With Van Gaal off to United then the next best option for Spurs is Frank De Boer. Stephen Puddicombe states why FDB should be next to try his luck on the THFC managerial carousel.
Frank de Boer – A good fit for Spurs?
Hope for Louis Van Gaal has all but disappeared with the news that Ryan Giggs in Holland and set to take the Dutchman to Man Utd, but, if recent reports are to be believed, Spurs could be in line to hire his heir in Frank de Boer.
Of course, if the weeks of speculation involving Van Gaal has taught (or, more accurately, reasserted) us anything, it’s that nothing in football should be considered a certainty until the deal’s been signed on the dotted line, but it is nevertheless interesting to muse over what De Boer would bring to the club.
Like Van Gaal, he belongs to the historical Ajax school of thinking which dates back to the 70s with Rinus Michels, Johan Cruyff and Total Football. He spent the vast majority of his playing career surrounded by these traditions, and is something of a pupil of Van Gaal’s, having played under him for years at Ajax before joining him as Barcelona in 1999.
His management style is very much a continuation of the traditional total football methods – namely, a 4-3-3 formation that prioritises the collective unit over individual extravagance, with an emphasis on short passing, possession and attacking.
[linequote]De Boer positioned Eriksen as the most advanced of the midfield three at Ajax, and would likely move him back there[/linequote]
All this considered – as well as his implementation of a high pressing game – De Boer’s ideas are in fact very similar to Andre Villas Boas’s. Though this thought may concern fans who gravely remember the yawn-fests in the first half of the season, a combination of good man management, greater emphasis on attacking, and (notwithstanding another mass overhaul) a squad that has had a whole season to gel, means there’s no reason to believe that such progressive ideas won’t make for a successful model.
So who should we expect to play where in a De Boer 4-3-3? The most intriguing question would be where Christian Eriksen plays. Though Tim Sherwood received criticism for playing the Dane wide left, it must be acknowledged that he has been very effective there, scoring goals at a rate faster than he has in his whole career, in the highest quality league he has ever played in.
But De Boer positioned Eriksen as the most advanced of the midfield three at Ajax, and would likely move him back there. Though the 23-year-old wouldn’t be able to move into so many goal-scoring positions, he would be more likely to dominate the game from midfield in the way Luka Modric used to.
The onus on scoring would, therefore, be placed on the the front three. De Boer would no doubt be keen to use record signing Erik Lamela, whose ability to dribble, pass and score goals make him ideal for the right-forward role.
[linequote]De Boer likes this player to sit deep and start attacks with intelligent passes, which Sandro may not be capable of[/linequote]
With neither Aaron Lennon nor Andros Townsend scoring a sufficient amount of goals and Nacer Chadli and Gylfi Sigurdsson failing to impress in their long stints in the side, the left-forward slot seems less clear, and perhaps this is one area where investment is needed.
A 4-3-3 system will mean just one out-and-out striker can be selected per match, so De Boer would have to chose between Emanuel Adebayor, Robeto Soldado, and even Harry Kane. Adebayor seems the best candidate currently, but the Dutch manager could give Soldado a new leash of life in the premiership.
Either Mousa Dembele or Paulinho look well suited to the position in midfield alongside Eriksen, but who should play in the third, more defensive midfield role is less clear. De Boer likes this player to sit deep and start attacks with intelligent passes, which Sandro may not be capable of.
[linequote]De Boer would no doubt be keen to use record signing Erik Lamela, whose ability to score goals make him ideal for the right-forward role[/linequote]
Perhaps the talented Nabil Bentaleb could make this position his own? Maybe Etienne Capoue could be given a chance? Or maybe Dembele could be pushed back there, although his dribbling instincts would go to waste.
In defence De Boer favours a high line in order to squeeze the play and make possession easier. The high line is another tactic that has come under much criticism this season, but it is a very effective ploy if there is a collective will to press high up the pitch. Hugo Lloris is the perfect goalkeeper for the tactic, but quicker defenders than Michael Dawson are necessary to help nullify through balls.
De Boer would be likely to make his ex-Ajax captain Jan Vertoghen the heart of the defence, and a fit and on form Younes Kaboul would possess all the necessary attributes for a 4-3-3. Vlad Chriches’ lack of pace may be a concern however, so yet another centre back purchase – as well as a much needed left back – could be on the cards. De Boer will want them to be quick and technically apt.
Frank de Boer is far from confirmed as Spurs’ new manager, but it seems fair to say that his style of football and management would, with only a few additions, be a good fit with the current squad we have. Daniel Levy could do a lot worse than hire him.
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18 Comments
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15/05/2014 @ 2:34 pm
Good article. De Boer or Benitez are the stand out candidates. However I fear our otherwise excellent chairman will prove once and for all he cant pick the right manager and go for Pochettino. POCHETTINO OUT !!!
15/05/2014 @ 2:38 pm
I would be happy with Frank although he represents slightly more of a gamble than Pochettino.
My only criticism is that you say Chiriches is slow. He lacks many qualities required in a good centre back, namely sanity when on the ball. But he’s certainly got pace.
15/05/2014 @ 2:58 pm
Agreed, was going to say the same, that Vlad will be the real deal now he is settled. Saw enough of him to rate Vlad and Verts as our best pairing at CB. Both good on the ball and would suit Pochettino and FDBoer style of play. Sandro is certianly good enough to play the holding role and give it to Moussa, Paulinho or Eriksen. Fitting them all in is the main problem as I do not think there is much wrong with us now the players should be settled in for their second season.
15/05/2014 @ 2:53 pm
My opinion?
I just wonder if Levy can ONCE get it right.
I mean, by the law of average he HAS to find ONE decent manager in 13 or is it 14 attempts.
I can handle two lousy seasons if we finally come good and Henry showed
patience with Rodgers but then LPool never copped 0-6,0-5.1-5.0-4,0-4,etc
and AVB failed miserably there and Tim was almost as bad…
52 years and I am running out of life.
Good article but Sandro has to be found a role as he personifies the club.
15/05/2014 @ 5:27 pm
What we are loud mouthed Twitter twits of fading footb all ability,Yep your right…
15/05/2014 @ 2:53 pm
Isn’t the FDB formation and preferred manner of play you’ve described above exactly how Southampton have been playing this season under Pochettino ?
15/05/2014 @ 4:31 pm
P
Podgy Tino scares me a bit, too inexperienced for me, De Boer the Neil Lennon of Dutch football, never really gets tested, Benitez is a winner,hates losing, a safe bet, but not popular because of his lack of personality,so it’s a difficult call for Levy to make.he must get it right this time or I see big problems,
15/05/2014 @ 5:28 pm
Has anybody thought to ask Rafa ?
15/05/2014 @ 2:53 pm
A decent article although I would disagree about our defence. FDB likes his defenders to be comfortable on the ball and able to move forward with it, something that would greatly suit Chiriches. We would likely see him wanting to bring in 4-5 players in order to make his system tick, although I do think the LWF position could be filled by a combination of Chadli (played there for Twente), Pritchard and perhaps even Townsend.
15/05/2014 @ 3:30 pm
Please Levy hire De Boer with great track record & not Saints manager, another short term manager,who’s success is limited, even with the best soccer farm to draw from in country & can’t speak English, not what Spurs need. Hopeful Derek
15/05/2014 @ 9:46 pm
He can speak english, just chooses not to when talking to the press
15/05/2014 @ 4:12 pm
Really hope it is FDB and not pinocchio, and then really hope he is given some time to build a winning team, because he will deliver
15/05/2014 @ 4:15 pm
Levy, please please please make it happen. FDB is the one we need.
15/05/2014 @ 5:30 pm
de Boer NO !!
15/05/2014 @ 6:02 pm
The most important thing for Levy to decide is what exactly he wants the club to be. I’ve always thought he just wants a vehicle to advertise our players to interested parties and take huge profits out of the transfers and he’s done nothing to change my mind. Perhaps that’s why he’s made the managerial choices he has, they’ve been willing to accept his meddling when targeting players. This being the case, I can’t ever see us being successful while he’s running the club unless Hhe plans to concentrate on the academy to produce profit making youngsters and cherry pick them to improve our own squad together with the odd signing from outside the club, a bit like Ajax! If this is Levys plan then prepare yourself for a long wait for honours under FDB.
15/05/2014 @ 6:48 pm
IT MUST BE De Boer. All the mentioned “candidates ” have their pros and cons.From a long term point of view it has to be FDB. He seems to have the background to be able to “stand -up” to Levy as well as the experience to accommodate the club’s requirement (financial necessity)to develop younger players.I personally would not mind waiting for a season or two for success in the league as long as the team played reasonable attractive football.His reputation would probably ??? ensure those “wayward stars” would stay on for at least another season. Imagine what Spurs would be like WITHOUT Vertongen, Paulinho, Lloris and Sandro (to name a few ). I would hate to see Adebayor relapse into his early season characteristics when he threatened the whole stability of the team.
15/05/2014 @ 9:43 pm
I think pochettino would get the best of lamela
18/05/2014 @ 11:02 am
Good article Stephen. However, I don’t agree with your statement that Chiriches is slow, I actually think he is one of the quickest CB in the league. With enough game time, he will have a very bright future with us here at Spurs.
A long shot now but if we did get FDB, how good would it be to see Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld reunite at CB at Spurs!! They would be an extremely strong pair at the back!