Newcastle Vs Tottenham: Match Thread

[Scottish Spur]

What is absolutely undeniable is that Sherwood is learning. I had doubts when he was given the job but he's impressed.

He started off rigidly committed to the 4-4-2 and I felt was fortunate to get a couple of early results. However, since we've largely been based around one up top and 5 in midfield, which I certainly think is more suited to the PL today. He has made it clear that he doesn't think a regular DM is absolutely necessary and yet last night, at a tough place where we needed to win, he picked a defensively solid midfield including a DM. He's brought Adebayor back, who for all his faults, we know is unstoppable when he's happy. Well, it looks like Sherwood is making him happy. He's played Bentaleb every week and he looks a real find. He's missed Vertonghen, Paulinho, Kaboul and Sandro, four of our best players for much of his time and yet has now won 8 from 11 (I think, maybe 7 from 10, please correct me if I'm wrong). It's hard to find fault. I've always said I don't care who manages us if they get results. Sherwood is doing that.

I fail to see how people can complain if I'm honest.

 

[shelfboy68]

well you should be paying more attention because we're 3 points off 4th, 7 off the top, and form and the return of injured players are aligning nicely for a big push over the last 12 games. You should be excited.

You know we are going under the radar when even the fan base havent noticed we are actually doing pretty fucking well.

Yes and if we take out the three trashings we got our defence has been pretty good the last two games scored five conceded zero.
Liverpool on the other hand are scoring for fun but concede In nearly every game if someone stops them scoring they maybe fucked.
It's a possibility that we may also be getting stronger each week in the final run in which is usually the other way round for us.

 

[davidmatzdorf]

Yet again a great post, though is it not a tactical issue whereby players move the ball more quickly and get into the box in greater numbers and with greater gusto? I'm not convinced that they aren't following tactical instructions to that effect, rather than it being simply a case of them playing with greater independence (and therefore doing more or less what they think is right). Were that the case though, it could surely be construed as a stroke of genius that the coach has imbued his players with the right approach, and read them well enough to be able to trust their judgment. After all, some players you would trust and others you wouldn't? Am I off beam here?

I think there are some fine but crucial distinctions here. My impression, when watching our team attack earlier this season, was that players were inhibiting their normal inclinations in order to follow instructions. The midfield would function normally up to the point where we approached the defensive line, usually near the edge of the penalty box, with the ball. Then I would see the player with the ball slow down, think and then pass sideways. This would happen over and over, irrespective of whether there was an opportunity for an ambitious through ball, a dink over the top, a cross-field ball behind the defence or a rapid one-two. It looked like the players were thinking something like "no, protect possession and provoke the opposition with the ball until they move out of position". Which they generally didn't. That's what the body language said to me at the time. This would go on for 15-30 seconds, until someone finally tried a ball through a massed, in-position defence and lost possession or ran out of patience and shot from 20m+.

The "tactical instructions" weren't to slow it down, that was just the result of players implementing them without regard to the game situation, hence my reference to them needing more independence of decision-making. What was needed was the change of pace, to speed up the ball immediately upon approaching the penalty box, and you can't do that in a professional football match if you're thinking tactical thoughts, because it causes hesitation and hesitation loses football matches.

I was pleased the other day when @JJetset endorsed what I thought I was seeing, because he apparently knows what is actually going on, rather than just relying on observation and deduction. It isn't necessary to give footballers, certainly not strikers, wingers and attacking midfielders, tactical instructions to attack the penalty box rapidly and with an element of risk. It may well have been necessary for Sherwood to give them permission.

 

[cheeseman]

Like I have said before Sherwood is winning the games and if he stays in the job I'll back him, but until the end of the season it isn't very easy to judge him fully.

He's in the job NOW. Are you backing him NOW?

 

[Revan1882]

In my opinion the result was great and the performance was equally so - and I do indeed believe we smashed them

We scored four goals and played them off the pitch - they had a few chances which forced Lloris in to some good saves or kaboul into strong defending etc but then in addition to our 4 goals we had as many good chances which we failed to score from as they did and could have beat them by even more

My gut tells me its pathetic for fans to have judged him with gut feelings before he's so much as had a chance to prove himself - how can you have any creditable opinion of his depth as a manager before he's had the chance to showcase his abilities?

Why should he need to prove you wrong before he started?

I agree no one should be getting carried away off the back of one great win - nor even the great start in general because its entirely too early to make a judgement but by the same token its equally early to assume he is out of his depth and or incapable of doing the job - especially when he's got of to a good start and credit should be given when it's due at the very least

In my opinion fans who want to support their gut feeling that he's out of his depth by discrediting great performances like last night are disgraceful and I expect more from fans of the club if I am honest.

I personally just feel Sherwood should have everyone's support until such time like AVB and others before him he proves himself to not be up to the job - not because people have a gut feeling based on nothing at all or because people have some personal dislike for him (as some posters on here have admitted to despite having never met the man)

Surely now his good start has at least earned some benefit of the doubt from the nay sayers and he should be judged at the end of the season or beyond

Sorry but it's disgraceful to have a gut feeling that someone is out of their depth? WTF

It was a performance that was okay, good in patches and a couple of outstanding saves. To say we smashed them is a over the top reaction to a very good score line. We actually played better at home against them, but the score line won't show that.

Having doubts about someone/something until they prove themselves is a totally normal reaction. Tim is new at this job he has to prove to everyone he can do it, just thinking he can because he says so it naive maybe even stupid.The fact I am not saying he is out of his depth but saying I have a feeling he is, shows I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. I also have said judge him at the end of the season, so found your post slightly insulting. We as fans have our own views about Sherwood some like you want him, some aren't sure and some want someone better. All views and opinion have merit and none are disgraceful. As no matter what peoples views are, all want Tottenham to do well no matter whom is in charge.

 

[Revan1882]

He's in the job NOW. Are you backing him NOW?

I am not calling for him to be sacked if that's what you are asking and like any player, even if I don't think they are good enough I will hope they do well for the team. With Tim I like him as a man, he seems straight forward. I don't agree with his transfer policy on getting in a new striker, but again I am hoping any doubts I have are proven wrong.
Was really happy to see him change back out of a 442 as I never like that formation, though we were the first English team to play it I think its dated. However that's just my view and if we win things playing 442 I will happily agree I was wrong.
I will support anyone in charge, with every head coach I have wanted them to do well as that means the club does well and in truth that's all I care about. If at the end of the season he keeps his job because he has done it well then great, if he doesn't as he hasn't then I hope the next man does better.

 

[Mr Pink]

I think this is incredibly important, and down to two factors. Firstly, having Bentaleb being released to play further forward. You can see Bentaleb mapping out where everyone is almost constantly, and that's exactly the kind of thing we've been missing in a CM since Modric left. Secondly and somewhat interconnected, NOT having Dembele in the middle of the pitch. He's pretty much the total opposite of Bentaleb in the same department, always looking to carry it himself rather than planning on where the ball should be going as quickly as possible. That's OK in the final third when trying to break through the defensive line, but in midfield when he's going past another midfielder and then failing to make an incisive pass or have a shot it unnecessarily slows down play far too much and too often.

Good post.

Its why I'm really pleased that we're moving Dembele higher up the pitch. Sherwood clearly thinking similar as well.

 

[Shea]

Sorry but it's disgraceful to have a gut feeling that someone is out of their depth? WTF

It was a performance that was okay, good in patches and a couple of outstanding saves. To say we smashed them is a over the top reaction to a very good score line. We actually played better at home against them, but the score line won't show that.

Having doubts about someone/something until they prove themselves is a totally normal reaction. Tim is new at this job he has to prove to everyone he can do it, just thinking he can because he says so it naive maybe even stupid.The fact I am not saying he is out of his depth but saying I have a feeling he is, shows I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. I also have said judge him at the end of the season, so found your post slightly insulting. We as fans have our own views about Sherwood some like you want him, some aren't sure and some want someone better. All views and opinion have merit and none are disgraceful. As no matter what peoples views are, all want Tottenham to do well no matter whom is in charge.

My point is why does the man have to prove you wrong? not having a gut reaction (my own gut reaction before he was hired was that he wouldn't be the man for the job, as it was with Harry and AVB - what I am saying is wrong is those needing to prove this gut feeling wrong because personally as soon as someone new takes the job I ignore my gut feeling knowing its based on nothing and wait until a suitable time before judging a manager)


I don't think I'm over reacting - I thought it was a great performance even when we were merely winning by a single goal.

I personally think we played better last night than we did at home (I always thought our home performance was over rated that day in spite of Krul's string of saves - not forgetting that first half Newcastle could have been further ahead)

You may be giving him the benefit of the doubt - but there are plenty of posters on here who have not done so and instead go out their way to focus on the negatives of anything to do with him and discredit the good (as you have done with our performance last night in my eyes) I wasn't directly referring to you - you quoted my initial post to question my comments about certain fans (I guess because you felt they included yourself, which to an extent they do although as you say not fully since you state you back Sherwood and provide him the benefit of the doubt)

My opinion any fan looking to discredit yesterday's performance are doing so because of adgenda bias because they have already decided that Tim is not good enough and want to focus on negatives with him - personally I think the performance was equally as impressive as the result

 

[Legend10]

My point is why does the man have to prove you wrong? not having a gut reaction (my own gut reaction before he was hired was that he wouldn't be the man for the job, as it was with Harry and AVB - what I am saying is wrong is those needing to prove this gut feeling wrong because personally as soon as someone new takes the job I ignore my gut feeling knowing its based on nothing and wait until a suitable time before judging a manager)


I don't think I'm over reacting - I thought it was a great performance even when we were merely winning by a single goal.

I personally think we played better last night than we did at home (I always thought our home performance was over rated that day in spite of Krul's string of saves - not forgetting that first half Newcastle could have been further ahead)

You may be giving him the benefit of the doubt - but there are plenty of posters on here who have not done so and instead go out their way to focus on the negatives of anything to do with him and discredit the good (as you have done with our performance last night in my eyes) I wasn't directly referring to you - you quoted my initial post to question my comments about certain fans (I guess because you felt they included yourself, which to an extent they do although as you say not fully since you state you back Sherwood and provide him the benefit of the doubt)

My opinion any fan looking to discredit yesterday's performance are doing so because of adgenda bias because they have already decided that Tim is not good enough and want to focus on negatives with him - personally I think the performance was equally as impressive as the result

The only people Sherwood has to prove anything to are his bosses.

 

[Shea]

The only people Sherwood has to prove anything to are his bosses.

I wonder

If LVG is already being lined up as a short term option maybe the notion of being his number two and learning his trade could appeal to both Sherwood and Levy

Maybe he doesn't have to prove he's good enough to be the boss now - just show potential to be good enough in the long term?

I wonder if Sherwood would be open to this - or if it would be recieved as a knock to the ego and a backwards step (who's to say LVG would come to us or indeed not demand his own number two if he did anyway)

It will be interesting to see what the targets are - difficult to say Sherwood has to achieve 4th now when he's taken over half way through the season from a manager who was performing so poorly he had to be sacked but then on the other hand as things stand (and have always stood since Tim took charge) the race for fourth was an achievable target

I'd like to know what the plan is and what happens if Sherwood does and doesn't take us to fourth spot - such a short time to judge him either way (for good or bad)

I personally get the feeling it would be best for everyone if an experienced manager could come in for the short term and Sherwood continue to learn alongside him with a view to taking over - but I suppose nothing is every as simple as it sounds and personalities and egos could make it a recipe for diaster (Spurs being Spurs especially)

 

[only1waddle]

Good post.

Its why I'm really pleased that we're moving Dembele higher up the pitch. Sherwood clearly thinking similar as well.

I want to see Dembele further forward against teams that park the bus, could be a real asset, in fact more so than either Lennon or Townsend.

 

[Mr Pink]

I think there are some fine but crucial distinctions here. My impression, when watching our team attack earlier this season, was that players were inhibiting their normal inclinations in order to follow instructions. The midfield would function normally up to the point where we approached the defensive line, usually near the edge of the penalty box, with the ball. Then I would see the player with the ball slow down, think and then pass sideways. This would happen over and over, irrespective of whether there was an opportunity for an ambitious through ball, a dink over the top, a cross-field ball behind the defence or a rapid one-two. It looked like the players were thinking something like "no, protect possession and provoke the opposition with the ball until they move out of position". Which they generally didn't. That's what the body language said to me at the time. This would go on for 15-30 seconds, until someone finally tried a ball through a massed, in-position defence and lost possession or ran out of patience and shot from 20m+.

The "tactical instructions" weren't to slow it down, that was just the result of players implementing them without regard to the game situation, hence my reference to them needing more independence of decision-making. What was needed was the change of pace, to speed up the ball immediately upon approaching the penalty box, and you can't do that in a professional football match if you're thinking tactical thoughts, because it causes hesitation and hesitation loses football matches.

I was pleased the other day when @JJetset endorsed what I thought I was seeing, because he apparently knows what is actually going on, rather than just relying on observation and deduction. It isn't necessary to give footballers, certainly not strikers, wingers and attacking midfielders, tactical instructions to attack the penalty box rapidly and with an element of risk. It may well have been necessary for Sherwood to give them permission.

Exactly the way I interpreted our play under AVB. It prioritised keeping possession in all instances, risk averse, and ultimately trying to provoke the opposition out to then exploit the space. That was it in a nutshell and it was easy to defend against - I think the opposition in most instances knew exactly what our tactic was, particularly sides coming to WHL to defend and they were comfortable in dealing with it ie they knew by just sitting deep and letting us play square across the pitch in their half, back and fourth, we wouldn't be able to penetrate effectively if they kept their shape - two banks of four because we were waiting for them to move.

It totally reinforces the feeling I always had and this summed it up for me under AVB.....we always seemed to be waiting for something to happen rather than making it happen.

Sherwood is already demonstrating flexibility, and more simplicity, in his approach where as AVB was set in one.

 

[Tit&Ham]

Just watch the first half again. I was to critical in my earlier judgement. It was a good half especially away at Newcastle. Yes we had a bad spell midway for 5-10 mins but overall that was a good performance!

The funniest thing was bentaleb shooting paulinho instead of the ball around 40th minute

And the cross from bentaleb on our goal: he is not a winger, but yes the first time he delivers a cross in his tottenham career, he does it perfectly! That's How you cross! In behind the defence and the goalkeeper. If our players don't reach it, the defenders Could put it in own goal or as it happened - the keeper gets stressed and make a bad involvement.

Kaboul was rusty, but you Could still see his quality (of immense dimensions)

The whole team looked a little more relaxed on composed. COYS

 

[Ribble]

Good post.

Its why I'm really pleased that we're moving Dembele higher up the pitch. Sherwood clearly thinking similar as well.

Agree, putting him higher up and out wider practically forces him to beat the fb and then get it into the box either by dribbling or passing/crossing.

Did I see someone say that van Gaal used to do the same thing with Dembele at AZ?

 

[Skrong]

Agree, putting him higher up and out wider practically forces him to beat the fb and then get it into the box either by dribbling or passing/crossing.

Did I see someone say that van Gaal used to do the same thing with Dembele at AZ?

Dembele is a tricky guy. He's almost versatile to a fault (I think he was a forward under Van Gaal and Jol). He does many things well but not much at a world class level besides dribbling and holding players off. He can play anywhere from striker to holding mid, but I wish he went for goal more often. It's nice seeing him slither past defenses but when he doesn't make an effort to test the keeper, it's all for nothing.

 

[Ionman34]

I didn't actually think we played especially brilliantly, overall. I've read a lot of press reports and some semi-gushing posts here and I wonder to what degree the scoreline is affecting people's views.

Quite a bit of our play resembled what we saw under AVB: the formation was nominally 4-3-3, but in practice was more like 4-2-3-1 quite a lot of the time. There was a lot of time spent prowling outside the penalty box with the ball, without breaking through the defensive line. But the difference was that, when we did attack, especially, when we counter-attacked, we got men into and around the box and we moved the ball with speed - it's that 'change of pace' that I was going on about a couple of months ago.

Perhaps my own view of the game has been affected by the bits I didn't manage to see live, thanks to a very bad stream: I missed the first 8 minutes, during which I gather we attacked vigorously; the stream was down for both of the first two goals; but I had a perfect, uninterrupted stream for the period of 15-20 minutes in the second half when we were sitting back on our 2 goal lead and letting Newcastle monopolise the ball - the same period when Lloris kept us ahead with a series of brilliant interventions.

Once we scored the third (they're all going in for Adebayor now, aren't they?), Newcastle just looked pissed off and the game became one-sided, but I don't recall us dominating it up to that time. Both of our wide players were peripheral to the action and we relied greatly on Bentaleb, playing further forward thanks to the inclusion of Capoue, to bring the ball up the pitch.

What we did, again, was to win the game as a result of our players having more talent than the opposition, not because of any tactical plan or formation. We have good players and they are now being permitted to play with more independence. That's what is getting attackers into the box and enabling us to create more clear-cut chances from closer range.

I thought it was good, not great, with the exceptions of Bentaleb, Lloris and Adebayor, who were excellent.

100% on this David. I recorded the game and settled back to watch it, last night, with an air of expectation following so many waxing lyrical about how well we played. What I saw was a game that I felt wasn't reflected by the scoreline.
I thought Ade was superb throughout, at both ends of the pitch, Lennon had an excellent 1st half but an average 2nd. Capoue, for me, had a reasonable game, as did Paulinho, whilst Dembele shone at times with some real quality. Bentaleb continued to show that he is a star in the making whilst Kaboul never looked like a player who's had a handful of games in the last 2 years.
So, whilst there were a number o performances that were worthy of praise, I was still feeling underwhelmed by the overall 'performance', albeit we got 4 goals. I struggled to see where we 'dominated' the game in all honesty, as Newcastle had their fair share of ball and had a number of opportunities to punish us in both halves. I noted the comment that they were 'reduced to the long ball over the top' but it was effective in getting them into dangerous positions. Whilst Kaboul is adept at recovering when the ball goes over the top, I really don't think Vertonghen is, as I saw him struggling to recover on a few occasions. Walker too was exposed by this tactic and it was telling, for me, that Newcastle seemed to target that flank more than Naughton's, with a higher success rate too it seemed.
The other concern I had was the amount of times we turned the ball over from our own third, most notably from about 60 minutes until we got the third goal. Many hacked clearances and misplaced passes that just invited pressure onto us at an increased frequency. Were it not for Lloris, and a couple of last ditch blocks, the scoreline could have been very different.
So I do believe that there is still a great deal of work ahead to make us a more imposing defensive unit, but this is coupled with some lovely, neat one touch pass and move Football with some intricate work in tight areas to create space and, more importantly, opportunities in the middle and attacking thirds.
Concern and optimism in equal measure for me. But mostly I see what I was hoping for under Sherwood, movement in the right direction as the squad continues to understand each other better in increments.

 

[Ionman34]

Have some of you read what you've written ?

We won 4-0 at a ground we haven't won at in 10 years last night. We've now lost only 6 of our last 30 PL matches (4 of which are Man City twice, Arsenal and Liverpool), won 5 of our last 6 away days, sit 3 points behind 4th and have 2 more points than we did at the same stage as last year. All this despite selling a genuine world superstar, having a turnover of 7 players, a change of manager and barely getting out of first gear all season. It's not a stretch to say that we've been absolutely awful all season and sit 7 points off top.

Not too long ago the idea of being this consistent and competitive and seeing the kind of players at the Lane as we presently do was an absolute pipe dream. The idea of winning 4-0 at Newcastle on a cold, wet, midweek night in February wasn't even deemed a possibility.

We have it good right now, real good. Lets not spoil it by behaving so ungratefully. Our problem is that we want to sit right at the top of the tree. To the vast majority of football clubs right now, being where we are is a dream in itself. Hell, to those of us that have followed any length of time, being where we are now was a dream for us for the last 25 years.

Well it appears that you haven't read what has been posted too well, judging by the above. I see a lot of well observed, constructive criticism whilst acknowledging the good aspects of the game.

It is far too easy to claim that all is rosey in the garden with a scoreline that suggests a thrashing. We didn't thrash them though and there is room for a great deal of improvement.

It is this that puts the biggest smile on my face though, as we're in an excellent position whilst, IMO, only playing at maybe 60% of what I believe we are truly capable of.

I believe we are moving in that direction though, and when we get to 90-100% of our potential then we will truly be a sight to behold.

 

[Mr Pink]

100% on this David. I recorded the game and settled back to watch it, last night, with an air of expectation following so many waxing lyrical about how well we played. What I saw was a game that I felt wasn't reflected by the scoreline.
I thought Ade was superb throughout, at both ends of the pitch, Lennon had an excellent 1st half but an average 2nd. Capoue, for me, had a reasonable game, as did Paulinho, whilst Dembele shone at times with some real quality. Bentaleb continued to show that he is a star in the making whilst Kaboul never looked like a player who's had a handful of games in the last 2 years.
So, whilst there were a number o performances that were worthy of praise, I was still feeling underwhelmed by the overall 'performance', albeit we got 4 goals. I struggled to see where we 'dominated' the game in all honesty, as Newcastle had their fair share of ball and had a number of opportunities to punish us in both halves. I noted the comment that they were 'reduced to the long ball over the top' but it was effective in getting them into dangerous positions. Whilst Kaboul is adept at recovering when the ball goes over the top, I really don't think Vertonghen is, as I saw him struggling to recover on a few occasions. Walker too was exposed by this tactic and it was telling, for me, that Newcastle seemed to target that flank more than Naughton's, with a higher success rate too it seemed.
The other concern I had was the amount of times we turned the ball over from our own third, most notably from about 60 minutes until we got the third goal. Many hacked clearances and misplaced passes that just invited pressure onto us at an increased frequency. Were it not for Lloris, and a couple of last ditch blocks, the scoreline could have been very different.
So I do believe that there is still a great deal of work ahead to make us a more imposing defensive unit, but this is coupled with some lovely, neat one touch pass and move Football with some intricate work in tight areas to create space and, more importantly, opportunities in the middle and attacking thirds.
Concern and optimism in equal measure for me. But mostly I see what I was hoping for under Sherwood, movement in the right direction as the squad continues to understand each other better in increments.

I think the first half was a good performance collectively even though they had one very good chance (from a set piece - De Jong knocking down for Cisse, their best chance of the game really) and another sort of ball over the top.

By in large that was a good attacking first half performance I thought. Agree regarding Lennon, he was pretty good first half - nice flick round the corner for Bentaleb in the build up for the first goal, a good run into the box where he nearly gets on the end of Walker's low cross and the shot that hits the post. He had been poor for a few games prior to that but he never really gets credit for anything on here - its bizarre.

But yeah, I thought we were good. Pressed the ball better, made a much better start and got plenty of bodies forward in attack with Capoue holding.

The disappointing period was between our second goal and scoring our third. So there was a 25 minute spell in the second half were we stopped doing the things we had been doing well in the first half and invited them on to us - Lloris obviously was critical for us in that period.

Overall though it was a good performance and although Newcastle have had their problems they were still eager to improve make no mistake about it - and its a tough place to go and they were bound to have some spells of the game, which they duly had.

 

[Legend10]

Dembele is quality, i think in the main he is under appreciated, we are lucky to have him.

 

[Ionman34]

I think the first half was a good performance collectively even though they had one very good chance (from a set piece - De Jong knocking down for Cisse, their best chance of the game really) and another sort of ball over the top.

By in large that was a good attacking first half performance I thought. Agree regarding Lennon, he was pretty good first half - nice flick round the corner for Bentaleb in the build up for the first goal, a good run into the box where he nearly gets on the end of Walker's low cross and the shot that hits the post. He had been poor for a few games prior to that but he never really gets credit for anything on here - its bizarre.

But yeah, I thought we were good. Pressed the ball better, made a much better start and got plenty of bodies forward in attack with Capoue holding.

The disappointing period was between our second goal and scoring our third. So there was a 25 minute spell in the second half were we stopped doing the things we had been doing well in the first half and invited them on to us - Lloris obviously was critical for us in that period.

Overall though it was a good performance and although Newcastle have had their problems they were still eager to improve make no mistake about it - and its a tough place to go and they were bound to have some spells of the game, which they duly had.

Don't get me wrong Pinky, we most certainly deserved the win as we had better quality in every area of the pitch. I'm not denigrating the performance, more pointing out that there are areas where improvement can and will be made. Like I said, I believe we are moving in the right direction and, IMO, will be scarily good when we get there, or even when we get close to the finished article. It's a critique rather than a criticism.

I'm sure you remember one of my posts in the Sherwood out thread where I stated that I felt we were moving in the right direction and reinforced this when I started the 'Tactically inept?' thread. I still hold to this as I really do see some true fluidity coming into our play.
I'm liking Sherwood more and more as we progress under him, and I really mean 'progress' as we do seem to be evolving slowly but surely.

Unlike some, I don't expect us to become World beaters overnight, 40 years of following Tottenham has taught me patience if nothing else. What I do expect, especially with the talent we have at our disposal, is progressive improvement and I believe I'm seeing this. What is truly encouraging for me though is that Sherwood seems to be recognizing the improvement areas and is working on them progressively. He's not going to fix everything overnight and nor should he try, as that would just lead to a ball of confusion, leading to regression.

Like I said earlier, there are areas of concern, but these are outweighed by the areas of improvement and the observation that he recognises the concerns himself and is addressing them in a measured manner.

I'm very impressed with Sherwood to date and truly believe that, should he continue in the same vein, we have a Head Coach who will be a force in the fullness of time.