Article by Deputy Editor Marc AshedOn December 16th, AVB was shown the door by our beloved Lilywhites. It ended an 18 month term in which he compiled the 3rd best winning percentage in club history but also left the club playing in a style in which we don't recognise. Gone was the flair, creativity and tricks and in swooped caution, indecision and slow build up. AVB was a fantastic man, he embodied the spirit of Tottenham however his squad on the field did not. I will miss his charismatic press conferences and his passion. It will be difficult to find someone who possesses the personality and substance to fit the bill.
On the same day as AVB's sacking, e-Spurs learned that Frank de Boer had been identified as the top target of Franco Baldini. Baldini had taken Ajax's temperature over a potential deal and was encouraged by what he found. Frank de Boer is a dream manager for Tottenham, a young, successful for his age, intellectual manager who is born and bred in the "Total Voetball (Football)" attacking style of the Dutch and in particular, Ajax.
Background and Experience
Frank de Boer had a successful playing career and immediately went into coaching after he had hung up his boots. He was an assistant for the Oranje during their 2010 World Cup trip to the finals and in December of that year, took over the top position at Ajax. He has a 61% winning percentage in all competitions including 3 Eredivisie championships and this year alone in the Champions League, defeated Barcelona, Celtic and drew with AC Milan twice. Last year in the Champions League, Ajax defeated Manchester City and drew in the reverse tie. His teams have the ability to play with the best despite not having an abundance of talent.
Ajax average 2.3 goals per game in the Eredivisie while allowing under 1. Despite being schooled in the 4.3.3, he has shown the ability to adapt and shape his squad and tactics around his available selection and opposing team. Ajax's ability to develop young talent is world renowned and de Boer has that skill.
Fit for Tottenham
One obvious reason why FdB is the right hire is his relationship with Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen. Eriksen has developed into the player that he is today because of de Boer and that growth would continue if they were reunited. Jan left Ajax for a bigger league and what better reason to stay for at least 1 more season at Spurs than his former coach that made him a captain and the Eredivise Player of the Year? FdB knows the best positions to put young players like Eriksen and Erik Lamela in for them to succeed and that ability is reason enough for him to be the choice. Eriksen and Lamela are both rated among the best players under 21 in the world and we need a manager who can make sure that their potential is realised.
Tactically, de Boer has never had the talent at his disposal that we possess. Erik Lamela, Robert Soldado, Christian Eriksen, Lewis Holtby, Sandro, Mousa Dembele, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose are players that would fit like puzzle pieces in a Frank de Boer squad. He likes to play with 1 defensive midfielder (Sandro) and allow 5 players to attack whilst getting his fullbacks involved. Look at the Dutch National Team as a model for what he attempts to accomplish. Beautiful, attacking football that involves 10 players with high technical ability all moving as one.
Lloris; Walker, Vlad, Jan, Rose; Sandro, Dembele, Eriksen; Townsend, Soldado, Lamela would likely be his top XI.
Questions arise about his experience but at 43, with 4 years of high level coaching experience, it's a risk worth taking. The important thing when looking at the de Boer fit, is that he brings a system and philosophy with him. AVB had a philosophy but not a system that was the envy of clubs around the world that had been imitated for 20-25 years. de Boer also brings the laid back Dutch attitude that players who have played for him love. He is a players coach and unlike AVB, allows the players to play in a free, fluid system on the field.
Frank de Boer is the man to take our immensely talented squad and get them playing Tottenham's brand of football once again.
@MarcAron23
© e-Spurs 2013 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Spurs
Sign Frank de Boer, or die trying. Will not leave Ajax for Spurs.
ReplyDelete