AVB well done son.....

[gilzeantheking]

A great article from Sean Ingle at The Guardian

AVB finds his soul at Spurs

Even amid the battle fog of a north London derby, with his Spurs side under pressure in the opening half hour, André Villas-Boas was able to smile. The contrast with his final days at Stamford Bridge, when his features were as sunken as Chelsea's Premier League position, is stark. When the axe came, exactly a year ago on Monday, it was almost an act of mercy.

Sure, there was sympathy. There usually is for Roman Abramovich's discarded whims. Being Chelsea manager is like playing Pac-Man: you know the ghosts will catch you in the end, no matter how many points you collect. But when the game-over sign flashed after 256 days, Villas-Boas left with dangling questions about his management style.

What is striking at Spurs is not just that those questions have been answered, but how quickly they have been forgotten. Remember how Villas-Boas was hammered for playing a high defensive line to the point of obstinacy, even when it was obvious that John Terry's legs whirred at 33rpm in a 78rpm world? And the whispers that he lacked emotional intelligence, for failing to understand that egos need massaging not treating with coarse sandpaper?

We are watching a different man now. Chelsea should consider how much of that is down to Villas-Boas – and how much can be explained by a new environment. Look at the way Gareth Bale hugged him and his team-mates after his winning goal at West Ham. And then remember how he was mocked at Chelsea for suggesting his players celebrate together.

The decision to allow Hugo Lloris time to bed in could have proved tricky, especially with the France manager Didier Deschamps heckling from across the Channel, but Villas-Boas handled it well, sticking with Brad Friedel initially and waiting for Lloris to adjust before making the switch. Meanwhile, the reintegration of Michael Dawson and Tom Huddlestone shows a willingness to admit he was wrong that few peers possess.
Villas-Boas often deflects questions about himself, insisting that it is the group that matters. Ultimately it is. But the manager creates the mood music. On Tottenham's pre-season tour to the United States he encouraged staff and players to dine together, and even paid for a slap-up meal from his own admittedly deep pockets (something he repeated before Christmas). When Spurs beat Southampton he picked up the tab after his players threw their shirts into the crowd.

The happy environment extends to the training pitch. Gary Mabbutt, who has known times good and bad at Spurs, was struck with how happy everyone was when he visited the club recently. He sensed that people wanted to work for Villas-Boas, who knows the names of all the staff and makes it clear he appreciates what they do, whatever their position.

The assistant head coach, Steffen Freund, has also proved a smart acquisition, not just for his insight but also for his unrelenting enthusiasm, even when the rain is coming down sideways. And then there is the nitty-gritty of training and tactics. Villas-Boas plans every training session weeks in advance. There are no long runs or heavy weights; on the pitch everything is done with the ball. And there is a vigorous injury-prevention strategy in place to try to limit the number of players lost to non-impact issues.

There is fun but there is flexibility, too. One former player told me that the squad always get the day off after a game but following their dramatic victory over West Ham, Villas-Boas realised that everyone was buzzing and let them take it easy on Wednesday, too.

Data and videotape are also scrunched and crunched, and adjustments made: when Spurs developed a habit of conceding late goals Villas-Boas thought they were losing focus so he made the last part of training the most intense. It worked. He has also tried 4-4-2, with mixed results, for the first time in his career.
All things considered, Villas-Boas probably deserves more credit than he has received. Especially given the 2-1 victory against Arsenal extended Spurs' unbeaten league games to 12 – their longest ever in the Premier League.
Of course, things are not perfect. If they were, Spurs would be eyeing the title not the Champions League places. And while they are better organised under Villas-Boas, rigidity sometimes trumps fluidity. That is not a surprise: losing Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart, both excellent one-touch passers, meant the engine room lost some of its grease and groove.

And while Mousa Dembélé has been excellent, he, along with most of Spurs' midfield, like to take their opponents on. Rarely do they receive and release immediately. The signing of Lewis Holtby, a keen recycler, should continue to add variety to their attacks.

Off the field, chairman and manager are at last pulling in the same direction. Villas-Boas wanted João Moutinho and surely craves a 25-goals-a-season striker. But negotiations are done in the boardroom, not through his media mates. He also takes a deep interest in the youth teams, a subject that was far from Harry Redknapp's heart. Even in these early days there is a sense that Villas-Boas is planning for long-term.

Compare that with Chelsea, a club who would make Buddha twitchy. At White Hart Lane, the funds may not always be available but at least Villas-Boas has less reason to fear of the knock at the door, or the knife in the back.

http://www.guardian....-boas-tottenham

 

[idontgetit]

Game plan was spot on tbh. Let them have the ball where we are happy for them to have it. Let them feel comfortable then hit them on the counter when their concentration slips. Worked a treat and apart from Ramseys lame shot they never looked like creating anything. Their goal was a freak as well tbh as it was nevr going in til it hit Bale.

Wenger was out thought and his team outplayed and judging by his post game comments he didn't even realise it.

I think Wenger gets more stick than he deserves, I think he got it right and was just simply beaten by a better team. He knows his defence is poor and if theyd let us have loads of the ball they would eventually have conceded without ever threatening us. A lame inevitable death. Theyre not Stoke, they can't set up to park the bus. Their only option was to use their talented midfield to dominate the less technical Parker and Dembele, play a high line and press hard to break up our passing game and in doing so isolate and starve Bale and Lennon of the ball. For the first 30 mins it actually worked, if theyd got a goal they could have then comfortably played on the counter. It just turned out we were too good in defence and they were poor. He risked it and lost. I have more respect for that than the boring football most clubs bring to the Lane

 

[Harry_Snatch]

I think Wenger gets more stick than he deserves, I think he got it right and was just simply beaten by a better team. He knows his defence is poor and if theyd let us have loads of the ball they would eventually have conceded without ever threatening us. A lame inevitable death. Theyre not Stoke, they can't set up to park the bus. Their only option was to use their talented midfield to dominate the less technical Parker and Dembele, play a high line and press hard to break up our passing game and in doing so isolate and starve Bale and Lennon of the ball. For the first 30 mins it actually worked, if theyd got a goal they could have then comfortably played on the counter. It just turned out we were too good in defence and they were poor. He risked it and lost. I have more respect for that than the boring football most clubs bring to the Lane

I agree with everything you say. I am giving him stick because of what he said after the game. He didn't say that he got beat by a better side. He said he was upset because he thought they played too well to get nothing from the game. I am saying his team was controlled and managed and then picked off. If his judgement of the game was all that then he would have seen that.

 

[Supersi32]

I derided the appointment of AVB as an unmitigated disatster for Spurs, clearly I was wrong.

 

[SteveH]

I think Wenger gets more stick than he deserves, I think he got it right and was just simply beaten by a better team. He knows his defence is poor and if theyd let us have loads of the ball they would eventually have conceded without ever threatening us. A lame inevitable death. Theyre not Stoke, they can't set up to park the bus. Their only option was to use their talented midfield to dominate the less technical Parker and Dembele, play a high line and press hard to break up our passing game and in doing so isolate and starve Bale and Lennon of the ball. For the first 30 mins it actually worked, if theyd got a goal they could have then comfortably played on the counter. It just turned out we were too good in defence and they were poor. He risked it and lost. I have more respect for that than the boring football most clubs bring to the Lane

I agree 'but' AVB used our pressing and hunting in packs style like a 'wrecking ball' and once we prized the ball away from their midfield, their defence, or lack of it, was the capitalised on. We should have scored two more to be honest, Gylfe and Bale should both scored again.

 

[idontgetit]

I agree 'but' AVB used our pressing and hunting in packs style like a 'wrecking ball' and once we prized the ball away from their midfield, their defence, or lack of it, was the capitalised on. We should have scored two more to be honest, Gylfe and Bale should both scored again.

Yep agree we were tactically brilliant, very professional. I just think that if Arsenal had sat back against us they would have been taken to pieces. Taking us on was very dangerous but their only real hope of beating us. A chance to win but potential of getting cut up by our pace or an inevitable slow pathetic death. He made the right choice. Its just funny seeing Arsenal fans slagging off a manager who they cant replace. They need some better players, not a new manager

 

[Capocrimini]

Love him.

Let me pose this horrible question, might warrant a thread of its own. Is AVB more important to the club and the fans, or Gareth Bale?

 

[Wardy]

Love him.

Let me pose this horrible question, might warrant a thread of its own. Is AVB more important to the club and the fans, or Gareth Bale?

Quality players come and go, but quality managers are rare to find. AVB > Bale

AVB has pushed Bale to the next level by changing his tactical awareness and moving his position

 

[SteveH]

Yep agree we were tactically brilliant, very professional. I just think that if Arsenal had sat back against us they would have been taken to pieces. Taking us on was very dangerous but their only real hope of beating us. A chance to win but potential of getting cut up by our pace or an inevitable slow pathetic death. He made the right choice. Its just funny seeing Arsenal fans slagging off a manager who they cant replace. They need some better players, not a new manager

Spot on - I'm not so sure that all the pressure will not drive AW away, he looks quite unwell at times.

 

[NEVILLEB]

Yes, well done AVB.

You didn't start the season well (formation, Dawson, Huddlestone, VDV, etc), but you have learnt from your mistakes and now look a real catch. It's still too early to judge but we're looking good.

 

[NEVILLEB]

Quality players come and go, but quality managers are rare to find. AVB > Bale

AVB has pushed Bale to the next level by changing his tactical awareness and moving his position

Bale is more important. He's our match winner and was even when Redknapp was here.

 

[Wardy]

Here's some stats I found interesting:

AVB at Chelsea:
Played: 40
Won: 19
Drawn: 11
Lost: 10

Win %: 47.50

AVB at Spurs:
Played: 40
Won: 21
Drawn: 11
Lost: 8

Win %: 52.50


A hero at Spurs, a loser at Chelsea. Funny how expectations change everyone's perception

 

[punky]

Whilst I've always said that our team has underperformed this season, I thought our organisation against arsenal was superb. Much better than in the Harry days. Our passing may not be as slick but more importantly is getting the job done.

 

[SteveH]

Here's some stats I found interesting:

AVB at Chelsea:
Played: 40
Won: 19
Drawn: 11
Lost: 10

Win %: 47.50

AVB at Spurs:
Played: 40
Won: 21
Drawn: 11
Lost: 8

Win %: 52.50


A hero at Spurs, a loser at Chelsea. Funny how expectations change everyone's perception

If you put the differing cost of the two squad in the mix, the reasons becomes crystal clear as to the excellent job AVB currently doing.

 

[hodsgod]

Love him.

Let me pose this horrible question, might warrant a thread of its own. Is AVB more important to the club and the fans, or Gareth Bale?

I have always believed the manager is the key to a good team. Just look at Fergie and Wenger. AVB may be the one we have been waiting for, I bloody hope he is and we have twenty years of success with him.

 

[lillywhites61]

Go back to my posts last June (well don't, I'm sure you have a life ) ....was desperate for us to get him.

I wAs with you Pinky, was totally behind it. I am so glad this has come to fruition

 

[tototoner]

AVB = The Special One

(For THFC at least)

Working wonders with our squad. And the atmosphere is coming back to the lane.

Thank you Mr Croaky throat

for how long though if Levy doesn't back him ?

 

[Harry_Snatch]

Love him.

Let me pose this horrible question, might warrant a thread of its own. Is AVB more important to the club and the fans, or Gareth Bale?

Hold on a minute. The season hasn't finished yet for either of them. Let them all finish the season as they have been going then ask this question.

 

[Mattspur]

I always thought he was the right man for the job and was appalled by the negativity towards him from what seemed like a majority of fans. Booing him in his first few home games. Rubbishing his tactics and ability. Calling for Levy to go for sacking HR and appointing AVB. You don't deserve to share in the joys he will bring to our club.

 

[Drexl]

Not sure I would even swap him for Mourinho now.

Has the potential to be our Fergie, he is only 35, there are many players in the premiership older than him.