I have to admit, when the appointment of Andre was announced I was sceptical at best, dissapointed and afraid at worse. To my shame I had allowed the tabloid media poison printed about AVB to colour my view of his potential as a Tottenham manager. Less to my shame, I was concerned that we were […]
Manifestation of a Vision
I have to admit, when the appointment of Andre was announced I was sceptical at best, dissapointed and afraid at worse. To my shame I had allowed the tabloid media poison printed about AVB to colour my view of his potential as a Tottenham manager. Less to my shame, I was concerned that we were placing the long term future of our football club in young, relatively inexperienced hands in the most hostile and unforgiving of football environments.
As time progressed and we pressed forward with impressive squad restructuring and the baseless tabloid agenda against this man became laughably obvious my fears relaxed. They were slightly provoked and aroused by the uninspiring start to our season, especially the failure to overcome Norwich and WBA at home, however the concern was tempered by the understanding that a new squad needs time, and a new manager needs even more.
[linequote]The performances and the results have been steadily improving, the assuredness with which we play has been growing and the confidence of the players once again flourishing.'[/linequote]
Since then we have been getting stronger week-on-week. We travelled to Reading and made easy work of them despite the overblown pressure from the media and those who choose to boo at home games (sigh). We then welcomed one of the best teams in Serie A who were so concerned about us they only came for a point, being extremely lucky to leave with it.
The win over QPR had it’s elements of fortune but luck is a part of football and sometimes it smiles at you. There was nothing lucky about the formality at Carlisle (for which I made the trip and got Bronchitis for my troubles) a team of youngsters and fringe players barely went beyond a jog to despatch the League 2 outifit.
Then I made the slightly shorter journey north, to Manchester. I bought this ticket on the full understanding we would roll over and have our bellies tickled by United because that’s what happens, yeah? The win was overwhelming and for Andre, it seemed to mean just as much.
Following the miracle of Manchester we went to Panathinaikos and shrugged out a draw which is an unfair reflection of the game as we were cruising until one of their midfielders produced the through-ball of his career to level things up, still, a point away in Europe is not to be sniffed at. Finally on Sunday we overcame Aston Villa 2-0 but in truth it could have been 5-0. We could have been 2 up in the first five minutes and we totally dominated the game, apart from a solitary mistake from Lloris which almost lead to a goal for the visitors we looked very comfortable.
The performances and the results have been steadily improving, the assuredness with which we play has been growing and the confidence of the players once again flourishing. The difference with confidence in this team and confidence in Harry’s is that tactics were based on letting the players ‘go out and enjoy it’ and simply encouraging them, so when it was going well under Redknapp it was all smiles and no issues, when it went wrong, when it really mattered, too often Redknapp didn’t have the answer. AVB’s empire will not be built on sand, it will be built on hard work on the training ground and tactics in the dressing room as well as good communication with the squad so that when things go wrong he has an answer, a plan B, and the players have a solid basis to work and improve from, even when things are going well.
Slowly but surely AVB is building a vision of a hard working, efficient yet stylish Tottenham and long may it continue.
[author name=”John Edward Toner” avatar=”https://www.thefightingcock.co.uk/forum/data/avatars/l/1/1728.jpg?1349789638″ twitter=”JohnEdwardToner” tag=”JohnEdwardToner[/linequote]
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8 Comments
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11/10/2012 @ 2:20 pm
Well many people got it Wrong about “AVB” Millions got it wrong about a Silly little man with a
Moustache, in our case AVB has talent,the other one was a Jumped up Nothing !! AVB in his previous job had a Few Jumped Up Nothings to contend with,now a Team of Players who are completely
different,a Chairman who is Shrewd,with the backing of an Old Cockney lad(No not Harry),but “Joe E Lewis”,not a Russki !! The Future is Bright it`s Lillywhite !!
11/10/2012 @ 2:46 pm
Nice article, i wanted AVB ever since Redknapp was linked with the England job, as he is a class act and never had a chance to succeed at Chelski. I was unsure we could get him after that experience, or even afford him, but was extremely happy when we did. The man has to do thngs his way which inevitably means change, Chelsea couldn’t deal with it so quickly, Lewis and Levy were prepared to give him the chance. Like you say, his empire will not be built on sand and every time a goal goes in, he celebrates like that is they way he drew it up on the tactics board and practised out on the training pitch. I think we have already seen plan B on several occassions – the half time switch against QPR and the defensive 2nd half at old trafford to name a few, not sure these tactical switches would have happened under Redknapp.
11/10/2012 @ 3:07 pm
As long as he lets the players just get on with it, we’ll be ok.
A back four of Kaboul, Caulker, Gallas and Vertonghen should keep it tight, and be effective at set-pieces etc.
A central midfield three of Sandro, Dembele and Parker, to search and destroy anything that moves.
Get it wide to the flyers asap, put some balls into the box, and Big Ade’s there to stick ’em away.
It’s not rocket science.
AVB seems to be growing into the role and he seems to have cut down on the mumbo-jumbo lately, so that’s progress.
11/10/2012 @ 7:09 pm
I’m not sure about two things. First, you have 4 centre backs playing in defence. Jan looks quite profficient at LB, but when Utd came at us in the second half, a previously out of form Nani skinned him on a couple of occasions. Don’t get me wrong, he can do a job there, but I would like to see BAE slot back in when fit. That leaves, for me, Jan and Younes (when fit again, until then Gallas/Caulker) in the centre, with Walker at left full. Thing about Walker is this: He’s had a poor start to the season so far, but I still think he’ll recover the form he displayed last year. I just think we have one proven full back, and in Walker, someone who has proven he can do the job.
Your Midfield has alarm bells ringing. Sandro & Scotty together? Surely not! The reason why Dembele and Sandro have excelled together is that they both play a defined role, with Moussa being the more adventurous of the two. Sadly, I think Sandro and Scotty would occupy the same areas, leaving us a little short on creativity. Totally agree with Ade up front though. I think as pure finishing goes, Defoe is better, but it’s his ability to link up and bring others into the game in the attacking third that gets Ade the nod.
For Chelsea game:
Lloris (Love Brad, but sadly, I gotta go with my head on this one)
Walker, Gallas, Caulker, Vertonghen
Lennon, Sandro, Dembele, Bale
Dempsey
Ade
(Although, I still might go for Defoe as I’m not sure how match fit ade is. Hopefully AVB will get a good idea when he welcomes them back, all injury free please God, from the international break)
11/10/2012 @ 3:08 pm
Same here. I was worried that my ”loyalty” (whatever you want to call it) to Harry Redknapp would cloud my judgement towards the new coach. Fortunately so far, Villas-Boas is doing and saying almost all the right things. Sure, some of his tactics aren’t spot on, yet, but let’s not forget that he is still new to the job. The win at Old Trafford has eased so much worry and it’s also shifted a lot of media pressure off his back. With another few signings in January, I think we should be challenging the top four once again. COYS.
11/10/2012 @ 3:09 pm
Let I said on numerous occasions, we need to give AVB time to get the team playing to his plans, and now I am very happy that, slowly but surely, we are getting there. Coys
11/10/2012 @ 4:15 pm
Happy with the progress VB is making and the signings we’ve brought in, if we can continue improving on this course, Levey will be proved again to be a shrewd operator
12/10/2012 @ 9:06 am
I am overjoyed with the way the season has been progressing. Levy and AVB has made all the right decisions. They have gone along way to solving the problems with the squad:
– King being allowed to retire giving more stability in defence and a worldclass replacement signed in Verthongen, and the bonus of seeing Caulker progress so well.
– Lloris signing now means we don’t have to rely on a 41 year old however good he is and have on our books the France captain, one of the best goalkeepers in world football.
– Dembele has been great and his partnership with Sandro will only get better and better.
– Adebeyor signing permanently and Dempsey also means we have real quality up front.
– More focus on youth, signing and developing young players, trusting Caulker, Smith, Naughton, Livermore, Townsend as main back-ups in their positions. The young squad players can see they will be given their chance if they work hard enough.
Looking at the team now, we have speed, athleticism, and power. The more fragile elements like VDV and King have been allowed to move on and the squad is more stable. Also AVB gives us a tactical nous, an intelligent, modern approach that Harry simply didn’t have.
I think if we sign someone like Isco in January to give us a bit more quality and unpredictabilty in the final third, this could be a very special season. If we sign him plus a striker like Llorente(i know its a bit of a long shot, but you never know, Hazard said last week he was tempted by Spurs last Jan when we were up there) then anything is possible.
Worldclass training facility opened, work on 50k seater stadium commencing, ABV, Levy, this team,
COYS..COYS..COYS.