So Spurs have decided to sack their most successful manager of the Premier League era.
The bloke had a 53.7% win percentage, which would put him amongst the top ten PL managers of all time by this measure; up above Kenny Dalglish, and in the same ballpark as Claudio Ranieri and Rafa Benitez.
It also puts him third in the all-time list at Spurs in the same category, above the likes of David Pleat, Harry Redknapp and the great Bill Nicholson, the most decorated Spurs manager of all time, who won the first league and FA Cup double of the twentieth century.
In AVB's first season at Spurs, they finished fifth; their joint-second highest finish in PL history and since 1989.
It might be argued that Spurs aren't having a great time of it in the PL at present, but so far this season:
- Won every single cup game they've played, including smashing six past Anzhi (not the side they were, but no mugs) across two legs in the Europa League
- Five away wins in the PL
- Drawn with Chelsea, United and Everton (away) in the PL
- Leaving them only eight points off the top of the table after 16 games
This bearing in mind that they lost one of the best players in the world over the summer, and brought in near half a new squad, most of whom are relatively very young players, at almost net value, to try to strengthen the squad for the long term.
Some of those players have had an instant impact: for me, Paulinho and Eriksen have performed most consistently when played. Some haven't as yet, and it could be argued that too many were brought in too quickly.
But once those players, many still very fresh to the PL, have settled, and the now very young squad has had a season or two to mature, it still looks like this Spurs side could have a very bright future to me. All of Walker, Capoue, Sandro, Paulinho, Holtby, Sigurdsson, Eriksen, Townsend and Lamela are 25 years old or younger. Lloris, Vertonghen, Dembele and Lennon are 26. Potentially, the bulk of this squad could play together for five years plus.
In short, to me his sacking is ludicrous. If it's a reaction to the weekend's game, it is imbecilic.
Arsenal fans will fondly remember us humiliating them at OT the season before last and the vitriol from a section of their fans after that game, directed straight at Wenger. The board (absolutely correctly) stuck with Wenger, and look where they are now.
I know there are a few betting men (possibly women?) on our board, so who would like to take a punt that the next Spurs manager will finish his Spurs career with a higher win percentage than AVB? Because I cannot see it.
AVB, I feel for ya!
AVB
posted on 16/12/13
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 16/12/13
rosso
I think if you look at what they could have got then the money is wasted, not just on quality but the fact they have overloaded themself's in with meaty midfielders when they are struggling to field a left back.
Lamela will probably come good, Soldado on the other hand i can't see it maybe if he was 21, but not 29, regardless of service, one open play goal in the PL at this stage is pit-full, Eto'o has managed more and he has been in and out of the team, while Soldado has started every match bar 2 i think.
Cliche's as it sounds, Soldado reminds me of the Torres situation when he first joined us, crap display's but the fans keep making excuse after excuse for them, the only difference is Torres didn't get crap teams in Europa and pens to boost his pitful goal tally.
posted on 16/12/13
I think Spurs have every right to sack him. Two hammerings, terrible style of play that Spurs fans dislike.
Spurs traditionally play the game in a manner MUFC do. Wingers, flair and attacking play. AVB has no charisma, is shifty and his tactical acumen is very very suspect. He continues with this very high line for his defence against teams like City and players like Aguero, Suarez. He is stubborn and refuses to ever throw on a second forward. Defoe is a goalscorer.
His buys are a mix in my eyes and too many came in at once. They should IMO have just bought a winger (Lamela) and centre forward (Soldado) for now and possibly a midfielder with flair (Eriksen) as Modric has never been adequately replaced.
Anyhow it serves Levy right !!
posted on 16/12/13
For most of that time Spurs had much lower expectations and squads with even more dross than they have now
posted on 16/12/13
ok lets all have a communal LAS
posted on 16/12/13
Seven managers in twelve years at WHL, that's fine if you're Chelsea and you win the league, CL, EL and an assortment of domestic trophies in that time but not when your biggest achievement is finishing fourth that one time.
Hope they sort themselves out though, i do have a bit of a soft spot for the Tottinghams.
posted on 16/12/13
Funny that bruceandpally I too have always quite liked them and the attacking traditions they have.
posted on 16/12/13
Levy seems to think that if they find the right manager they'll suddenly be a better team than Chelsea and arsenal, which of course they won't be
posted on 17/12/13
I dislike Tottenham (due to Levy charging us way above the market place and making things personal with us) but it is a shame they sacked AVB, who I think needed time.
Time is a commoditty no longer available in Football management. Saying that, sometimes a sacking works and at other times they do not. We'll see who they get in next.
posted on 17/12/13
Thing is, unless you go week in week out to see the team play, you're not fully in a position to comment. Take us (derby) sacking clough. To all the outsiders it seemed a crazy decision, but to us rams fans who went to pride park every week, we knew he had took us as far as he could, even mirroring avb's stubbornness and tactical naivety, and look at us now, we're flying. Same with the shock of southampton sacking Nigel adkins and replacing him with the unknown pocchetino. How harsh did that seem at the time, yet now it seems like a great decision.