Krafty
Well-Known Member
- May 26, 2004
- 4,780
- 2,108
AVB
Game four, and we can now see the AVB effect. While it is too early to say the metamorphosis is complete, it was apparent how the new manager wants to play and with the closing of the transfer window and a chance to work with the full squad the performance was heartening.
Dembele in for Livermore was a simple and obvious change to make but the Belgian glued the defence and the attack together. There seemed to be good cohesion between the midfield three, Lennon and Bale took up good positions, Sandro happily stepped back into defence when the centre backs went wide, all in all the team looked very cohesive and bodes well.
AVB has also, in my opinion, handled himself very well. The media have the knives out for him, mainly on the Lloris incident in the past week and recently comments from Redknapp. AVB has handled himself with dignity, refreshingly talking about the collective and putting ‘Tottenham’ first, rather than himself.
Jermain Defoe
Great start for Jermain, who is showing people that he can play upfront on his own as long as you don’t leave him isolated and just whack balls thirty feet up in the air to him.
He could and should have had more, but it would take a brave man to drop him now and he looks to have finally established himself as the first choice striker for Spurs, and his England career has never been better.
Aaron Lennon
Speaking of England careers, I wonder what Azza has to do to get another look in. Against Reading he was very good, albeit against a full back in Ian Harte that struggled against pace when he was 18, never mind mid forties or whatever he is now.
His cutback for JD’s first was reminiscent of the couple of assists he got when Defoe scored five against Wigan a few seasons ago. Given his role in AVB’s setup he needs to contribute assists and goals, and Lennon looked sharp at the weekend. He needs to add more goals to his game and know when to come in off the right and get into goal scoring positions, but when Lennon takes on his man time and time again it means he is in good form.
Kyle Naughton
Impressed Norwich fans when on loan there last season, many wondered what would happen with the other Kyle (same could be said of Danny Rose right now). He has a chance to get a few games with Benny being injured, and after an indifferent start he got a foot hold into the game and looked accomplished. His pace is useful in this side, and given he is right footed and unlikely to go down the outside on the overlap, may lead to Bale sticking to the left side more often.
Losers
Emmanuel Adebayor
In a one striker system someone was going to lose out and right now it is Adebayor. I don’t think we will see the Togo player in the wide berths, and with Defoe in good form Adebayor will have to wait for his chance. That might come against Lazio on Thursday, but it would need a very strong performance to get ahead of Defoe for Sunday’s game.
Harry Kane
From the little I saw of the Norwich game, Harry looked impressive. The burst of pace as Norwich broke on the counter was something I didn’t think he had (at first I wondered who the player was, not realising it was our Harrikane) but the finish was very poor, and was spotted by those eagle eyed football behemoths that make up the Match of the Day punditry team. Nice to see them supporting young English talent with their witty put downs - although to be fair to Alan Shearer he probably didn’t know Harry Kane was English, on loan from Spurs, or indeed a footballer.
He’ll bounce back but it wasn’t a great way to make your first major impression on the public at large.
Harry Redknapp
When he left the club he was very philosophical, and complementary to our club. He now seems to be sneaking in little digs and cranking up the pressure on his successor, although to be fair to him I don’t think his chums in the media are exactly helping his cause with their brown nosing.
Game four, and we can now see the AVB effect. While it is too early to say the metamorphosis is complete, it was apparent how the new manager wants to play and with the closing of the transfer window and a chance to work with the full squad the performance was heartening.
Dembele in for Livermore was a simple and obvious change to make but the Belgian glued the defence and the attack together. There seemed to be good cohesion between the midfield three, Lennon and Bale took up good positions, Sandro happily stepped back into defence when the centre backs went wide, all in all the team looked very cohesive and bodes well.
AVB has also, in my opinion, handled himself very well. The media have the knives out for him, mainly on the Lloris incident in the past week and recently comments from Redknapp. AVB has handled himself with dignity, refreshingly talking about the collective and putting ‘Tottenham’ first, rather than himself.
Jermain Defoe
Great start for Jermain, who is showing people that he can play upfront on his own as long as you don’t leave him isolated and just whack balls thirty feet up in the air to him.
He could and should have had more, but it would take a brave man to drop him now and he looks to have finally established himself as the first choice striker for Spurs, and his England career has never been better.
Aaron Lennon
Speaking of England careers, I wonder what Azza has to do to get another look in. Against Reading he was very good, albeit against a full back in Ian Harte that struggled against pace when he was 18, never mind mid forties or whatever he is now.
His cutback for JD’s first was reminiscent of the couple of assists he got when Defoe scored five against Wigan a few seasons ago. Given his role in AVB’s setup he needs to contribute assists and goals, and Lennon looked sharp at the weekend. He needs to add more goals to his game and know when to come in off the right and get into goal scoring positions, but when Lennon takes on his man time and time again it means he is in good form.
Kyle Naughton
Impressed Norwich fans when on loan there last season, many wondered what would happen with the other Kyle (same could be said of Danny Rose right now). He has a chance to get a few games with Benny being injured, and after an indifferent start he got a foot hold into the game and looked accomplished. His pace is useful in this side, and given he is right footed and unlikely to go down the outside on the overlap, may lead to Bale sticking to the left side more often.
Losers
Emmanuel Adebayor
In a one striker system someone was going to lose out and right now it is Adebayor. I don’t think we will see the Togo player in the wide berths, and with Defoe in good form Adebayor will have to wait for his chance. That might come against Lazio on Thursday, but it would need a very strong performance to get ahead of Defoe for Sunday’s game.
Harry Kane
From the little I saw of the Norwich game, Harry looked impressive. The burst of pace as Norwich broke on the counter was something I didn’t think he had (at first I wondered who the player was, not realising it was our Harrikane) but the finish was very poor, and was spotted by those eagle eyed football behemoths that make up the Match of the Day punditry team. Nice to see them supporting young English talent with their witty put downs - although to be fair to Alan Shearer he probably didn’t know Harry Kane was English, on loan from Spurs, or indeed a footballer.
He’ll bounce back but it wasn’t a great way to make your first major impression on the public at large.
Harry Redknapp
When he left the club he was very philosophical, and complementary to our club. He now seems to be sneaking in little digs and cranking up the pressure on his successor, although to be fair to him I don’t think his chums in the media are exactly helping his cause with their brown nosing.
