2013/2014 English Premier League Thread

[Locke]

Tim Sherwood and Les Ferdinand?

What ship do they expect to be 'righting?'

[d_phaneuf]

Sherwood is really highly thought of, is the head of development, lots of the media like him for it

[d_phaneuf]

multiple papers saying De Boer is Spurs managements favorite for the job

I could see it happening, Ajax are out of the CL, his two best players of the last 2 years are now at Spurs

best part would be if he could bring his assistant along with him...

[d_phaneuf]

Wilshere suspended for 2 games, which seems strange as Suarez only got 1

someone said it might be due to it being caught during the game on video (like Rooney's swearing) and not just a picture afterwards

[Bagor]

Andre Villas-Boas did not approve four of Tottenham’s seven summer signings and asked chairman Daniel Levy not to buy them.
Villas-Boas objected to the acquisitions of Erik Lamela, Nacer Chadli, Vlad Chiriches and Christian Eriksen, a quartet who cost Spurs a total of £56million, but his judgment was overruled.

The Portuguese manager asked his chairman to buy Hulk, Joao Moutinho and David Villa as he planned for life without Gareth Bale.
None of these signings materialised and the £110m recruitment drive lies at the heart of a power struggle inside White Hart Lane which culminated in the sacking of Villas-Boas on Monday.

Of Tottenham’s seven recruits, Villas-Boas wanted only Paulinho, Etienne Capoue and Roberto Soldado. The rest were identified by Levy and technical director Franco Baldini.

Although the manager approved of Levy’s decision to appoint a technical director, the relationship between Baldini and Villas-Boas soon disintegrated and the manager was left with players he had not approved.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...-signings.html


Surely the final say has to lie with the manager?

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Bagor

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...-signings.html


Surely the final say has to lie with the manager?

Makes sense as to why Lamela has been rotting on the bench, but those are some pretty unrealistic targets AVB had. Villa is 32, they were never going to outbid Monaco for Moutinho, and Zenit said no to selling Hulk. Either way, gong show all around.

[d_phaneuf]

its also the daily mail so I would take it with a grain of salt

and there was a different paper last week saying AVB pushed for Lamela but also knew he would take half a season to settle

I think it's clear he wanted Moutinho, Hulk, Willian, Villa

Villa choose to stay in Spain, money wasn't an issue

I can see him being pissed about Moutinho last summer, because basically everyone says it came down to Levy and Pinto trying to get one over on each other (they agreed on a deal, Porto raised the price with an hour left in the window)

but as is said above, no one can compete with Monaco not only on buying power but on wages (because of the tax) and Zenit spent 50m for Hulk a year ago, they weren't going to take any less

I think Eriksen was bought after Willian fell through as we needed a playmaker

Chiriches has been a revelation, they basically swapped Caulker for him which is a win

[d_phaneuf]

Sir Les denies the story

"The bottom line is he agreed to all of those signings. It wasn't a case that the players were brought in and he was told 'You have to make a team of these players', because if you're a manager and that happens, you're destined for the sack...

From speaking to AVB, I understand he was happy that the players came to the club."

[Locke]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Makes sense as to why Lamela has been rotting on the bench, but those are some pretty unrealistic targets AVB had. Villa is 32, they were never going to outbid Monaco for Moutinho, and Zenit said no to selling Hulk. Either way, gong show all around.

No kidding. He wasnt getting any of them.

[Barnet Flame]

I feel sorry for the guy - he wasn't really given a chance in either of his English posts and consequently his reputation has taken a major hit.

He is a likeable guy, but for whatever reason, he just can't carry his teams with him. At Chelsea, it was understandable because he seemed to be given the task of clearing out the old duffers whom unfortunately for AVB, still had a pretty strong power base within the Club.

[Locke]

Interesting article about how the real problem at Spurs might be Daniel Levy.

And herein lies the problem. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is very good at making plans but not so good at sticking to them.

Levy wanted organisation and planning again. He didn't want smiles on faces; he wanted strict micromanagement. In came Villas-Boas. Back came the director of football. And then, after a promising start, Levy sacked the manager for his failure to immediately integrate seven new signings into his team.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the real problem at Tottenham doesn't sit on the bench. The real problem is in a much more expensive seat, in a far loftier position in the stadium. The real problem is that Levy cannot make his mind up.

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/bootroom/id/581?cc=5901

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Locke

Interesting article about how the real problem at Spurs might be Daniel Levy.

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/bootroom/id/581?cc=5901

Levy has done a lot of questionable things but sacking AVB wasn't one of them. Spurs have massively underwhelmed so far this season and just lost 5-0 at home and 6-0 away in the span of under a month. I don't know many managers who would've kept their jobs in that situation.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Levy has done a lot of questionable things but sacking AVB wasn't one of them. Spurs have massively underwhelmed so far this season and just lost 5-0 at home and 6-0 away in the span of under a month. I don't know many managers who would've kept their jobs in that situation.

The article simply suggests that AVB was in a position where he was destined to be sacked because Levy put him in that position with high expectations.

I agree, not many managers would have been retained after getting results like those, especially not when you consider that Spurs' ambitions are to be in the top 4.

[d_phaneuf]

Frank De Boer: "If there is interest from Spurs, I am very honored. But i have my full attention at Ajax."

not a denial, probably wants to see how much $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ they offer

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

not a denial, probably wants to see how much $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ they offer

He also bleeds Ajax red and white.

Ugh....I feel so old. Anyone else actually remember watching Frank and Ron de Boer playing? So, so old.....

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Locke

He also bleeds Ajax red and white.

Ugh....I feel so old. Anyone else actually remember watching Frank and Ron de Boer playing? So, so old.....

I remember them well. Looking at Ajax, it's amazing how many former star players are working for them at the moment.

Manager: Frank de Boer
Assistant Manager: Dennis Bergkamp
Defensive Trainer: Jaap Stam
Technical Director: Marc Overmars
Marketing Director: Edwin van der Sar

... crazy. And they all, as Locke said, bleed red and white. I'll be surprised if de Boer chooses to leave for Spurs.

[d_phaneuf]

He will have to take a step up eventually

he's lost his 2 best players the last 2 seasons to Spurs, he eventually wants the Barca job

I think if it was a no chance no deal he would have said so i.e 'I will not be leaving Ajax this season there is nothing to talk about"

Not being honored but he's focused on Ajax, that's keeping his options open in case he goes or stays

bring over Bergkamp too

[d_phaneuf]

if they were still in the CL I would think no chance, at this point he's basically like Neil Lennon at Celtic, the rest of the year doesn't matter

I think it's 50/50 and this morning he's shot to the top of the betting odds as next manager

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

I remember them well. Looking at Ajax, it's amazing how many former star players are working for them at the moment.

Manager: Frank de Boer
Assistant Manager: Dennis Bergkamp
Defensive Trainer: Jaap Stam
Technical Director: Marc Overmars
Marketing Director: Edwin van der Sar

... crazy. And they all, as Locke said, bleed red and white. I'll be surprised if de Boer chooses to leave for Spurs.

Do you remember watching that Dutch team? I know van der Sar stuck around a lot longer, but man was that ever a great Dutch team.

Its always fun watching Ajax as well, they always manage to find exceptionally good players like Eriksen, Vertongen.......Suarez.....

[d_phaneuf]

timing fits too

Sherwood is managing this weekend it's all ready said, Ajax play this weekend then have a month long break, so either way I am sure both clubs would want to be sure as soon as possible to give Ajax time needed for a replacement if needed