Tim Sherwood was named the new Tottenham Hotspur head coach on December 23rdbut it is safe to say his appointment hasn’t exactly instilled confidence in Spurs fans. Many are still skeptical about the 44-year-old but there is no doubt he is implementing a more eye-catching style of play at White Hart Lane.
The previous ‘head coach’ André Villas-Boas enjoyed success during his 18-months in charge and although he had a number of fans, myself included, the football produced was dull. As a consequence of this and some terrible results this season, he was dismissed and replaced by Sherwood.
And in the four matches since he has took charge, Spurs have played a more attractive style and it has resulted in goals, eight in his short spell. However, it is hard to please Tottenham fans and a lot are still unhappy.
Obviously many are frustrated with Daniel Levy for sacking another manager and even more are annoyed that he has appointed an apparent ‘Gooner’, with no real managerial experience whatsoever. Despite all of that, the constant berating over decisions and arguing over social media is becoming even more infuriating than normal.
Sherwood may be an Arsenal fan but even so who cares? Do people really think it would affect his judgment? This is his profession; there is no way he would jeopardize that because he supports Arsenal. It didn’t stop Harry Redknapp or Gareth Bale having success at White Hart Lane did it?
Now for the ‘lack of experience’ gripe that is getting so many supporters in a huff. I should state here that I am in no way, shape, or form trying to say Sherwood is Tottenham’s answer to Pep Guardiola BUT it is a fair comparison to bring up.
What managerial experience did Pep have before he took the Barcelona job? He had worked with the Barcelona B team for one season and that was it. Tim has been a coach at Tottenham since 2008 and was a technical coordinator – working with the youth team – before becoming head coach.
Graham Hunter, the author of the famous Barça book, believes there are similarities between the pair. He revealed in his book from 2012 that Sherwood was using concepts famous at Barcelona in the Spurs youth system. Hunter has also gone on record several times as saying he respects and is a fan of Sherwood’s football views.
It is also common knowledge that Sherwood is highly rated within Tottenham and respected by several people in the game with a great deal of knowledge, which suggests Spurs fans should be patient and get behind the new man.
He has already been branded arrogant but sometimes self-confidence is misplaced as being egotistic. Sherwood clearly believes in his views and is opinionated but why shouldn’t he be like that. He has achieved a lot and clearly has some great football ideas.
During Tottenham’s resounding 3-0 win over Stoke on December 29th, Sherwood showed some flexibility with his tactics too and didn’t simply play the 4-4-2 everyone believes is his only formation. Mark Hughes played five in midfield and three in the middle but Sherwood countered that by having Eriksen drift inside, with the knowledge that Zeki Fryers would overlap on the left to good effect.
Lennon was pushed further forward to become part of a front three, despite many assuming he would stay rooted to the right wing, and that helped him cap our three-goal display. Too many people are expecting Sherwood to play basic, simplistic football but he has adaptation and is incredibly knowledgeable.
He showed it against Stoke and also showed the first glimpses of his style of football. The team pressed and shifted across the pitch as a unit, more people pushed forward, Spurs tried to get in behind the full backs and players were given more freedom, something that wasn’t happening towards the end of Villas-Boas’ time in charge.
Sherwood was honest after the victory against Southampton too. He threw Nabil Bentaleb in because he trusted the youngster more than Étienne Capoue. His faith was rewarded but two matches later and Capoue is playing.
Why? Because Tottenham’s new head coach is still learning. He knows about these first team players but doesn’t know them inside out yet. Capoue showed improvements in training and has been rewarded. It is a clear message to other stars at the club that everyone has a chance if they are willing to put the effort in.
It isn’t a bad policy to adopt. It might have saved Villas-Boas his job if he had shared that idea with Emmanuel Adebayor, although it has to be said that the Togolese forward is one of the most frustrating modern day footballers. It is early days in Sherwood’s reign and he has a massive test coming up on New Years Day at Old Trafford. He will be without Jan Vertonghen, Sandro, Younès Kaboul and Andros Townsend but regardless of the result, there have been positives since he took over.
Tottenham have started to score goals, youngsters are being given an opportunity, better football is being played and Spurs have won a few games. There are 17 matches left in the Premier League and Sherwood’s team are only three points off fourth. They also have a fantastic FA Cup tie coming up and are still in the Europa League, though the Capital One Cup exit remains painful still.
As Tottenham move into 2014 positivity should start to fill the streets of White Hart Lane again. The past 12 months have been full of highs and lows but tradition had started to desert Spurs.
Audere est Facere – To Dare is to Do – is Tottenham’s Latin motto and they haven’t dared enough recently but Sherwood is trying to restore that. He can’t do it alone though and now is the time for fans to unite. Something special could be created at the Lane with him at the helm but first everyone needs to be singing from the same hymn sheet again.