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Andre Villas-Boas - Head Coach

Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

[video=youtube;XFmFFElRLRM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFmFFElRLRM#t=26[/video]

I'm not surprised that journos have been digging at AVB after some of the results, but he obviously feels it's personal so good on him for saying something about it.
 
Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

I don't see why your first sentence has to be true. I think he rates Soldado higher than Defoe so to me it makes sense to play the better player instead of an inferior player.

But when the better player has a return of 1 goal in open play in 13 matches I would question the rationale in continuing with the same player. But then the main issue is not that he does not start Defoe but that he failed to sign another striker he does rate to compete with Soldado. Lets face it Defoe has never been at his best playing as a lone striker.

Luckily AVB switched back to Soldado soon enough. Now it's up to the rest of the team to start creating chances for Soldado, there were promising signs from Lennon today. Hopefully players like Chadli, Eriksen and Lamela will start delivering too sooner rather than later.

I know I am repeating myself but in Spain when he played as a central striker he played with wingers and thrived on their surface, something we are not giving him this season

Soldado and Defoe on the pitch at the same time is not a good idea imo.

I am inclined to agree

I don't quite see what relevance the stage of his career has at this point, if a better player is available in a position then the better player should play most games. It might be best for his career to move on, that's a different issue though.

AVB does not rate Defoe, Defoe needs first team football (he is no longer a young pup at the start of his career, infact I would suggest he is past his best), Spurs need a better striker who could play both with and instead of Soldado.
 
Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

During an astonishing post-match press conference, the Spurs manager also confronted a national newspaper journalist and claimed members of the media have insulted his integrity

BET=MNU£17.5DRAW£36EVE£47.5Andre Villas-Boas has accused former Tottenham owner Lord Sugar of driving an “agenda” against him and lashed out at members of the media attacking his integrity.

The Spurs manager has come under pressure since the humiliating 6-0 defeat to Emirates Marketing Project last weekend, with his side ninth in the Premier League and 10 points behind leaders Arsenal after Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United.

Villas-Boas, who was sacked by Chelsea in March 2012, claimed Sugar - who has questioned the Portuguese on Twitter and in radio interviews - has been one of the chief influences as the Portuguese finds his position under scrutiny.

"I think it's a very driven agenda by somebody that doesn't honour the club, neither myself nor my players,” Villas-Boas told BBC Radio Five.

"It's [the fans’] team, their passion and they don't trade it for anything else, not like Alan Sugar who trades it for money.”

While Villas-Boas looked to play down his criticism of Sugar in his post-match press conference, the 36-year-old turned his attention to the media and singled out one journalist from a national newspaper.

Asked whether he had been shown enough respect, Villas-Boas responded: “I think it’s pretty clear. I don’t think so. Some people insult my integrity, my values, my professionalism.

“One of these people is sitting over here and insults the success that I have achieved at other clubs. And I don’t think it’s fair, I think it’s a lack of respect and an attack on a person’s integrity.

During a tense exchange with the journalist, Villas Boas added: “You have always chased people, you attack people. You don’t attack them by the front, you attack them sitting when you write. You attack integrities, you attack competence, the integrity of a person, their human values and you don’t even know that person.

“We never got a chance to sit down and speak about it. Only when I give you that chance, and I know you and you know me, are you able to reach conclusions like the ones you did. I think your articles were completely out of order.”


It's not wise, it's not necessarily smart, but the fighter in me LOVES IT! The man is NOT a ****ing ***** who kisses the **** of the press-pack wolves…again, if he was playing it 'safe' then this is silly, but if your back's to the wall, then hey! Fight like a brave motherfukkkkkkaaaaaaa :lol:=D>
 
Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

Thanks for posting that.

It comes across quite different from how I read the transcript. He's actually a lot calmer/less adrenaline-driven than I expected.

I'm glad he was and personally i expected him to be calm. I think he's very calculated and if these comments had been presented in an angry or excited fashion I would be worried that he had actually lost his cool and was just frustrated/angry and vented without thinking about it.

As is it seems quite clear that he's thought about this and is well aware of what he's doing and that he has a decent idea of what the consequences will be. Always a good sign.
 
Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

It would leave us with our backup striker, Defoe, slotting into the side. All in all he's quite similar to Soldado and is a fine backup player to have I think.

He is 31 years old, how many times has he excelled as a lone central striker?
 
Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

Spurs' current points total of 21 is 1 better than this time last season, the year in which we achieved our best ever PL points total.

I like this stat.

Our next 3 games were all victories in the corresponding fixture last season, I'd love a repeat of that stat too
 
Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

It would leave us with our backup striker, Defoe, slotting into the side. All in all he's quite similar to Soldado and is a fine backup player to have I think.

Over the years I have defended Defoe more than most, which has included several arguments with Gutter Boy, but this fine backup player scored only 1 league goal in the second half of last season. He simply is no longer as reliable or effective as he once was
 
Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

I wouldn't go that far, not by a long stretch. I rarely see people belittling AVB's personality and background. I think it's the complete opposite, the same people who hated Redknapp are far, far more patient and lenient towards bad results, the goalposts are moved "we have no right to expect top 4 this season" but it was a different story for previous managers. Anyone calling for him to be sacked or even questioning his methods are written off as fickle supporters, quite unbelievable that they either don't see or ignore the irony in those statements.

Jurgen.
Mate.

Let me try and put this to bed (in the spirit of discussion mate, that's all).

Harry Redknapp wasn't criticized by ANYONE for two FULL seasons. The knives started coming out after he basically DISRESPECTED the club for a SECOND season in a row by taking his proverbial eye off ALL balls for the second-half of a season when top 4 was there for the taking (top 3 in his final season). Further, had he EVER taken on some accountability, he'd have been fine by most people. But he never did. indeed, as he was in England job PR overdrive, he staunchly refuted the claim that the England job was affecting things saying that 'players don't care who the manager is they just play' (paraphrase) whilst just before he was let go, he was saying he should have a contract extension because 'players need the stability of knowing who the manager is' (paraphrase).

The AVB situation is completely different IMO. IF he gets sacked at any time between now and the end of the season, the one thing no-one can accuse him of is lack of 100% application to the job.

For me at any rate, my major issue with Harry was precisely that, doubled up with his inability to ever take on any portion of blame and never EVER held his hands in the air. He had two of the most influential players at Spurs since Hoddle and Ardiles and he (quite understandably) rode that all the way. I believe he could've ridden it much further with a bit more attention to detail those last two half-seasons. In the end, softie old me probably would've felt sorrier for him if he'd managed to at least ****ing apologize for his part in the failures.

Again, I think hammering AVB for reasons of not enjoying the football is one thing (I disagree as I think he is a midfield passer away from greatness) but regardless, I get it, opinions and all that. What I get wound up about is when I see people get angry about some of us giving a counter-point, based on perceptions of how the previous manager was treated. Because it's irrelevant really.

Again mate, in the spirit of debate and discussion. I think you're one of the few who can see that I'm not on a wind-up here...
 
Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

1. But when the better player has a return of 1 goal in open play in 13 matches I would question the rationale in continuing with the same player. But then the main issue is not that he does not start Defoe but that he failed to sign another striker he does rate to compete with Soldado. Lets face it Defoe has never been at his best playing as a lone striker.

2. I know I am repeating myself but in Spain when he played as a central striker he played with wingers and thrived on their surface, something we are not giving him this season

I am inclined to agree

3. AVB does not rate Defoe, Defoe needs first team football (he is no longer a young pup at the start of his career, infact I would suggest he is past his best), Spurs need a better striker who could play both with and instead of Soldado.

1. Van Persie had a run of 9-10 games for United last season where he only scored one goal (not just one goal in open play). Obviously he's different class and proven in the league, but it does show just how streaky goalscoring can be. If AVB rates Soldado and thinks the best way to help him adapt, keep his confidence as high as possible and let the team get used to playing with him is to let him continue to play then I think that makes a lot of sense.

It's good to have competition for places, but honestly we're probably rarely going to have real direct competition for a player as expensive as Soldado signed at that stage of his career. It's more likely to be a first choice and backup player situation, something that is fine imo.

2. I think Soldado can score goals from various types of service. If we get him the ball in decent goalscoring positions I think he will score both from crosses and from passes, through balls etc.

3. I agree that a striker that could give us a proper 2 striker option whilst also being a backup option to Soldado would be great. A Benteke type player for example. Those big, strong strikers with decent to good close control and a knack for goalscoring are rather rare though I think.
 
Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

Spurs' current points total of 21 is 1 better than this time last season, the year in which we achieved our best ever PL points total.

I like this stat.

Yeah, but last season we had Gareth Bale to carry us on his back, tell me where you see the goals coming from, do you see anyone scoring 20+ goals this season?
 
Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

He is 31 years old, how many times has he excelled as a lone central striker?

I'm guessing rarely. But how often has he been given the chance to play as a lone central striker for a top team?

The one thing we do know about Defoe is that if he's provided with chances in or close to the box he will convert a fair few of them. He will also score some goals "out of nothing" by creating space and blasting the ball into the net. With creative players behind him and some service provided I think he would be alright for us as our backup should Soldado be injured. Him being on the pitch wouldn't be the main problem to put it like that, as was illustrated by us looking very similar with him up front as with Soldado up front in the one league game he did get to play.

Over the years I have defended Defoe more than most, which has included several arguments with Gutter Boy, but this fine backup player scored only 1 league goal in the second half of last season. He simply is no longer as reliable or effective as he once was

His goalscoring form has always been patchy. Such is life for the (not world class) poacher.
 
Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

He is 31 years old, how many times has he excelled as a lone central striker?

How many times has he excelled in a partnership? A dozen games with Crouch at Portsmouth and a few matches with Kanoute (more at West Ham than with us)?

The frustrating thing with Defoe (and it is frustrating, because 13 odd years ago he looked a real talent) is that he never matured into anything in particular.
 
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Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

Yeah, but last season we had Gareth Bale to carry us on his back, tell me where you see the goals coming from, do you see anyone scoring 20+ goals this season?

So we had Bale to carry us on his back yet we STILL are better off points wise then last year?
 
Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

Fair play to him taking on the Sunday paper clan. They all think themselves gods on that program full of much wisdom and experts on every sport they write about.
 
Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

Our next 3 games were all victories in the corresponding fixture last season, I'd love a repeat of that stat too

That would be great.

The pressure is well and truly on for AVB. I don't think it's as bad as some on here are saying (some were saying he would be gone if we lost to or played poorly against United or something like that), but the pressure is certainly there and he can feel it. It's about how he responds and how he can make the team respond.

Poor results in these 3 games would not be good for his, or Levy's, digestion going into Christmas dinners.
 
Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

AVB has made some decisions that have done my head in but I refuse to join the AVB out phalanx
 
Re: ***The Official AVB Discussion Thread***

Pressure makes diamonds.

It also makes water heaters do this: ;)

Bleve_Mythbusters_235_DJFss.jpg
 
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