AVB’S BEEN THREATENING THIS FOR A WHILE
After Andre Villas-Boas heated rant at journalists following Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Sunday — for apparently hounding him and calling into question his professional following Tottenham’s 6-0 drubbing at Manchester City last weekend — I have to say, I wasn’t surprised.
At the start of the season, following Spurs’ 1-0 North London derby loss on Sept. 1, I was on the end of a sharp snap back from AVB after questioning his sides lack of creativity. Not a rant, but his reply did take me and some other writers by surprise.
I dug out the article I wrote that day, as the extract below proves that Villas-Boas has been threatening to blow a gasket for a while. Sunday’s outburst against the Daily Mail has been brewing.
In the post-game press conference I specifically asked AVB about the lack of cutting edge in the first few games of the season, as Tottenham have scored just twice in three games, with both goals coming from the penalty spot. Is there a lack of creativity?
“I think that is a false question,” Villas-Boas replied. “I don’t think there is a good argument. We came to Arsenal and created lots of chances, obviously there are players that are different from others. There are players that are box-to-box, players that are more creative and have that ability to link up with others.”
There was a shortness and arrogance in the way he uttered the sentiment above. He’s been on guard from the start of this season.
So, the million dollar question: was AVB right to publicly call out journalists who questioned his professionalism and managerial abilities?
The video evidence of him losing the plot is below. This has been building up all season, especially with the pressures of a monumental rebuild after selling Gareth Bale resting heavy on his shoulders and word on the street is AVB must deliver a top four spot this season, otherwise he’s out of White Hart Lane. With his side stalling and spluttering to gather momentum, the Portuguese manager will be pleased to see his team respond well on the pitch as arguably they should’ve beaten United at the weekend.
AVB is a wounded animal right now, hence the attack on journalists. As yours truly knows all too well, it’s not unusual for Villas-Boas to act like this. With ‘sacking season’ in full swing and seven managers in eight days losing their job in English soccer, no wonder the young boss is on red alert and standing up for his name. After all, what is a manager without a glowing reputation? With what some would call an immature snap back at journalists, Villas-Boas may have damaged his beyond repair.
Premier League Schedule – Week 13
| Result | Recap & Highlights |
|---|---|
| Aston Villa 0-0 Sunderland | Recap and watch here |
| Cardiff 0-3 Arsenal | Recap and watch here |
| Chelsea 3-1 Southampton | Recap and watch here |
| Everton 4-0 Stoke City | Recap and watch here |
| Hull 3-1 Liverpool | Recap and watch here |
| Man City 3-0 Swansea | Recap and watch here |
| Newcastle Utd 2-1 West Brom | Recap and watch here |
| Norwich 1-0 Crystal Palace | Recap and watch here |
| Tottenham 2-2 Man Utd | Recap and watch here |
| West Ham 3-0 Fulham | Recap and watch here |
ALLEZ LE TOON!
Following their impressive 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, 18 of Newcastle’s 19 goals this season have been scored by Frenchman, only Ligue 1 side Lyon have had more French scorers!
“Value for money” in Ligue 1 has been the buzzwords around Newcastle for many months and Alan Pardew has certainly picked up a few gems who are now settled, fit and showing exactly why the Magpies hopped across the English Channel to go shopping in the January window last year. Will he do the same this season?
Moussa Sissoko, Yoan Gouffran and Loic Remy are dazzling week in, week out and with a decent run of fitness and form, all of a sudden Newcastle are in the hunt for a top four spot. Pardew, rightly so, has quelled any talk of Champions League qualification but is keen to keep the good run going as his side have now won fourth straight and look to be bouncing back from last seasons dismal Europa League affected campaign. Can the Magpies keep it up? We shall wait and see. But don’t be surprised if you hear La Marseillaise belted out from the Gallowgate End before the end of this season….
CHELSEA OF OLD SHINES THROUGH
Trailing Southampton 1-0 at half time on Sunday, Mourinho masterminded yet another Chelsea win at Stamford Bridge in the league. Shrewd, succinct but not at all subtle, the answer came from Demba Ba’s introduction as the Senegalese striker aided Fernando Torres’ constant hounding of Southampton’s two central defenders after the break.
It worked a charm. As I sat in my seat behind the benches at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, a sense of intrigue filled me as I saw Ba ready to come on at half time.
Mourinho’s switch to 4-4-2 saw Ba and Torres pester Dejan Lovren and Jose Fonte into knocking the ball long and stopped the Saints building from the back. Ba’s arrival was a simple switch but one that perhaps only Mourinho would make so suddenly at half time. He has confidence in his ability to break down a game and has often substituted players in the first half of matches to try and unsettle and break down the game plan of the opposition. He’s called the ‘Special One’ for a reason, he’s a master tactician.
In the second half it was like we’d been transported back to 2005 with Marty McFly and co. as Mourinho reverted to hassling the opposition into giving the ball away and then ramming it back down their throats just like he used to do with Didier Drogba as the chief architect. Southampton couldn’t deal with the direct approach.
We changed to the 4-4-2 and I think we gave Southampton a different game, a game that they didn’t expect. I think it was difficult for them to cope with the situation. We were not producing enough. I tried to give the opponent a new problem, one they were probably not ready for. They like to play it from the back, the fact we played with two strikers pressing Fonte and Lovren, I think they started going long and that allow my team to start creating chances. – Jose Mourinho post game after his shrewd tactical switch
So, as the title of that classic movie I referenced a few lines above states, is it “Back to the Future” for Chelsea if they’re going to win the title this season? It worked on Sunday against a talented Southampton… let’s see if it works again the rest of the campaign.
Premier League Playback comes out every Monday and takes an alternative look at the weekend action from the Premier League.
