My only problem with the Villas Boas regime

[Flightrisker]

I was sold on Villas Boas from day one. There's something about him that just seems to fit with Spurs. Probably it's that most of us, being Spurs fans, will always tend to go for the slim chance of glory/large chance of failure option over the safe but maybe unspectacular one. That's why we went with Ramos over Jol, Villas Boas over Harry/Moyes. We love the idea that this might.. just.. work. And so far it's... well, it's a work in progress.

However there is something not quite right with what we're seeing so far, and this is not meant to fuel a Villas Boas bashing thread but more an honest discussion on what is he up to. Clearly he got burned at Chelsea. He tried to move too fast, too soon and alienated some of the seniors and lost the fans very quickly. However I feel he's almost guilty of the opposite at Tottenham. I do not and did not expect 4th in his first year. To lose King, Modric and Rafa in one window, bring in a new manager and philosophy and maintain our ground is not realistic. And currently we are on the path to a "just outside the top 4"" finish. Which I would have no really issue with if we were building the team and the philosophy that will push for 4th next season and for the next 5 seasons. But we're not.

We are playing a goalie, a very good goalie albeit, but not a world class one, over one of Europe's hottest prospects. Now if Brad was 36 and Lloris was 20 I'd say fair enough. But Lloris will need to take over next year. I'd much rather have him settling in now as opposed to sitting on the bench every week. If Villas Boas continues with playing Brad in the PL Lloris will have 3 more games this year. We need to look to the future and use this season to get a system and a familiar back line who will be able to push on next year. Brad's been awesome for us but Villas Boas needs to start looking at a long term plan. Which brings us to....

Gallas. I get that Villas Boas wants a leader out there but when your vocal leader isn't leading by example with his play then it's a bit useless. Gallas has cost us several goals already and if you look at the back line I would argue that he is the reason we are not playing the famous Villas Boas high line. And if we are not playing the Villas Boas high line then I don't see why Dawson shouldn't be in ahead of Gallas anyway. I'd much rather Villas Boas just takes this season to invest in the youth and get the team used to playing the high line. Play Vertonghen in his natural position (he's been guilty of costing us goals too from LB). Pair him with Caulker til Younes is back. Play the Kyles as full backs. A back line of those 4 would be able to play the high line no problem and would allow the rest of the team get used to this this season instead of being back to the drawing board next season learning this new system. Speaking of systems...

Pick a formation and make the players play it. No I'm not saying to put square pegs in round holes, well maybe a little... Right now we play mainly a 4231/451/4411, pretty much anything but the 433 we expected. Obviously losing Dembele hasn't helped but even with him there it was a 4231. This formation is killing our creativity in the middle of the park, mainly due to the failure to secure Moutinho as the metronome for the team. As much as I love how Hudd strikes a ball he's just not good enough to play that role. But again I'd rather see us play it with what we have and get the team used to it than just to carry on with this patently uncreative system for the sake of it. If we're gonna lose the Wigan at home lets lose in a way that we learn something from. Dempsey, and I feel bad for him to be honest, is just not fitting in right now. I don't think we should be playing with a number 10 in this system but rather with 3 proper midfielders and 2 wide strikers and a 9. Dempsey would be a great squadie to cover all three of the 3 front positions but I'd not have him starting anymore. Also with us not playing 433 and with us not playing the high pressure game you ave to wonder what was the point of trading in Rafa for Dempsey. There's nothing Dempsey is doing now that Rafa couldn't have. Well maybe lasting 90 mins, but I'd rather have 60-mins of Rafa and 30 of Sig than 90 of Dempsey. Also I've seen more from Carroll in the central role this season than from Hudd. I get that he's tiny but play him next to Sandro and let him do the dirty work for him. Again, lets learn how we will be playing for the next 5 years now instead of just limping on as best we can.

And in the top 3 I would use Bale/Defoe/Ade. Lennon should be an impact sub. He doesn't offer enough in 90 mins. In the top 3 we need at least 10-15 goals from each wide striker. Bale can get this. Lennon has scored 16 goals since 2008. Ade can provide creativity and link up play wide as he did a lot against City. I would look to get another wide playing (Willian) in in Jan and then move Ade central and Defoe to the bench.

But for now I think Villas Boas just need to be Villas Boas. Playing it safe and failing is the worst of both worlds.


Based on injuries etc this is how I would start us now.

Post Jan (assuming we get Moutinho or someone else to fill that gap and a Willian type:

 

[tobi]

I understand what your saying regarding Lennon but Bale also doesn't offer enough during 90 minutes either.

He has a bigger upside but he has a very long way to go if he's going to reach that level. People link him with big clubs but he wouldn't last a season with his current level of play and work ethic.

I would never intentionally start Defoe because there is no formation that will force him to play with his head up.

 

[miles_64]

I completely agree with this well-considered piece. OK, not completely but largely! Most of all, I agree with the central theme of building for the future. I too am not expecting fourth (although I greatly fear losing Bale as a consequence) and so I believe we should use this season to get the team well-oiled for next. That definitely means bringing in Lloris (even if I don't think Brad is as terrible as so many believe he is) and yes, maybe giving Carroll a few more games in the middle of the park until we buy our conductor (unlikely to be Moutinho). Huddlestone, I have come to see, is not our future in the middle of the park; he has fallen far from two seasons ago when he was lynchpin in Harry's side, always around the centre circle, always in space.

In terms of Lennon/Ade on the right, I think I would be more inclined to play Ade centrally and Lennon on the right (essentially sans JD). This is a tricky one but I feel Lennon would score a lot more if AVB gave him an explicit mandate to score goals rather than just cross the ball as he has largely been doing under Redknapp. I thought Ade was very good versus City and have no doubt that he could perform admirably in Lennon's position if required.

 

[NEVILLEB]

AVB looks the part but I don't see a great football manager there.

Our best two recent managers (Jol, Harry) were emergency picks. Every manager Levy has wanted failed.

We need to get Levy away from making football decisions. He can't help but meddle and screw everything up.

 

[Flightrisker]

I completely agree with this well-considered piece. OK, not completely but largely! Most of all, I agree with the central theme of building for the future. I too am not expecting fourth (although I greatly fear losing Bale as a consequence) and so I believe we should use this season to get the team well-oiled for next. That definitely means bringing in Lloris (even if I don't think Brad is as terrible as so many believe he is) and yes, maybe giving Carroll a few more games in the middle of the park until we buy our conductor (unlikely to be Moutinho). Huddlestone, I have come to see, is not our future in the middle of the park; he has fallen far from two seasons ago when he was lynchpin in Harry's side, always around the centre circle, always in space.

In terms of Lennon/Ade on the right, I think I would be more inclined to play Ade centrally and Lennon on the right (essentially sans JD). This is a tricky one but I feel Lennon would score a lot more if AVB gave him an explicit mandate to score goals rather than just cross the ball as he has largely been doing under Redknapp. I thought Ade was very good versus City and have no doubt that he could perform admirably in Lennon's position if required.

I think Lennon will only ever be effective in a 4-4-2. He needs two strikers in the box to help balance his poor crossing hit rate. As a WF he is not suited as he simple can't strike a ball well enough. As an impact sub to change up the game though he could be awesome.

 

[sweyid]

Fair analysis.

I seem to recall quite a few on here saying that we'd give AVB a season to get the team playing his style and to let him form the squad and style after his philosophy and not to expect very much the first season. I even believe some people were OK with us finishing outside the top 4 just go get the Villas-Boas project running - but those opinions seems all gone now and we almost demand instant success. I say give the man some time, and funds, to properly set up his team. Keeping Brad and Gallas playing is, I believe, a product of what happened at Chelsea. AVB just doesn't want to lose the dressing room by dropping the experienced players. I'm glad he's playing Caulker though.

The only issue I've got is the Lloris-Friedel story. We need to give Hugo game time, we need to cater to his needs as a young international keeper, otherwise we might lose him. Brad isn't going anywhere, so why worry about him? Cement Lloris as the no. 1 choice or run the risk of losing him in January.

Hopefully AVB will stick to Ade up front, he proves again and again how much more he's got to offer compared to Defoe.

 

[SoulDog]

Gallas. I get that Villas Boas wants a leader out there but when your vocal leader isn't leading by example with his play then it's a bit useless. Gallas has cost us several goals already and if you look at the back line I would argue that he is the reason we are not playing the famous Villas Boas high line. And if we are not playing the Villas Boas high line then I don't see why Dawson shouldn't be in ahead of Gallas anyway. I'd much rather Villas Boas just takes this season to invest in the youth and get the team used to playing the high line. Play Vertonghen in his natural position (he's been guilty of costing us goals too from LB). Pair his with Caulker til Younes is back. Play the Kyles as full backs. A back line of those 4 would be able to play the high line no problem and would allow the rest of the team get used to this this season instead of being back tot he drawing board next season learning this new system. Speaking of systems...

 

[Flightrisker]

Gallas. I get that Villas Boas wants a leader out there but when your vocal leader isn't leading by example with his play then it's a bit useless. Gallas has cost us several goals already and if you look at the back line I would argue that he is the reason we are not playing the famous Villas Boas high line. And if we are not playing the Villas Boas high line then I don't see why Dawson shouldn't be in ahead of Gallas anyway. I'd much rather Villas Boas just takes this season to invest in the youth and get the team used to playing the high line. Play Vertonghen in his natural position (he's been guilty of costing us goals too from LB). Pair his with Caulker til Younes is back. Play the Kyles as full backs. A back line of those 4 would be able to play the high line no problem and would allow the rest of the team get used to this this season instead of being back tot he drawing board next season learning this new system. Speaking of systems...

Good point, well made.

 

[SoulDog]

Thanks

No but serious to be fair I do agree with a lot of what you say. But I do think Gallas has been probably our best defender lately and I do not think Dawson is the answer and will cost us much more as I said before in a thread.

 

[Flightrisker]

Thanks

No but serious to be fair I do agree with a lot of what you say. But I do think Gallas has been probably our best defender lately and I do not think Dawson is the answer and will cost us much more as I said before in a thread.

I don't know... Billy G has definitely cost us a few goals, I do think however that there is an argument that perhaps with Caulker next to him he's not getting much cover. Caulker's been very good but I think Gallas might be left with a little too much to do and gets over exposed at times.

He's not the worst problem in the team right now but I just can't help feel a little for Daws.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

I think it's time avb just tried to implement his system. I can understand he's tried to keep things familiar but was always going to be difficult after losing the players we did.

He should just go for his 433. 3 central midfielders, 3 strikers, even try it in the Europa league

 

[brasil_spur]

I think it's time avb just tried to implement his system. I can understand he's tried to keep things familiar but was always going to be difficult after losing the players we did.

He should just go for his 433. 3 central midfielders, 3 strikers, even try it in the Europa league

I think this is the point.

If anything AVB is trying too hard to pander to the media and masses rather than sticking to his guns.

 

[nav007_2000]

Great post. I believe AVB is still pissed off that he didnt get the players that he wanted in the transfer window. He is probably playing the 4-2-3-1 purely to the fact that he doesnt have the right players for his 4-3-3 formation.

One can only wish that Levy is seeing what is happening on the pitch and backs AVB and gets him the players that he needs.

 

[camaj]

This is my only problem at the moment. I feel that he is trying to appease the journalists who bang on about Friedel being some great keeper, playing 300 prem games in a row, blah blah blah. Lloris is the better keeper and the treatment of him is puzzling, I think it's effecting him too. Sometimes having pressure is a good thing but other times it makes you overcompensate. AVB made the hard decision in dropping Friedel in the premiership but then he ruined it by putting him back in. We're not Real Madrid, where you can sign a world class player and have them warm the bench.

 

[hodsgod]

AVB looks the part but I don't see a great football manager there.

Our best two recent managers (Jol, Harry) were emergency picks. Every manager Levy has wanted failed.

We need to get Levy away from making football decisions. He can't help but meddle and screw everything up.

I have been saying this for ages. Sacking our best two managers in recent years, we would be laughing at any other club doing that.

 

[jonola]

Top thread pretty much sums up my thoughts exactly

As others have said I can take a year or 2 of transition, if I can see signs of that transition taking place, but I don't.
I had worries about AVB but I was sold by the brand of football that it was said he believed in. But our football has been piss poor for most of the season, some 20 minute spells aside. I don't expect to win every game, I don't expect to even beat Wigan every year. This is spurs after all. But I do expect some entertainment, some passion, some simple movement off the ball would be a start.

Come on AVB time to stand up, make the changes we need and get this team playing the way you want them to.

 

[Yid121]

Playing Adebayor on the wing would be a good experiment if we lost Lennon to injury

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I don't know... Billy G has definitely cost us a few goals, I do think however that there is an argument that perhaps with Caulker next to him he's not getting much cover. Caulker's been very good but I think Gallas might be left with a little too much to do and gets over exposed at times.

He's not the worst problem in the team right now but I just can't help feel a little for Daws.

To be honest, I would say the three defenders around him are costing us much more than Gallas is.

I'm struggling to remember the "few" goals he's actually cost us. Vertonghen has been meandering up the pitch for a couple, Walker might as well have dribbled the ball into his own net some games and Caulker's getting away with some less than clever defending quite often.

Dawson didn't do anything particularly wrong yesterday, but didn't prevent the inevitable either.

Our problems are not in the centre of our defence. They are pretty much everywhere else. We have a CB playing LB, a poor footballer at RB, the QE2 in midfield, two wingers made of candy floss and an alien from the planet Dull behind the striker. The defence are put under immense pressure nearly every game because the midfield and attackers aren't doing there jobs properly and defending from the front.

I agree 433 would be better for us. I agree about trying carroll instead of Huddlestone in that 433, but replacing our most consistent and competent defender is definitely not the answer until the replacement option is actually better.

 

[Flightrisker]

To be honest, I would say the three defenders around him are costing us much more than Gallas is.

I'm struggling to remember the "few" goals he's actually cost us. Vertonghen has been meandering up the pitch for a couple, Walker might as well have dribbled the ball into his own net some games and Caulker's getting away with some less than clever defending quite often.

Dawson didn't do anything particularly wrong yesterday, but didn't prevent the inevitable either.

Our problems are not in the centre of our defence. They are pretty much everywhere else. We have a CB playing LB, a poor footballer at RB, the QE2 in midfield, two wingers made of candy floss and an alien from the planet Dull behind the striker. The defence are put under immense pressure nearly every game because the midfield and attackers aren't doing there jobs properly and defending from the front.

I agree 433 would be better for us. I agree about trying carroll instead of Huddlestone in that 433, but replacing our most consistent and competent defender is definitely not the answer until the replacement option is actually better.

At least 2 of the four Chelsea scored were due to weak clearances from Gallas. Against Newcastle he flinched to block Ba's shot... I'm sure there have been others... Again not the worst problem and Dawson for Gallas probably wouldn't really help any, just have a lot of man love for ol Daws.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Great post. I believe AVB is still pissed off that he didnt get the players that he wanted in the transfer window. He is probably playing the 4-2-3-1 purely to the fact that he doesnt have the right players for his 4-3-3 formation.

One can only wish that Levy is seeing what is happening on the pitch and backs AVB and gets him the players that he needs.

The thing is, I believe AVB needs to work out a way of getting both the form players and the better players all on the pitch at the same time.

Everybody knows about Defoe's limitations, but nobody can deny that he's form this season has been quite good, not amazing but he's been more than adequate. At the same time, we need Adebayor.

Also Hudd has been struggling big time imo, yesterday I thought his passing was shocking, needs to drastically improve his short passing game. Whereas Carrol has looked decent when given the opportunity, and until Dembele is back I'd rather see him play. And I think he's more suited to a 4-3-3 with 2 other central midfielders ie Sandro + another. Our problem is the "another", preferably it should be someone with a bit of a goal threat. I always thought Sig was a goalscoring central midfielder but whenever he's played it seems like he's been played as a no10.

As an expermiment in the EL I would have liked to have seen us try a midfield and attack of:

Bale - Adebayor - Defoe

Carroll-Sandro-Siggurdson

Nobody specifically behind Ade but a midfield 3 with Sandro sitting mainly and the other 2 getting forward in support when possible.