Where do we go from here?

Article by Shaun Simon.

The answer to that question is ultimately time. The board should be reviewing the performance of the manager and the overall organisation of his team. Targets must be set and then reacting to those targets by Christmas. Today we looked as though there was no organisation. No desire was shown, and questions must be asked as to where the motivation is coming from for the players to perform? I’ve seen fans shout ‘manager out’ after a few games when things aren’t going so well.

I’ve tried not to have those negative feelings towards Andre Villas Boas, believing he’d turn this season around but there is nothing positive to hold onto. Some fans will label people like me fickle, but when you’re putting your heart and soul into supporting a hundred-million pound team languishing down in 9th position and looking clueless I have a right to have ruthless thoughts. I’ve been reduced to tears on about three occasions in my life watching Spurs. Though there was no crying today, there was that stiff feeling in your jaw when you feel you are being consumed by anger. Over the years I’ve seen us play bad. I’ve seen us having no idea of what we’re doing but trying our hardest, but today was a totally gutless performance. The worst I’ve seen us play in a long time.

Apart from Sandro, today’s game against Manchester City taught me everything I need to know about the players. Sandro was the only one out there who put everything on the line today. I don’t know where we’d be without him. He tried to drive us forward, tackled to the point of almost being booked due to lack of backing from his midfield colleagues. Ran so much he threw up his breakfast on the turf. He led the war cries before the match, but it seems like he was the only one who heard his roaring encouragement.

Paulinho was an absolute disgrace today. Worst game I’ve seen from any player in a long time. I’ve never seen such lack of heart on a football pitch in years. Not on one occasion did he look like he was interested in beating his man to the ball. He bottled every 50/50 ball out there. He tracked back in 2nd gear. I’ve backed this guy for a long time with claims that given the right approach he could be immense for us. Maybe I’ve got it totally wrong. The man has no backbone. I can’t help but look at our ex-English midfielders such as Livermore, Parker and Huddlestone who were grumbling during the summer about managers having blind preference towards foreign imports. Livermore or Parker in particular maybe weren’t the most gifted midfielders we’ve ever had, but at least they didn’t coward his way through games like Paulinho did today.

How long can we continue to protect the current form of Erik Lamela? Fair enough he’s only 21, at his age he is old enough to step into a team and man-up. He’s been playing top level football for years now. At River Plate he played 36 games over two years, for Roma he played 62 games over a two year period. He’s been capped six times by his country but months into his Spurs career he can’t even roll his sleeves up and we’ve been creating excuse after excuse for it. When I used to play park football on a Sunday morning had I been having a bad game I’d make sure I ran my heart out. Where my limited ability had deserted me I’d try and make up with effort and running. Erik Lamela runs about looking very scared and shy like the geek at the party afraid to dance. At some point you just have to find that switch inside, flick it and show some fire. He had a very disappointing game and looking at him you do ask yourself when is this player going to show us what he’s all about. The longer he’s stuck under this cloud the more he’ll suffer.

Soldado had a shocker as well. There is a section of the Spurs supports that constantly try to use stats to prove why he should be leading our strike force instead of Defoe. I’ve never understood it, and from today I will never understand it. Soldado may drop in deep and knock a ball off to the wingers but Defoe does something no other player in our squad seems to be able to do at the moment and that is show movement. Defoe is our only goal threat plain and simple. I’ve said on occasions Soldado was a panic buy, for a team with only one striker you don’t go out and buy another who can only give you the same option, especially if they are on the short side. The way we play doesn’t allow for miniature goal poachers to flourish. We need complete strikers who can play up top by themselves comfortably.

Lennon was his usual self devoid of ideas, running into dead-end alleys and utter reluctance to attack the fullback. Walker, I always try not to criticise him too much because on days like today, for all of his mistakes, he was at least full of running and looking like he cared. The rest of the defence can’t even take much criticism today as any defence would have struggled given such lack of protection from the players in front of them. Lewis Holtby let me down as well today. It was his chance to really nail down a place in the team and he disappointed and showed lack of guile and vision on many occasions. In spite of that he should not have been taken off before Paulinho.

What can AVB do from here? When a crisis comes looming you have to look at the players
who display bravery, experience and heart. Tactically, go slightly uglier and direct showing a bit of fight to get out of the given situation. We need defenders who will defend their keeper, midfielders who protect such as Sandro. Today Dembele showed some spirit, trying to bring the fight to them. Though he doesn’t favour that defensive midfield roll he seems the best of a bad bunch right now to partner Sandro. Up top has to be Adebayor or Defoe. Emmanuel is the only target man we’ve got and Defoe loves his club and sometimes you need players with that club pride. To make it simple, use your players to their strengths.

If the manager can’t perform and things don’t look like they are going to improve, surely he has to go! I’m big on giving managers time, but this could end up a real mess carrying on with Mr Villas Boas. Maybe I should have helped my wife shampoo the carpets after all, I probably wouldn’t have felt as bad as I do now.

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