That is the key question IMO.
it is a key question - and id like to expand upon that : is instant improvement the only way to go?
That is the key question IMO.
I think our best team is but not when AVB is picking players like Sigurdsson and leaving out ones like Lamela.
Also one of Southampton's strongest attributes is their fullbacks, who get forward and create width for the team far better than our's do (especially when Rose isn't playing). I would actually say that their back 4 is on par with our's, our central midfield is probably better but their front 4 are more effective at the moment than our's are. Not that they are better players but their 'system' enables their attack while our's restricts our attack. Very annoying situation for us.
it is a key question - and id like to expand upon that : is instant improvement the only way to go?
In the Southampton line up against Hull, how many of them were actually new to the squad over the summer by any chance? Am I right in saying other than Lovren (who's a defender anyway), Wanyama was the only other guy who was new? yet from some of the highlights I saw and from what I have seen of him this season, he looks awful, especially not the same guy that was being touted for Man Utd etc.
So what you're saying is we're being poorly managed? Yep!
No but we're not even seeing a slow improvement are we?
Ignoring the Chelsea fiasco, what was the football like at Porto?
From what I have read it was more of a 433 at Porto, with less rigidity placed upon two of the midfield three. Could this be the reason why we aren't emulating that system??
I still think Walker sits too high up at times and is literally on top of Townsend when if he dropped back a little it would help.
Also it looks like the front player looks very isolated in that system, was that the case at Porto?? Once again I havent seen enough to know but I think not having enough players around the forward is part of the problem.
I still think we are missing that player who can link eveything together from deep, every team seems to have two players that can spot a decent pass but also move around the pitch and "stitch" everything together. We are looking reliant upon just one to do this job by playing two power players (two of Capoue/Sandro and Dembele/Paulinho). Then again surely these players can be taught how to move and create space for one another, just seems we are always going in circles with this argument.
He's managed to numb and suck my enjoyment out of watching Spurs.
Hoddle, Santini, Jol, Ramos, Redknapp... They all had their faults, but none of them produced such soul-destroying football teams, such painful displays, such joyless, souless football, with no goals, in either end of the pitch.
FFS even Graham's teams had more life about them with Ginola and Anderton on song! We won something too!
I can't believe that no other manager received the backing he did, yet produced the pile of turd he has.
£30m creative talents left on the bench. Danish play-maker wizards get the odd game. One of Spain's top marksmen disappears. One of Brazil's starters looks lost! No width, no defence splitting passes, no crosses, no dribbling, no pace...
Just mundane huff n puff, we squeeze past the poorest with soft penalties and last-minute winners. We play for clean sheets at home.
We've got the best squad I can ever remember but I hate watching Spurs the most I ever have.
Each game is torture, cringe worthy torture. The stadium's full of tension, WHL is quiet, frought, nail biting, watching us pass sideways, backwards, sideways, backwards, not going anywhere.
I hate it. I just want to see some freedom and joy in our play. I want to enjoy watching us, win, lose or draw. I want the atmosphere at the stadium to be like it was and feel everyone was united behind the club, players and manager.
We're tense, at each other's throats, divided, subdued, angry, the managers having a go at us, but he needs to look at himself.
The fans don't help, but the footballs so poor there is nothing to cheer about.
I want him out! Now!
If that is the case, and I think you have a valid point, then why on earth would that be the case after we have spent 120 million pounds in the summer?
I remember a time when there was no Mumorn or thfcsteff on here. call yourselves old???
Er, no, my first game was a game when Paul Stewart scored an amazing volley.
Actually one of the most boring but exciting games I went to was the league cup final 99. I was 17. So dull for all but the last minute. I never saw Iversen run that fast ever and Nielsen's header - wow!
Anyway I went through all the lean years.
I don't think we should be in the CL every season, but to me results are the only thing that can justify football so turgid.
When the results look like they're not even going to be that great then what's the point.
If we're going to finish 5th to 9th we may as well do it by having a go in every game.
You know what thie lean years taught me? Those Nicola Berti years, those Gary Doherty, Ginger pele years???
They taught me to appreciate the quality in our squad.
Steffen Iversen used to trap a ball further than he could kick it. Now I see Lamela, Eriksen and Siggy do amazing things with a football. Our squad is the best I've ever known and it makes me mad that AVB is in charge of it wasting it's potential, it's thrilling, attacking potential and producing dire performances . We should be enjoying this time as I know football goes in cycles and we will end up with a poor squad again, but I can't enjoy it because of AVB!