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Less Noise About Moyes, But Can Andre Villas-GrowUs?

5 min read
by The Fighting Cock
AVB FAQ: Aren’t you put off by what happened at Chelsea? No. Wasn’t his success at Porto a massive fluke? No. Isn’t he going to get hounded by the press from day one? Obviously. Is he too young to be respected? No. Is he actually any better than Redknapp? Only time will tell. We’ve only […]

AVB FAQ:

  • Aren’t you put off by what happened at Chelsea? No.
  • Wasn’t his success at Porto a massive fluke? No.
  • Isn’t he going to get hounded by the press from day one? Obviously.
  • Is he too young to be respected? No.
  • Is he actually any better than Redknapp? Only time will tell.

We’ve only been mangerless for about four days, but in a shock to the system, it appears that Tottenham are finally being pro-active. Our business, usually conducted at 11.55pm on deadline day, looks to be already in motion. People’s ‘people’ have been hastily contacted, talks are being talked behind closed doors and official announcements look to be coming sooner rather than later. That said, as I write, Jan Vertonghen is as much part of the Spurs playing staff as I am, but that’s a different matter entirely. Over the past few days, the odds of David Moyes becoming our manager have steadily lengthened, with one Andre Villas-Boas replacing him as the odds-on favourite. I for one upon this news breathed a huge sigh of relief.

I’ve never really fancied David Moyes as our manager. He’s too defensive, his tactics are too reactionary and he wears a tracksuit on the touchline. Where Everton are concerned, he’s done an unbelievable job on a shoestring budget, but that hardly translates to where we are as a club. It doesn’t convey any huge ambition and is an uninspiring step in a sideways direction. He wouldn’t relegate us, but I’m not too sure he’d improve us much either, and I’m fairly certain that whatever happens, it won’t be too entertaining. His record away at ‘the big clubs’ is terrible, and the home one isn’t the best either. Future title contenders? Not under Moyes we’re not. The way he sets out Everton entirely depends on who they’re playing, his aim isn’t to attack his opposition’s weak points, but nullify their threat going forwards. He plays on the break; focus’s on set-plays and looks to win by the odd goal, home or away. Personally, effective as it is, I don’t want to see us play like that. Fergie doesn’t see that he’s got Norwich that week spending his time working out how to nullify the threat of Wes Hoolahan, it’s just not a winning mentality. Chelsea may have won the Champions League by playing typically Moyes-esque football, but I’m convinced that it won’t translate well over a league season, and if Barcelona and Bayern Munich didn’t co-conspire to miss several cow’s arses with several large banjos…actually, let’s not do that to ourselves again. The point is, we don’t have the squad that would lend itself to that type of football, and we don’t have a fan base that would accept it. Luckily, we’re a club with a decorated past, steeped in tradition and set in our ways, we’re not about to go and set that to one side for the ginger George Graham. If Moyes does come in, he’ll obviously get my full support, but after a day’s training where he tries to teach Rafael van der Vaart positional awareness and discipline, I’ll drive him to Schalke myself. With so much attacking talent in our ranks, Moyes would be a waste, and it appears that Mr Levy may well be starting to feel the same way.

[linequote]We don’t have any player power, our older players are becoming less important entities of our squad and we have the pace and personnel to implement his tactics with the desired effect.[/linequote]

So, Villas-Boas, can we be the club that transforms Andre into a giant? Does Andre Villas-KnowUs? We’ve just got rid of a fairly Big Boii, so is it time to bring in Andre3000? I apologise, I got carried away, where was I? Allow me to elaborate on the opening FAQ’s, but first issue a disclaimer as thus; I have managed to convince myself that AVB can be, and will be a success if he gets the job. This probably won’t end up being too objective then, but why would it be? It’s not like the mainstream press play those rules either. There will two positives for every negative, I will mention his suits, I will even praise his trenchcoat and I will definitely be drooling while doing so. But in all seriousness, I believe that hiring AVB could be in the best interests of both parties. I think we’ll fit, I think we’ll click and I think he’s as close to a soul mate as we could wish to hire. The two main reasons behind my confidence are as follows; our squad, our ambition, our style and our hunger mirror that of his unbelievably successful Porto side, and by that same token, are the complete opposite of the aging, self-important, egotistical and fading nature of those at Chelsea. We don’t have any player power, our older players are becoming less important entities of our squad and we have the pace and personnel to implement his tactics with the desired effect. Man for man, our squad is just as good as, if not better, than his Porto side were before they were sold on; all we’re really missing is a Belgian centre-half to partner Kaboul in a high-line defensive four and a record-signing striker that can find the goal with some regularity. No matter who we bring in, Redknapp’s friends in the press will be desperate for him to fail, and with the added ammunition of his time at Chelsea, if he fails to pick up results almost immediately he could be in for a Steve Kean like mauling. The only thing that AVB will genuinely have in common with Redknapp is that they’ve both been slightly ginger managers of Tottenham, that’s where the comparison ends in my book, but should results prove hard to come by, the red-tops will be falling over themselves to tell us how the grass isn’t always greener, and I’m fairly certain John Cross will be searching the Levy family-tree searching for any distant Indian relatives in order to make his Venky’s comparison finally stick.

I don’t have much more to add, I could spend more time describing how I think we’re a club with lofty ambitions and he’s a young talented attacking manager with a point to prove in the premier league, but I fear I’m steering dangerously close to printing this out, spraying it with my aftershave and sending it directly to him sealed with kiss. In short; if Daniel Levy succeeds in making A.V.B a Y.I.D, I believe we’ll be in a brilliant position for the start of next season.

[author name=”Raj Bains” avatar=”http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/2279148040/image.jpg” twitter=”BainsXIII” website=”BainsXIII.tumblr.com” tag=”rajbains[/linequote]

All views and opinions expressed in this article are the views and opinions of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of The Fighting Cock. We offer a platform for fans to commit their views to text and voice their thoughts. Football is a passionate game and as long as the views stay within the parameters of what is acceptable, we encourage people to write, get involved and share their thoughts on the mighty Tottenham Hotspur.

55 Comments

  1. Alf
    17/06/2012 @ 5:34 pm

    I have it on very good authority that Johnny Vegas is to be the new Spurs manager, assisted by Vanessa Phelps who will be the fitness trainer. Might as well, as they’ve tried everybody else in the last fifteen years

  2. spurs guvnor
    17/06/2012 @ 5:50 pm

    Very well written and spot on too.
    Avb is a risk but one worth taking, his style is shoehorned to our style. Im hoping its all sorted this week, i think its been planned from when Harry got his not guilty (cough cough) verdict and all the England stuff came to i reckon Levy knew he wanted rid and as reported in the last few days he was hoping Redknapp got the England job. Im sure Levy knew already who he wants.
    Im ecstatic Redknapp was sacked.

  3. Tony G
    17/06/2012 @ 6:24 pm

    Absolute nonsense. AVB cannot manage in the Premier League. Unless Levy is thinking that after Villas-Boas is sacked after a brief tenure, then we’ll spring into action and win trophies (like the Chavs did) because players are so elated to see the back of him?

    I will give up my season ticket of 10 years if “the big plan” is to replace ‘Arry wit AVB.

    True Spurs fans are desperately seeking damage limitation, as it was an dreadful decision to get rid of Redknapp in the first place.

    Moyes over AVB any day.

    • Jamie
      18/06/2012 @ 12:54 pm

      Brilliant news, I’ll jump the 10 year waiting list for a season ticket and have yours then!

  4. flav
    17/06/2012 @ 6:43 pm

    It doesn’t matter whether you agree with the angle of the article or not, to call that piece of writing ‘nonsense’ is ridiculous.

    • BobbyDaz
      17/06/2012 @ 7:27 pm

      AGREED. a very well put together argument/case and certainly not nonsense. AVB’s philosophy/ideas are in line with our core traditions of attacking football, something which wasnt able to implement at chelsea.although saying that pesemisim is a trait runs deep the spurs faithful as shown by Tony G.

  5. Tony G
    17/06/2012 @ 7:02 pm

    “Poppycock”, then.

    It matters not how well a piece is written. If someone wrote a poignant and articulate article about the benefits of fascism, it would not make it more palatable.

    The mere possibility of AVB becoming being appointed turns my stomach and it is unacceptable.

    I correctly predicted that he would fail with the glory hunters, as I predict he would take us back into the bottom half of the table.

    What is ridiculous is armchair fans with their airy-fairy views. I have tolerated too much nonsense from silly fans to accept this drivel.

  6. Tony G
    17/06/2012 @ 7:11 pm

    …and was Moyes too defensive when he gained a 4-4 draw at Old Trafford in April?? Players want to play for him, at least. Did you watch the Chavs against Napoli at the Stadio San Paulo under the squatting muppet?

    Totally unacceptable.

  7. spurs76
    17/06/2012 @ 7:20 pm

    Tony G, what planet are you on? Just because you hold a season ticketit doesn’t automatically make you the one and only person to have an opinion. Some of us can only get to a few games a season for family reasons or financial restraints but still hold memberships. So just to put my 2 penny in. I think the article is actually making some good points in the way both AVB and Spurs fit. I am however a little sceptical about his lack of success in the Premier League but if he is appointed then we should all back him. To say you will give up a season ticket is no true support for the club. Rant Over.

  8. Dubai-Spurs
    17/06/2012 @ 7:31 pm

    Sacking Harry was a huge stupid mistake. Levy and/or Lewis should be less concerned with their egos and more with club’s future. If we had managed to keep the team togther (with a new centre half and new striker – or keep Adebayor) with Harry still in charge then we would all be looking forward to another exciting season. Instead, it is now the usual Spurs summer upheaval and encertainty!! What a shame? Last season was definitely the first time in my years as a Spurs supporter (since 1981) that I dared to dream for just a short while that we could become champions…. It was that good. And now we have to start again with a very young and failed premier league manager…. Its all doom and gloom now I’m afraid!!

  9. Tony G
    17/06/2012 @ 7:34 pm

    I am on Planet Earth, and you strike me as the kind of fan who entitled Gary Doherty, “The Ginger Pele” and sang “Super Pav”….and probably have not even heard of Keith Burkinshaw.

    I am too long in the tooth to support Christian Gross’ second coming.

    “There used to be a football club there”. Look it up, moron.

    • Jamie
      18/06/2012 @ 1:07 pm

      I own a season ticket!..therefore my opinions are the only ones to be listened to..I’m going to call people who hold different opinions to mine ridiculous and morons…because I can’t articulate my argument in an intelligent manner!
      Season ticket, season ticket…I’m such a die hard I’m going to give it up if I don’t get the manager I want…don’t dare disagree with me or have opinions of your own…because I have a season ticket!

  10. BobbyDaz
    17/06/2012 @ 7:37 pm

    Tony G since when were you the arbiter that is everything that is spurs? you sound flakey as they come!

  11. ham
    17/06/2012 @ 7:38 pm

    why does nobody talk about cappello,
    look at his c.v
    he knows the english game
    has good connections in europe
    has won league titles in multiple leagues
    great tactician
    great experience
    hes the ONLY replacement for redknapp
    if he will come????

  12. Tony G
    17/06/2012 @ 7:51 pm

    Bobby Davro, go to some matches and then call me flakey.

    ‘Arry was perfect for us (now that the trial is over and the England appointment has been made), and Levy blew it. The latter is a heartless and plastic businessman and not a fan. The treatment of Martin Jol was scandalous.

    In 30 years of attending games, I had never seen it so good as certain parts of last season.

    • Essexian76
      20/06/2012 @ 3:16 pm

      Martin Jol’s treatment was a disgrace?, Are we talking about the same bloke who was interviewed by Newcastle, without permission from Spurs? That was the reason MJ got the sack-the same reason Harry got it as well-as neither showed any long term commitment!
      As for Levy not being a fan, you really either concussed or deluded-look up 45million and training centre first..then look at the New stadium proposals-look at ENIC’s progression since taking over-it all takes time, but the club have elevated themselves to the top tier from a position of lower to mid table mediocrity. Of course Levy’s fan, he’s just not an idiot with money to burn!

  13. terry
    17/06/2012 @ 7:52 pm

    deluded spurs fans “where we are as a club” your a smaller club than everton.why would moyes want to leave them for you? you should look up evertons history…….theyre a far more bigger club than youll ever be.

    • Tony G
      17/06/2012 @ 8:17 pm

      Everton bigger than Spurs?? Thanks for a much needed chuckle!! Moyes is way too good to stay forever and they will be relegated without him.

      • Stuart
        17/06/2012 @ 11:08 pm

        Everton have won much more than Spurs and a few good seasons after spending wildly does not make Spurs a bigger club suddenly.

        A move to spurs would be at most a sideway step for Moyes

    • Jamie
      18/06/2012 @ 1:20 pm

      Yeah but I my dad could beat up your dad, I reckon.

    • Essexian76
      20/06/2012 @ 3:18 pm

      Terry, lay of the booze eh? You’re skint-arses hanging out of your shorts mate, we’re going places-dontcha wish yer chairman was D Levy?

  14. BobbyDaz
    17/06/2012 @ 7:57 pm

    30 years and yet you my son talks more sense than you and hes only 5. Harry’s gone so get over it! who needs enemys………..
    p.s he also lies better than you aswell. pmsl

  15. spurs76
    17/06/2012 @ 7:59 pm

    I think you need to chill a little Mr G. I understand your frustrations but to say i am the type of fan who likened Doherty to Pele,that is kust a straight insult. Instead of insulting people maybe you should try and defend your point of view with a constructive argument. I have said I’m not sure about AVB totally but think if he gets it we should give him a chance. I do however think the Cappello shout is the most sensible thing I’ve read for a while.

  16. Tony G
    17/06/2012 @ 8:03 pm

    Capello only knows 5 words of English, and one of them is “money”. Anther Jacques Santini.

    Would rather see Tim Sherwood appointed. At least he knows the players.

    Still, future CL dreams evaporated on the day Redknapp left, after such a brilliant & exciting 4 year tenure..

  17. Tony G
    17/06/2012 @ 8:08 pm

    Bobby Davro and Spurs76 need to get to a game or two and sense the mood.

    Armchair fans may think it is great to appoint AVB. ARRRRRGH! Makes me ill.

    Any other regular attendees feel the same way?

  18. garpat
    17/06/2012 @ 8:08 pm

    Raj, you had me at “…and he wears a tracksuit on the touchline.”

  19. spurs76
    17/06/2012 @ 8:18 pm

    Tony G you really are a self righteous piece of crap. As i stated in my first post we can’t all get to every game due to commitments. I get to games when my life outside of football allows it and try for at least a third of the home games a season. So as much it pains me to say i agree with your opinion of how Harry was good for us he’s no longer there so get the hell ovet it.

  20. bainsxiii
    17/06/2012 @ 8:21 pm

    as far as Capello is concerned, I agree, i think i wouldve at least interviewed him, but feel the language barrier and his age work against him, Levy obviously wants a manager under 60.

    as far as AVB is concerned, I think his record has been tainted by chelsea, his league record isn’t actually too different from RDM, but it’s a game of opinions at the end of the day.

    if we continued with Harry we’d have looked absoloutely spineless, I’m glad the club aren’t happy with losing a 13pt lead, its an example of their ambition to achieve.

    again, thanks for the kind words to those who offered them.

  21. BobbyDaz
    17/06/2012 @ 8:29 pm

    your welcone Raj and thanks for the brilliant article and look forward to reading more from you. COYS!

  22. Tony G
    17/06/2012 @ 8:32 pm

    Spurs76, I make sacrifices to get there and you have no real excuse other than the poverty you, your missus and child apparently endure.

    Nonetheless, if the squatting muppet is appointed, one season ticket becomes available….at least.

    76, maybe your missus would like a job as my maid? 2 hours a week. Pay negotiable, task dependent.

  23. Tony G
    17/06/2012 @ 8:34 pm

    Well written, but utterly disagree Raj. Enough said.

  24. @datrenjackson75
    17/06/2012 @ 8:34 pm

    Well done Raj, you nailed my thoughts in general. There still seems a lot of argument that arry should / shouldn’t have gone, I for one am glad he’s gone, but that’s not the point here, it’s done, lets move on.

    Moyes, would have us in a Europa spot after ten games and we’d still be there at the end of the season and the next, stability but not progression.

    AVB is a gamble, but could just work, he’s a proven tactically aware manager, with European experience. He has something to prove and he kind of needs us as much as we need a great manager.

    I agree with some comments that Levey has had this planned since the trial, but with probably a different manager, on the basis of CL football, which he now has had to reaccess, as managers he had lined up may well have had a change of heart after the CL final.

    If it is AVB lets get behind him and not hound him out like the scousers did to woy

  25. BobbyDaz
    17/06/2012 @ 8:44 pm

    Tony G stop telling fibs you have no season ticket and never have. you say you been going for 30yrs yet you talk like a kid. do us favour and crawl back under rock you came from. your just embarrassing yourself, all you are is keyboardwarrior# nothing more nothing less. most spurs followers are classy bunch salt of the earth people, everybody has opinion but not constantly insult people so keep your trash talk for your wife and kids cause no one wants to hear it here!

  26. spooky
    17/06/2012 @ 8:50 pm

    What has the stature of others clubs got to do with anything? Everton’s position in terms of how Moyes has had to apply his managerial expertise hasn’t changed for a decade. Regardless of what Everton have won in comparison, Moyes is sat travelling sideways, so I wouldn’t blame him for perhaps looking elsewhere. Remember, it’s more about the managers aspirations rather than what the club might want long term. If Moyes believes he will or has stagnated he will need to reignite himself and if that’s at another club, then that’s what he’ll do.

  27. spurs76
    17/06/2012 @ 8:52 pm

    Well said Bobby Daz!

  28. Tony G
    17/06/2012 @ 8:56 pm

    Bobby Davro, double standards from you and Spurs76 regarding insults. You wouldn’t recognise a season ticket holder if one slapped you in the face.

    Ten years on the Shelf. Fact. Know where that is?

    I will leave you to your astonishing AVB fantasies, as you evidently do not know what is good for the club and I am beginning to find you irksome.

    • Essexian76
      20/06/2012 @ 4:21 pm

      How can recognise anyone on an internet blog?, blimey unless that is Big Brother has really happened..oh, spooky…what a plank!, still… if you’re really a ticket holder, I bet those sat either side of you will be well chuffed your offski!

  29. macspur74
    17/06/2012 @ 8:57 pm

    QUESTION did david moyles make the champions league with everton no money no players and still got there imagine what he could do with our squad of players still thnk harry should be incharge but avb is to big a gamble could be the start of the end

  30. BobbyDaz
    17/06/2012 @ 8:58 pm

    no problem 79.

  31. BobbyDaz
    17/06/2012 @ 8:59 pm

    76*

  32. macspur74
    17/06/2012 @ 9:00 pm

    for this group of players

  33. spurs76
    17/06/2012 @ 9:17 pm

    Why Tony G thank u. Irksome that’s pleasent for you. Macspur good point about Moyes and champs league but i still feel he lacks an edge. AVB is a risk and if we going to move forward it could be a risk worth taking. A rumour we should be more concerned about is the fact Comolli could be returning. That is something i don’t want to see!

  34. macspur74
    17/06/2012 @ 9:34 pm

    we have a great squad i just think if avb takes over we’ll loose alot of these players b4 we know whats happenin i think they would react better to moyes and he knows alot more about the prem league and the football u need to playyin it just look what he gets outta pinnear was just ok for us but with everton was top draw for the second half of the season just imo. not sure comolli wasnt to bad was he lol

  35. ham
    17/06/2012 @ 9:50 pm

    AVB for me would be another hoddle, great coach poor manager simple
    hoddle didnt work at spurs as manager
    neither will avb
    doesnt know how to talk to players simple
    definitely would think we would end up with no players and mid table
    maybe its part of levys plan to have a big sell off
    and install avb to coach our youth team to stay in prem till grounds built

  36. bainsxiii
    17/06/2012 @ 10:01 pm

    even taking the quality of the Portuguese league, Europa league and Portuguese cup in to account, you don’t win any of those without being able to communicate ideas to a team, implement tactics and manage – no matter how lucky you are, going an entire season undefeated isn’t an achievement to take lightly.

  37. zack
    17/06/2012 @ 10:49 pm

    Harry has got rid of talent like P- Boatang and Taraabt. Has kept Dos Santos on the sidelines even though he plays very well for his national team. Just for that I think Harry deserved to be sacked. He was stuck in the 80,s and all the players that he liked were from that period. Football has changed and continues to progress but unfortunately Harry was stuck in a time-warp and could not change. With the squad he had he should have had 3rd place tied up in march. I also have a nagging feeling that Harry may have intentionally threw games once he suspected that he was not wanted at the club. This could have been just about the time of the arsenal game. But all in all bring on AVB and watch us fly. He IS the special one for us and will show the rest of the EPL what we SHOULD have achieved last season.

  38. Steven
    18/06/2012 @ 3:42 am

    Whoever the manager is he/she needs to once and for all be given a chance to build a structure at the club. 7 managers in 11 years under Levy tells it’s own story.

    The board need to stop chasing short term glory and seek sustained achievement by allowing a manager and his staff to groom a style of play and a culture of winning within the club.

  39. The Coolbury Club
    18/06/2012 @ 1:03 pm

    I thought this article was going to be another ‘arry boy’s’ revenge article. The link to this article from theweek website certainly gave the impression that this was an article penned in uniform alignment with today’s media blitz on Andre Villas Boas.

    As for Harry Redknapp I can’t see why the fans are up in arms. And all this talk of dressing room unrest is just a precursor for the players that were going to leave anyway using this saga to serve there own purposes. Harry himself lost the dressing room at a crucial stage in the season.

    That was replicated in the performances after the home win against Newcastle and Harry Redknapp has never shown any affection at all for Tottenham and has always promoted himself and his own interests above and beyond that of the club. He turned down Cisse in the transfer window a player who would surely have fired us into that third position with ease. Harry though only signs players he knows personally or likes personally, again a man who put his own interests before that of the club.

    He also had the chance to serve out the final year of his contract but chose to cash in instead, knowing full well that he could blackmail the club with the same tired refrain of dressing room unrest though I don’t recall Harry being so bothered about that when our squad was left in limbo and Harry was media darling number one and heir apparent to the “Cry England for ‘Arry And St.George” tabloid pun writers who will be banging their heads against the wall forever more for being denied the opportunity to unleash that most inevitable of banner headlines.

    Right now we are being dictated to by the ‘Ol ‘Arry’ hatchet media and Chelsea’s repugnant old guard. Sod the media and sod Chelsea. I’d rather get relegated playing Ossie’s Dream than grinding it out under another dour Geroge Graham clone in Moyes or the restrained tedium of indifference of a Capello or Benitez.

    AVB at least offers a bold, captivating and refreshing challenge that could re-invigorate our club as we re-build for the long term. He can’t have gone from being the most sought after manager in Europe to a complete non-entity just because he failed at Chelsea. Avram Grant was one John Terry slip away from winning the Champs League with them but I don’t see anyone clamouring for Avram to join manage us.

    Chelsea are a different club that will (and have) sacraficed all just to get their mits on the most lucrative trophy in Europe. They have their shiny new toy. The novelty will soon wear off. A nation yawns in unison.

    Chelsea fans celebrate FA Cup victories by indignantly sipping their pint. We’re Spurs and we win it matters ten times more. And that’s one thing the likes of Chelsea or Arsenal can never understand. And why they’ll never forgive us for it.

    We have soul and as EL Tel once said “There’s something magical about this club”, something that could never be said for the monochrome tedium that is Chelsea FC.

    • Essexian76
      20/06/2012 @ 3:31 pm

      Great post, although we differ in opinion, it’s still a great read with some really good well made points

  40. spurs76
    18/06/2012 @ 7:42 pm

    All said in one very well written piece. Well said Coolbury Club fantastic points all the way

  41. Sharkio
    19/06/2012 @ 2:08 am

    Take a cool look at his resume and you’ll see that AVB had an incredible year with Porto, winning the domestic double and the Europa league. That alone proves that he is a very accomplished, clever and hard-working coach. As Mourinho’s protege he has clearly learned much from the master.

    Now examine his messy and troubled time with Chelsea. He came in with a remit to rebuild an aging team, and get Chelsea playing more fluid, attacking football. And this, while still being expected to challenge for trophies on three fronts. So he tried to impose new ideas, including a higher defensive line, and pressing the ball more urgently.

    But he was naive in thinking he could impose his will on a Chelsea dressing room built around Terry, Lampard and Drogba, with Cole and Cech making up the numbers. These veteran players disliked the new system [especially Terry, whose lack of pace has alway been balanced by good positioning] and when it came to a showdown, they stopped putting in the effort. It seems they had little respect for AVB, whom they knew from his time as Mourinho’s main opposition scout [charged with watching other teams and putting together the dossiers on them, which were presented to the first team]. So rather than work with and for him, they complained to Abramovich. And while the chairman publicly backed his coach, privately he sat on the fence, waiting to see how it would all unfold.

    Now factor in the interference from Mourinho, who was sending and receiving texts from the Chelsea old guard. Even if these were innocuous messages of goodwill, having the ghost of The Special One hovering in the background would only have weakened AVB’s position even further. Who knows, maybe Mourinho actually wanted AVB to fail, if only to spite Abramovich [who, after all, fired him a few years ago]. What’s certain is that Mourinho knew that texting his former players during a period of crisis would have further destabilized an already faltering team.

    So maybe it’s true, as some people have claimed here, that AVB doesn’t have good man management skills and is arrogant, and this is why players don’t want to play for him. It’s certainly true that he was naive in thinking he could dominate the Chelsea dressing room without first earning its respect.

    But to me it seems he was simply too radical, and tried to change too much, too fast. And once the players knew Abramovich would back them rather than their coach, he was doomed. They got him fired, and magically rediscovered their form.

    Now he may have made some disastrous errors of judgement at Chelsea — and I personally enjoyed watching his efforts backfire during that spell — but AVB is nothing if not a fast learner. Having made the mistake of biting off more than he could chew at Stamford Bridge, I can’t see him doing the same thing again. I think he’ll play a much shrewder game from now on when it comes to dressing room morale and handling monster egos.

    As I say, the Chelsea fiasco doesn’t really reflect on his undoubted genius for coaching successful teams. That remains unchanged, as his medals and trophies prove. So what you’ve got here is a young and innovative coach who has proved himself in Europe, and yearns to build a fast, young, attacking team that will win everything. Given that he’s supposed to be obsessive about coaching, you could expect him to help establish a factory line academy turning out gifted young players. So he seems to me a good match for Spurs, given that the club has very similar ambitions.

    On top of that, he will feel he has a score to settle in the EPL. And I’ll bet he’s burning to win trophies with one of Chelsea’s biggest rivals.

    Of course, it’s taking a risk. Appointing any manager is a risk. But appointing AVB is a risk that, if it pays off, could lead to a footballing dynasty and a long period of success.

  42. garpat
    19/06/2012 @ 5:06 am

    Some great points in the article, and from Sharkio and The Coolbury Club in their comments. Seems like AVB may be back-up if we don’t get Blanc though…?

    I can see a lot of merit in LB. Like AVB he won a domestic double in his first season (or thereabouts), but with a Bordeaux team that doesn’t dominate its patch like Porto traditionally does.

    LB would command instant respect from the dressing room. All the more so if his France team do well in the Euros (as I suspect they may). He would also be a strong link to the highly talented French players market.

    He also plays expansive football. Or tries to. Put him head-to-head with Rodgers, Wenger and Di Matteo and you can’t imagine him being overawed by a big game against our nearest competitors.

    We’ll have to wait and see. Either AVB or Blanc would be fine by me and I can’t see either of them turning us down.

    • Essexian76
      20/06/2012 @ 3:27 pm

      You’ve hit the nail on the head in an instant. Blanc will command instant respect whereas AVB will need to earn it after his Chelsea term. But….It’s Moyes for me, and for good reason. Continuity, Britishness and familiarity of players.Secondly he looks like a guy who won’t be messed about with either. I’m not keen on seeing the current side ripped up and replaced with nameless nonentities who happen to countrymen of whoever the choice is, I’d rather have a guy who’ll know this side and it’s potential and add quality to the squad rather than dismantle it.

  43. Keithy
    03/07/2012 @ 7:35 pm

    AVB,Sounds like a diesease,the,last guy to come out of Chelsea & do very well for Sprurs was Jimmy Greaves,it was totaly wrong to give Harry,the sack,just because of they wanted a youger guy,wat about
    Alex Ferguson,etc has he not done the job at MU,its a sad day for Spurs,bring back Harry,he built the team,got em out of trouble,an appalling decision.to make AVB manager

  44. Tottenham Hotspur: Why Andre Villas-Boas Is The Man For Tottenham, Not David Moyes | Raj Bains
    03/10/2013 @ 9:20 pm

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