Gedson100
Well-Known Member
- Feb 13, 2012
- 4,487
- 14,648
Despite everyone reporting he was sacked, I think Andre had had enough and no longer wanted to carry on.
Gabriele Marcotti reports this:
As I understand it, even after the heavy defeat to Manchester City (6-0 on Nov. 24), the club believed that Villas-Boas remained the best option. They felt he showed last season that he could play a brand of football that was both entertaining and effective. The main reservations had to do with his personality and his reaction to adversity: his references to "hidden agendas" (even if they exist, it's generally not a good idea to discuss them in public), his bust-up with the medical staff and some strained personal relationships.
Still, the feeling was that he would steer his way out of it. That it was part of a learning curve for a man who -- lest we forget -- only turned 36 in October and whose coaching experience is limited to 45 months as a head coach and a decade as an advance scout.
By Sunday night that feeling was wavering, but it was still there. Before being shut out by Liverpool, Spurs had won four of five games, and the other was a draw against Manchester United. Yes, they had been awful against Liverpool, and much of it was down to Villas-Boas in terms of team selection and tactical approach. But maybe it was just another blip.
Besides, there was no obvious Plan B. Parting ways with a manager midseason means either you go with an interim boss while you pursue the guy you really want, or you settle for the best available option out there. But as you might imagine, most managers worth having are currently employed, and prying them loose midseason is expensive and difficult. Which means the "best available permanent option" often isn't great or, in any case, isn't not a better option than Villas-Boas.
That was the mindset heading into Tottenham's postmortem summit meeting Sunday night. When the meeting was over, the mindset had changed. And by the time they reconvened again Monday morning, it was more about managing Villas-Boas' exit.
So what happened between the final whistle on Sunday and the announcement Monday at 11 a.m. London time?
Parting ways with Villas-Boas was a big decision for Spurs. Now they face more.
We don't know. But every indication is that something did happen, something that convinced Tottenham that cutting Villas-Boas loose was the right decision. It's hard to explain otherwise, not least because there isn't an instant upgrade out there who is free to join immediately. But mostly because for all of Tottenham's ills -- and three truly wretched performances against Man City, West Ham and Liverpool -- there are only five clubs ahead of them in the table. And fourth place is just five points way.
The club's statement:
The Club can announce that agreement has been reached with Head Coach, Andre Villas-Boas, for the termination of his services. The decision was by mutual consent and in the interests of all parties.
No Levy quotes, no explanation.
Compare to Redknapp's departure:
The Club can today announce that Harry Redknapp will be leaving his post as manager
Chairman Daniel Levy commented, "This is not a decision the Board and I have taken lightly.
Or Ramos:
A statement from Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy on Sunday read: "I have made (an) important judgement call and in doing so I have taken some very difficult decisions.
Or Jol:
"For me, Martin and Chris's departure is regrettable," said chairman Daniel Levy.
Very different wording for the previous 3 manager departures. Make of it what you will.
I've been a fan of Andre and I even felt we'd beat Liverpool and beat them well yesterday.
After watching that dismal performance, I knew that Andre's time was up; I get the feeling he did too, he's not a stupid man, and knew that what was in store for him would be more pressure from inside the club an absolute slaying in the press, more pressure, more stress. Only months after Ian Holloway fell on his sword and got the hell out of Bronx, I feel the same may have happened here.
We seem to have no concrete plans for replacements, we appear to have been left without a clear plan.
I think Levy would have let him carry on, hoping that the results would solidify and that a review could be carried out in the summer, results permitting.
As it is, Andre has gone; we're not his problem any more; his stress is now nil, his life is no longer Tottenham.
Whoever takes over long term needs our support and not the sniping that followed Villas Boas around from day one. That can't have helped and plenty never liked him. Now he's gone, we need to hope for a good decision & remember, if you're agreeing with Alan Sugar, you are part of the problem, not the solution.
Gabriele Marcotti reports this:
As I understand it, even after the heavy defeat to Manchester City (6-0 on Nov. 24), the club believed that Villas-Boas remained the best option. They felt he showed last season that he could play a brand of football that was both entertaining and effective. The main reservations had to do with his personality and his reaction to adversity: his references to "hidden agendas" (even if they exist, it's generally not a good idea to discuss them in public), his bust-up with the medical staff and some strained personal relationships.
Still, the feeling was that he would steer his way out of it. That it was part of a learning curve for a man who -- lest we forget -- only turned 36 in October and whose coaching experience is limited to 45 months as a head coach and a decade as an advance scout.
By Sunday night that feeling was wavering, but it was still there. Before being shut out by Liverpool, Spurs had won four of five games, and the other was a draw against Manchester United. Yes, they had been awful against Liverpool, and much of it was down to Villas-Boas in terms of team selection and tactical approach. But maybe it was just another blip.
Besides, there was no obvious Plan B. Parting ways with a manager midseason means either you go with an interim boss while you pursue the guy you really want, or you settle for the best available option out there. But as you might imagine, most managers worth having are currently employed, and prying them loose midseason is expensive and difficult. Which means the "best available permanent option" often isn't great or, in any case, isn't not a better option than Villas-Boas.
That was the mindset heading into Tottenham's postmortem summit meeting Sunday night. When the meeting was over, the mindset had changed. And by the time they reconvened again Monday morning, it was more about managing Villas-Boas' exit.
So what happened between the final whistle on Sunday and the announcement Monday at 11 a.m. London time?
Parting ways with Villas-Boas was a big decision for Spurs. Now they face more.
We don't know. But every indication is that something did happen, something that convinced Tottenham that cutting Villas-Boas loose was the right decision. It's hard to explain otherwise, not least because there isn't an instant upgrade out there who is free to join immediately. But mostly because for all of Tottenham's ills -- and three truly wretched performances against Man City, West Ham and Liverpool -- there are only five clubs ahead of them in the table. And fourth place is just five points way.
The club's statement:
The Club can announce that agreement has been reached with Head Coach, Andre Villas-Boas, for the termination of his services. The decision was by mutual consent and in the interests of all parties.
No Levy quotes, no explanation.
Compare to Redknapp's departure:
The Club can today announce that Harry Redknapp will be leaving his post as manager
Chairman Daniel Levy commented, "This is not a decision the Board and I have taken lightly.
Or Ramos:
A statement from Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy on Sunday read: "I have made (an) important judgement call and in doing so I have taken some very difficult decisions.
Or Jol:
"For me, Martin and Chris's departure is regrettable," said chairman Daniel Levy.
Very different wording for the previous 3 manager departures. Make of it what you will.
I've been a fan of Andre and I even felt we'd beat Liverpool and beat them well yesterday.
After watching that dismal performance, I knew that Andre's time was up; I get the feeling he did too, he's not a stupid man, and knew that what was in store for him would be more pressure from inside the club an absolute slaying in the press, more pressure, more stress. Only months after Ian Holloway fell on his sword and got the hell out of Bronx, I feel the same may have happened here.
We seem to have no concrete plans for replacements, we appear to have been left without a clear plan.
I think Levy would have let him carry on, hoping that the results would solidify and that a review could be carried out in the summer, results permitting.
As it is, Andre has gone; we're not his problem any more; his stress is now nil, his life is no longer Tottenham.
Whoever takes over long term needs our support and not the sniping that followed Villas Boas around from day one. That can't have helped and plenty never liked him. Now he's gone, we need to hope for a good decision & remember, if you're agreeing with Alan Sugar, you are part of the problem, not the solution.
