Delighted with AVB's work so far

[Tomo 21,736]

Due to having one of those 'you won't believe me even if i tell you' weeks i haven't been active much this week so i thought i would return and give reason as to why i am delighted with the work AVB has done for this club so far.

Firstly i'd like to say thankyou for all who nominanted and voted for me in the member of the month poll, whether i win it now is irrelevent i appreicate the reconition (spelling).

Back to the topic while we are not perfect just yet, yes it would have been nice to see more of Josh and Ryan and yes losing to QPR and Arsenal in succesion is a hard one to take but all in all im delighted with AVB's work so far for many reason's.

Sturridge is now a regular

Last season he was not getting a look in and we had to see Malouda and Anelka perform dross week in week out and never get dropped despite a young and hungry Danny on the dugout.

We were at serious risk of losing him but now he is a regular in our side and on the whole performing well. Lets just remember how much we wanted him to play this time last year?

He has signed Juan Mata

IMO our best signing since Cech and bar Silva the best player in the whole premierleague, he just ozzes class and is also a fantastic team player. Prime example was when he scored the goal of the month against Arsenal (to make it 3-3) and instead of basking in that personal glory, he ran straight back into position as fast as he could for kick off.

He has made us fun to watch again

Something we really should not under-estimate, last season (bar the opening 6 weeks when we were on a title rebound) was dire in every sense of the word in terms of the football we were playing, we are now playing good football and even in our loses so far this season we have shown a lot more urgency and desperation to get back in the match than last season.

We have also played some serious top class football at times (the first half at The Reebok was a delight), yes we need to improve defensively but that will come when Bosingwa is dropped for Luiz in time.

He dropes players and rotates

Malouda and Anelka have started 3 league games between them since August, Lampard got dropped and rotated and in turn we are seeing him much more fresh and like the Lamps of old.

Kalou has virtually been frozen out something most of you would have loved to have seen last season and he rotates and uses most of his resources avalible to him and keeping players a lot more fresh.

The average age in our squad is slowly going down

It was slowly becoming a real problem but it is clear AVB is slowly bleeding Drogba, Anelka and Malouda especially out and signing top young players, something we have all been deseprate to see for i don't know how long.

He brung back Roberto Di Matteo

Enough said

Yes there is a few things we need to improve on but all in all i am absolutely delighted so far.

[francozola 2,040]

Excellent post Tomo. People going on and on about him and the high line etc - well clearly he's going to make some mistakes. He's only been a manager for 2 years FFS!! Lets give him time to sort out whatever problems he encounters instead of jumping on his back every time something goes wrong.

After the first 3 dire games against West Brom, Norwich & Stoke, everyone was on his back about the boring football. "Where's the exciting football he promised?!" and so on. Look at how much better we are now. Passing is better, movement is better. It can't happen overnight. Our squad is old. It will take time for him to rebuild and have proper players for each position to play the way he wants them to play.

Anyway, I'm very pleased with the signs he's shown so far. Onwards and upwards!

[Madmax 9,219]

Lets give him time to sort out whatever problems he encounters instead of jumping on his back every time something goes wrong.

Don't hold your breath.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

We hold the right to criticise.

Whether that translates to slating or not, I couldn't care less. No-one doubts his abilities as manager though, good post, but still maintain the principle.

[Tomo 21,736]

We hold the right to criticise.

Whether that translates to slating or not, I couldn't care less. No-one doubts his abilities as manager though, good post, but still maintain the principle.

Don't get me wrong mate i wasn't having a go at any one.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Don't get me wrong mate i wasn't having a go at any one.

Nono, I know Tomo - Just generally. Because labels go around too easily on this forum.

[steve5221 91]

Bit on the optimistic side, but I agree that he has done well and certainly makes us alot more watchable. For me the key is how he reacts to our negative results and rectifies them in future games. It will be interesting to see if he keeps Alex and Ivanovic in the side long term, or reverts back to Bos and Luiz/Ivan in the centre.

I am really looking forward to see what team he puts out against Liverpool in our next game, as we have lost to both of the bigger sides we have faced in the league this year(Man U and Arsenal).

The one that really puzzles me though is the Lakuka signing. He can't be judged on the amount of games he has played so far, but he looks so out of place in an AVB team....unless he has a change in style in mind for when Lakuka plays future games. Can't help but think that £18mill could have been spent on a more shrewd signing. Given that he got Mata for £20 odd mill and Mierlies for £12million...

[Madmax 9,219]

We hold the right to criticise.

Of course.

But there's a difference between critiquing and calling him ''a con artist''.

[Krypt 241]

I agree he has made some good changes and i feel we are moving in the right direction especially with Danny. Though we loose to Liverpool next week and Spuds go above us and win there game in hand , i cant see most of us being that optimistic.

I believe he needs time , the quesion is will Roman give it him.

[True_Blue 469]

I was really happy with Carlo too and i was sad when he left.Andre has done a decent job so far i would only like to hurry up with adapting our defense into his system.

[steve5221 91]

I would like to see better man management skills with Torres personally..

[steve5221 91]

I would also like to see some better man management skills with Torres personally....

[Krypt 241]

I would like to see better man management skills with Torres personally..

I don't know i think he has helped Torres this season , before that silly sending off he was playing well. i think we need to wait till at least Jan to truly see the effects of AVB's work.

[steve5221 91]

I don't know i think he has helped Torres this season , before that silly sending off he was playing well. i think we need to wait till at least Jan to truly see the effects of AVB's work.

He has certainly done better than Carlo did, but this is Torres, the once world feared striker. Surely there is more than can be done? I thought the way AVB handled what Torres supposedly said in an interview done him no favours. Also praise him alot more in the media when he scores, he has taken terrible stick. Is Torres a prima donna?, absolutely so play to his ego to get the most out of him...he is only 27 he must still have it, he is potentially a match winner...

[Krypt 241]

He has certainly done better than Carlo did, but this is Torres, the once world feared striker. Surely there is more than can be done? I thought the way AVB handled what Torres supposedly said in an interview done him no favours. Also praise him alot more in the media when he scores, he has taken terrible stick. Is Torres a prima donna?, absolutely so play to his ego to get the most out of him...he is only 27 he must still have it, he is potentially a match winner...

He also must take blame for his poor form , he needs to get his head sorted and just play , what does not help is all the media Attention Andy Carroll has been shite , but do we hear anything about him in the press week in week out ? Torres has to score a hat-trick evey week just to get praise in the papers , it cant be good for him , plus it draws more attention to us. If the media didn't bash him so much i dot think we would.

[steve5221 91]

He also must take blame for his poor form , he needs to get his head sorted and just play , what does not help is all the media Attention Andy Carroll has been shite , but do we hear anything about him in the press week in week out ? Torres has to score a hat-trick evey week just to get praise in the papers , it cant be good for him , plus it draws more attention to us. If the media didn't bash him so much i dot think we would.

Of course Torres is to blame, espcially the last couple of games he does not seem interested at all. Handling a £50 million star striker is what seperates a good manager from an average one though. AVB is more intelligent than me, so I am sure he is thinking of the best way to handle him, hopefully he can really get Torres fired up for the Liverpool game and he can stick it to both the media and to them giving him abuse in the stands. It is the perfect opportunity for him.

[Krypt 241]

Of course Torres is to blame, espcially the last couple of games he does not seem interested at all. Handling a £50 million star striker is what seperates a good manager from an average one though. AVB is more intelligent than me, so I am sure he is thinking of the best way to handle him, hopefully he can really get Torres fired up for the Liverpool game and he can stick it to both the media and to them giving him abuse in the stands. It is the perfect opportunity for him.

Agreed , if he shuts up those dippers i will love it, bet he wont celebrate if he scores though. He should really they all burnt his shirt petty scousers.

[steve5221 91]

Agreed , if he shuts up those dippers i will love it, bet he wont celebrate if he scores though. He should really they all burnt his shirt petty scousers.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the team AVB puts out v Liverpool. It will answer a few questions on him for me, will he stick with Ivanovic and Alex in defense or revert to Bos and Luiz??. How will he approach the game knowing Liverpool will go 4-5-1 with Suarez pulling the strings??. We will go open like against Arsenal or more conservative like Blackburn??

I hate these international breaks - what a waste of time....