Andre Villas-Boas

[Kendall]

4th best start to a season in X amount of years would have been 3rd had Joe Hart not fucked up, swear some people complain for the sake of complaining!

I've heard this loads recently but how do you quantify it? We're hardly had the most nightmareish of starts. When Harry finished 4th the second time we had United, City, Arsenal and Liverpool in our opening 5 fixtures I believe. AVB has had a smooth early fixture list really (though not as smooth as Arsenal's) and he has made hard work of it.

Lets see if after the next 4 games we've still had the best start after 13 games...

 

[Kendall]

Proper football man it would seem. I thought he would struggle not being able to speak the lingo, but it appears his approach to the game is certainly an effective one.

A mate was saying that he actually speaks much better English than he lets on and can communicate fine with players. It's not interview standard so he's not comfortable answering questions in English on camera.

 

[Kendall]

Just been on another thread and their was a team sheet from a few years ago; King, Modric, VDV, Bale (all world class), Ade on form, Lennon flying, BAE playing well, Kaboul & Sandro before injuries etc. Made me realise how much less AVB has than Harry did.

Guess we can't expect too much with the current crop and certainly not the quality of football this old side was capable of

Don't loan out your best left back and weaken the team then. That was AVBs decision. BAE loves the club and sweats for the crest. When he gave that interview years ago portraying himself as a non-football lover and only ij it for the money who would've thought he'd still be coming to watch our games on his Sunday off?

Get him back and get him in the team, we need players like him because this team has absolutely zero identity.

Sandro suffered quite a lengthy injury under Harry as well, Modric had a broken leg for 6 months the year we finished 4th. Then AVB sanctioned the sale of Modric and VDV. You just can't keep defending the man. He does have a say.

 

[ItsBoris]

The way I see it, is that we're 4th and looking pretty shit. Imo we can only improve, so I'm excited for the rest of the season. We have exciting players like Holtby, Lamela and Eriksen who all still need time to adjust to a new league and new teammates. I'm confident when we fully gel, we could be one of the best teams in the league.

I fully believe when those three start performing consistently we're going to start to see the best of Soldado as well

Idk if I buy into this. Imo it's not the league they have to adjust to, but our style of play. They haven't looked great in the Europa league either, which presumably they wouldn't need to adapt to.

Idk how much faith I have that this style of play can be conducive to good attacking football. I support AVB and think he's doing a good job but I think he might be too rigid with the high line philosophy, when our players would still suit a deeper block and playing more on the counter. You have to pick the style that suits the players, and we don't exactly have a team of Xavis and Iniestas so I don't really understand why we're trying to play this way.

 

[ItsBoris]

Proper football man it would seem. I thought he would struggle not being able to speak the lingo, but it appears his approach to the game is certainly an effective one.

To be honest Southampton look like us in several ways but watching them I think Pochettino's managed to instill his ideas quicker and Southampton are already playing in his style fluidly and comfortably which is impressive.

Also I read that he speaks English pretty well but still prefers to do his interviews in Spanish.

 

[Kendall]

Eriksen will continue to suffer if the play is laboured and slow, he does his best work slicing defences when it is instinctive. That can't happen with no movement from the rest of the team and therefore facing 4 player trying to smother him. Lamela apparently was at his best in a counter attacking style. I think he'd rip shit up for Arsenal where they can manufacture space. We don't manufacture space and therefore the style needs to change, because Lamela isnt going to beat 2 or 3 players with raw skill and pace.

 

[SteveH]

Its basically a new team. Its going to take time!

We lost our best player and bought in 7 new and 2 from long term injury, also Townsend and Rose from season long loans.

As much as this current turgid style of football does my head in, AVB is doing a good job. Clean sheets are king.

 

[Shanks]

What about the tight defensive games and still finishing outside the top four?

Yeah that would suck!

 

[ItsBoris]

Eriksen will continue to suffer if the play is laboured and slow, he does his best work slicing defences when it is instinctive. That can't happen with no movement from the rest of the team and therefore facing 4 player trying to smother him. Lamela apparently was at his best in a counter attacking style. I think he'd rip shit up for Arsenal where they can manufacture space. We don't manufacture space and therefore the style needs to change, because Lamela isnt going to beat 2 or 3 players with raw skill and pace.

It needs to change but it won't because the one thing that has been non-negotiable for AVB here and at Chelsea is the high defensive line, which is what limits space in the other half.

 

[jambreck]

Sandro suffered quite a lengthy injury under Harry as well, Modric had a broken leg for 6 months the year we finished 4th. Then AVB sanctioned the sale of Modric and VDV. You just can't keep defending the man. He does have a say.

Modric was out for about three and a half months.

VDV is / was a fading star. Hardly pulling up trees since moving back to Hamburg. Besides, he wanted to leave to help save his marriage.

And if you're blaming AVB in any way for Modric leaving, then it's hard to know how to have a balanced discussion with you about our manager.

 

[Danners9]

This was Ramos matey...

Indeed, stuck in a time warp of amazing results against Hull under previous managers. Those fabulous 0-1s and 0-0s merged into one, each more exciting than the one before.

Seems like Hull have been a boring wall of boring for years at WHL.

 

[Kendall]

Modric was out for about three and a half months.

VDV is / was a fading star. Hardly pulling up trees since moving back to Hamburg. Besides, he wanted to leave to help save his marriage.

And if you're blaming AVB in any way for Modric leaving, then it's hard to know how to have a balanced discussion with you about our manager.

My point is that he was invloved in all those calls and that Harry had his shit too in delivering us to the promised land. Harry even got Bentley playing well when Lennon was out injured the very same season Modric was out. The point is that you can't suggest that AVB hasn't had the luck and Harry had more to work with. Harry made better use of his resources.

 

[Kendall]

I believe under Harry in 2010 against Hull we played an exciting match with around 30 attempts but ppl were mad cause we drew 0-0 n dropped points.Now inspite of winning without attractive football ppl are still whining.We are one confused lot I say

I don't think this reaction is due to one game. I don't understand why people keep thinking that. If we'd been playing well, had an off day against Hull and scraped the 1-0 I'm sure everyone would be elated, but this is a consistent pattern now and it's no surprise when we do come unstuck - West Ham.

 

[SteveH]

I believe under Harry in 2010 against Hull we played an exciting match with around 30 attempts but ppl were mad cause we drew 0-0 n dropped points.Now inspite of winning without attractive football ppl are still whining.We are one confused lot I say

A very confused lot. They want to play the Spurs way - its apparently all about glory?

Funny I can't remember much......

 

[Oshi]

I believe under Harry in 2010 against Hull we played an exciting match with around 30 attempts but ppl were mad cause we drew 0-0 n dropped points.Now inspite of winning without attractive football ppl are still whining.We are one confused lot I say

Boaz Myhill had a impressive display in goal.

 

[eddiebailey]

VDV is / was a fading star. Hardly pulling up trees since moving back to Hamburg. Besides, he wanted to leave to help save his marriage.

A fading star maybe, but can we stop retailing the wanted leave nonsense. VdV has been clear that the only reason he listened to the offer from Hamburg was because AVB at the outset had made him feel unwanted.

 

[carpediem991]

Yes we won yesterday agaist Hull. But it was through a penalty I wouldn't have called. Thank god the ref blew his whistle.

As I say,for the moment the points are on AVBs side and I am happy with that. I am totally happy if we end up in the top 4 with 38 goals.

But we paid about 100 million pounds and the only players who seem to suit this system are Paulinho and Capoue. I know people like Lamela and Eriksen need time but it is clearly to see that this slow moving play doesn't suit them and Soldado frustrates often as well.

I just think that is a shame because I believe we have an absolute classy squad.

But either way the fans should support the Spurs every minute.

 

[sunnydelight786]

Just been on another thread and their was a team sheet from a few years ago; King, Modric, VDV, Bale (all world class), Ade on form, Lennon flying, BAE playing well, Kaboul & Sandro before injuries etc. Made me realise how much less AVB has than Harry did.

Guess we can't expect too much with the current crop and certainly not the quality of football this old side was capable of

That side underachieved imho, it should have wrapped up third as a minimum and not got wankered 5-1 in a FA Cup semi but the blinkered will never admit to that.....

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

I don't think this reaction is due to one game. I don't understand why people keep thinking that. If we'd been playing well, had an off day against Hull and scraped the 1-0 I'm sure everyone would be elated, but this is a consistent pattern now and it's no surprise when we do come unstuck - West Ham.

West Ham was a surprise. That was exactly why 3/4 of SC slit their wrists. And these 'surprises' are a bit thin on the ground too. This season so far: WWWWLWWWWDWLWWW

The best thing that can be said IMO is that we are winning games. Not in the manner we'd like but one thing at a time. At the start of the season most of SC's sensible contingent were saying that given the huge turnover of players we shouldn't expect too much too soon and there would be the odd blip along the way.

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

OP.

When they were giving out brains, did they run out and give you a sandwich?

Thanks for the rating OP. Was it a spam sandwich?