bringing in a creative cm & a striker would solve are home problems when team sit back against us
People are saying we are fucked.
Got no money, Levy ain't looking to back the manager.
AVB still wants Moutinho/Willian but Levy and co just want M'Vila. Not sure if we are even getting Holtby this window as that cost money 
Seems like we want to spend all our money on the stadium and not establish ourselves first..
think DL has a 20m budget for this window.
Willan, Moutinho & Leandro will all cost more than that conveniently for DL.
Willan has 18m left on his contract so he will be available for around £12-15 in summer i reckon. Bale replacement.
Sounds like we got Diame in the bag
Unlux Parker
something jj posted last night that they have tried to erase from SC
rah
The Villas-Boas Effect Spurs Analysis
We analyse the resurgance of the new Tottenham manager and look at why his Chelsea stint failed. We also feature his superb tactical changes at Tottenham Hotspur this season
How do you gel a team like Andre Villas-Boas? It might seem like a strange question considering Tottenham only added three first team regular during the summer; Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen and Moussa Dembele. However scratch a under the surface and the underlying problems of the disjointed squad during Harry Redknapp’s final eight months in charge appear to have been resolved.
Make no mistake, this isn’t to say Harry Redknapp wasn’t, and isn’t, a superb manager. The newly installed QPR boss saved Spurs from relegation and brought the club Champions League football. It was Redknapp who made Spurs a genuine top four club; a fact that shouldn’t be readily forgotten.
However the final eight months, littered with curious on-field selection decisions and off-field drama, blighted his superb record at the North London giants.
Since Andre Villas-Boas, the considerably talented young Portuguese manager, has taken charge of the club, Tottenham have regained their decisiveness on match day and players like Sandro, Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon appear to have found a new level. Certainly a consistent level.
We take a close look at the former Chelsea boss and the tactical and player management decisions he has implemented that make Tottenham one of the hardest teams to beat in the Premier League. We also analyse his failed stint as Chelsea manager and the factors that made the role untenable.
In June 2011, a new era began at Chelsea with the impressive appointment of young Portuguese manager, Andre Villas-Boas. The London club paid Porto over £13million to rescind his contract and enable him to join the west London Empire. Inevitable comparisons with Jose Mourinho lifted hope in the young tactician and the dawn of a new era has begun at Stamford Bridge. Or so we thought.
Just nine months later, Villas-Boas was sacked following a 1-0 league defeat to West Brom. The reality of the situation was difficult to swallow for Chelsea’s board, players and fans; they were three points off Champions League qualification and the club’s biggest stars were being marginalized.
The benching of Terry, Cole, Lampard and Essien, all at different stages of the season, was aimed to blood new faces and change the club’s direction. Perhaps Villas-Boas acted too soon; the replacements were hardly adequate. However there can be no doubting the credibility of his philosophy – Essien was frequently injured and far less dynamic than in previous seasons and Terry was struggling to command a weaker defence. Lampard was suffering from a dip in form and rare injuries. Perhaps Cole was a perplexing decision but the other three can be justified. Further justification can be found today – Essien is out on loan at Read Madrid and John Terry is struggling to regain his place in defence ahead of Cahill and Ivanovic. Was his foresight correct after all?
Perhaps Villas-Boas’ genuine mistake was that the replacements were inadequate. Alex was no Terry. Meireles was no Lampard. Mikel was no Essien.
So was there justification in ending his contract?
Chelsea fans will argue there was as Di Matteo stepped in and lifted the Champions League and FA Cup. There’s no denying his record in the short term but the long term replacement of Villas-Boas boasts a lack of logic. The team fought and battled their way to two trophies yet the manner in which they played the game left even Abramovich unsure as to Di Matteo. A club like Chelsea cannot live in the short term – the view needs to be longer term as Manchester City are demonstrating with their impressive Etihad Campus. It needs to revolve around the development of players in the academy and the creation of a unique style of play.
The fact is, Villas-Boas was working towards this goal. What he needed was time. A luxury afforded to few managers under the Russian oligarch.
It could be argued the writing was on the wall for Villas-Boas before he even took the job. Comparisons to Mourinho would be inevitable; however these would soon be washed away as their styles differ in extreme ways. While Mourinho can be considered erratic and nonchalant, Villas-Boas is measured and calm. His decisions, right or wrong, are explained with intelligent thought and restraint after each game. He is no Mourinho.
While the Mourinho comparison perhaps worked against Villas-Boas, through no fault of his own, the timing of his appointment was a critical blow; it was never going to work. It rarely does at Chelsea when a popular manager is sacked and a new man has to come in a win the fans over. Just ask Avram Grant. Love him or hate him, the man took Chelsea to the Champions League and League Cup final in his only season. He also didn’t lose a single home game. Yet the fans disliked him. Just as they did Villas-Boas. And just as they do Rafa Benitez.
The most impressive feature in the former Porto man’s early Spurs career has been the palpable unity in the squad. The players are frequently praising the manager for his innovative coaching methods and man management skills. A far cry from Chelsea where the disgruntled players were quick to criticize his coaching methods. How they could be so quick to criticize is beggar’s belief; for it was Villas-Boas who did much of the coaching during the Mourinho reign.
Enough of the Chelsea comparisons – it’s evident and widely accepted that he was mistreated across London.
So what changes has he made to get Spurs playing so well?
The most evident examples lie in the aforementioned Sandro, Defoe and Lennon. Aside from the confidence given to the players through regular minutes, he has altered their roles slightly. With Defoe the change is minimal however the new man has given him the freedom to shoot on sight – something Redknapp appeared to curb. Defoe is best when facing his opponent or working on the turn where he can create half a yard and get a shot away. That freedom under the new man has resulted in 14 goals.
Perhaps Spurs’ best player this season has been Sandro – certainly the most improved. With the most interceptions and tackles in Europe’s top five leagues before his injury, the Brazil international has become one of Europe’s best midfielders. That’s no overstatement either, a look at his stats tells the story. Top five in terms of Premier League clearances and dribbled past the least from his main rivals. Add to that an 85.7% pass success rate as well as the most distance covered for Spurs this season and you can see why he’s rated so highly. Under Redknapp he was sedate, sitting and anchoring the midfield. The key difference under the new regime has been his freedom to press higher and win the ball closer to goal. His more athletic nature is well exploited and his ability to pick as pass is of greater importance, and influence, higher up the field.
This in turn has improved the performances of Aaron Lennon. The winger has been crucial for Spurs this season, weighing in with six assists in the Premier League and another in the Europa League. Playing higher up the field by around 15% compared to the Redknapp regime, he is subsequently closer to the striker and in need to travelling a shorter distance with the ball. This enables the wide man to deliver more crosses and accurate key passes.
These small alterations have impacted on Spurs season in the most profound way. However other superb tactical decisions by Villas-Boas have helped.
Moussa Dembele has been one of the signings of the season. With Manchester United’s continued weakness in the central areas, they’ll be ruing their decision to forgo the chance to sign the Belgium international. His ability to travel with the ball at speed and retain possession is critical and his energy and drive supplements Sandro. Keeping Dembele in midfield is a masterstroke. Villas-Boas would perhaps be forgiven for playing the former Fulham man up top considering Spurs’ lack of striking options but the manager has resisted; and to his benefit.
In terms of transfers, Villas-Boas has also displayed intelligence in his long term thinking. Hugo Lloris, one of Europe’s finest goalkeepers for three years joined in spite of Brad Friedel’s impressive form. Lloris will only get better under the American’s influence and has the potential to remain the Spurs keeper for the next decade at least.
Jan Vertonghen has also been a masterstroke. The former Ajax captain has been deployed at left back for large parts of the season due to Assou-Ekotto’s injury however his best position remains central. Furthermore, his leadership qualities make him a shoe-in to be the long term Spurs skipper. Add his ability to play out of the back and his value to Villas-Boas’ passing system is evident.
Dempsey and Sigurdsson are intelligent squad players. Versatile, albeit limited in their ability to be a match winner, they bring their own qualities. Dempsey is a superb header off the ball – a valuable asset with Bale and Lennon on the wings and a different proposition to Defoe. Sigurdsson is a specialist at retaining the ball and set pieces. Again a valuable asset when Kaboul, Vertonghen, Bale and Sandro are playing.
Tactically the team is also evolving. The pass success rate is higher than Redknapp thus allowing the team to assert their own influence and not rely on the countering speed of Bale and Lennon alone. The team is also covering a greater distance as they press higher and look to win the ball back closer to the opponent’s goal.
These are all facts. Tottenham are playing better football. Facts aside, just watching Spurs play is a different experience to last season. The team is more assured, more intelligent. They mirror their manager on match day. Even the supremely gifted, and complete, Gareth Bale looks more intelligent. His all-round game appears to have improved with more goals and key passes than at this stage last season.
The development under Andre Villas-Boas is easy to outline – the facts do much of the talking. However the work behind the scenes is equally impressive. The training sessions are more intense according the players. They feel happier. They look happier. The fans have renewed hope that the club is looking to the long term on and off the field.
If the manager can retain this level of confidence and build on their solid start there’s every chance Spurs will be back in the Champions League next season. They certainly have the squad to make waves in the tournament. The likes of Defoe, Bale, Sandro and Vertonghen, among others, deserve to be playing at the highest level of European football.
For Villas-Boas Champions League qualification would be sweet indeed. Especially if it’s at Chelsea’s expense.
AVB taking the piss, 2 months running.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2013/mar/03/andre-villas-boas-tottenham
Even amid the battle fog of a north London derby, with his Spurs side under pressure in the opening half hour, André Villas-Boas was able to smile. The contrast with his final days at Stamford Bridge, when his features were as sunken as Chelsea's Premier League position, is stark. When the axe came, exactly a year ago on Monday, it was almost an act of mercy.
Sure, there was sympathy. There usually is for Roman Abramovich's discarded whims. Being Chelsea manager is like playing Pac-Man: you know the ghosts will catch you in the end, no matter how many points you collect. But when the game-over sign flashed after 256 days, Villas-Boas left with dangling questions about his management style.
What is striking at Spurs is not just that those questions have been answered, but how quickly they have been forgotten. Remember how Villas-Boas was hammered for playing a high defensive line to the point of obstinacy, even when it was obvious that John Terry's legs whirred at 33rpm in a 78rpm world? And the whispers that he lacked emotional intelligence, for failing to understand that egos need massaging not treating with coarse sandpaper?
We are watching a different man now. Chelsea should consider how much of that is down to Villas-Boas – and how much can be explained by a new environment. Look at the way Gareth Bale hugged him and his team-mates after his winning goal at West Ham. And then remember how he was mocked at Chelsea for suggesting his players celebrate together.
The decision to allow Hugo Lloris time to bed in could have proved tricky, especially with the France manager Didier Deschamps heckling from across the Channel, but Villas-Boas handled it well, sticking with Brad Friedel initially and waiting for Lloris to adjust before making the switch. Meanwhile, the reintegration of Michael Dawson and Tom Huddlestone shows a willingness to admit he was wrong that few peers possess.
Villas-Boas often deflects questions about himself, insisting that it is the group that matters. Ultimately it is. But the manager creates the mood music. On Tottenham's pre-season tour to the United States he encouraged staff and players to dine together, and even paid for a slap-up meal from his own admittedly deep pockets (something he repeated before Christmas). When Spurs beat Southampton he picked up the tab after his players threw their shirts into the crowd.
The happy environment extends to the training pitch. Gary Mabbutt, who has known times good and bad at Spurs, was struck with how happy everyone was when he visited the club recently. He sensed that people wanted to work for Villas-Boas, who knows the names of all the staff and makes it clear he appreciates what they do, whatever their position.
The assistant head coach, Steffen Freund, has also proved a smart acquisition, not just for his insight but also for his unrelenting enthusiasm, even when the rain is coming down sideways. And then there is the nitty-gritty of training and tactics. Villas-Boas plans every training session weeks in advance. There are no long runs or heavy weights; on the pitch everything is done with the ball. And there is a vigorous injury-prevention strategy in place to try to limit the number of players lost to non-impact issues.
There is fun but there is flexibility, too. One former player told me that the squad always get the day off after a game but following their dramatic victory over West Ham, Villas-Boas realised that everyone was buzzing and let them take it easy on Wednesday, too.
Data and videotape are also scrunched and crunched, and adjustments made: when Spurs developed a habit of conceding late goals Villas-Boas thought they were losing focus so he made the last part of training the most intense. It worked. He has also tried 4-4-2, with mixed results, for the first time in his career.
All things considered, Villas-Boas probably deserves more credit than he has received. Especially given the 2-1 victory against Arsenal extended Spurs' unbeaten league games to 12 – their longest ever in the Premier League.
Of course, things are not perfect. If they were, Spurs would be eyeing the title not the Champions League places. And while they are better organised under Villas-Boas, rigidity sometimes trumps fluidity. That is not a surprise: losing Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart, both excellent one-touch passers, meant the engine room lost some of its grease and groove.
And while Mousa Dembélé has been excellent, he, along with most of Spurs' midfield, like to take their opponents on. Rarely do they receive and release immediately. The signing of Lewis Holtby, a keen recycler, should continue to add variety to their attacks.
Off the field, chairman and manager are at last pulling in the same direction. Villas-Boas wanted João Moutinho and surely craves a 25-goals-a-season striker. But negotiations are done in the boardroom, not through his media mates. He also takes a deep interest in the youth teams, a subject that was far from Harry Redknapp's heart. Even in these early days there is a sense that Villas-Boas is planning for long-term.
Compare that with Chelsea, a club who would make Buddha twitchy. At White Hart Lane, the funds may not always be available but at least Villas-Boas has less reason to fear of the knock at the door, or the knife in the back.
Hey, is that really Jermaine Jenas posting on Spurs forum?
1
Yes
Could you imagine harry hitting up Sandros party?
lmao he would be so out of place
is that aggro santos in the front row pmsl
lol @ Luiz
AVB>>>
Brought the physio and fitness coaches along with him pmsl
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