Why AVB has it harder at Spurs then the media favourite Redknapp ever did

Last weekend saw Harry Redknapp face his former employees for the first time since his questionable sacking in the summer. Under Redknapp Tottenham had their best four years of Premier League football, peaking at Champions League qualification in 2010, however if Andre Vilas-Boas was to bring Europe’s elite competition back to White Hart Lane, then it’d surpass Redknapp’s achievement.

Not for one second am I suggesting ‘Arry’ didn’t do an amazing job at Spurs, that isn’t in question. When he took charge back in 2008 the club were adrift at the bottom of the league after picking up just two points from eight games and in 24 months were facing the likes of Inter Milan and Werder Bremen in the Champions League.

AVB's Spurs rescued a late point against Manchester United on Sunday

What am I saying is everything was in piece for Redknapp to succeed at Tottenham. He had the core of a very good squad in the form of Luka Modric, Michael Dawson, Aaron Lennon and the then underused Gareth Bale. During his tenure the transfer windows were all about who he was going to add, with none of the departures against Redknapp’s wishes. In Andre Vilas-Boas’s first transfer window he lost two world-class players in Modric and Rafael Van Der Vaart.

Vilas-Boas hardly arrived at White Hart Lane with a glowing CV in English football following his dismissal from Chelsea just seven monthsinto a five year deal. For me he arrived at Chelsea at the wrong time, and his timing at Tottenham was even worse if anything. Whoever followed Redknapp was always going to be under extreme pressure. Not many saw the former Portsmouth manager’s dismissal coming, leaving fans and pundits alike confused.

And following just two points from their opening three games, including 1-1 home draws with the likes of Norwich and West Brom, the White Hart Lane faithful were growing restless very early on. However much to his credit, Vilas-Boas has turned it around! Spurs sit fourth in the Premier League and even have a better points return from the same fixtures as last year.

The pressure was heavily on Vilas-Boas following their 1-1 draw with Norwich

One thing Redknapp has always had is he is loved by the media. AVB can’t say the same. Ridiculed for his job at Chelsea, and not given the respect he deserved for his amazing season with Porto. Going into the game at Old Trafford, a tabloid printed a piece suggesting there was ‘choas’ at White Hart Lane, with all the star players not liking the new manager in charge. Subsequently Tottenham went to Old Trafford and stunned the hosts winning 3-2, something Spurs haven’t done since Gary Lineker and go back in 1991. The majority of the players at the end of the game hugged their manager, and clearly want to play for the ‘gaffer’ as Gareth Bale said at the end of the game.

Despite having a return of just 0.25 points per match from their first eight games, Spurs were never going to be relegated the year ‘Arry’ took over, they had too much quality, meaning there was only one direction for them, up! Champions League qualification the very next year however was beyond their expectations, but they didn’t have to fight off the sort of quality that exists currently in the Premier League.

You could easily suggest that eight teams can realistically challenge for Champions League football, whilst only six could in the 09/10 season. The two that missed out on the top four where Manchester City and Liverpool. City weren’t the machine they are now; whilst Liverpool were on the start of their heavy slide which saw them slip from 2^nd the previous season to 6^th and even lower since.

With both Manchester clubs seeming to have a stranglehold on the top two, realistically there is only two spots left, and with Chelsea favourites for third, meaning it’s likely if Vilas-Boas is to qualify for the Champions League, he’ll have to do something no Spurs manager has done in Premier League history, finish above their London rivals Arsenal!

Tactically Redknapp has always been questioned, and there are signs that Vilas-Boas has already answered a few questions that were asked last year. Tottenham struggled when playing both Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermaine Defoe in a 4-4-2 last season, with Redknapp often leaving Defoe on the bench, often hinting the two couldn’t play together. Yet Spurs’ recent fun of good form (seven wins in nine over Christmas), started when AVB changed from 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-2, with Defoe in particular in fantastic form this season.

Having conceded a ridiculous amount of late goals in the earlier stages of the season, Tottenham appear to have stopped that rot and are defensively much stronger than at any previous point so far, meaning they’ve given themselves a very good platform to qualify for the Champions League for only the second time, and if they are to do so, I wonder if AVB will get the credit that Redknapp did for the same achievement? 

Premier League tips

My weekend accumulator tips 

Liverpool, Manchester United,  Manchester City and West Ham to win. £5 returns £27. - Winner

Goals galore in the Tottenham, Swansea, West Brom, Norwich, West Ham, and QPR games. £5 returns £105.19 - Loss of a fiver

Saturday 20^th October

Tottenham vs Chelsea

Two in form sides meet at White Hart Lane in the early kick off on Saturday, with the Andre Villas-Boas coming up against the side that gave him the boot back in March of this year.

Chelsea will be without skipper John Terry who decided against appealing his four game ban for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand. A side from the long term injuries to Younes Kaboul, Spurs are at full strength and will fancy their chances of getting something from the game.

If either side are going to win I fancy Spurs to do so, however I can’t see anything but a score draw on Saturday.

Tottenham 1 Chelsea  1 - 13/2 with William Hill - Lose a fiver

Other tips
Both teams to score - 4/6 with Coral - Returns of £8.33
Gareth Bale assist a first goal - 10/1 with BoyleSports - Bet void.
Under 2.5 goals - 22/19 with Betfair - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Loss of £6.67

Fulham vs Aston Villa

Fulham’s home form as always is very good, with champions Manchester City the only side to take something from Craven Cottage this campaign, whilst Aston Villa’s away record has been poor for a while now; however they did impress, all be it in defeat away to Tottenham a fortnight ago.

Dimitar Berbatov will be back for Fulham and the Bulgarian international will look to continue his fine start to life at the London club. Paul Lambert has a decision on his hands whether to recall Darren Bent or stick with the Belgain Christian Benteke.

Lambert’s Villa are getting there slowly, and if they want to be able to move up the table they need to get something from these sort of games, and back them to get a point from Craven Cottage.

Fulham 1 Aston Villa 1 - 13/2 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips
Draw - 14/5 with Pinnacle - Lose a fiver
Dimitar Berbatov anytime goalscorer - 15/8 with Stan James - Lose a fiver
Under 2.5 goals - 21/20 with Bet Victor - Returns of £10.25

Match returns - Loss of £9.75

Liverpool vs Reading 

Liverpool’s home form has been poor for a long time now, registering just two Premier league wins at Anfield in 2012, both coming in romps against Everton and Chelsea last season. Reading are slowly adjusting to life in the Premier League, however they are yet to win and have blown leads in their last two outings against Newcastle and Swansea.

Reading stunned Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup in 2010

Prior to their draw with Stoke, Liverpool under BrendanRodgers had been improving and I fancy them to earn a routine win here, against his former club.

Liverpool 3 Reading 1 - 12/1 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Luis Suarez anytime goalscorer - 5/6 with Bluesquare - Lose a fiver
Over 2.5 goals - 9/13 with Betdaq - Lose a fiver
Liverpool to win - 37/100 with Betfair - Returns of £6.85

Match returns - Loss of £13.15

Manchester United vs Stoke 

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side got back on track in their last Premier League match away to Newcastle in comprehensive fashion, whilst Stoke were solid and deserved their point away to Liverpool.

Danny Welbeck scored his first Manchester United goal against Stoke in 2008.

Despite losing less games then their illustrious opponents so far this season, Stoke have never registered a Premier League point at Old Trafford, and I don’t expect that to change here.

Manchester United 2 Stoke 1 - 17/2 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Over 2.5 goals - 8/13 with Skybet - Returns of £8.07
A penalty to be awarded – 8/5 with Paddy Power - Lose a fiver
Stoke first team yellow card - 1/2 with Paddy Power - Returns of £7.50

Match returns - Loss of £4.43

Swansea vs Wigan

Swansea’s fantastic start under Michael Laudrup seems a long time ago now, with the club picking up just two points in their last five games. Wigan are as unpredictable as ever, but their performances have merited more points than they’ve registered so far this season.

Defensively both sides concede too many goals, with both shipping in eleven goals each in their last five games, meaning the both teams to score bet should be a banker.

Franco Di Santo and Arouna Kone have started the season in good form for Wigan and I fancy one of them to score in a Wigan win at the Liberty. 

Swansea 1 Wigan 2 - 12/1 with bet365 - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Both teams to score - 4/5 with Stan James - Returns of £9
Aruona Kone to score first and Wigan to win - 8/1 with Betfred - Lose a fiver
Over 2.5 goals - 18/19 with 188 Bet - Returns of £9.73

Match returns - Loss of £1.27

West Brom vs Manchester City

Steve Clarke has taken to management like a duck to water with West Brom sitting comfortably in the top half of the Premier League. City are slowly finding their form this year, with the 3-0 victory over Sunderland their best performance so far.

West Brom have won all four games at the Hawthorns this campaign, however this will certainly be the sternest test the Baggies have faced at home so far. The champions have only registered one Premier league away win this season, but that was in their last away outing against a good Fulham side.

I fancy Manchester City to end West Brom’s fantastic home record here with a comfortable victory.

West Brom 1 Manchester City 3 - 14/1 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Manchester City to win - 3/4 with 888Sport - Returns of £8.75
Over 2.5 goals - 3/4 with Coral - Returns of £8.75
Yaya Toure anytime goalscorer - 10/3 with BlueSquare - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Loss of £2.50

West Ham vs Southampton

West Ham’s unbeaten home start ended last time out at the hands of Arsenal, whilst Southampton needed a late Jose Fonte header to rescue a point against Fulham.

These two promoted sides have adjusted to life back in the top flight in differing fashion, granted the Hammers have had a much more favourable fixture list then the Saints.

Nigel Adkins will see this as a great chance to register their first away point of the season, however I reckon West Ham will just have too much at Upton Park.

West Ham 2 Southampton 1 - 8/1 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Andy Carroll first goalscorer - 5/1 with Betfred - Lose a fiver
Both teams to score - 4/6 with Bet365 - Returns of £8.33
West Ham to win - 10/11 with Ladbrokes - Returns of £9.54

Match returns - Loss of £2.13

Norwich vs Arsenal 

Winless Norwich find themselves in the bottom three and in desperate need of points. Arsenal have impressed so far this year, but will feel their performances have merited more points.

Robin Van Persie struck twice as Arsenal won 2-1 away to Norwich last year

Arsenal won here 2-1 last year, and I fancy the same result.

Norwich 1 Arsenal 2 - 8/1 with Stan James - Lose a fiver

Other tips:
Norwich to score first and fail to win – 23/10 with Paddy Power - Lose a fiver
Both teams to score - 7/10 with Coral - Lose a fiver
Arsenal to win - 4/7 with Bet Victor - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Loss of £20
Liverpool, Manchester United,  Manchester City and West Ham to win. £5 returns £27.
Day returns - Down £32.90

Sunday 21^st October

Sunderland vs Newcastle

Combined these two sides have drawn seven of their 13 league games this season, and that is why they aren’t  higher in the league, with their inability to get over the line in matches cost them.

Newcastle have a good record in this game since their return to the top flight, securing eight points, whilst staying unbeaten. Both sides have goalscorers in their side, whilst having injury problems defensively, and I’m backing there to be goals in this game.

With the onus on Sunderland to attack as the home side, I fancy them to secure a narrow win.

Sunderland 2 Newcastle 1 - 10/1 with Ladbrokes - Loss a fiver

Other tips:
Both teams to score - 5/6 with Coral - Returns of £9.17
Steven Fletcher anytime goalscorer - 15/8 with Stan James - Lose a fiver
Sunderland + Newcastle double chance – 2/7 with Skybet - Lose a fiver

Match returns - Loss of £10.83

QPR vs Everton

It’s fair to say Queens Park Rangers haven’t had the best of starts to the season and will need to improve if they are to avoid a second consecutive relegation battle. Everton on the other hand have made a rare flying start to the season, and find themselves in the Champions league positions after seven games.

QPR were much better, although again in defeat, away to West Brom last week, with Estaban Granero and Adel Taarabt in particular very impressive. It was again defensively they were poor and the first two West Brom goals were very avoidable. Everton rallied well against Wigan last time out, and down the left in particular all season they’ve looked fantastic.

At Loftus Road QPR have shown they can compete with the league’s very best under Mark Hughes, and although Everton are doing very well at the moment, I fancy QPR to at least get a share of the spoils.

QPR 1 Everton 1 - 6/1 with Bet Victor - Returns of £35

Other tips:
Both teams to score - 3/4 with Coral - Returns of £8.75
Either Leighton Baines or Adel Taarabt to score from outside the area – 9/1 or 11/1 - Lose a fiver
Draw - 44/17 with Pinnacle - Returns of £17.94

Match returns - Profit of £41.69

Day returns - Profit of £30.86

Weekend returns - Loss of £2.04
Overall returns - Profit of £12.32

I said 4th for Spurs; if I could change it I would, will be a Europa League spot for them again!

It’s fair to say Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy has taken a risk! Sacking Harry Redknapp, who guided the club to Champions League football after arriving when they were bottom, and appointing Andre Villas-Boas whose previous Premier League experience was hardly a success. However I do believe there to be method in madness!

As great as Redknapp was for Spurs, in the really big games, his side went missing and given his age, he was always going to be a short-term fix. Villas-Boas on the other hand is 34 and, despite his poor spell at Chelsea, has the potential to be a great manager. It’s not going to happen overnight, Villas-Boas has brought new ideas and a new philosophy to the club, however I do believe if he is given a chance then he’ll be at Tottenham for a hell of a long time!

The loss of Luka Modric was a huge blow to Spurs; however for me they've found a like for like replacement in the classy Moussa Dembele. He can play just off the striker, but figured mostly in the centre of the park for his previous club Fulham, and will do so at White Hart Lane. Having missed out on Joao Moutinho on deadline day, Dembele needs to hit the ground running.

£15million well spent!

One thing you won’t see under Villas-Boas that you did with Redknapp is short-term fixes. Louis Saha and Ryan Nelsen were added in January, both have left already. Jan Vertonghen, Hugo Lloris and Dembele are players who could be playing at White Hart Lane in eight years time, all of whom have their best years ahead of them.

Key player- Gareth Bale. Having lost both Modric and Rafael Van Der Vaart, Gareth Bale is going to have to step up and really rubber stamp his authority on games. For me he drifts in and out of football matches too much, and he, like Spurs have had a poor start to the season. The Welshman has undoubted quality and if Tottenham are to challenge for those Champions League spots then he needs to be more consistent.

More performances like the two vs Inter are needed from Bale

Prediction- 4^th. When I started these predictions (before the start of the season, I’ve just been slow typing them!) I believed Tottenham would edge Chelsea out of the top four; however having seen both clubs starts I no longer feel this is the case; however will stand by my prediction, as it isn’t horrendously unlikely. It’ll take time for the Villas-Boas mentality to rub off on Spurs, and a top six finish is more realistic.

View from a fan – DanUnderwood

What would be a good season?
Qualifying for the Champions League as well as a decent FA Cup run like last year.

What would be a nightmare year?
Finishing outside the Europa League positions, this could happen considering where we were before Harry Redknapp.

Do you have the right man in charge?
Given time he is the right manager! Whether he’ll be given that is another matter.

How would you rate your transfer dealings?
I like who we’ve brought in; however we need cover at left back and go into the year with just two strikers! I don’t like the fact we sold Van Der Vaart either, whilst Modric’s exit was inevitable.

Who should we watch out for this year?
The likes of Jake Livermore and Sandro will probably get more game time considering Modric has left, and the latter is a really good player who could edge out Scott Parker.