Why have our players performed so badly this season?

[stemark44]

I am very worried about the effect our current coaching staff is having on the performance levels of our players.
Just looking at the players that have been here last season and this one, it's shocking to see how poorly they have performed under the new regimes direction.

The only player that has showed any signs of improvement under AVB is Gareth Bale.

Gallas - worse player this season than last.
Walker - worse player than last season.
Ekotto - the difference here is huge,he has been shocking this season.
Dawson - I don't think he has been as good as last season although not a huge difference.
Parker - unrecognisable from last year.
Adebayor - have they replaced him with his twin brother who hasn't seen a football in his life.
Lennon - no better.
Defoe - no better.
Huddlestone - no better.

Other than Lloris,Verthongen and possibly Dembele,the new players we have brought in have certainly not been anywhere near as good as they were at their former clubs.

What the hell is going on?

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

I would argue Lennon has had one of his best seasons for us.

I agree on the whole regarding the lack of evidence of coaching in our play. I wouldn't look at it on an individual progressive basis.

It's the simple things like making runs/closing down/showing for the ball.

It has to be the players ignoring instruction as I can't imagine AVB telling players to become statues in the box or to hoof it up top from defence

 

[RuskyM]

Hang on, are you suggesting that they were better under Harry and his coaches' methods of "you're all triffic, run abaht a bit and I'll call time"?

Think about the Arsenal game. Remember how we looked so focused, so driven, so alive? That was down to AVB and his coaching methods. The man knows what he's on about, yes we've not performed well for the past few weeks but we've been very impressive for a lot of the season, it's important not to forget the good because we've hit a sticky patch. And this is only coming to the end of his first year remember.

I'd also like to add that Parker, Gallas, Dawson and Ekotto aren't performing that well because, well, they're really not that good players, two are coming to the end of their careers and whilst I love all of them they're not very good at adapting to new methods.

Also, Dembele's done very well.

 

[tiger666]

What a ridiculous thread.

 

[tobi]

It's a bit of both but the coaches can't be blamed for the lack of desire (and intelligence) from the players.

Some say it's the managers job to motivate but given the situation were in none should be needed.

I get the feeling that the previous regime allowed some players to coast through training.

Most players have been inconsistent, they've shown signs of improvement but then gone back to their previous ways. Also some haven't been given a proper run in their favoured position.

 

[Chris12]

Lennon - one of his best seasons probably, playing well
Huddlestone - did he even play last year?
Parker - had injury to start with, plsu doubt AVB and his staff teach is ballet
Adebayor - its history, look what happens with al clubs once he gets his move
Defoe - like 12 goals in a season isnt bad, just second half hasnt been great
Gallas - old
Walker - dunno no excuse, only 22 though
Ekotto - injury plus not really fancied by AVB
Dawson - been ight

Not coaching fault id say. Could say some of these people been under instruction of Redknapp for four years who plays differently, so going to be hard in new season of a coach, and hard to adpt and change.

 

[marion52]

Defoe started the season on fire.
BAE and Parker both missed half the season with serious injuries.
Walker was immense last season, whoever the manager think that would be difficult to replicate.
Ade - think his history answers this.
Lennon has had a good season.

Can't believe this thread, we are in 5th with one of our best points total in the PL, how did we manage that with such poor players?

 

[$hoguN]

There are a multitude of reasons tbh. Kaboul has been a big miss this season as he was so good last year. Sandro's injury means we lost an almost irreplaceable player, due to how suited he is to the AVB style of play. A catalogue of individual errors. Not coping with the loss of our two lost creative players very well. Poor home support not rallying the lads when we have needed them too.

AVB has made a lot of errors too. He persisted with Freidel a few weeks too long, which i think cost us points. Making strange subs like BAE for Naughton when we are chasing a game. Playing Defoe as a lone striker from the start of matches when Ade is fit, meaning that we are effectively playing with 10 men as Defoe can't hold the ball up. Allowing Bale to start through the middle.

Overall the season has been rather good as AVB's first season was always going to be transitional and I think the signs are there that AVB is going to improve us over the summer, and we will be a lot better next season.

 

[ajspurs]

Well for a start Huddlestone has been out injured for almost all of the season, seems like ages ago, but Lennon was better than Bale in the first half of the season, Gallas is ageing and isn't exactly going to improve each season and Parker was out for half the season and has been played in the wrong role IMO.

Like EnfieldYiddo has said, I think there's a clear lack of effective coaching. How we can struggle to build just one attack in a whole 90 minutes is staggering, and it's not the first time it's been like that.

I don't by into all this no effort , no bottle, no care bollocks, the footballing fundamentals just aren't there at the moment and the players look like they don't know what to do once they're in possession of the ball.

 

[stemark44]

It's a bit of both but the coaches can't be blamed for the lack of desire (and intelligence) from the players.

Some say it's the managers job to motivate but given the situation were in none should be needed.

I get the feeling that the previous regime allowed some players to coast through training.

Most players have been inconsistent, they've shown signs of improvement but then gone back to their previous ways. Also some haven't been given a proper run in their favoured position.

I am not knocking the players effort and there has been an improvement in our work ethic as a group but individually we have been poor.
Team style of play has been one dimensional and boring to watch.

 

[DOX]

Well... At least, you're not exaggerating.

 

[Mullers]

Hold on a minute, we are 5th, still in with a chance of third, I can accept that some player aren't performing and could do better and that player transfers could have better but we could still get top 4

 

[stemark44]

After Redknapp's tactics of just 'letting them run around and play' I would expect an improvement in the teams work ethic but I would expect that from any coach worth his salt.

 

[Mr-T]

Perhaps we've swapped individual Hollywood performances for a decent team ethic. Learning to grind out an ugly result.

 

[tony0379]

But but but Defoe is the new Falcao

 

[Black]

One of lennon's best seasons lmao

That just goes to show how shit Lennon really is

 

[nav007_2000]

Lennon has improved big time. His tracking back has helped us out. when not playing, it was sorely missed.

agree with the rest. all have been awful

 

[tobi]

I am not knocking the players effort and there has been an improvement in our work ethic as a group but individually we have been poor.
Team style of play has been one dimensional and boring to watch.

IMO the players aren't as good as we think they are.

A lot of them are 'passengers' and aren't capable of going to the next level.

 

[Chris12]

IMO the players aren't as good as we think they are.

A lot of them are 'passengers' and aren't capable of going to the next level.

I'd have to disagree. Bale, Vertonghen, Lloris, Holtby, Dembele, Sandro, maybe Lennon, Walker and Siggy as well, are capable of going to the next level, its just getting there thats difficult and if you look at that list 5 of them are new.

On another note, anybody think Levy will ever sell Lennon. Personally I dont want him to because Lennon is my favourite and brings something to the table, but was just wondering, because Levy only bought him for £1million, so wouldnt feel the need to sell on to make up for that much.

 

[Wirral Spurs]

Less to do with the coaching, more to do with Modric leaving imo, coupled with mid table replacements.