Is Tottenham Hotspur in crisis?
Tottenham’s problems so far: Does AVB knows his best eleven?
Tottenham Hotspur
The question on everyone’s minds at White Hart Lane isn’t probably the reason why the skies are yet to turn azure in North London. While Cross town fearsome Rivals Arsenal have had a terrific start to the season, thanks to their flamboyant midfield operating like the best orchestra in the whole of England, Tottenham haven’t had the sucker punch yet even though they had a whopping transfer spending spree thanks to the world record signing of Gareth Bale to Spanish Giants Real Madrid.
Spurs helped themselves to a plethora of attacking talents thanks to Daniel Levy’s shrewd push and pull tactics in the transfer market buoying Villas Boas with practically every jigsaw that could be afforded since Bale’s departure puzzle. But why have Tottenham limped through games and haven’t done themselves justice so far? Has AVB failed as a manager till now or have the players not settled in his 4-2-3-1 system?
Let us analyze the problems so far from a Spurs’ fan perspective
Roberto Soldado’s feeble attacking threat is under the scanner:
Ever since his mega transfer fee agreed from Spanish side Valencia, Soldado was expected to take the Premier League by storm. However it has been quite the opposite. He has scored three league goals (all of them from penalties), he is yet to score from open play. His movement though has been quite good taking defenders with him and creating chances for his team mates, his passing has been good as well, but he hasn’t been able to make space for himself and score, as he did in Valencia colors, the reason he was bought for!
While the rumour mill suggests Spurs are after Brazilian striker Pato in the January Transfer window, AVB is also looking to ship out Togolese striker Emanuel Adebayor, who has claimed, he has never been this low, like Villas Boas is freezing him out at White Hart Lane.
Jermain Defoe has scored goals in the cup ties, but coming from the bench he hasn’t also been able to turn games on its head, thus it is no surprise that AVB wants a new strike partner for Soldado come this new year.
Spurs have inexplicably and surprisingly played a high defensive Line:
I have a friend of mine who is a Tottenham fanatic, who is quite alarmed that AVB has asked his two centre backs in Vertonghen and Dawson to maintain a high line, keeping a high offside trap. While Kyle Walker and Danny Rose haven’t been up to the level the fans would want to see. Elsewhere, Andros Townsend’s rise as a national hero has been the silver lining so far.
The defensive problems still persists, remembering the game against West Ham, three weeks ago when Spurs inexplicably conceded three goals in the last thirteen minutes in a match they were expected to win comfortably. Michael Dawson has upped his game thanks to the competition he faces but the Belgian Vertonghen is still caught quite unaware against pacey wingers and strikers who love to make space and dart inside. Is AVB listening?
Does Villas Boas know his best eleven:
AVB has persisted to play Moussa Dembele and Paulinho as the double pivot in his preferred 4-2-3-1 system. Andros Townsend and Nacer Chadli has played as wingers while Christian Eriksen is given the number ten role with Soldado leading the line. But is this Tottenham’s best starting eleven given the former Roma star Erik Lamela is still warming the bench in most of the matches. While many would argue that Townsend has kept out the Argentine, but I feel Lamela needs to play, given his trickery, pace on the ball and his lovely composure and shooting from distance. Will he have the same impact as Gareth Bale still remains to be seen, but does he need to play? Surely and AVB must have to tweak his formation to fit Lamela. Whether he does or not remains to be seen!
