"Injury problems and no Moutinho leave Villas-Boas' Tottenham midfield rudderless"

[Misfit]

good article, but i don't quite think moutinho is the difference between us looking great and us looking like cat sick.

Not the difference between cat sick and great but with an intelligent ball player who would dictate we'd not look as rudderless and toothless imo. Please everyone, just think back to some of the stale, stodgy shit we were served when the likes of Zok and JJ were in CM. That's not to denigrate them - they simply weren't that kind of player.

The point stands though. Those players make everyone better and the team benefits massively as a whole.

We simply don't control games anymore. Sure even with Mod etc we didn't always exactly cover ourselves in glory but right now - JFC.

 

[ravo]

Excellent article.

 

[AngerManagement]

But isn't this very much the Spurs of recent years? Under-performing against supposed minnows but producing against the big teams? Not sure that's necessarily an AVB-introduced trait. Annoying, yes, but not new

Yes somewhat but I think it has been more evident this year in terms of performance

Whether that is because Harry was a better motivator and got more out of the squad at his disposal, because we had better players and match winners like Modric and VdV who could get us out of jail in times like that or a combination of the two I am not so sure

Yes I agree there is a level the same old issues but to me anyway this season's performances have been significantly poorer and less dynamic/exciting than any other season since days of Ramos

 

[CJMurray]

I hate it when people point out that we had many 'one of them days' type games under Redknapp at the lane. We had them yes, but nowhere near the ratio we are experiencing them now. We have played 5 home games now and been consistently good in one. That was against Villa who look diabolical. Norwich was awful, West Brom was great for an hour, Chelsea was embarrassing in the first half and Wigan was virtually unacceptable.

Under Harry we had these type of games at home about 3/4 times a season. If we keep going at our current rate I dread to think where we will finish!

Seriously need to buck our ideas up. The away games in the cup competitions have been very poor too.

I have lost a bit of faith in the team already this season and when it comes to making decisions regarding on field stuff I have zero faith in Levy after the past two years.

Yes, but under Harry we had Modric, van der Vaart, Adebayor, King, Kaboul, Parker and Assou-Ekotto all playing. Thats SEVEN first team players out injured, and some not replaced. Give it time, we all know we need a creative midfielder. If we get one of those in Jan and the performances are still not coming, then worry.

We still haven't managed to field a first XI in the league this season, some people need to realise that and get some perspective.

 

[nav007_2000]

Yes we know we need a creative midfielder. Question is, will Levy stump up the cash and sign one?

 

[arnoldlayne]

Brilliant article, was it written by a Spurs fan perhaps? I seemed to nod my head every 20 seconds reading it. Not done that for any article in the past.

Thanks for the post, rep given!

He is a Spurs fan

 

[Leachie]

Decent article but if the players not fitting AVB's system is the problem, then why doesn't he try a system that suits the players available to him?

We are told he is an intelligent, highly tactical manager therefore this should not be a difficult thing for him to do.

 

[Super Tottenham]

Yes we know we need a creative midfielder. Question is, will Levy stump up the cash and sign one?

Levy will pretend to make an effort to get AVB's choice, and come back to him on deadline day with a bargain option that most likely wont fit the bill. JJetset said on twitter today that AVB basically got "levyed" in the summer and that AVB acted like a kid over it. I expect more of the same in January.

 

[SteveH]

If I was Levy I would not spend £25m on Moutinho - I would rather go for someone who has played in the EPL.

Anderson @Man U - just as an example.

But this all is because Levy did not buy - don't agree.