AVB-ometer: Sack him now? Give him ’til 2016?

Sack him now! Give him a new 5 year contract! There are many flaws with each of these statements but by now, 11 games into the Premier League season, most fans have formed a view on AVB and whether he is the right man for the job.

The first argument (of the bring-Santini-back-I-am-an-impatient-so-and-so variety) is a bit stupid, really, because AVB is clearly building for the long term and so needs to be given time. He hasn’t yet been given the signings he truly wants – he asked for Moutinho and was given Sigurdsson, asked for Willian and was given Dempsey. But in truth, losing at home to Wigan is unacceptable – particularly the manner of the defeat. However, I was at the Lane in our CL season when we lost at home to Wigan under ‘Arry and because we had just smashed the Swiss Kids up, no-one batted a proverbial eyelid. My point is, we can’t judge him on a few bad results when he is rebuilding his team. And with Kabs, Dembele, BAE, Parker etc. all injured then AVB has been left slightly hamstrung. I don’t think it is fair to judge him at this early stage in the season – he has proved himself in the past to be a quality manager and should be given time to grow (and that word isn’t meant to be a pun on his youthfulness).

The second argument (still too extreme) would be a better ploy. Show faith in AVB, give him the time he needs to build Spurs into a CL club, make it clear that he will be backed by the money of Levy. It would give him confidence and the ability to shape the club how he wants. But does he deserve it? Not yet. Results against Man U and, to a lesser extent, Villa, QPR, Reading and Southampton suggest that AVB is instilling a new drive into Spurs. Certainly, the spirit and determination with which we defended in the second half against Man U was the complete opposite to what we would have seen a few years ago, for example under Ramos. However, performances against Wigan, West Brom, Norwich et al suggest that AVB has a long road ahead of him to transform Spurs into a top 4 club.

The middle ground seems to be the way to go in AVB’s case. Let him have the whole season and see where we finish – but, more importantly, strangely, see how we are playing by the end of the season. We may well finish 7^th, 8^th, etc., but if we are playing well, then that is positive for the following season and we should see how AVB fares then. Admittedly, if we rock up 12^th with a heavy hangover and a few more heart wrenching home defeats to minnows such as Southampton (!), then I am happy for him to be surgically removed from the manager’s chair at the Lane. I guess my message is, give AVB the time he deserves – judge him at May, not before.

However, AVB has clearly split the WHL faithful: at which end of the spectrum do you lie? Vote below!