The Swamp

A 5-0 thumping over the weekend will do that to you.

I defended the guy repeatedly, but repeating the "it takes time for a team to gel" line wore thin a few weeks ago.

Not only that, his stubborness - his insistence on playing a ridiculous high line even with Capoue and Naughton starting - Capoue for the first time at central defense - cost this team dearly yesterday.

Sadly, it looks like AVB is an empty suit who excelled in a season as head man in Portugal but who is in way over his head in the EPL. Bale sure did cover up a lot of his faults.

These recent results were bad, but the guy was barely there. EPL manager management seems unbelievably short sighted to me.

I was thinking about this when it came to Moyes. But the fan interviews last week before the Man U game on NBC highlighted that SAF's first years with Man U were not so great (11th, 2nd, 11th, 13th, 16th). However, the $ are very different now than mid 80s.

Even if ManU don't make the champions league this year (distinct possibility), I would not be in favor of sacking Moyes. Part of the reason the SAF era was so great was how long he'd been given, the security he had, and the accompanying confidence to look beyond one month in the future.

I tend to take a long view on this though. For example, I don't think my Gators should get rid of Muschamp, even though they had fuckawful results this year. My feelings on the Bucs and Schiano, however, are a little more conflicted than that.

govmentchedda wrote:Even if ManU don't make the champions league this year (distinct possibility), I would not be in favor of sacking Moyes. Part of the reason the SAF era was so great was how long he'd been given, the security he had, and the accompanying confidence to look beyond one month in the future.

I tend to take a long view on this though. For example, I don't think my Gators should get rid of Muschamp, even though they had fuckawful results this year. My feelings on the Bucs and Schiano, however, are a little more conflicted than that.

Man U needs some vision, and right now they don't have it. I know Moyes was always a slow-starter with Everton, but they have been so uninspired. No creativity in midfield. I think they'll eventually be close to a CL spot, but they need to close out 2013 strong, and beating Tottenham is almost a must win. They need nine points between now an Jan 1 to go into that game on an upswing.

I also figure that he will put a bigger emphasis on the Carling Cup to try and get some kind of silverware.

As for Florida, they had a lot of injury problems, but man that offense was atrocious.

govmentchedda wrote:These recent results were bad, but the guy was barely there. EPL manager management seems unbelievably short sighted to me.

It's short sighted because there are no playoffs and relegation plus the prize of the top 4. A loss in August is just like a loss in May.
Spurs believe they are a top 4 team (realistically or not), any manager that doesn't reach this will be immediately dismissed. A team doesn't finish in the top 4, they can't attract the best players. Your top 4 opponents will keep getting better and better and you'll keep losing ground. Arsenal's been in the top 4 15 years in a row, and even then people want Wenger out.

At the bottom end, Sunderland, Fulham, Crystal Palace and West Brom have fired their manager this season. These teams need to be turned around immediately because relegation is such a heavy price to pay, a lost of 100 million dollars.

In the NFL there's always next year, that doesn't exist in the EPL.

degenerasian wrote:
In the NFL there's always next year, that doesn't exist in the EPL.

Spurs and their fans know that if the team doesn't make the Champions League , then they are merely Aston Villa. A decent team with history and nothing else.

I've seen all the Spurs matches this season and only missed a few over the past number of years. I was a backer of Villas Boas until the past few weeks when it became apparent that he did not have a "Plan B." Last season, Spurs had their highest point total in their premier league history, but it became apparent that this was due to Bale's brilliance. While it may seem silly to compare Spurs to Real Madrid, imagine how that team would have looked over the past few years without Ronaldo. And Madrid have the advantage of playing in a league that is much less competitive.

In order to make the promised land of the Champions League, Spurs have to contend with 5 or 6 other teams each season. To go through the rest of this year with a Manager who refuses to change tactics even when forced to start a midfielder and a scrub in the back four against a team with Suarez would have been asinine.

Also, when the team's all-time record signing (Lamela) can't get onto the subs bench, and when the single striker formation is clearly not working - when the team relies on goals hit from outside the 18 yard box - it is a sign that the manager's ego and stubbornness is a hindrance rather than a boost.

The great managers adapt and inspire, clearly this season AVB was doing neither. I think you'll find most Spurs fans are on board with this move.

These recent results were bad, but the guy was barely there. EPL manager management seems unbelievably short sighted to me.

For Spurs, this season presents (presented?) a huge opportunity. Chelsea is unsettled, Arsenal's bench is short, Man U are clearly in transition. It may be a case of thinking the team can punch above its weight, but this was what things looked like back in August. And in any sport, once the manager has lost credibility, it can not be regained.

I alwyas say that as an outsider, it is hard to gauge just how good a coach or manager is. But one way to check is to see how long a coach stays unemployed. I don't think you'll see AVB back in the premiership any time soon. His skills are better suited to a third tier league like the one in Portugal where he lead the richest team in that league to the title.

The best thing about AVB, other than his suave stubble, is that he made goal scorers run over to him to celebrate. Is that rule in effect again this year? I haven't seen Spurs actually score a goal this year, so I wasn't sure.

Spurs would be better off with the Jason Sudeikis Mike Ditka parody character coaching the squad. When they let AVB go, they should bring in Sudeikis for a game or two.

COYG!

The Sybian wrote:The best thing about AVB, other than his suave stubble, is that he made goal scorers run over to him to celebrate. Is that rule in effect again this year? I haven't seen Spurs actually score a goal this year, so I wasn't sure.

Spurs would be better off with the Jason Sudeikis Mike Ditka parody character coaching the squad. When they let AVB go, they should bring in Sudeikis for a game or two.

COYG!

The worst thing in the world is when you get taunted by the fan of a team that you hate and there are no comebacks.

Other than screamers from outside the box and penalties, Spurs may have scored two goals in the EPL this year. Selling Bale had to be done - the potential return was too good to pass up - but Tottenham misses him badly.

Yes this season was a door for Spurs to walk through as the powers are struggling and they decided to not walk through it.
6-0 against Man City and 0-5 against Liverpool. ouch.

Being behind Everton and Newcastle is unacceptable.

I got to see AVB's last match at Spurs! This almost makes up for the fact that it was cold, wet, and terrible fucking football. Glad we left at 68 minutes and were able to get a taxi!

also, white hart lane is located in a bit of a shithole.

testy boxcar wrote:I got to see AVB's last match at Spurs! This almost makes up for the fact that it was cold, wet, and terrible fucking football. Glad we left at 68 minutes and were able to get a taxi!

also, white hart lane is located in a bit of a shithole.

That it is.

But on the bright side, it has some of the lowest rents in London!

I saw a match there seven years ago and the only nice thing in the area was a ferrari that one of the players drove away from the stadium in.