Can AVB Take Spurs Forward?
To say that Chelsea fans were a little sceptical when Andre Villas-Boas was appointed manager in June 2011 would be an understatement. At 33 years old, Boas was very young and was the same age as some of the senior players in the squad such as Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, this concerned many fans who didn’t think AVB would be able to keep the dressing room in order.
The concerns of the fans were realised when results started to go wrong for Chelsea and by February, pressure was really starting to grow on AVB as Chelsea dropped out of the top four. The tipping point for many however was Villas-Boas’s decision to leave Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole out of a champions league tie with Napoli and on March 4th, Andre Villas-Boas was sacked as the Chelsea manager and replaced by Roberto Di Matteo.
Villas-Boas will have to follow in the footsteps of Harry Redknapp at White Hart Lane. When Harry Redknapp and Tottenham parted ways I genuinely feared the worst for the club, Harry had done some great work at the club and was really starting to build a good side, they had been unlucky to miss out on a Champions league spot after a great season in the league which saw them finish in 4th spot. However now that some time has passed since AVB took over at White Hart Lane, I’m starting to see the benefits of having him at the helm.
Although I agree that he is rather young, especially to be managing a potential top four Premier League team, Andre Vilas Boas is by no means inexperienced. He managed to lead Porto to an undefeated season in the league and although the Portuguese league is far from the most competitive in Europe, it is still a great achievement for any manager. It must also be noted that Villas-Boas worked under the “special one” Jose Mourinho at Chelsea. Villas-Boas would file scouting reports about the upcoming teams and Mourinho praised him for his work. Andre Villas Boas therefore has a natural ability for the tactical side of football.
Tottenham will be able to adapt under the management of Villas-Boas, it is likely that he will try to implement a continental style of play. Keeping good possession will be a key factor and Villas-Boas will also try to get his team to exploit the flanks at every opportunity so expect Aaron Lennon to flourish if he can keep healthy. I also fully expect to see Kyle Walker attacking up the flanks and he said in an interview for the Tottenham official website that he felt he was developing a good playing partnership with Lennon which could see some great football down that right flank for Spurs.
Andre Villas boas has been relatively inactive in the transfer market since joining Spurs, a lot of this could have to do with the ongoing Luka Modric transfer saga. If Modric is going to leave, AVB would do well to sell him sooner than later so that he has enough time to look for an adequate replacement. Modric has been instrumental in the success of Spurs over the last couple of years with his superb vision and range of passing, it will take quite a bit of money and searching to find somebody to fill the gap he will leave behind if he joins Real Madrid. There has a been talk of Spurs trying to sign French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris from Lyon although reports suggest that their latest bid has been rejected. Hugo Lloris, in my opinion would be a wise purchase for AVB, Gomes has sown that he isnt the most consistent keeper in the world and has made his fair share of blunders in the past season or two. Lloris would help sure up the defensive side of their game giving Spurs a good platform to build from.
In my opinion, Spurs under AVB will be a success. Some movement in the transfer market may be required. Obviously a replacement for Modric will be needed and possibly another striker if they are unable to retain the services of Emmanuel Adebayor. Do that and they have a good chance of being top four regulars. The biggest problem they will face will be the opposition from the other London clubs. Arsenal have spent well so far and Chelsea, well they have just simply spent and will most likely spend some more in order to bring in the big names.
AVB therefore has it all to do, but hey, maybe he’s the next special one. We’ll just have to wait and see.
By Ryan McDowell (@dowelly_)
The concerns of the fans were realised when results started to go wrong for Chelsea and by February, pressure was really starting to grow on AVB as Chelsea dropped out of the top four. The tipping point for many however was Villas-Boas’s decision to leave Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole out of a champions league tie with Napoli and on March 4th, Andre Villas-Boas was sacked as the Chelsea manager and replaced by Roberto Di Matteo.
Villas-Boas will have to follow in the footsteps of Harry Redknapp at White Hart Lane. When Harry Redknapp and Tottenham parted ways I genuinely feared the worst for the club, Harry had done some great work at the club and was really starting to build a good side, they had been unlucky to miss out on a Champions league spot after a great season in the league which saw them finish in 4th spot. However now that some time has passed since AVB took over at White Hart Lane, I’m starting to see the benefits of having him at the helm.
Although I agree that he is rather young, especially to be managing a potential top four Premier League team, Andre Vilas Boas is by no means inexperienced. He managed to lead Porto to an undefeated season in the league and although the Portuguese league is far from the most competitive in Europe, it is still a great achievement for any manager. It must also be noted that Villas-Boas worked under the “special one” Jose Mourinho at Chelsea. Villas-Boas would file scouting reports about the upcoming teams and Mourinho praised him for his work. Andre Villas Boas therefore has a natural ability for the tactical side of football.
Tottenham will be able to adapt under the management of Villas-Boas, it is likely that he will try to implement a continental style of play. Keeping good possession will be a key factor and Villas-Boas will also try to get his team to exploit the flanks at every opportunity so expect Aaron Lennon to flourish if he can keep healthy. I also fully expect to see Kyle Walker attacking up the flanks and he said in an interview for the Tottenham official website that he felt he was developing a good playing partnership with Lennon which could see some great football down that right flank for Spurs.
Andre Villas boas has been relatively inactive in the transfer market since joining Spurs, a lot of this could have to do with the ongoing Luka Modric transfer saga. If Modric is going to leave, AVB would do well to sell him sooner than later so that he has enough time to look for an adequate replacement. Modric has been instrumental in the success of Spurs over the last couple of years with his superb vision and range of passing, it will take quite a bit of money and searching to find somebody to fill the gap he will leave behind if he joins Real Madrid. There has a been talk of Spurs trying to sign French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris from Lyon although reports suggest that their latest bid has been rejected. Hugo Lloris, in my opinion would be a wise purchase for AVB, Gomes has sown that he isnt the most consistent keeper in the world and has made his fair share of blunders in the past season or two. Lloris would help sure up the defensive side of their game giving Spurs a good platform to build from.
In my opinion, Spurs under AVB will be a success. Some movement in the transfer market may be required. Obviously a replacement for Modric will be needed and possibly another striker if they are unable to retain the services of Emmanuel Adebayor. Do that and they have a good chance of being top four regulars. The biggest problem they will face will be the opposition from the other London clubs. Arsenal have spent well so far and Chelsea, well they have just simply spent and will most likely spend some more in order to bring in the big names.
AVB therefore has it all to do, but hey, maybe he’s the next special one. We’ll just have to wait and see.
By Ryan McDowell (@dowelly_)
Tottenham Season Preview 2012/13
The journey for the average Tottenham supporter over the last five years has been an eventful one. Marooned at the foot of the Barclay Premier League under Juande Ramos before the arrival of Harry Redknapp, the former West Ham and Portsmouth boss embarked on a mission to revive and return the north London club to the sharp end of English football. Within eighteen months Tottenham were indeed back at the top table, crossing swords with the likes of Inter Milan and Real Madrid and ensuring that the traditional English ‘top four’ became, along with Manchester City, a top six.
Whilst City’s expenditure guaranteed their place in the upper echelon of English and European football, Tottenham’s ascension deserved all the more credit for its more conservative spending by comparison, but also for the way they have remained faithful to their philosophy of stylish attacking football. At the outset Redknapp showed a commitment to a traditional 4-4-2 formation (occasionally 4-4-1-1 with van der Vaart slightly withdrawn) with width and pace that produced a brand of football at times exhilarating to watch. Young players such as Kyle Walker and Gareth Bale were given the chance to progress in the first team and became established stars, blended carefully with experienced campaigners such as Scott Parker, William Gallas, Brad Freidel and home-grown talisman Ledley King. Tottenham rose to third in the table at the start of 2012, hunting down the Manchester clubs above them and putting distance between them and a troubled Chelsea and misfiring Arsenal below. There had been no better time in recent memory to be a Tottenham fan.
Fast-forward six months and the picture is a starkly contrasting one. Redknapp, having been courted by top clubs and countries alike, is gone after an awful run of results that saw them overhauled by Arsenal and dumped unceremoniously out of the FA Cup by Chelsea. Furthermore, in spite of another fourth placed finish, Champions League football has again been denied after Chelsea’s triumphs over Barcelona and Bayern Munich in a manner that often defied belief. And, in a development in keeping with the bizarre sense of irony that has engulfed Spurs fans of late, the man at the helm now is Andre Villas Boas, the man whose removal at Chelsea prompted them to rediscover how to win games of football. Their best player, Luka Modric, and their top goal scorer last year, Emmanuel Adebayor, both look set to leave and, with apologies to central defender Jan Vetongen and midfielder Gilfi Sigurdsson, there have been no marquee signings to lift the spirits. Gareth Bale looks unlikely to be fit for the start of the season after a crude and frustratingly unpunished challenge by Liverpool’s Charlie Adam in a preseason friendly, little progress appears to have been made publicly on a new stadium, the rock Ledley King has been forced to retire and the campaign starts with a tricky trip to Newcastle in less than two weeks.
This season represents a huge test for the new man. At times lambasted for his perceived lack of sensitivity and people skills when handling Chelsea’s ego-saturated dressing room, and sacked by a club that went on to win European football’s greatest prize without him, AVB has much to prove. Success with Spurs would re-establish his credentials as one of Europe’s brightest young coaching talents. Failure would deal a blow to his career from which it would undoubtedly be difficult to recover. Open about his own failings as well as about his feeling towards his former employers in west London, he has the chance to repair the damage to his reputation at Tottenham, but will have to convince his new club’s supporters and not just chairman Daniel Levy that he is the real deal at this level. This will be made tougher by virtue of his predecessor’s enduring popularity in the stands at White Hart Lane, if not in the boardroom. This is perhaps set to be the season that defines AVB’s career. The club’s targets cannot and will not change even in the face of some much better funded competition; Champions league qualification and continuing improvement towards the summit of the Premier League, all whilst continuing to play football ‘the Spurs way’.
What positives can AVB cling to? There is no doubt that the task he faces is a daunting one, but it could be argued that it is less daunting than the one he attempted at Chelsea. Tottenham’s current playing squad is younger than the one he inherited at Stamford Bridge, and already play a type of football closer to that which he instilled at Porto and attempted to force upon the Blues. There are fewer dominant, volatile and/or high profile personalities to manage; no Drogba histrionics, power struggles with Terry and Lampard, or public relations nightmare’s such as £50m man Fernando Torres’ profligacy in front of goal or Ashley Cole shooting at people. He instead inherits a young and talented squad who were always happy to line up behind Redknapp, and who have quietly threatened the top teams for some time without landing a memorable blow. The appointment betrays a huge amount of faith in his ability on the part of Levy, a notoriously cautious chairman, and he will be further buoyed by the return fitness of Dawson, Huddlestone and Jenas, key players in past seasons who have something to prove themselves after long injury lay-offs. Bale and Walker represent the two of the standout British young talents at present, and in Scott Parker he has probably the best holding midfielder in the league (along with Tiote at Newcastle).
The last positive is the man himself. Before his ordeal at Chelsea his record at Porto made for seriously impressive reading and he was, until his appointment last year, the most highly rated young manager in Europe. He has won a European trophy as well as domestic honours in Portugal, and has done so whilst playing attractive football. He will know that this is a golden chance to rehabilitate himself, and thus will be determined to make his time at Spurs a success.
So can AVB produce at Spurs? He simply has to, both for the club and for himself. Will he? We must wait and see, but something suggests that those who wrote him off after his Chelsea ordeal may have to think again. It is well within the current squad to replicate last season’s fourth placed finish, especially if a replacement for Modric can be found who will drive the team from midfield. Liverpool look to be in another period of transition under Bredan Rogers, Arsenal must adjust to life after Robin van Persie, and Newcastle will have to pull out all the stops to replicate their phenomenal showing last term. Spurs may look like a club who perhaps missed their opportunity last year, but with so much on the line, expect them to push again for that top four slot. Anything less, and AVB’s time at Spurs may be his last in the Premier league.
By James Marsh (@jamesmmarsh)
Whilst City’s expenditure guaranteed their place in the upper echelon of English and European football, Tottenham’s ascension deserved all the more credit for its more conservative spending by comparison, but also for the way they have remained faithful to their philosophy of stylish attacking football. At the outset Redknapp showed a commitment to a traditional 4-4-2 formation (occasionally 4-4-1-1 with van der Vaart slightly withdrawn) with width and pace that produced a brand of football at times exhilarating to watch. Young players such as Kyle Walker and Gareth Bale were given the chance to progress in the first team and became established stars, blended carefully with experienced campaigners such as Scott Parker, William Gallas, Brad Freidel and home-grown talisman Ledley King. Tottenham rose to third in the table at the start of 2012, hunting down the Manchester clubs above them and putting distance between them and a troubled Chelsea and misfiring Arsenal below. There had been no better time in recent memory to be a Tottenham fan.
Fast-forward six months and the picture is a starkly contrasting one. Redknapp, having been courted by top clubs and countries alike, is gone after an awful run of results that saw them overhauled by Arsenal and dumped unceremoniously out of the FA Cup by Chelsea. Furthermore, in spite of another fourth placed finish, Champions League football has again been denied after Chelsea’s triumphs over Barcelona and Bayern Munich in a manner that often defied belief. And, in a development in keeping with the bizarre sense of irony that has engulfed Spurs fans of late, the man at the helm now is Andre Villas Boas, the man whose removal at Chelsea prompted them to rediscover how to win games of football. Their best player, Luka Modric, and their top goal scorer last year, Emmanuel Adebayor, both look set to leave and, with apologies to central defender Jan Vetongen and midfielder Gilfi Sigurdsson, there have been no marquee signings to lift the spirits. Gareth Bale looks unlikely to be fit for the start of the season after a crude and frustratingly unpunished challenge by Liverpool’s Charlie Adam in a preseason friendly, little progress appears to have been made publicly on a new stadium, the rock Ledley King has been forced to retire and the campaign starts with a tricky trip to Newcastle in less than two weeks.
This season represents a huge test for the new man. At times lambasted for his perceived lack of sensitivity and people skills when handling Chelsea’s ego-saturated dressing room, and sacked by a club that went on to win European football’s greatest prize without him, AVB has much to prove. Success with Spurs would re-establish his credentials as one of Europe’s brightest young coaching talents. Failure would deal a blow to his career from which it would undoubtedly be difficult to recover. Open about his own failings as well as about his feeling towards his former employers in west London, he has the chance to repair the damage to his reputation at Tottenham, but will have to convince his new club’s supporters and not just chairman Daniel Levy that he is the real deal at this level. This will be made tougher by virtue of his predecessor’s enduring popularity in the stands at White Hart Lane, if not in the boardroom. This is perhaps set to be the season that defines AVB’s career. The club’s targets cannot and will not change even in the face of some much better funded competition; Champions league qualification and continuing improvement towards the summit of the Premier League, all whilst continuing to play football ‘the Spurs way’.
What positives can AVB cling to? There is no doubt that the task he faces is a daunting one, but it could be argued that it is less daunting than the one he attempted at Chelsea. Tottenham’s current playing squad is younger than the one he inherited at Stamford Bridge, and already play a type of football closer to that which he instilled at Porto and attempted to force upon the Blues. There are fewer dominant, volatile and/or high profile personalities to manage; no Drogba histrionics, power struggles with Terry and Lampard, or public relations nightmare’s such as £50m man Fernando Torres’ profligacy in front of goal or Ashley Cole shooting at people. He instead inherits a young and talented squad who were always happy to line up behind Redknapp, and who have quietly threatened the top teams for some time without landing a memorable blow. The appointment betrays a huge amount of faith in his ability on the part of Levy, a notoriously cautious chairman, and he will be further buoyed by the return fitness of Dawson, Huddlestone and Jenas, key players in past seasons who have something to prove themselves after long injury lay-offs. Bale and Walker represent the two of the standout British young talents at present, and in Scott Parker he has probably the best holding midfielder in the league (along with Tiote at Newcastle).
The last positive is the man himself. Before his ordeal at Chelsea his record at Porto made for seriously impressive reading and he was, until his appointment last year, the most highly rated young manager in Europe. He has won a European trophy as well as domestic honours in Portugal, and has done so whilst playing attractive football. He will know that this is a golden chance to rehabilitate himself, and thus will be determined to make his time at Spurs a success.
So can AVB produce at Spurs? He simply has to, both for the club and for himself. Will he? We must wait and see, but something suggests that those who wrote him off after his Chelsea ordeal may have to think again. It is well within the current squad to replicate last season’s fourth placed finish, especially if a replacement for Modric can be found who will drive the team from midfield. Liverpool look to be in another period of transition under Bredan Rogers, Arsenal must adjust to life after Robin van Persie, and Newcastle will have to pull out all the stops to replicate their phenomenal showing last term. Spurs may look like a club who perhaps missed their opportunity last year, but with so much on the line, expect them to push again for that top four slot. Anything less, and AVB’s time at Spurs may be his last in the Premier league.
By James Marsh (@jamesmmarsh)
Modric: Why Spurs Will Miss Him If He Leaves?
As all Premier League fans know, in recent years Tottenham Hotspur have been on the up, under Harry Redknapp they turned into title contenders only for them the drop away at the end of the 2011-2012 season. When I talk to people about why Spurs have transformed so much in the last 3 seasons the majority of people respond with one word: Bale. However, I think whilst Bale has been fantastic for Spurs the real heart of the Tottenham team is none other than Luka Modric.
It’s an unknown fact that whilst Modric is seen as the link between the midfield and the attack he only had 4 assists last season (according to ESPNSoccernet) from the 36 games which he played, which makes me think what the reported £35m price tag is paying for? I read a tweet earlier from OPTA which said since 2010-2011 Luka Modric has created 162 goalscoring chances. Only David Silva (177) has created more than that, and he had 15 assists in a Manchester City team that won the league. If Tottenham had a ‘poacher’ style forward who could bang the goalscoring chances which Luka had created into the net then I think they would be challenging more for the title than they already are. I think a Darren Bent would have been such a striker with his incredible ability to score from within the penalty area. Although Redknapp’s acquisition of Emmanuel Adebayor on loan from Manchester City went someway to help Modric and Tottenham with the electric start they made.
So from looking at his stats compared to David Silva what does Luka Modric bring to Spurs and where will his possible departure leave them? Modric could be criticised for not scoring enough to be a world class player, but that is not what his game is about. He is the player who would set the scoring chances up for another forward. His game is not based around scoring goals; it’s about getting the assists. That is where Spurs will miss him, let’s be honest Manchester United would suffer if they lost the player with the second highest amount of creating goal scoring chances. If Luka were to leave Spurs they would need to sign someone with the potential to re-create those kind of chances.
So who would Tottenham be looking at to replace the Croatian wizard? There have been many names suggested like Ganso, Oscar or even Fulham’s Moussa Dembele. However, I believe there are two people who Tottenham will look at to replace Modric, if he decides to leave. Tottenham’s very own Gylfi Sigurdsson who recently signed from Hoffenheim, who impressed on loan for Premier League rivals Swansea City. He plays the same sort of role as Modric and would almost be a like for like swap. The other name I could see heading to White Hart Lane if Luka were to leave the club would be a player who new manager Andre Villas-Boas coached at Porto: Joao Moutinho. Joao was an integral part of Portugal’s Euro 2012 campaign and has incredible stats from his time in Porto and valuable European experience which would be vital for a Tottenham side looking to establish themselves in the top 4 and then maybe on to greater things.
So, we know what Spurs will need to replace and we know who those possible replacements could be, I guess the ball is now in the court of Tottenham as to who and for how much they sell Modric for and where to. I guess the next couple of weeks will be crucial for Tottenham’s Premier League campaign in the 2012/2013 season. Safe to say it’s not been a smooth start at White Hart Lane for Andre Villas-Boas.
By Ben Callaghan (@slapshot6032)
It’s an unknown fact that whilst Modric is seen as the link between the midfield and the attack he only had 4 assists last season (according to ESPNSoccernet) from the 36 games which he played, which makes me think what the reported £35m price tag is paying for? I read a tweet earlier from OPTA which said since 2010-2011 Luka Modric has created 162 goalscoring chances. Only David Silva (177) has created more than that, and he had 15 assists in a Manchester City team that won the league. If Tottenham had a ‘poacher’ style forward who could bang the goalscoring chances which Luka had created into the net then I think they would be challenging more for the title than they already are. I think a Darren Bent would have been such a striker with his incredible ability to score from within the penalty area. Although Redknapp’s acquisition of Emmanuel Adebayor on loan from Manchester City went someway to help Modric and Tottenham with the electric start they made.
So from looking at his stats compared to David Silva what does Luka Modric bring to Spurs and where will his possible departure leave them? Modric could be criticised for not scoring enough to be a world class player, but that is not what his game is about. He is the player who would set the scoring chances up for another forward. His game is not based around scoring goals; it’s about getting the assists. That is where Spurs will miss him, let’s be honest Manchester United would suffer if they lost the player with the second highest amount of creating goal scoring chances. If Luka were to leave Spurs they would need to sign someone with the potential to re-create those kind of chances.
So who would Tottenham be looking at to replace the Croatian wizard? There have been many names suggested like Ganso, Oscar or even Fulham’s Moussa Dembele. However, I believe there are two people who Tottenham will look at to replace Modric, if he decides to leave. Tottenham’s very own Gylfi Sigurdsson who recently signed from Hoffenheim, who impressed on loan for Premier League rivals Swansea City. He plays the same sort of role as Modric and would almost be a like for like swap. The other name I could see heading to White Hart Lane if Luka were to leave the club would be a player who new manager Andre Villas-Boas coached at Porto: Joao Moutinho. Joao was an integral part of Portugal’s Euro 2012 campaign and has incredible stats from his time in Porto and valuable European experience which would be vital for a Tottenham side looking to establish themselves in the top 4 and then maybe on to greater things.
So, we know what Spurs will need to replace and we know who those possible replacements could be, I guess the ball is now in the court of Tottenham as to who and for how much they sell Modric for and where to. I guess the next couple of weeks will be crucial for Tottenham’s Premier League campaign in the 2012/2013 season. Safe to say it’s not been a smooth start at White Hart Lane for Andre Villas-Boas.
By Ben Callaghan (@slapshot6032)
Redknapp’s last season, why did it go wrong?
Many people were quick to criticise Spurs’ season, mainly due to the electric start they made.
Tottenham revelled in the praise of media pundits and everyone within football at the start of the season, where did everything go wrong? The season started extremely badly with a 3-0 and 5-1 defeats to United and City respectively, this cast a negative shadow on Tottenham, many people predicting a poor season, which proved to be extremely premature. Many people forget that Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor were yet to sign for Spurs during this early season period, these players flourished and became key and influential figures in late 2011. This was twinned with the looming transfer saga of Luka Modric which withdrew focus on the early season, once this was resolved and Spurs headed into September, the expectations were very low due to a poor start leaving Spurs 19th and Wolves in 1st. As the season moved into the latter stages of the calendar year, the early carling cup exit to Stoke City and the mild distraction of the Europa League showed little affect on the players which spurred them on and contributed to a run of 13 games undefeated. Spurs looked untouchable and were coasting through games and looking rather confident.
Spurs started 2012 strongly with a solid win over West Brom. This game epitomized the high expectations of the supporters of which they expect to win every home game. These ambitions escalated and people were starting to think the ‘small force’ Spurs, could win the Premier League. Could they win it? No. The dreams were shattered by a refereeing shocker which culminated in Mario Balotelli avoiding a sending off and then going on to win the game. This led to many supporters being content with 3rd place. With the lead ahead of Arsenal stretched to 13 points and with Spurs playing a very attractive brand of football, the balance of power appeared to be shifting in London with Tottenham becoming a strong threat to the league leaders. Until..
Fabio Capello’s departure from the hierarchy of International English football, led to the gaffer becoming the main name on everyone’s lips. This extreme media hype caused Redknapp to appear to lose focus on the main prize, 3rd place. This came alongside Redknapp’s court case which he eventually went on to win. His return to the lane after the court outcome was against Newcastle on a chilly February evening, the atmosphere at the stadium was absolutely jaw dropping, it send shivers down your spine. Spurs won the game 5-0 and looked at their brilliant best. This game appeared to be the peak of the form, with Tottenham losing 5-2 to bitter North London rivals, Arsenal. This came after Spurs raced into an early, fortunate 2-0 lead. This result started a massive dip in form and results, Spurs’ lead was cut down to a level game. With many people questioning the managers capabilities.
With Harrys mind appearing to be drifting towards England, the form became even worse, and was confirmed after a 2-1 home defeat to Norwich, the only home defeat to a club outside of Manchester. The turn in results encouraged panic within the Tottenham camp. Spurs fans were calling Redknapp’s head.
The season ended with Spurs finishing in 4th place, which was considered a success according to the Spurs management. From a fans point of view, due to the huge lead we created. This should have been expanded and gone onto greater things. The main targets seemed to be decreasing throughout the season and Tottenham settled for 4th. This was then destroyed by Chelsea when the replaced Spurs in the Champions league due to their triumph in Munich.
Redknapp was sacked and there has been alot of negativity about the board’s knowledge. But what i do know is, Daniel Levy and Joe Lewis are clever people, and we will be back. I assure you of that. Blue and white army.
By Will Barnes (@binseyyyy)
Tottenham revelled in the praise of media pundits and everyone within football at the start of the season, where did everything go wrong? The season started extremely badly with a 3-0 and 5-1 defeats to United and City respectively, this cast a negative shadow on Tottenham, many people predicting a poor season, which proved to be extremely premature. Many people forget that Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor were yet to sign for Spurs during this early season period, these players flourished and became key and influential figures in late 2011. This was twinned with the looming transfer saga of Luka Modric which withdrew focus on the early season, once this was resolved and Spurs headed into September, the expectations were very low due to a poor start leaving Spurs 19th and Wolves in 1st. As the season moved into the latter stages of the calendar year, the early carling cup exit to Stoke City and the mild distraction of the Europa League showed little affect on the players which spurred them on and contributed to a run of 13 games undefeated. Spurs looked untouchable and were coasting through games and looking rather confident.
Spurs started 2012 strongly with a solid win over West Brom. This game epitomized the high expectations of the supporters of which they expect to win every home game. These ambitions escalated and people were starting to think the ‘small force’ Spurs, could win the Premier League. Could they win it? No. The dreams were shattered by a refereeing shocker which culminated in Mario Balotelli avoiding a sending off and then going on to win the game. This led to many supporters being content with 3rd place. With the lead ahead of Arsenal stretched to 13 points and with Spurs playing a very attractive brand of football, the balance of power appeared to be shifting in London with Tottenham becoming a strong threat to the league leaders. Until..
Fabio Capello’s departure from the hierarchy of International English football, led to the gaffer becoming the main name on everyone’s lips. This extreme media hype caused Redknapp to appear to lose focus on the main prize, 3rd place. This came alongside Redknapp’s court case which he eventually went on to win. His return to the lane after the court outcome was against Newcastle on a chilly February evening, the atmosphere at the stadium was absolutely jaw dropping, it send shivers down your spine. Spurs won the game 5-0 and looked at their brilliant best. This game appeared to be the peak of the form, with Tottenham losing 5-2 to bitter North London rivals, Arsenal. This came after Spurs raced into an early, fortunate 2-0 lead. This result started a massive dip in form and results, Spurs’ lead was cut down to a level game. With many people questioning the managers capabilities.
With Harrys mind appearing to be drifting towards England, the form became even worse, and was confirmed after a 2-1 home defeat to Norwich, the only home defeat to a club outside of Manchester. The turn in results encouraged panic within the Tottenham camp. Spurs fans were calling Redknapp’s head.
The season ended with Spurs finishing in 4th place, which was considered a success according to the Spurs management. From a fans point of view, due to the huge lead we created. This should have been expanded and gone onto greater things. The main targets seemed to be decreasing throughout the season and Tottenham settled for 4th. This was then destroyed by Chelsea when the replaced Spurs in the Champions league due to their triumph in Munich.
Redknapp was sacked and there has been alot of negativity about the board’s knowledge. But what i do know is, Daniel Levy and Joe Lewis are clever people, and we will be back. I assure you of that. Blue and white army.
By Will Barnes (@binseyyyy)