When Andre met Jose............................ again

The build-up to this high noon showdown at White Hart Lane was unsurprisingly less about Tottenham against Chelsea and more about Andre Villas Boas against Jose Mourinho. Journalists ravenously peeled away at the carcass of a broken relationship between two marquee managers, hoping for an explosive media skirmish. AVB to be fair was quite composed, honest and open in his answer. However, he also betrayed his true feelings in this response, "our break up happened because I was ambitious to give him extra, I felt I could give him much more. But Jose didn't feel the need for somebody near to him or in another position as an assistant, and because of that it was decided that it was time, after Inter Milan, to continue our careers apart." Or “Jose’s record speaks for itself but I am very proud of what I have achieved” code for “Jose did not value me enough but I have proved myself as a manager. Just look at my record”. This was more than just another game for AVB, he wanted to beat this Chelsea team and Jose Mourinho knew it.

Jose Mourinho for his part normally loves pre-match hype as they invariably focus on him and his Machiavellian sense of theatre rather than his players. However, he was clearly irritated in the build-up to this match, refusing point blank to answer questions about AVB, the pre-match handshake was the sort normally reserved exclusively for Rafa Benitez, his old Liverpool adversary and if Chelsea had somehow scored the winner, I half expected him to go sprinting down the pitch as he famously did nine years ago when his Porto side scored late to knock Manchester united out of the champions league.  Jose was not confident he could win this match, but he damn sure did not want to lose it. Not to this Tottenham. Not to Andre Villas Boas.

In the first half, Spurs played some fantastic football. Eriksson played a part in yet another goal, scored by Sigurdsson who is responding to all the midfield arrivals by playing really well and scoring. Kyle walker set up an attack with a delicious back heel that almost ended with another goal by Paulinho. Dembele shimmied, twisted and generally swaggered his way through the first half. There was real purpose and energy about Spurs play and one sensed that Mourinho, looking distinctly unimpressed in the dugout was relieved to get to half time with only one goal in it.

Jose then pulled off the tactical masterstroke (who would have thought of that?!) of bringing on Juan Mata for the second half. He improved Chelsea’s play to the extent they dominated until Fernando Torres got sent off. Torres was unfortunate to be yellow carded a second time but his cynical foul on Jan Vertongen earlier and subsequent attempt at gouging was nasty and deserved a red card on its own. Despite a late flurry from Spurs, 1-1 it finished. Honours even and no manager lost face.

On reflection, Chelsea were beatable on Saturday. It just needed better finishing, which brings me to Senor Roberto Soldado. His goal scoring pedigree is unquestioned; however, he has yet to score from open play this season. While after six games, it is too soon to make a judgement, it is already apparent that he is not the type of striker to create his own goal scoring chances. Might he benefit from a couple of games on the bench while Jermaine Defoe, with the world cup in his sights is unleashed? Also a fired up Emmanuel Adebayor with a point to proof (either to spurs or potential buyers) brings a very potent alternative to Spurs attack. I don’t get the impression he has been a disruptive influence and even If he eventually leaves, he is still a Spurs’ striker right now and I hope AVB gives him a chance and does not cut his nose to spite his face on this.

If the transfer window had shut on 22^nd August 2013, Willian Borges da Silva would have turned out for Tottenham against Chelsea. It didn’t and one week later, he was signed, sealed and delivered in blue. Jose Mourinho enjoyed using his press conference to admire his own audacity in hijacking the transfer and to taunt Tottenham and no doubt AVB in particular. Spurs signed Christian Eriksson and got on with it. Willian was conspicuous by his absence on Saturday. Willian old son, you’re welcome at the Lane anytime. We promise you a warm welcome. The sort of welcome reserved for Mr. Sol Campbell.

Jose Mourinho has had far more to say about Tottenham this season than at anytime during his first tenure at Chelsea. From mocking Spurs over the Willian deal to, “Tottenham are the champions of the transfer window” or “Tottenham are a big title contender” To paraphrase a famous Portuguese coach Jose himself might know very well, He's worried about us, he's always talking about us - it's Tottenham, Tottenham, Tottenham. He is one of these people who is a voyeur - he likes to watch.

Enjoy the view Jose, Spurs are coming after the top four again and we supporters would really, really love it if we finish above your Chelsea. I suspect a certain Andre Villas Boas will be quite pleased too. 

Spurs have another reason to love Wales

One nil to the Tottenham does not sound er very Tottenham does it? The best defence in the league so far, one goal conceded in eight competitive games. Tottenham managers are not supposed to do defensive discipline. Even George Graham left his famous defensive discipline at the other end of Seven Sisters Road and had the decency to serve up a few goal fests just to satisfy Tottenham’s thrill seeking faithful! No, AVB is not your typical Tottenham manager. The man with the Project Plan seems to be striking a fine balance between making Spurs hard to beat and playing attractive football. The winning goal, a delightful cross from the outside of Lamela’s foot followed by a sumptuously flicked back heeled finish from Paulinho summed up this side perfectly. A goal made in South America, scored by an English team, built by a very European coach.

It may sound clichéd, but this was not your typical defensive, one nil smash and grab raid. Spurs dominated possession, carved out many chances and but for goal keeper David Marshall, Cardiff were on for a heck of a hiding. This, the same Cardiff who gave Manchester city a bloody nose three weeks ago and just the type of game Spurs of old could be trusted to make a mess of. The same is true of the other one nil wins this season and when they lost, Arsenal looked more like the away team, finishing the match with seven defenders on the pitch as they clung on desperately. Spurs have been creating chances and have had more shots at goal than any other team in the premiership. Someone is going to get a real trashing at some point in the season. I would love it if the unfortunate team were Chelsea next week. Just Luv it!

Spurs have now made their best start to a season in five years and although nothing is won in September, it is a decent platform. In the first six games of last season, they did not keep a clean sheet, dropped five points in the first three games and conceded damaging goals in the last 15 minutes of those games. Their opponents were Newcastle, WBA, Norwich, Reading, QPR and Manchester United. They missed out on a 4^th place by a point, 3^rd place by three points and 2^nd by six points.  At least six to eight points were dropped against West Brom, Norwich, Fulham, Stoke and Wigan. Spurs seemed determined not to make the same mistake this time even without Senor Bale.

One of most impressive, yet overlooked aspects of last season was how often Spurs finished games as the stronger side, winning games in the last minutes and salvaging draws from losses. This was no accident after the indifferent start to last season. I remembered an interview around December in which William Gallas talked about how AVB tweaked the team’s training to focus on the last 15 minutes of games in order to cut out the late goals. The headlines were understandably hugged by the ‘most expensive one’ and when he did not score, the team mostly struggled. Spurs have continued the strong finishing pattern this term and it bodes well for the rest of the season, especially given that this is a team still getting to know each other and developing a playing style.

It is noticeable that Hugo Lloris has had a few excitable moments recently. He was quite marginal against Tromso in midweek and again against Cardiff in dashing to make clearances. AVB's preferred style of pressing up the field means that Lloris plays almost as a sweeper. He is undeniably a great goalkeeper and seems to relish the sweeper role. However, he needs to be careful not to push his luck too much or he could find himself taking an early bath.

A word on Vladimir Chirices. Romanians will be able to live freely in the UK from January 2014 under the terms of the European Union treaty. So why on earth did it take the home office almost three weeks to grant a work permit to a Romanian international when non European players have had it issued in a day? The Tromso match would have been ideal to make his debut and build crucial match sharpness ahead of tougher tests. Maybe we should send Franco Baldini to sort out future work permit hearings. He gets things done.

AVB’s grand project gets lift off.

I headed for White hart lane on Saturday excited but nervous.  It really did feel like the season was just started.  The early skirmishes had seen Tottenham pick up two scrappy wins and lose the north London derby. Norwich had become the type of team spurs had struggled to beat, even with Gareth Bale as their champions’ league ambitions had faltered on the back of dropped points to the likes of Norwich, Stoke and Fulham.  Ah Gareth Bale. In the last 20 years of following Spurs, many really good players have left against the fans wishes. However, only three players have been so truly great for spurs that the phrase, “build a team around him” could be applied. Sol Campbell, Jürgen Klinsmann and Gareth Bale.  Players so consistently brilliant, that they gave the crowd a lift just by being in the starting line-up.

 

It is undeniable that the loss of Campbell set back the development of Tottenham, he was replaced by Goran Bunjevcevic.  A talented player who struggled with injuries while Campbell went on win trophies.  Likewise, Klinsmann’s departure when he left to win the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich while we were left with Chris Armstrong, an honest willing professional who did a decent job in the circumstances, but you get the picture. In the seasons following the loss of both Klinsmann and Campbell, expectations were significantly lower and the extent of Spurs ambition was a decent cup run and giving the other lot down Seven Sisters road a bloody nose.  However, in the last three seasons, Tottenham had become serious challengers for the champions’ league places, losing out during the last two seasons by a single point. This is why the loss of Bale was so significant. With the potential to mortally undermine any champions league ambitions for the foreseeable future.

And yet, expectations were not only of a champion’s league push, but a title challenge. Yes unlike 1995 and 2001 when massive players left for next to nothing, a world record 86 million pounds was delivered to the lane and promptly spent, with some change on 7 really good players. Still, without Bale, was this optimism wildly misplaced? Would the taunts of the N5 lot ring loud again? Who will drive this team forward? Step forward Andre Villas Boas. The project manager has a plan.

It is fair to say that the arrival of AVB had a mixed reaction at best. A bit like Roberto Martinez at Everton. Trophy winning pedigree tainted by a whiff of failure. However, in getting the best out of Bale and marshalling Spurs to a record points tally, often showing astute tactical acumen along the way, he endeared himself to the Spurs faithful and crucially the trust of Daniel Levy. So much so that when AVB requested a technical director, something Levy had previously dispensed with, Levy granted him his wish and the well-connected Franco Baldini pitched up. In so doing, Spurs transfer policy went forward by several notches. Between Levy, Baldini and AVB, they managed the seemingly impossible feat of raising expectations and optimism despite selling their biggest star. Even the hijacking of the deal to sign Willian has become a mere footnote in a truly unforgettable transfer window.

So the ‘project’ started afresh on Saturday and the early signs are promising. Christian Eriksson looks a proper Spurs player with his close control and ability to see a pass. Big things are expected on Erik Lamela once he settles in and Roberto Soldado really does come alive in the penalty box (as befits a man who scored all 24 of his La Liga goals last season from inside the box). Tougher tests await and Cardiff on Saturday will tell us a bit more about spurs prospects this season. Still the project looks to coming along nicely and the project manager has every reason to be content.