Down With This Sort Of Thing

[jimbo]

Ok then chaps, here's the thing; we have a new manager, a new system and a whole bunch of new players and we're not doing as well as we'd like. Now you might think that Harry should still be in the job, you might think that Villas-Boas is doomed to fail and you might think that you pay your money and that gives you the right to boo and jeer. I might even agree with you (except on the last point). But it doesn't matter.

It may turn out that AVB doesn't cut it, however he's not going to be chopped this early in the season. If he were, we'd be a laughing stock and deservedly so. I'm lucky enough to have been at White Hart Lane when the crowd is in full voice and behind the team and it really makes a difference. I've also been there when the crowd is flat and moany, that makes a difference too.

So you have a choice, you can either get behind the team (surely we all want to do as well as we can, right?) and you can get behind the players even if you can't get behind the manager. You can be a rational, grown up or you can throw your toys out of the pram and take your ball home crying all the way. If you decide that you can't be sensible about it and you're going to boo and whine without giving things a proper chance then I can't stop you, but I urge you to get some perspective. Remember, those cows are far away.

 

[Dougal]

Careful now

 

[specspurs]

Ok then chaps, here's the thing; we have a new manager, a new system and a whole bunch of new players and we're not doing as well as we'd like. Now you might think that Harry should still be in the job, you might think that Villas-Boas is doomed to fail and you might think that you pay your money and that gives you the right to boo and jeer. I might even agree with you (except on the last point). But it doesn't matter.

It may turn out that AVB doesn't cut it, however he's not going to be chopped this early in the season. If he were, we'd be a laughing stock and deservedly so. I'm lucky enough to have been at White Hart Lane when the crowd is in full voice and behind the team and it really makes a difference. I've also been there when the crowd is flat and moany, that makes a difference too.

So you have a choice, you can either get behind the team (surely we all want to do as well as we can, right?) and you can get behind the players even if you can't get behind the manager. You can be a rational, grown up or you can throw your toys out of the pram and take your ball home crying all the way. If you decide that you can't be sensible about it and you're going to boo and whine without giving things a proper chance then I can't stop you, but I urge you to get some perspective. Remember, those cows are far away.

Perfectly put!
I too have my doubts about AVB and was hoping for someone else to be appointed manager but he's here and we must support our players,our team,our club. If fans must criticise, keep that criticism away from WHL and for the pubs or great forums like this one!

 

[walworthyid]

Dirty, filthy beggars!

 

[sweyid]

Ok then chaps, here's the thing; we have a new manager, a new system and a whole bunch of new players and we're not doing as well as we'd like. Now you might think that Harry should still be in the job, you might think that Villas-Boas is doomed to fail and you might think that you pay your money and that gives you the right to boo and jeer. I might even agree with you (except on the last point). But it doesn't matter.

It may turn out that AVB doesn't cut it, however he's not going to be chopped this early in the season. If he were, we'd be a laughing stock and deservedly so. I'm lucky enough to have been at White Hart Lane when the crowd is in full voice and behind the team and it really makes a difference. I've also been there when the crowd is flat and moany, that makes a difference too.

So you have a choice, you can either get behind the team (surely we all want to do as well as we can, right?) and you can get behind the players even if you can't get behind the manager. You can be a rational, grown up or you can throw your toys out of the pram and take your ball home crying all the way. If you decide that you can't be sensible about it and you're going to boo and whine without giving things a proper chance then I can't stop you, but I urge you to get some perspective. Remember, those cows are far away.

I agree. There actually is such a thing as a 12th player (well, for United it's a 13th player when Howard Webb is there) and it should be clear to everyone that booing our own players is contra productive, makes us look bad and is utterly classless.

The squad wasn't put together until late friday night and the players abilities/fitness level/match fitness hasn't been fully assessed yet. I'd be surprised to see us start with Defoe and Livermore another game. Hopefully we will see a team with Demble in CM, alongside Sandro with Ade up top and Lennon/Dempsey on the right battling it out for a spot in the starting XI. Having internationals next weekend will, hopefully, benefit us as the team will get a couple of weeks to really settle.

As fans we need to be patient, I know it's not easy as we all want to see Spurs win week in, week out, but these things take time. We've got quality in the squad, that's apparent for anyone to see. Give AVB, the system and the players some time and we'll be fine. Having a bad start to the season doesn't mean we'll end up relegation fodder. We were challenging for the title last year and still ended up at 4th. Nothing is written in stone and I for one have faith in AVB and our current squad. There is enough depth and quality to get us into the top 4.

 

[Dougal]

I'm genuinely surprised people can't grasp this basic idea but thanks for breaking it down for them anyway. Next time we'll need charts, models and maybe some plasticine. I loved plasticine. Of course I called it mala when I moved to England, much to the amusement of the English kids. Bastards.

 

[tttcowan]

Personally I'd never boo but I would like to think it's more born out of frustration for whats happened rather than an expectation of performance...

I'll get some neg rep probably for saying this but the way I see it, we could very easily see a decline back to mediocrity over the next couple of seasons... When we're back regularly scrapping around the 8th in the table mark in a couple of seasons time we'll get the atmosphere back I imagine. That's how I see it going. Once we're back to being pretty shit and have fuckall expectations we'll get back the old fan attitude back of making as much noise as possible regardless of what happens. Every cloud has a silver lining I guess? Sack manager + sell world class players + net spend of positive 20 mill over 4 seasons = mediocrity.

 

[Dundalk_Spur]

Personally I'd never boo but I would like to think it's more born out of frustration for whats happened rather than an expectation of performance...

I'll get some neg rep probably for saying this but the way I see it, we could very easily see a decline back to mediocrity over the next couple of seasons... When we're back regularly scrapping around the 8th in the table mark in a couple of seasons time we'll get the atmosphere back I imagine. That's how I see it going. Once we're back to being pretty shit and have fuckall expectations we'll get back the old fan attitude back of making as much noise as possible regardless of what happens. Every cloud has a silver lining I guess? Sack manager + sell world class players + net spend of positive 20 mill over 4 seasons = mediocrity.

Over the past few days your anger has been easily detected, and in a small way I understand it.

However, rationally thinking about it, Modric was always going to go, we all knew that, and VDV wanted to go for the sake of his family, we would all do the same, there is no shame in the club granting this wish, and fair play to them.

Yesterday I was as frustrated as everyone else, yes we looked as if we had no creativity, confused by the starting 11 and subs, furious at another late goal conceded, and exasperated at the general lack of cohesion. You have to remember we are rebuilding, and in a small amount of time we will improve greatly. Maybe in the back of your mind write of CL place challenge and support the club, in the knowledge that we are getting stronger, just relax expectations for a while.

Watching Mousa Dembele reminded me of watching Moussa Saib - do you remember what it was like back then. Try and find some videos of us around then, maybe you will appreciate what we are building towards now.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

I'm fully behind avb, however we got to get a win against Reading. The pressure is already mounting with the punks on ssn running the "worst start in 4 years" headline.

And with man u coming up after things could start to get a bit desperate. I just hope Levy is also fully behind avb ad things could get worse before they get better.

 

[tttcowan]

Over the past few days your anger has been easily detected, and in a small way I understand it.

However, rationally thinking about it, Modric was always going to go, we all knew that, and VDV wanted to go for the sake of his family, we would all do the same, there is no shame in the club granting this wish, and fair play to them.

Yesterday I was as frustrated as everyone else, yes we looked as if we had no creativity, confused by the starting 11 and subs, furious at another late goal conceded, and exasperated at the general lack of cohesion. You have to remember we are rebuilding, and in a small amount of time we will improve greatly. Maybe in the back of your mind write of CL place challenge and support the club, in the knowledge that we are getting stronger, just relax expectations for a while.

Watching Mousa Dembele reminded me of watching Moussa Saib - do you remember what it was like back then. Try and find some videos of us around then, maybe you will appreciate what we are building towards now.

I don't want to hijack the thread and start banging on about modric but we did indeed know he was going and for whatever the reason failed to replace him... We knew for a full year before he was going that he was going and had 3 transfer windows to find some fore of replacement and we didn't... Now, if we learnt anything from this complete fuckup we should now be looking for a replacement to Bale also for when he inevitably leaves. We desperately needed wing cover in this window anyway, it makes complete sense to of signed someone who could potentially take Bales position "if" and when he goes... But we didn't do that either.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Seeing how frustrated Bale was yesterday, things have to improve or we will certainly lose him in the not too distant future and that will be a devastating blow. We could hardly blame a player of his calibre for wanting more success.

I too have had doubts about AVB's appointment since it was announced. His lack of experience and his confusing pitch-side performances don't augur well. I'm really not sure he's the man for the job but I hope he'll prove me and all the other doubters wrong. The problem is he will be learning at our expense. Seeing Chris Hughton at the Lane yesterday, I had a twinge moment of wishing we could do a swap because he seems to be developing into a very astute manager and I always liked his attitude.

How can we hope to become a top club if we lose first class players like Modric as soon as they realise they aren't going to win titles and silverware with us? Wages may be a consideration too for many players and we know we can't match what they can earn elsewhere. It's a vicious circle really when we lose the kind of players who could help us to achieve what we and they want. It takes time and patience and players like Modric run out of both. Bale has time but his patience may also run out.

I'm usually a glass half full optimist but I'm finding it difficult to feel that way about this season right now, even though it's very early days and I still desperately hope for a transformation, especially with the new signings although after Friedel's performance yesterday, it would be madness to drop him. The point we got was down to him. He does have age against him but will Lloris be patient enough to be second string this season? Perhaps they could be rotated and then selected on their performances.

I know that the new players haven't had time to really blend in and make it a coherent team but Dembele yesterday was the one really bright spark in a frustrating game. He must start, not be confined to the bench and brought on as a sub and I would prefer to see Ade alongside him than Defoe. If the latter continues to play the way he did yesterday, that new contract will make us look ridiculous. He has been great but is far too inconsistent and you can't teach a player who is offside as often as he is to read the game better.

I certainly don't expect some of you to agree with some or maybe all of the points I've raised but I felt I had to sound off about the things worrying me about our team at the disappointing start of this new season.

 

[hughy]

Unfortunately there are some thick ****s that will never understand it like this, and you'll never ever manage to get the message through to them. But good luck!

 

[rez9000]

Unfortunately there are some thick ****s that will never understand it like this, and you'll never ever manage to get the message through to them. But good luck!

So true. It's particularly bad at the moment, with some truly frightening crap being posted.

I'm just thankful that none of them have any involvement with the club (obviously other than their dubious support) because Christ alone knows what they would have done to Spurs by now.