Don't wanna moan just after a victory but I have to say this and ask how boring have we become to watch? Slow, predictable and mundane play. I know it will take time for the players to gel and get on each others wavelength but I think it's more than that. AvB seems so focused on not conceding and not losing that he doesn't seem to be worried about scoring and winning games. The results have been mostly decent this season so far but the performances have been a bit dull and average imo.
When we've actually had two functional full-backs and a playmaker it's worked well. I think that's happened either once or twice, though. We've lacked pace, both literally and in moving the ball around, plus our opponents almost inevitably sit back and try to hit us on the counter, which doesn't help the entertainment factor. Early days, but some of our games were extremely dull last season, too.
So glad you've said this KH. Don't get me wrong I'm happy with another win but our performances are so dull and boring. Today we were very lucky, had Sheriff had a decent finisher, we'd have been put to bed in the first half. The thing is, it's not just this season, we were just as dull at times last season too and but for the heroics of Bale in the second half of the campaign, we'd have probably finished well below where we did. I'm still hoping that once everyone is gelled and back to full fitness we'll see a more entertaining side. Just so frustrating right now.
We have become 'boring Tottenham'. Strict, hard working, narrow and attempting to control play high up the pitch. Under Redknapp we was a counter attacking team, pace on the wingers, expressive players like Modric and Vdv who where told 'to just play'. With Avb and his team setup, playing high up the pitch means there is a lack of space to play football, it's more focused on winning the ball and flooding the centre, yes it can be effective but it's not pleasing to watch. Unfortunately you just have to accept Avb has his methods and much like Mourinho it's keeping it tight, effective and closing down the opposition. Boring but effective. And yes before anyone says 'the football under Redknapp wasn't always great'.... We understand, yet Redknapp is an attacking manager and a team plays in the style of their manager. Avb is professional, strict and predictable. Our team is professional, strict in setup and predictable. Anyhow that's how I view the situation and I'm not expecting us to be an exciting team while Avb is in charge.
LOL, KH, I asked the same question in the match thread, expecting a bit of backlash from everyone telling me to stop moaning. But it appears everyone is thinking exactly the same thing. I don't get excited about watching us anymore. In the past, nothing would ever get in the way of me missing a game unless it was a work commitment. But this season has been completely different. at first it was frustrating. but now I'm bored of the football and bored of being frustrated. COYS, audere est facere!
I remember after we got beat 1-0 at home by Wigan last season, how I posted about Friedel rolling the ball out to the FB who passed it infield to the CB who then passed it sideways to the other CB who then passed it sideways to the other FB. And then the passing was repeated and evetually the ball finished back with Friedel some 9 passes after he had first released it. I also mentioned this after we had won 3-0 at Fulham last seasom. I recall getting some rather unsavoury responses to my stating I was bored out of my mind that afternoon. Anyone who visits WHL these days, will tell you the atmosphere is crap. In the main that is down to the tedious and laborious tactics employed by AVB.
Superb analysis which I agree with 100%. When AVB worked as a scout his emphasis was always on the opposition and stopping them. I just wonder if that's crept into his management. Could explain why you don't concede much and stifle opposition but aren't great in the final third.
I remember you saying this last season. But, i don't think it was anywhere near as obvious as it is now. Maybe it's because we've lost Bale and as a result have lost a lot of excitement and flair. introducing Andros Townsend..... (who you also said would step up) ....and i agreed with you didn't I, Spurcat?
Definitely could do with taking more chances on the ball, there are so many times when there's a risky pass on but the player instead ponders and plays a safe pass, often backwards. It's true that teams are happy to sit back against us, arguably moreso than under Redknapp but the problem's made worse when we play so slowly in games. I don't mind a slower more considered build up but the players have to be free to take risks in possession and switch up the tempo from time to time. There's a great team in there and if AVB can't find it then we'll have to get someone who can in. I'm prepared to wait and see for now, itt's not like we're in crisis with all these wins and cleansheets.
What PNP said. You'd never know it by tonight, but I think I'm seeing signs we're starting to move forward a little faster. I agree we hold the ball up too often and too long, though, and have mostly been dull to watch. Let's see how we do towards the end of this season. We were dull all of last year (minus the dramatics), but we lacked a playmaker the entire year. If we're just as dull with Eriksen and Holtby towards the end of this year, I'll say it's all down to AVB's style of play.
It has not taken a whole season to except that Spurs are dullsville. Last season the brilliance of Bale lifted our spirits through the grey football. This is AVB's style it's not going to change . The school of attritionall bland Mourinho is what he is. I have come to terms because there is no point dreaming of fairy's , it aint going to happen. What ever player's we have , they play to his system , not to their individual strengths . The odd game when everything goes right we can mildly entertain. A team of the collective spirit but not the "Spurs way" that we played under the cheeky chappie. It would have been interesting if the Cockney cowboy had been given this mega wad to spend . In the last few years he had no choice but veterans and free transfers as Levy would not pick a pocket or two. I am sure it would have been one hell of a roller coaster ride. To be fair to AVB he get's results through suffocating opponents through possession . He has shown great loyalty to us as he could have jumped ship in the summer , not like any player who will piss on us , if a better offer is on the table. For this he has my backing for the moment. Chairman Mao football it is .
Playing fast flowing football where we may score a few but concede a few doesn't seem to have won us many trophies of late. So maybe this approach may yield us a few more trophies in the not too distant future. Not a guarantee but I don't think it's a bad road to go down. Nowadays I can sit down to a match knowing we won't get trounced or we won't make stupid, annoying errors at the back often. That in itself is a relief for me. It's a long project it seems but I'd say we are going in the right direction. Discipline first, flair second. The other way round just oozes gung-Ho to me...and that is a risky game.
I'm happy to be getting results over flair for now.next season could well be different,with the players knowing each other,maybe the flair will come,we certainly have the players for it
i don't think this is AVBs style. Porto were good to watch. He's building a team and a squad and we've had a MAJOR overhaul in playing staff. If its still like this at xmas i'll be a bit concerned, but not til then.
Welcome to European football or art least the brand played in Spain, Greece, Portugal. Slow measured calculating with explosive moments sometimes of breath taking skill. This is what we are importing into the PL with people like AVB and Mourinho. I have been saying it for some years, Barcelona are boring are far as I am concerned and so is the one dimensional football that goes with it. British football has always been more exciting because we do not follow 'rules of engagment' but are more likely to allow players to express there individuality. I see a little hope that AVB just might allow a little more Britishness into our game, the one game standing out is the Arsenal game last season, but not seen much since. A number of Spurs fans have been crying for success in recent times even at the expense of our attacking flair. Still want it?
We have made our best start to the season ever? We are joint top on clean sheets. We are second in stats with the number of shots per game. Yes it may be frustrating to watch but we are getting the right results. I would take 1-0 any day over going 1 nil down and trying to win the game. We are not going to play exciting football like Barcelona or RM, we were never going to win anything with Arry's gung-ho approach. At least with AVB I can watch a game and not think we have to score 3 to win because we are definately going to concede at least 1 goal.
We're greedy and we want both! Is that possible? I don't think so unless we find another superstar striking freekick taker, who tracks back, and performs life saving surgery on sick children.
i can't remember the stat, but it was something like the best defensive record in the league always comes in the top 2 positions
