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6. Tottenham Hotspurs
Transfers
In: Paulinho, Chadli, Soldado, Capoue, Eriksen, Lamela, Chiriches
Out: Jermaine Defoe, William Gallas, Gareth Bale, Andre Villas Boas[Manager]
Player of the Season: Emmanuel Adebayor
AVB sacking, a blunder: Villas Boas is the only manager among the top 10 teams to get sacked before the new year, and frankly it was a panic decision on part of the owner. Still young in management world, Andre had a good first year at the Lane. His footballing theory is surely brave at times, but the manner in which he treats the experienced players has landed him in hot water on many occasions.
For the first half of the season, Spurs were playing a ridiculously high defensive line with slow centre backs, and an uncharacteristic midfield. Their attack didn’t complement the high line with extreme pressing. Soldado was a complete flop as he was left isolated in almost every match. The sudden influx of new players damaged the balance of the squad, leading to unrest in the dressing room.
Adebayor brings back the swagger: Tim Sherwood did very less to revive the club in the second half of the season. In fact, he has a much worse record than Villas Boas. In 28 games, Sherwood’s side lost 10 times and drew 4, while Villas Boas’ side lost only 5 and drew 3 in 26 games.
The only positive development was the return of Adebayor into the starting XI. There was improved cohesion with Soldado, and Eriksen came alive in a few games. But their midfield and defence problems persisted, with the first team coach developing a peculiar dislike for holding midfielders. Just like the case of Newcastle, the Spurs squad will settle in after the summer, and we can expect a better showing in the next season.
Tim Sherwood though, will mostly be relieved of his position, and in all this lies a lesson for the chairman Daniel Levy, with a few may things to ponder upon.
5. Everton
Transfers
In: James McCarthy, Barry[L], Lukaku[L], Deulofeu[L], Joel Robles, Kone, Alcaraz, Lacina Traore[L], Aiden McGeady
Out: Heitinga, Phil Neville, Felliani, Anichebe
Player of the Season: Gareth Barry
Despite end of the season managerial awards going either Pellegrini or Rodgers’ way, Roberto Martinez has played a critical part in the tactical enhancements of the English game. And while his tactics have been refreshing at the very least, so have been his transfer decisions in the 2 windows. Loan moves for Barry, Lukaku and Delofou have produced fantastic results, while his transfers in McCarthy and Stones have added bite to Martinez’s new system.
The central block of 4: The loan capture of Gareth Barry proved crucial for Everton’s system as Martinez was now able to provide a central stability to a team overly dependent on attacking fullbacks. With Jagielka and Distin not being the quickest CBs, Martinez preferred this system with both Barry and McCarthy staying deep in their half. Though the biggest advantage of this system was Coleman and Baines’ freedom, the position of the midfield duo also perfectly complimented Ross Barkley’s style.
Barkley was not used in his favoured No.10 role by Moyes throughout the last 2 season, but Martinez was quick to utilize the youngster’s strength by playing him in a role which saw him collect the ball deep in his own half and then dribble directly through the centre of the opposition defence.
Steven Naismith, the new “False 9”: Naismith was another one of the players who were on the fringe under Moyes but has come to the fore under Martinez. The Spanish manager had stuck with Lukaku as the main striker for the first 8 months of the season, but the injury to the Belgian forced Martinez to look for other options (as Lacina Traore also got injured).
The first time Martinez chose Naismith to lead the line, he pointed out in a post-match interview that it was the Scotsman’s movement off the ball which made him such a key part of his plans. Henceforth Naismith was used repeated in positions just behind the main striker, or as the False-9 centrally. The Scot became the ideal ploy to pull out the opposition’ defenders from the backline, which allowed the likes of Miralas and Barkley to break through.
Another tactic that Naismith’s central role implied was that once Lukaku returned to full fitness, Martinez now pushed him to a wide Right role which not only restricted the opposition’s Left back but also allowed Lukaku to cut-in into the space created by Naismith in the centre.
Though these were 2 of the few main tactics that Martinez brought this season, it was his tactical adapting to the opposition which caught the eye the most.
