JerusalemMan
Johnny Morrison
"I think AVB actually deserves credit for Saturday, not derision.
He set Spurs out initially to attack Arsenal and it worked. Spurs won the first 15 minutes decisively. Then Adebayor happened. AVB has no control over this bloke being an idiot - you can argue he shouldn't have picked him but his skills were perfect for the tactics he wanted to play (and there are no other options since 'Arry got shot of Pav) and you have to trust your players, even that one. Spurs are then down to ten, having lost a player very important to their tactical set-up, and once Arsenal's pressure builds they capitulate to be 3-1 down at half time.
So what to do? You're 3-1 down, a man down and all looks lost. Many, many managers would just shut up shop to keep it respectable. But he changed things tactically and tried to get back into the game. It nearly worked. I remarked at 4-2 that 'only gooners would be sh*tting themselves at 4-2 up against 10 men..' but the response I had to that was 'I'd forgotten they were down to ten...' The switch to three at the back, maintaining four in midfield and two up top was bold, brave and could have worked, indeed I would say Spurs looked comfortable for the majority of the second half. I think AVB should be lauded for having the man-bits to even try it.
The score might have been the same but this 5-2 was very different to February's. Spurs did fall apart then. They had no tactical leadership from the sidelines and went from 2-0 to 2-2 at half-time when the manager can take action, to 5-2. Five goals unanswered straddling the half-time team talk. They stayed in the game this time, got a goal back and, had Bale shown any sort of vision when Defoe was free in the six-yard box, might have got it back to 4-3. Perilously close to DVD territory for my liking.
So history will show only the scoreline, and it is one I am very happy about. But, Spurs fans out there, consider the differences between this time and February. And ask yourselves if you want a proactive manager, prepared to try to win a game even when all looks lost, or not. If AVB is given time I am genuinely fearful of Spurs' future prospects. I hope no patience is shown. Out by Christmas and replaced by Mark Hughes? Yeah...go on, I'll bite your hand off."
From the F365 letters page.
He set Spurs out initially to attack Arsenal and it worked. Spurs won the first 15 minutes decisively. Then Adebayor happened. AVB has no control over this bloke being an idiot - you can argue he shouldn't have picked him but his skills were perfect for the tactics he wanted to play (and there are no other options since 'Arry got shot of Pav) and you have to trust your players, even that one. Spurs are then down to ten, having lost a player very important to their tactical set-up, and once Arsenal's pressure builds they capitulate to be 3-1 down at half time.
So what to do? You're 3-1 down, a man down and all looks lost. Many, many managers would just shut up shop to keep it respectable. But he changed things tactically and tried to get back into the game. It nearly worked. I remarked at 4-2 that 'only gooners would be sh*tting themselves at 4-2 up against 10 men..' but the response I had to that was 'I'd forgotten they were down to ten...' The switch to three at the back, maintaining four in midfield and two up top was bold, brave and could have worked, indeed I would say Spurs looked comfortable for the majority of the second half. I think AVB should be lauded for having the man-bits to even try it.
The score might have been the same but this 5-2 was very different to February's. Spurs did fall apart then. They had no tactical leadership from the sidelines and went from 2-0 to 2-2 at half-time when the manager can take action, to 5-2. Five goals unanswered straddling the half-time team talk. They stayed in the game this time, got a goal back and, had Bale shown any sort of vision when Defoe was free in the six-yard box, might have got it back to 4-3. Perilously close to DVD territory for my liking.
So history will show only the scoreline, and it is one I am very happy about. But, Spurs fans out there, consider the differences between this time and February. And ask yourselves if you want a proactive manager, prepared to try to win a game even when all looks lost, or not. If AVB is given time I am genuinely fearful of Spurs' future prospects. I hope no patience is shown. Out by Christmas and replaced by Mark Hughes? Yeah...go on, I'll bite your hand off."
From the F365 letters page.
