Spurs want Rodgers to replace Arry - Sun article

[Bus-Conductor]

We brought Lennon on and went 4411 before Adebayor scored the second, we then went back to 433/4231 when we scored the 3rd and Livermore came on.

As for the article, I read it and it's good, and I agree with it. But then why didn't he prepare his team to play against us? Why did he leave Bale one on one with Rangel? Why did he have nobody covering Modric? Why did he not react to Routledge getting no change from Assou-Ekotto apart from stick a different guy on there to see if he had any more luck?

You're right, but we were creating great chances before we brought Lennon on.

I also think he doesn't have the bench options that we do.

I watched the game again last night and Routeledge was clearly detailed to help Angel, I think that's why Routeledge was picked ahead of Dyer. Neville commented on it several times, but three things occurred; Our pressing (and Ekotto's on Routeledge in particular) won us the ball on several occasions by taking Routeledge out of the equation. We did this superbly yesterday. I mentioned in the ratings how our pressing and winning the ball quicker and higher helped us isolate our key creatives against their (not individually great quality) defenders. Secondly, Routeledge just isn't that good. Thirdly, Bale was good, he isn't always. For me, it was definitely more a case of how well we played tactically and the superior ability of our players when on top form, more than how inferior Swansea were tactically.

Surely getting results at home against us, Arsenal & manC demonstrates some tactical house. None of those were achieved by parking the bus and hoping for a miracle.

I can understand you questioning the variation in Rodgers methodology and separate facets of it, like set piece organisation, and also pointing to Lambert's ability to "do tactics", but what I don't get is why you would necessarily hold Lambert up as more viable tactically based on results and performances this year. Swansea sit above Norwich in the league and Norwich still have top play us, ManC, Arsenal, Liverpool. Swansea only have ManU and Liverpool, suggesting that Lambert hasn't managed to convert any superior tactical ability into an advantage over Rodgers.

It is great being able to set out a side to stifle and strangle an opponent, and several premiership managers has made careers from being varying degrees good at this including Moyes, O'Neill, Allardyce, Pullus, Pardew, Hughes, Hodgson etc, but IMO the potential to be greater than that lies with Rodgers. I'm not saying he will be, I'm saying that IMO his methodology represents the chance to be more than just well organised and tactically adroit.

His ethos, forced the very best out of Redknapp and our players. We were lucky that yesterday we got that. Swansea are lucky that their manager seems to do that most weeks, it's just that with the players at his disposal and the teams he comes up against, it won't always be enough with Swansea, but IMO with our players against what we come up against most weeks will.

I base that on nearly every one of our best performances involving us actually applying the tactics/coaching methodology that Rodgers employs as standard. Pressing, passing, high tempo.

 

[StartingPrice]

Just another little snippet form yesteray's match:

Did anyone else notice how keen Rodgers was to not only shake Redknapp's (coin grimy) hand, but to actually stay behind and talk to him about the game and (I assume) tactics. Looked like the star pupil staying behind for extra tuition. So keen to learn, rather than sulking because he got beat. Immediately, no waiting, while things were still fresh in his mind - a learning opportunity rather than a disaster.

That's how I saw it, and it really struck me.

 

[sloth]

You're right, but we were creating great chances before we brought Lennon on.

I also think he doesn't have the bench options that we do.

I watched the game again last night and Routeledge was clearly detailed to help Angel, I think that's why Routeledge was picked ahead of Dyer. Neville commented on it several times, but three things occurred; Our pressing (and Ekotto's on Routeledge in particular) won us the ball on several occasions by taking Routeledge out of the equation. We did this superbly yesterday. I mentioned in the ratings how our pressing and winning the ball quicker and higher helped us isolate our key creatives against their (not individually great quality) defenders. Secondly, Routeledge just isn't that good. Thirdly, Bale was good, he isn't always. For me, it was definitely more a case of how well we played tactically and the superior ability of our players when on top form, more than how inferior Swansea were tactically.

Surely getting results at home against us, Arsenal & manC demonstrates some tactical house. None of those were achieved by parking the bus and hoping for a miracle.

I can understand you questioning the variation in Rodgers methodology and separate facets of it, like set piece organisation, and also pointing to Lambert's ability to "do tactics", but what I don't get is why you would necessarily hold Lambert up as more viable tactically based on results and performances this year. Swansea sit above Norwich in the league and Norwich still have top play us, ManC, Arsenal, Liverpool. Swansea only have ManU and Liverpool, suggesting that Lambert hasn't managed to convert any superior tactical ability into an advantage over Rodgers.

It is great being able to set out a side to stifle and strangle an opponent, and several premiership managers has made careers from being varying degrees good at this including Moyes, O'Neill, Allardyce, Pullus, Pardew, Hughes, Hodgson etc, but IMO the potential to be greater than that lies with Rodgers. I'm not saying he will be, I'm saying that IMO his methodology represents the chance to be more than just well organised and tactically adroit.

His ethos, forced the very best out of Redknapp and our players. We were lucky that yesterday we got that. Swansea are lucky that their manager seems to do that most weeks, it's just that with the players at his disposal and the teams he comes up against, it won't always be enough with Swansea, but IMO with our players against what we come up against most weeks will.

I base that on nearly every one of our best performances involving us actually applying the tactics/coaching methodology that Rodgers employs as standard. Pressing, passing, high tempo.

Good post, but we didn't switch to 4-4-1-1.

 

[sloth]

Oh....so you're choosing to believe Harry now are you sloth? :lol:

When Lennon came on he ran straight to the right side of the unit, but we were defending on the left so he was fairly central until the ball broke, then he basically stood on the touchline for 5 minutes until he touched the ball. VdV was called over by Harry and then moved central to play with Adebayor, call it what you want but swapping Lennon for VdV on the right changes the system fundamentally. You know it does.

Good post, but we didn't switch to 4-4-1-1.

Actually scratch that, I think we did switch to 4-4-1-1, I was just getting myself confused. Struggling today, a bit hungover!

 

[Spurs_Bear]

You're right, but we were creating great chances before we brought Lennon on.

I also think he doesn't have the bench options that we do.

I watched the game again last night and Routeledge was clearly detailed to help Angel, I think that's why Routeledge was picked ahead of Dyer. Neville commented on it several times, but three things occurred; Our pressing (and Ekotto's on Routeledge in particular) won us the ball on several occasions by taking Routeledge out of the equation. We did this superbly yesterday. I mentioned in the ratings how our pressing and winning the ball quicker and higher helped us isolate our key creatives against their (not individually great quality) defenders. Secondly, Routeledge just isn't that good. Thirdly, Bale was good, he isn't always. For me, it was definitely more a case of how well we played tactically and the superior ability of our players when on top form, more than how inferior Swansea were tactically.

Surely getting results at home against us, Arsenal & manC demonstrates some tactical house. None of those were achieved by parking the bus and hoping for a miracle.

I can understand you questioning the variation in Rodgers methodology and separate facets of it, like set piece organisation, and also pointing to Lambert's ability to "do tactics", but what I don't get is why you would necessarily hold Lambert up as more viable tactically based on results and performances this year. Swansea sit above Norwich in the league and Norwich still have top play us, ManC, Arsenal, Liverpool. Swansea only have ManU and Liverpool, suggesting that Lambert hasn't managed to convert any superior tactical ability into an advantage over Rodgers.

It is great being able to set out a side to stifle and strangle an opponent, and several premiership managers has made careers from being varying degrees good at this including Moyes, O'Neill, Allardyce, Pullus, Pardew, Hughes, Hodgson etc, but IMO the potential to be greater than that lies with Rodgers. I'm not saying he will be, I'm saying that IMO his methodology represents the chance to be more than just well organised and tactically adroit.

His ethos, forced the very best out of Redknapp and our players. We were lucky that yesterday we got that. Swansea are lucky that their manager seems to do that most weeks, it's just that with the players at his disposal and the teams he comes up against, it won't always be enough with Swansea, but IMO with our players against what we come up against most weeks will.

I base that on nearly every one of our best performances involving us actually applying the tactics/coaching methodology that Rodgers employs as standard. Pressing, passing, high tempo.

There are some good points as usual but also the points that you are arguing with me are not necessarily the ones I was making.

I didn't mean to imply that Rodgers lacks tactical 'nous', which he clearly doesn't, his philosphy of how his team plays is his tactics. What I meant was that unlike a lot of other managers, he doesn't change his in-game tactics when things aren't going the way he wants them. It's like yesterday when they were 3-1 down, he didn't throw caution to the wind and stick another guy up front, he took off Graham and brought on Luke Moore. He sticks to his 451/433 ball retention. Great way to start a game, not a particularly great way to chase one.

I like Lambert because he clearly has a lot of different plans to choose from. He might not get them always right, but at the moment he's at a similar level to Rodgers in league position. He took over his team in League 1, after he had destroyed them 7-1 the previous week with their rivals. Rodgers took over a side with a similar ingrained philosophy, although not to the same extent, that had finished 7th the previous season, they then finished 6th and won promotion through the play offs.

The worst part about this is to try to prove one point it looks like you are bagging the other, which is not the point of the exercise for me. I like Rodgers, I think he has done a sensational job, I just feel at the moment, Lambert is ahead of him for me.

I do agree with your paragraph in bold.

I don't agree though that Lambert is in the same mould as those that stifle. I think that's unfair to label him that, I think he is working to the best of his resources.

 

[danielneeds]

Just another little snippet form yesteray's match:

Did anyone else notice how keen Rodgers was to not only shake Redknapp's (coin grimy) hand, but to actually stay behind and talk to him about the game and (I assume) tactics. Looked like the star pupil staying behind for extra tuition. So keen to learn, rather than sulking because he got beat. Immediately, no waiting, while things were still fresh in his mind - a learning opportunity rather than a disaster.

That's how I saw it, and it really struck me.

I actually saw it the other way round. I think Harry has a little bit of a man-crush on Brendan, there was definitely some bromance in the air between the two. If Levy does ask Harry's advice on succession post-England, that could have an impact

 

[Bus-Conductor]

What I can't emphasise enough is not how Rodgers did in his audition, but how well we did in ours. My biggest worry was "would we be pliable to his ethos" as this would be vital to his success to impart his methodology.

What I saw yesterday was a group of players who could clearly adapt, raise their tempo, follow instructions, and match effort with ingenuity.

And every performance that has bowled me over in the last few months (including Milan away) has involved us doing this. Redknapp has impressed me most when he has achieved this - but disappointed me enormously when he hasn't.

For me, this is the only reason we sit behind Arsenal and even ManU. The ability to combine a coherent high tempo work ethic with individual talent often enough. Tactical awareness is good, and has cost us occasionally, but far less than the coached stuff. Redknapp is actually quite good tactically compared to many. Certainly no worse than Wenger or Mancini in basic tactical variety.

 

[tRiKS]

BC, Sloth and Starting.

Excellent posts and appreciation of Rodgers. With and without the ball he's a very exciting coach. I'd be more than happy with him. In fact he's in my top 3 candidates.
I hope the main players and fans would give him a fair enough chance. That i think is perhaps more in doubt than his ability.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

What I can't emphasise enough is not how Rodgers did in his audition, but how well we did in ours. My biggest worry was "would we be pliable to his ethos" as this would be vital to his success to impart his methodology.

What I saw yesterday was a group of players who could clearly adapt, raise their tempo, follow instructions, and match effort with ingenuity.

And every performance that has bowled me over in the last few months (including Milan away) has involved us doing this. Redknapp has impressed me most when he has achieved this - but disappointed me enormously when he hasn't.

For me, this is the only reason we sit behind Arsenal and even ManU. The ability to combine a coherent high tempo work ethic with individual talent often enough. Tactical awareness is good, and has cost us occasionally, but far less than the coached stuff. Redknapp is actually quite good tactically compared to many. Certainly no worse than Wenger or Mancini in basic tactical variety.

I want to buy that line. And sell it to the Sun for 1,000,000 dollars.

 

[sloth]

Here's that Rodger's article that BC posted in the other thread:

Passing fancy

Swansea will stay true to their patient style at Spurs today

The manager has a plan for the second season,” laughs Leon Britton. “He’s going long ball, it’ll freak everyone out.” Britton sums up Swansea: self-deprecating, intelligent and absolutely committed to the method behind their rise.

In reality, there’s more chance of Jeremy Clarkson becoming a yogurt-weaving green campaigner than Brendan Rodgers changing the possession/pressing philosophy that’s turned the Premier League on its head.

Chris Davies, Swansea’s match analyst, was captain when Rodgers managed Reading’s academy team. “Brendan’s rise has coincided with the rise of the Spanish teams but I can say from experience he was putting these things in place, travelling to Spain and Holland, studying, and doing it back in the late 1990s,” said Davies. “Even if Barça had never been successful, Brendan would be playing this way.”

English football is faddish and nothing’s trendier right now than Swansea — but here is a fashion worth heeding and making permanent. Swansea’s example could be game-changing. They’re achieving Barcelona passing stats, humbling Champions League sides, unfurling what Roberto Mancini called “the best football in the country” — but using players with histories in the Football League and Blue Square Premier.

The idea that British footballers can’t be like technicians from Spain or other countries — because of mystical training methods those cunning foreigners have been enjoying since birth — suddenly seems silly when you watch Britton, veteran of 340 games outside the top flight, dictating matches like Xavi. Or Joe Allen, an unhyped local kid, tracing the patterns of Andres Iniesta. Rodgers says: “A Spanish boy is born pure, just like a Welsh boy, an English boy, an Irish boy or a Scottish boy. The Spanish boy is not sprinkled with something special, it’s about the coaching and the philosophy he is taught as he grows up.”

By proving this, Rodgers has removed the excuses for every British team and coach. It wasn’t easy. Davies says: “People think Brendan just pats them on the back and says, ‘Go out and play’. And it’s so far from that. So much detail goes into the specific movement patterns of each player. Key is the discipline to it.”

Rodgers works painstakingly on shape, starting with “phase one” of any passing move, when goalkeeper Michel Vorm has the ball. He looks at “sub-groups”, for example the three midfielders, who must keep close together so they can always give each other passing options. Focal to the thinking are “transitions”, the areas to which players go when Swansea switch from possession to retrieving the ball.

“Brendan’s worked with top foreign players at Chelsea — and says English players are technically as good. The different way foreigners play has nothing to do with technical ability, it’s tactical awareness, so what he does is teach people the game,” says Davies.

Britton chuckles again. “I don’t think he [Rodgers] calls training, ‘training’, you know. He calls it ‘education’.” Thanks to rehearsed patterns, “when I get the ball I know where Joe is, I know where Gylfi [Sigurdsson] is, Angel [Rangel], all the players. In the lower divisions you don’t spend much time on tactical work, you run around and play,” he says. “The gaffer always says if your position play is right, your possession play will be good. And he doesn’t make it complicated — it’s just a few movements here and there with and without the ball.”

The training secrets of a trailblazer: “Passing drills are incorporated as a warm-up, every day,” says Britton. “And even
if it’s a layoff or 10-yard pass, you practise making it perfect. Everything is with a football. We’ll do runs — but with a ball. Dribble to a cone, sprint to another, sprint back to the ball, dribble to the next man. Pre-season is still with the ball. Other clubs have their players running through forests but the gaffer says you don’t see trees on a football pitch. The pianist doesn’t practise by running round the piano, he plays.

“You know what you’re getting with some managers. It becomes boring: on Thursday, this, on Tuesday we’ll do running because we’ve Wednesday off. Our manager varies it and he’s clever, he looks at who we’re playing and slips in exercises. Say Everton play narrow: he’ll put on a possession game where to score you have to pass it into the channel outside.”

Britton, at Swansea since 2002 except for a five-month interlude at Sheffield United last season, says the progressive Roberto Martinez (Swansea boss from 2007-09) was crucial in preparing the ground for Rodgers.

Davies feels the club’s culture is important. “There’s a buy-in from Swansea supporters. There are decent-sized clubs where I go to scout and the fans lack patience, they just want the ball forward.”

But Rodgers is central to creating the conditions for patient passing. Britton says: “When we lost 1-0 to Man U, Angel tried to play a square ball. It got cut out by Ryan Giggs and they scored. After the game the manager takes the blame, because he wants us to play out from the back. He gives you that confidence that if you make a mistake, you won’t get hung out to dry.”

Swansea, all team-ethic (“if you’re an individual, even if you’re brilliant, you’re out of the squad,” Britton says), harbour no egos. He is as humble as when we met before the season began, before he became Europe’s top player in terms of passing percentages. “The comparisons with Xavi are a laugh and I get ribbed in training. If I give the ball away the boys are, ‘Ah, that’s you down to 90% [passing success] now.”

Britton is even on England’s radar, as one of more than 70 players sent letters checking their availability for this summer’s Euros. “Don’t get me wrong, if [England] happens it’ll be a dream but I’m already living the dream. I always said I’d die an unhappy man if I didn’t make it to the Premier League and I got there. All that hard work in League One and League Two, on cold nights, paid off.”

He’s a perfect example of the alternative destiny more British players could enjoy if there were more coaches like Rodgers.

“His beliefs have brought out the best in players his system suits,” Britton reflects. “At Sheffield United, no disrespect, it was more direct. The first 20 minutes: hit it up to the front man, win your second balls. I [Britton is 5ft 5in] was lost.

“Sheffield United probably think, ‘How the hell is this player in the Premier League? He played 25 games for us in the Championship and we barely noticed him’.”

 

[mpickard2087]

I think Swansea's performance was one of the best this season at WHL, bar City obviously.

As for the highlighted part, that's the whole point...it wouldn't given the vastly superior quality of players we have here. What we want is an ethos that sees us get the best out of them, as a collective unit, on a regular basis.

Dont agree (sorry, not meaning to disagree with everything you post today :razz, I think they get a slightly easy ride because of the easy on the eye football. The amount of errors was substantial. They gave the ball away in dangerous areas on numerous occasions that on another day and another team will get punished, couldnt get near the likes of Bale and Ade at times, and the two headed goals we would be going bananas about on here if that was us. We could and should have won by a bigger margin IMO.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I want to buy that line. And sell it to the Sun for 1,000,000 dollars.

Too late mate, Redknapp's already given it them for hand job.

 

[StartingPrice]

I actually saw it the other way round. I think Harry has a little bit of a man-crush on Brendan, there was definitely some bromance in the air between the two. If Levy does ask Harry's advice on succession post-England, that could have an impact

Oh, I think it is two way...but if you watch it again, they are clearly talking tactics and Rodgers looks very attentive. I just think it is the type of little think were he is looking to learn when another manager might be emotional about having lost.

BC, Sloth and Starting.

Excellent posts and appreciation of Rodgers. With and without the ball he's a very exciting coach. I'd be more than happy with him. In fact he's in my top 3 candidates.
I hope the main players and fans would give him a fair enough chance. That i think is perhaps more in doubt than his ability.

Yep...as I said yesterday, so many folk on here are worried about the risk of employing him - I would be more worried of the risk of not employing him, and a vacancy coming up at Citeh, United, Liverpool or the Goons next season. If he does go on to be a dynasty building Beetroot Face of his generation, and we miss out because of dithering, that will be annoying.

 

[mpickard2087]

Bloody hell, we're moving into fantasy land now. Their pressing game is one of their great strengths, they're brilliant off the ball, the problem for the yesterday was they didn't have as much of the ball as they usually do, and pressing for 50% of the game is a whole different proposition to pressing for 40% as they usually have to (or 30% like Barcelona do).

The other thing to say is it's fucking Swansea, some of the comments on here and you'd think we were discussing the merits of the manager of a club like Chelsea, or Liverpool, who've just come to the Lane, bossed possession, but got beaten 3-1. This is the minnows Swansea, whose team is made up largely of Championship and League One players, that's the context of what he's achieving. He has managed Swansea to victories over Liverpool, Man City, an Chelsea this season, in contrast, of those three sides we only managed victory over one of them - and his victories weren't backs-to-the-wall, withstand the siege and nick one in the 90th type victories, they were bona fide, out play, out pass, out defend, out score them type victories.

No one's saying Rodgers is the finished article, but credit where it's due please!

Dont agree, off the ball and defensively they looked poor IMO. Their primary form of defence is to keep the ball. When they lose it you can get at them. I acknowledge that Rodgers doesnt have the resources and has done well so far but again, I think they get a slightly easy ride due to style of play and I would like to see them second season in if teams work them out a bit.

I haven't said he was the finished article, In fact I said I dont think he was ready for us yet and would like to see how he does over 2-3 seasons. He is certainly one to watch though.

 

[mattyspurs]

Dont agree, off the ball and defensively they looked poor IMO. Their primary form of defence is to keep the ball. When they lose it you can get at them. I acknowledge that Rodgers doesnt have the resources and has done well so far but again, I think they get a slightly easy ride due to style of play and I would like to see them second season in if teams work them out a bit.

I haven't said he was the finished article, In fact I said I dont think he was ready for us yet and would like to see how he does over 2-3 seasons. He is certainly one to watch though.

The thing is, whoever we employ is going to carrysome form of a risk. If we wait it out, someone bigger is going to come along and snap him up, if he coninues in this vain.

Who would you go for in the now, instead of him. i am intrigued to kow mate?

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Dont agree (sorry, not meaning to disagree with everything you post today :razz, I think they get a slightly easy ride because of the easy on the eye football. The amount of errors was substantial. They gave the ball away in dangerous areas on numerous occasions that on another day and another team will get punished, couldnt get near the likes of Bale and Ade at times, and the two headed goals we would be going bananas about on here if that was us. We could and should have won by a bigger margin IMO.

But surely a little context needs to be applied here. We had to play one of the best games of the season to force those errors, and you are talking about players that are or will play for the worlds best teams. Bale is being valued at 40-50m. Adebayor is the top provider/scorer in the league who as an uber striker is one of the best in Europe on his day.

We could and should have won by a bigger margin because we matched their work rate and coherence and then had individuals of a vastly superior quality to capitalise.

Do you not think that if they had VDV, Adebayor, Bale, Modric, Sandro, Parker and still had 59% of the ball that they did have and pressed us with Sandro and Parker to boot, and we had their players, it might have been a slightly different story ? Maybe ?

 

[mpickard2087]

The thing is, whoever we employ is going to carrysome form of a risk. If we wait it out, someone bigger is going to come along and snap him up, if he coninues in this vain.

Who would you go for in the now, instead of him. i am intrigued to kow mate?

In all honesty I'd prefer an experienced head but, being realistic about who we could attract, there isnt really anyone who stands out. Right now I'm hoping Harry stays, I know I often whinge about stuff that I think we could improve on but the players obviously love him and the team is evolving season on season (maybe not as quickly as I like sometimes, but I believe it is).

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

At his experience level he is still a big risk. He isn't the first manager to finish mid table in their first season in the Premier League after being promoted.

 

[mpickard2087]

But surely a little context needs to be applied here. We had to play one of the best games of the season to force those errors, and you are talking about players that are or will play for the worlds best teams. Bale is being valued at 40-50m. Adebayor is the top provider/scorer in the league who as an uber striker is one of the best in Europe on his day.

We could and should have won by a bigger margin because we matched their work rate and coherence and then had individuals of a vastly superior quality to capitalise.

Do you not think that if they had VDV, Adebayor, Bale, Modric, Sandro, Parker and still had 59% of the ball that they did have and pressed us with Sandro and Parker to boot, and we had their players, it might have been a slightly different story ? Maybe ?

Gulf in class doesnt stop the fullback putting up a better fight against Bale, or maybe doubling up against him, Other teams have worked out a tactic and found ways to keep him subdued this season. I thought they were too open. Gulf in class also had nothing to do with, in all honesty, a pretty pathetic aerial challenge for the 3rd goal, or not even marking him for the 2nd goal.

We did play well, but we could press any team like that and look good if we were a bit more consistent and had it drilled into the players. I dont think that was Swansea's doing, more for once we realised some of our potential, both on and off the ball.

What they try and do is admirable and good to watch, but I was responding to Mr P in terms of 'team performance being up there with the best this season', I saw too many errors for it to be classed as a good 'team performance', being good in some areas of the game (retaining possession) doesnt hide being sloppy as hell in other areas (marking, aerial challenges, giving it away in dangerous areas). Rather than good I'd honestly rate that, as a whole team, as average.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Gulf in class doesnt stop the fullback putting up a better fight against Bale, or maybe doubling up against him, Other teams have worked out a tactic and found ways to keep him subdued this season. I thought they were too open. Gulf in class also had nothing to do with, in all honesty, a pretty pathetic aerial challenge for the 3rd goal, or not even marking him for the 2nd goal.

We did play well, but we could press any team like that and look good if we were a bit more consistent and had it drilled into the players. I dont think that was Swansea's doing, more for once we realised some of our potential, both on and off the ball.

What they try and do is admirable and good to watch, but I was responding to Mr P in terms of 'team performance being up there with the best this season', I saw too many errors for it to be classed as a good 'team performance', being good in some areas of the game (retaining possession) doesnt hide being sloppy as hell in other areas (marking, aerial challenges, giving it away in dangerous areas). Rather than good I'd honestly rate that, as a whole team, as average.

Hmmmm....I wonder where we could find a manager who could get us to consistently press like we did on Sunday? :grin:

In all seriousness though I don't understand how people can fail to be impressed with how Swansea played on Sunday and how they've played this season.

Rodgers has dramatically improved that team without adding alot of players and that in itself is very impressive. He has a philosophy that fits with the way Spurs fans always want the team to play, he has a philosophy that appears to work pretty effectively even with players of limited quality and he obviously gets the players behind him and prepared to listen to what he says and do as they're told.

The more I see of Swansea and Rodgers the more I think he'd be a perfect fit for the club, and a bit of poor marking for our goals won't change that view (afterall what would Spurs be without poor defending of set-pieces?)

It would be a gamble...a big gamble. But we aren't going to be picking from the top table (i.e. league/european cup winners) when it comes to managers. I think that makes Rodgers top dog at the moment.