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The Sherwood recurrence

Frozen_Waffles

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2005
3,760
9,505
I wonder if the people in the media go home and consider what the effects of their ill thought out judgements and how they impact people’s lives. It’s easy to see someone as a pantomime villain and criticise them but when the media circus takes up the helm it turns into a witch hunt. Because let’s face it people are generally sheep they read something and have the immediate response of yes or no, if it’s backed by enough people then it becomes fact to them, because people have the inability to think for themselves. It does not matter if it’s the Sun, the Guardian or the Mail it’s the same just slightly more highbrow or strongly opinionated but the basic fact is people believe what they read and arrange there pitch forks accordingly.

Last night I watched the after match interviews of two young managers that were literally close to tears. Gus Poyet an ex Spur who played in the premier league for years and is held in high regard by two of the biggest clubs in English football, has taken on a job from a club who have changed manager on a regular basis and have made some horrific appointments to a club in constant turmoil. Then I see another young English manager given an opportunity of a lifetime to manage a big club. Well I say opportunity, he has been given 4 months and is now apparently finished.
Tim Sherwood takes over this club halfway through the season, a club in turmoil one who has changed the manager on a consistent basis, in some cases against the wishes of its fans. He was given the permanent job not a caretaker position, let’s remember that.

Now for those like me who have a short memory let’s take a trip down memory lane and remember the ghost of recent past. Andre Villas Boas had a reputation and had a great ability to say long words and bore us all senseless in his press conferences. Of course this would not be a problem but he bored us on the pitch as well, this season anyway. I was losing interest with Spurs because we were playing a very negative way, the why pass forward when you can pass sideways and backwards style. The idea if we have 70% possession in a game the other team will get bored and go home and we will win strategy. Of course what some people forget is that sport is an entertainment game, to me anyway, and I think most Spurs fans would rather see our team go out and entertain us than put us to sleep, no matter the results.

So any way ‘To dare is to do’ that is our motto and we certainly were not daring under AVB. So what is the ideal scenario, to go out and play attacking football, play two up top where possible and try to entertain and bring our youngsters through, because generally that is the name of the game. We know, for example that a highly priced foreign import will not stay at the club if he makes it, he uses our club as a stepping stone and it makes sense. If we bring through youngsters and give them a chance they can be the backbone of a team for years to come because generally they will stay and have more loyalty.

This year I have seen a manager under all kinds of pressure, but he has brought the youngsters through. He has also played attacking expansive football and also within limits, he has sometimes packed the midfield but he is willing to adapt and change his game plan depending on the team.

Normally when a manager loses his job the results are in a downward spiral, last night our team won 5-1. He has lost the dressing room and they don’t play for him, the players were brilliant last night. The tactics are all wrong I hear you say, what? Tactics are at fault because our defenders take it in turns to make individual mistakes?

It’s a pity we cannot sack the fans, because to be honest you have had a mare…. Your constant badgering for Sherwood to be sacked, pretty much from when he started. Danny Rose, personally I think one of our better players this season and certainly last night, universally hated by fans on here why??? Harry Kane not good enough for Spurs, what? He was 18 when I heard this rubbish started being spouted and the same people were saying that Falque and Coulibally were the future… of what? Football Manager.

The need to rate players based on nationality or even because our manager likes him and no consideration of age. Bentaleb, has proven he has massive potential, that away day at Benfica he was one of the stand out performers, he will be a top class player, but because Tim likes him he’s rubbish. Adebayor… his man management skills with this guy have been amazing, firstly he plays a style which involves our centre forward and gives him the confidence to shine. From a player that I thought could not be bothered and only produced a performance 1 in 5 games at best, he has got him consistently performing, something that AVB and Mancini for that matter could not do.

Tim is not perfect and where he perhaps falls down the most is his media skills, and it saddens me because of this performance and this performance alone it has cost him his job.

However we all now know that next season another high profile manager will be hired who does not know the club or the league or the players, not given time to settle and sacked within two years, and if he does well he will move on to a bigger club. I suppose that’s the Spurs way nowadays, makes me lose interest in football if I am honest.
 

bigspurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2005
3,193
2,419
I don't wish to come over all insensitive and such, but he doesn't have to answer every single question he's asked by the media. He's embarrassing himself and most fans every time he opens his mouth.
 

gusrowe

Well-Known Member
Feb 20, 2005
836
809
I agree. We have too many knee jerk supporters.I hate the way the team has been very inconsistent this season and really frustrated at some of the awful results. However AVB was not the right choice with the tactics and the fact that we went on a real summer transfer spree adding to the confusion we ended up with a team of strangers playing at times. I don't feel that Sherwood is the best as he is still maturing however its obvious he still has the players support. I feel that with a few changes to the team and allowing for the others to settle in further he should be given another season.We do have some class players they just need to show up more often.
 

Gaz_Gammon

Well-Known Member
Apr 16, 2005
16,047
18,013
I don't wish to come over all insensitive and such, but he doesn't have to answer every single question he's asked by the media. He's embarrassing himself and most fans every time he opens his mouth.


You know the Club has a say in all of this.

If Levy (or any main board director) did not like the way Sherwood addressed the press then they should either tell him to shut up, or provide him with the correct media training.

I don't see that Levy can be unhappy with Tim and his media appearances or he would have been told already. If any manager refuses to answer questions he is buggered and if he is honest he is also buggered. That said managers get paid an awful lot of money to run the gauntlet, and clubs have an obligation to have their managers review the game post match.

I for one would take an honest answer irrespective of whether is pissed off some fans or not. The Redknapp "hanging out of the car window" scenario was another criticism from many a Spurs fan, but hey we want it all ways don't we?
 

greaves

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2006
6,118
8,945
We do, indeed, want the impossible. I suppose Spurs supporters are no different from any others. The human need to dream and the chasm between that and the reality that slams into us at the season's end! We grieve for all that might have been. But there's always next season. Oh dear. Look what 20 minutes of crap GCSE philosophy has done to me...
 

Gaz_Gammon

Well-Known Member
Apr 16, 2005
16,047
18,013
We do, indeed, want the impossible. I suppose Spurs supporters are no different from any others. The human need to dream and the chasm between that and the reality that slams into us at the season's end! We grieve for all that might have been. But there's always next season. Oh dear. Look what 20 minutes of crap GCSE philosophy has done to me...

I remember when i used to sweat until the team reached enough points for safety. I remember those dark days. The fickle ones want it all now, today, this instant. And when shit does not happen then just reload a manager into the barrel of the gun, wait until six or seven defeats, then pull the trigger.

Repeat until you become the laughing stock of the PL then throw the odd hundred million at the problem. Fuck it, that's plan A and plan B gone. Now what. Well let's just vent our spleen on a new incumbent and drive him out of town. Find some exotic named manager (because triple lettered named ones are so in fashion) and reload the gun.

When Rogers said that he dodged a bullet when declining the Spurs job we now all can see what a great mind he has.
 

bigspurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2005
3,193
2,419
You know the Club has a say in all of this.

If Levy (or any main board director) did not like the way Sherwood addressed the press then they should either tell him to shut up, or provide him with the correct media training.

I'm not sure if Levy or the board give him any media training other than, "Please don't swear" and "Don't dribble on the mike". Since when do you have to directly answer a question if you don't want to? I'm not asking him to be a politician, but he is coming across as a very naive, victim-like character. I find it all a bit nauseating and embarrassing.
 

Gaz_Gammon

Well-Known Member
Apr 16, 2005
16,047
18,013
I'm not sure if Levy or the board give him any media training other than, "Please don't swear" and "Don't dribble on the mike". Since when do you have to directly answer a question if you don't want to? I'm not asking him to be a politician, but he is coming across as a very naive, victim-like character. I find it all a bit nauseating and embarrassing.


I don't disagree to an extent but is anyone else at Spurs did, Sherwood would be told. Please believe me on this one.

He paints himself into a corner, and peels back the layers of hurt all too often but i don't really see him in any different light regarding post match interviews to that of The Special One?
 

bigspurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2005
3,193
2,419
I don't disagree to an extent but is anyone else at Spurs did, Sherwood would be told. Please believe me on this one.

He paints himself into a corner, and peels back the layers of hurt all too often but i don't really see him in any different light regarding post match interviews to that of The Special One?

Yeah I hear what you're saying to a certain extent. The difference however is that Mourinho plays around with the media, whereas Tim shows all of his cards at once. I really hope not, but I wouldn't be surprised if he has a complete mental breakdown and shoots everyone in his final after match interview! ;)
 

rupsmith

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2006
1,714
2,328
I'm struggling to understand some of the views on here - so people want him sacked because of his media skills?!?!?

Why don't you look at results - the thing that really matters. Very very unfortunate that we have people like you who call yourselves fans of this great club.
 

avonspurs

MoPo's lover
Apr 28, 2006
4,072
4,100
Tim Sherwood takes over this club halfway through the season, a club in turmoil one who has changed the manager on a consistent basis, in some cases against the wishes of its fans. He was given the permanent job not a caretaker position, let’s remember that - in turmoil? By what standard? We were, from memory, only 4 points off 4th place and in all the cup competitions. Yes, we had suffered some tonkings (no more than we've suffered (and against much the same teams) since TS has taken charge) but, if we are basing it on 'evidence' (which seems to be a pro-TS mantra!) then under no circumstances could it be classed as 'turmoil'.
Now for those like me who have a short memory let’s take a trip down memory lane and remember the ghost of recent past. Andre Villas Boas had a reputation and had a great ability to say long words and bore us all senseless in his press conferences. Of course this would not be a problem but he bored us on the pitch as well, this season anyway. I was losing interest with Spurs because we were playing a very negative way, the why pass forward when you can pass sideways and backwards style. The idea if we have 70% possession in a game the other team will get bored and go home and we will win strategy. Of course what some people forget is that sport is an entertainment game, to me anyway, and I think most Spurs fans would rather see our team go out and entertain us than put us to sleep, no matter the results. - agree with that; the lack of entertainment was a big problem.
So any way ‘To dare is to do’ that is our motto and we certainly were not daring under AVB. So what is the ideal scenario, to go out and play attacking football, play two up top where possible and try to entertain and bring our youngsters through, because generally that is the name of the game. We know, for example that a highly priced foreign import will not stay at the club if he makes it, he uses our club as a stepping stone and it makes sense. If we bring through youngsters and give them a chance they can be the backbone of a team for years to come because generally they will stay and have more loyalty. - sorry but where is the evidence for this sweeping statement? All players will strive to win the top competitions and earn the biggest salary: we can't do either at the moment, hence our club being a so-called 'stepping stone'.
This year I have seen a manager under all kinds of pressure, but he has brought the youngsters through. He has also played attacking expansive football and also within limits, he has sometimes packed the midfield but he is willing to adapt and change his game plan depending on the team. He has brought one youngster through. Personally I rate Bentalab but believe he has been played too much when other players should have been played but that's a debate where there will never be a right/wrong answer.
Normally when a manager loses his job the results are in a downward spiral, last night our team won 5-1. He has lost the dressing room and they don’t play for him, the players were brilliant last night. The tactics are all wrong I hear you say, what? Tactics are at fault because our defenders take it in turns to make individual mistakes? - well done for taking ONE result and using it as a yardstick for everything. Let's not forget that we were playing the worst team in the league (yes, I realise we can only play those placed in front of us) so to use that solitary game as an example of players playng for him, etc.
Individual players are at fault - jesus, how many mistakes have they made this season?! :). However, those mistakes haven't all been under TS's tenure so does AVB get given slack for some of these? As for tactics, of course they have an impact - high defensive line anyone? As does playing the right personnel for the right opponents and, indeed, scouting your opponents instead of saying that it wouldn't show you something you didn't already know.
It’s a pity we cannot sack the fans, because to be honest you have had a mare…. Your constant badgering for Sherwood to be sacked, pretty much from when he started. Danny Rose, personally I think one of our better players this season and certainly last night, universally hated by fans on here why??? Harry Kane not good enough for Spurs, what? He was 18 when I heard this rubbish started being spouted and the same people were saying that Falque and Coulibally were the future… of what? Football Manager. - fans are too quick to slate players, particularly young ones. Nice to know you don't do that(!) - - I suppose Falque and Coulibally don't count.
As for Danny Rose, seriously? He has not been one of our better players this season.
The need to rate players based on nationality or even because our manager likes him and no consideration of age. Bentaleb, has proven he has massive potential, that away day at Benfica he was one of the stand out performers, he will be a top class player, but because Tim likes him he’s rubbish. Adebayor… his man management skills with this guy have been amazing, firstly he plays a style which involves our centre forward and gives him the confidence to shine. From a player that I thought could not be bothered and only produced a performance 1 in 5 games at best, he has got him consistently performing, something that AVB and Mancini for that matter could not do. - people who slate Bentalab because he's Sherwood's fav are wrong. People who believe Bentalab shouldn't have played in all the games because they believe there may be more suitable players are not wrong - they have an opinion.
As for Adebayor, I questioned this with another poster yesterday: how much of his 'resurgence' is down to TS's man-management and how much to Ade wanting to put one over AVB? And Ade has produced these kind of spells before. But, credit TS, he has him playing well.
Tim is not perfect and where he perhaps falls down the most is his media skills, and it saddens me because of this performance and this performance alone it has cost him his job. - - personally, I don't want him out because of his media performance; I want him out because I don't feel he has the skills/knowledge/experience at this time to take the club forward. His media performances merely reinforce that (comparing his situation to that of Guardiola; his comments about not coming down from the stands in the Liverpool game because it would have had no effect; the seemingly constant stroking of his own ego (I'm my own man; I do it my way, etc.).
However we all now know that next season another high profile manager will be hired who does not know the club or the league or the players, not given time to settle and sacked within two years, and if he does well he will move on to a bigger club. I suppose that’s the Spurs way nowadays, makes me lose interest in football if I am honest.

Aside from that, I pretty much agree with everything you wrote ;)
 

fedupyid

Well-Known Member
Dec 2, 2004
789
906
I cannot see how anyone can argue to keep Tim the man was inconsistent and confusing in everything that he did. I could not make sense of the tactics he was trying to play. Tim will never make a good manager he does not have the right type of character to ever succeed. The reason any of you argue that Tim should stay is because he is English.

AVB may have seemed to have only one game plan but least he had some idea of how he would like to play a specific tactic, it may not have worked but at least he was clear in the way he wanted the Team to play.

Before anyone says 4-5-1 is a useless tactic it is not a tactic it is a formation. Tactics are the way the team is set up and instructed to play. Tim just slots people into positions and gives no real instructions.
 

Bennys LOL

Active Member
Aug 18, 2012
617
738
I agree. We have too many knee jerk supporters.I hate the way the team has been very inconsistent this season and really frustrated at some of the awful results. However AVB was not the right choice with the tactics and the fact that we went on a real summer transfer spree adding to the confusion we ended up with a team of strangers playing at times. I don't feel that Sherwood is the best as he is still maturing however its obvious he still has the players support. I feel that with a few changes to the team and allowing for the others to settle in further he should be given another season.We do have some class players they just need to show up more often.

This really does my head in, people just amaze me sometimes with their lack of insight and reasoning.

Its funny how AVB was so perfect for us to begin with wasnt it, In the season that AVB got us our highest ever points total we were playing some really great attacking football, the reason? Bale.

Now then, think about it, take away Bale, combine that with the 7 new players with no PL experience that BALDINI got in for AVB to use (NOT avb's preferences) and remembering that this is a results based game where losses get you sacked he had to come up with a solution and that was to try and not get beat while bedding in the newbies. AVB was perfect for us, young, tactically aware, a winner in his own right albeit in a different country, is was circumstances beyond his control that changed his destiny. Do you really believe that what we saw before he got sacked was the prefered way he liked or wanted to play?

Then add to the pot the fact that Ade did what Ade does and tore strips AVB in front of the other players, now, what action was AVB to take? he had to show Ade who was boss. Do you really think that AVB wanted that or do you think he would have loved to have had Ade at his disposal?

Personally i think AVB will go on to be a great manager for a club that backs him all the way and stands by him.
 

jolsnogross

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2005
3,729
5,431
I don't wish to come over all insensitive and such, but he doesn't have to answer every single question he's asked by the media. He's embarrassing himself and most fans every time he opens his mouth.

I don't know what it is about Spurs fans and their interpretation of interviews. You seem obsessed with how interviews shape public opinion about Spurs, and in some way feel that that opinion is largely negative and reflects immensely on you as a Spurs fan. It's just a football manager answering questions. It isn't existential and it isn't sufficient cause to sack a fella, even if it comes via a car window.
 

bigspurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2005
3,193
2,419
I don't know what it is about Spurs fans and their interpretation of interviews. You seem obsessed with how interviews shape public opinion about Spurs, and in some way feel that that opinion is largely negative and reflects immensely on you as a Spurs fan. It's just a football manager answering questions. It isn't existential and it isn't sufficient cause to sack a fella, even if it comes via a car window.

OK putting the interviews aside, he is a crap manager. Happy?! ;)
 

TottenhamMattSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
10,925
16,007
Our left back is not good enough, I think we all agree with that right?

Well, if we give him another 3 years he might get it right. All this chopping and changing is bad. Here we have a young English left back who's not very good at left back but we need stability.

While we're at it, let's keep playing Dawson every week as he needs 3 years to settle.


You see what I did there?
 

Dennism

Well-Known Member
Dec 23, 2006
1,225
2,712
People look at Sherwood's results through rose coloured spectacles. The cup performances were dire. We we embarrassing against Liverpool, Chelsea and City. Clueless against Norwich, deserved to lose against Everton. The defence looks chaotic. At press conferences and in the dugout Tim looks like he is losing the plot. Unfortunately when that happens there is rarely a way back. He has good qualities and good intentions but he is not the leader this club needs. We need a figure with authority who the players respect. Tim is not this person.
 

TottenhamMattSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
10,925
16,007
This really does my head in, people just amaze me sometimes with their lack of insight and reasoning.

Its funny how AVB was so perfect for us to begin with wasnt it, In the season that AVB got us our highest ever points total we were playing some really great attacking football, the reason? Bale.

Now then, think about it, take away Bale, combine that with the 7 new players with no PL experience that BALDINI got in for AVB to use (NOT avb's preferences) and remembering that this is a results based game where losses get you sacked he had to come up with a solution and that was to try and not get beat while bedding in the newbies. AVB was perfect for us, young, tactically aware, a winner in his own right albeit in a different country, is was circumstances beyond his control that changed his destiny. Do you really believe that what we saw before he got sacked was the prefered way he liked or wanted to play?

Then add to the pot the fact that Ade did what Ade does and tore strips AVB in front of the other players, now, what action was AVB to take? he had to show Ade who was boss. Do you really think that AVB wanted that or do you think he would have loved to have had Ade at his disposal?

Personally i think AVB will go on to be a great manager for a club that backs him all the way and stands by him.

Sorry dude, disagree. We were dismal and Bale won us games single handedly last season. His tactic was defend tight ,, don't give the ball away and hope for Bale magic. This wad massively exasperated when bale left.
 

greaves

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2006
6,118
8,945
Yeah I hear what you're saying to a certain extent. The difference however is that Mourinho plays around with the media, whereas Tim shows all of his cards at once. I really hope not, but I wouldn't be surprised if he has a complete mental breakdown and shoots everyone in his final after match interview! ;)

Though he is yet to engage in a bout of touchline eye-gouging!
 

mancman

Well-Known Member
Aug 24, 2006
363
688
Superb article. I would certainly keep Tim S for another year. I just don't understand the criticism of TS's media persona. Give me an honest man with a heart than all those other media manipulators. Tim's record in winning games is better than AVB, Martin Jol and HR. Some of the criticism of TS from people on this site borders on the plain nasty. These are probably the kind of people like those PSG fans (?) who pelted the Chelsea disabled fans during the Champions league game last week. Lets support a manager who has real feelings for our club.
 
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