Motivating Factor
The last few years have also strangely turned Tottenham into a sanctuary for fallen heroes. Gallas left Arsenal with a bad taste months after having been stripped from his captaincy when Arsène Wenger sanctioned him for his off the pitch antics. Then, the Dutchman who could not break into the first team at Madrid spectacularly ended in the ranks at White Hart Lane following a last minute stroke of genius from the then manager, Harry Redknapp. To add to the party, a certain Adebayor also joined on after being passed around by Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid. The team has now clearly evolved together and found a stable rhythm, tasting Europe’s elite football.
The new manager has also had his plans cancelled from what he describes as a lack of trust from his former employer. Known for being proud and stubborn, AVB seems more than likely ready to hit back at all his critics and compensate for a treatment he deems unfair. Together with their manager, Tottenham looks likely to gel in spirit. Missing out on Champions League football by a point last season left a bitter taste to the boys at the Lane and hunger pangs look unsatisfied still for the talented bunch.
Men Management
Chelsea’s short lived AVB era witnessed a man who was not always soft on individuals. Chelsea players have recently taken a swipe at their former manager with the youngest being Lukaku who declared his frustration at not being managed the way he thought would foster his development as a player. At Spurs, Villas-Boas made clear his intentions and his wisdom by declaring his evolution as a manager and a human being. That might be good news to the Spurs squad as they would be in for a shock awakening had they been left in the hands of the AVB from the Chelsea days.
As fans and followers that do not have the chance to share a cup of tea with Abramovich, the full extent of matters will never be known. Could it be the demeanour of some players at Chelsea that might have moulded the Portuguese manager in such a way? Still what we can expect is a fairly rigid formation with accurate instructions. The depth in the squad gives the manager enough to prove all his critics wrong, and known to value freedom in management, a fair squad rotation might also be expected, which would only benefit the rusty talents on the bench at White Hart Lane.
Could Andre Villas-Boas be the messiah of North London? Have your say!
Feel free to connect on Twitter @DannyDPurb
Introducing the neat little app that’ll pay you to view content tailored to your interests:
ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.