Dawson started, he'd have been the one marking Mertesacker and I'm not saying he definitely would have prevented Mertesacker from being first to the ball, there's a much better chance of Dawson winning an aerial battle with him than Gallas/ Vertonghen. So I do feel AVB f*cked up there. Like you I was also surprised at AVB's post match comments, we were better in the first 15 minutes (up to Ade's dismassal which royally f*cked us, it has to be said) but from then on, it was pretty much Arsenal bar Bale's great solo goal and one or two shots. I've never been impressed with AVB's preference with defensive decisions, whether that's setting up with 2 DM's at home, not starting Defoe and Adebayor more often when we've had the chance or pretty much making defensive substitutions regardless of whether we've been in the lead or not. I've reverted back to this point many times in previous posts but Levy said that he got rid of Harry to move forward, in my opinion AVB is not a move forward or step up on Harry, AVB has about 3/4 years managerial experience and in that time he flopped at Chelsea and managed a Porto side with Hulk, Falcao, Moutinho etc, all of whom that if Paul Jewell managed out there, he too could have won titles. Despite it was a massive blow to me when I heard Harry had been sacked, if we were going to get someone who'd be a step up then I'd consider someone like Moyes/ Blanc/ Klopp or even Martinez (who I think is destined for a top job sooner or later) as a person who could possibly take us to another level. I'd have even had Rodgers over AVB, even though I'd say neither are better than Harry, Rodgers' philosophy and style of football he got his Swansea team to play was a huge credit to him and would have been interesting to see how he could have implemented his style on a squad that already loved to attack when under Harry. I personally feel AVB is a step backwards and while I do agree with many that Levy f*cked us and AVB over in the Summer, we can't always blame Levy nor injuries as to why we've played so poorly at times, the manager MUST take a lot of the blame. I'm sure that given time, AVB can potentially become a very good manager but as of right now, he's far too inexperienced to be working with a club that has very his aspirations. He needs to learn the English game a lot better and personally I don't think he's at a club where he has that time to develop himself as well as his team.
I don't rate AVB as a manager at all but you can't judge him based on the fact he was sacked at Chelsea: Jose Mourinho (CL winner at 2 different clubs, winner of UEFA Cup, Winner of major leagues in Italy, Spain and England) Luis Philipe Scolari (World Cup Winner) Carlo Ancelotti (Serie A winner as player & manager, won the clubs first double, 2X CL winner). Far bigger and better managers than AVB have been sacked for less it's not fair to judge him based on what he did at Chelsea, the fact is he was given a virtually impossible task with the group of players/time he was given. The only major worry with AVB is that he doesn't learn from his mistakes and is afraid to criticise any player. That can't happen. Losing 5-2 at Arsenal should not be good enough for Spurs and is a sign standards are already slipping under his regime. I can't imagine Bill Nicholson or any previous Spurs manager worth his salt praising a team after a 5-2 defeat at the home of their biggest rivals. AVB has however lost his best CB, best MF on international duty and been given only 2 competent strikers to work with and is expected to get results against the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal. Apart from the fact Spurs look ridiculously unfit which has led to the side conceding late goals in almost every game I'm not sure how AVB could do that much better with what he's been given? G*llas would struggle to get into most Championship sides. Kyle Walker looks inept and devoid of any confidence and Kyle Naughton being played out of position. If you weaken the squad as Levy has opted to you have to get in a better/more experienced manager than the one you let go if you want to at least sustain your league position. Nobody will convince me that AVB is a better/more experienced manager than Redknapp, nobody. If I were a Spurs fan, I'd be far angrier with Levy than AVB. AVB (IMO) is just Levy's puppet.
Mertesacker scored from open play, having stayed up after a corner. Gallas was marking Giroud and Thudd had tracked Mertesacker only to stop concentrating and lose him as the ball came in. So somehow if Dawson had been selected they would have swapped and Thudd would have picked up Giroud? The only thing that is currently factually true about AVB is that its too early to tell. His job would be much easier and he would be more likely to succeed if Spurs fans got behind him rather than wanted him out.
This is what he said... Andre Villas-Boas refused to blame Emmanuel Adebayor for Tottenham’s 5-2 defeat by Arsenal and instead launched an impassioned - at times delusional - defence of his team. The Spurs boss insisted his side were in control for the whole game, claiming they dictated proceedings even after Adebayor was sent off for a wild challenge on Santi Cazorla after 17 minutes. ‘We were very, very good from the first minute to the last with 11 men and with 10 men,’ said Villas-Boas. ‘We feel it could have gone either way. We were in control from the first minute to the last, we’re proud of what we have done. ‘The feeling about the result is indifferent when we played so well and we took the risk in the second half to be so bold and play with three at the back.’ Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...VB-claim-Tottenham-control.html#ixzz2CasojeRc Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook Mind-boggling!...that is all.
It's not about swapping, if Dawson was on the pitch at the time Huddlestone surely wouldn't have been the one marking Mertesacker. Open play or not when Walcott was on the far side looking to cross, you'd expect your top aerial defender to mark their most lethal threat... Their most lethal players in the air are Giroud and Mertersacker, as Mertesacker is much taller than Giroud, logic would tell me that Dawson would have marked Mertesacker and then Gallas would have marked Giroud (Vertonghen would have played LB and therefore he would've been trying to prevent Walcott). I'm not saying the goal definitely would have been prevented and it's only my opinion but if Dawson did start (which I think he should've done anyway as we weren't strong at CB in the air) then I reckon the chance of stopping Mertesacker could have been greater than what it was without him.
Whether he is or isn't doesn't make him a better manager. Yes, Levy is at fault, but AVB is still a clown.
Disagree SoS I'm sorry to say, Mertesacker had not gone back from a previous corner and came late into the box with Hudd at the back stick, our CB's were facing the play the other way and had already 'picked up', there was no time to swap duties, Hudd just failed to do his, I don't expect him to win the header against someone 6ft5, but he could tussle and put him off. In the end he did neither, worse, he lost his man altogether. There just isn't the same prep time in open play as to a set piece, you're not disagreeing with that surely?
Really? Tottenham were miles better than Arsenal starting off until the red. Showed great character in the second half away. I don't see any reason to complain, give him time.
Whilst I agree with you Notso, Huddlestone should be able to compete for a header with somebody's that 6'5". He's 6'3" himself and could do with working on his aerial ability.
He defended adebayor in public, didn't slag off the teams effort in public and he's getting slated for being delusional. If he'd done either thing he'd have been slated for bad man management. The same thing happened with friedal and Lloris...he kept the in form keeper and got slated for bad man management then when he gave Lloris a start he got slated for ending Brads premier starts record. the bloke can't win.
Can I be your new manager? I will get your team playing good solid football. My first task would be to kick ade's ass, make him cry and get him to lick my boot (my boot will have turd on it).
This - oh so much this. With injuries and another poor transfer window in the Summer, I don't really know what people were expecting - no transition? AVB is not a miracle worker and our squad isn't nearly as good as it was last season. Yep I'll freely acknowledge some of his subs at times have been...odd to say the least - and his inflexibility with formations etc have also been poor. He's been with us for 12 games in the PL. 12 games. That's not even 1/3 of the season. If we're still up **** creek after 24 games, well then I might entertain some of these suggestions. But until then - this whole thread is a bit premature.
I also have some really nice suits, so I will really look the part on the touchline. I'll sign autographs before and after the game which you can frame and put on your wall.
Your a brave man. The orthodox body of phillevys will be totally deranged with your enlightened views.
