The 5-0 loss against Liverpool at home was enough for Tottenham management to sack AVB. With this, he joined the litany of sacked coaches in EPL before the Christmas. Paolo Di Canio (Sunderland), Ian Holloway (Crystal Palace), Martin Jol (Fulham) and Steve Clark (West Bromwich Albion) are the other members of the forgettable group. Each failed to fulfil the demand pinned on them.
With the sale of Bale, club earned $132 million in the summer. Bale had scored 26 goals and adjudged Best EPL player of the year. He was the man having X-factor and single handedly rescued the team in many matches. Naturally, there were some initial hiccups in the camp but the amount was tempting enough to persuade the management for his sale. Club’s former GK Erik Thorstvedt quoted that ‘We sold Elvis and bought Beatles.’ Clearly he was referring to purchase of 4 new recruits in the camp.
4 fresh faces, 2 each in midfield and attacking line gave fans the feeling that the club will score freely now. On the other hand, quite opposite happened. Club struggled to find the net. In 16 games so far
Tottenham has scored just 15 goals. It is less than half to any of the top 4 clubs in EPL. Their goal difference of -6 is worst in top 13 clubs of the league. Currently they are 7th in the League with 27 points in the bag.
Andre Villa Boas was unlucky that one of his new purchases Christian Eriksen missed most of the matches due to injury. Another midfielder from land of Samba, Paulinho failed to show any magic and found the net on 2 occasions only in 16 appearances. Erik Lamella played only 6 games and scored only twice. But the biggest flop of the season was the purchase of Roberto Soldado. No. 9 of the club is a shadow of his Valencia days. He was the costliest purchase in £26 m. In 16 matches he netted only on 4 occasions which is a worry for any forward line. The purchase ultimately proved to be the sale of Boeing and purchasing of 4 helicopters.
The sword was hanging on AVB since his 6-0 hammering to Man C. He rescued some pride with a draw against other struggling Manchester club but 5-0 defeat at home scripted his swan song.
AVB is accused of not having or using plan B. Saldado was continuously misfiring but he continued to give him chance after chance. Experienced and club veteran Jermain Defoe was never preferred. Emmanuel Adebayor was sidelined. He continued failed experiment with GKs.
He left the club with 53.7 percent winning percent in the league. It is the best in the history of Spurs. But, the talent of the squad deserve respect from the title contenders. Desire of the fans is justified. No doubt, AVB failed to meet them. He came to North side of the capital city after being sacked from Western corner 17 months before. His 3 year contract ended quite prematurely. He has a lot to think on.
Roberto di Matteo, Fabio Capello, Michael Laundrup and Franco Baldini are the contenders for the chair. Meanwhile, it’s Adeus AVB.