Tottenham have got it wrong, just like they did in the summer... and views on the Champions League draw

Sell your best player. Spend more than 100 million, buying seven new players from different leagues. Then give your manager six months to get it working. Welcome to modern football, where time is a commodity which is priceless for managers today.

 Tottenham currently lie sixth in the table, eight points off the top and more realistically five points from the top four. They have qualified for the Round of 32 in  the Europa League and are in the quarter finals of the Carling Cup.  Almost midway into the season and the Spurs board believed that this wasn't good enough and decided to give AVB, the sack. The board, I believe has got this wrong.

Buying seven players and losing your best player from last season, is not the ideal way to begin a new season. As Sunderland have shown in the past two seasons, buying a whole new squad(well almost) doesn't necessarily help the club move forward and infact could pull the club down. Integrating so many new players into the style you want them to play, while they are already trying to settle down in a new league, possibly in a new country and for some like Erik Lamela, trying to learn a new language as well, it is hard to get a team playing as a cohesive unit instantly. As the saying goes, too much of anything isn't good and so has been the case here.

The correct way to have gone about things, would probably have been to give AVB atleast till the end of this season. Then analyse and see where to go from there. Sacking him in the middle of the season is a big mistake and continues to underline the impatience of not only fans but the top management in today's time.
The below picture gives an even more clearer picture of the situation in the Premier League.

 Picture Credit: sportingintelligence.com

It does seem that the two big defeats against Manchester City(away) and Liverpool more recently(home) was what really got AVB the sack. A little more patience would certainly help though. But buying seven players and hoping they would start with a bang was a mistake and similarly sacking AVB was another. The only way Daniel Levy and co, could come out of this mess would now be to do what Southampton did last winter, and find their own Mauricio Pochettino from somewhere. AVB though could leave with a solace of knowing that he goes with the highest win % of any Spurs Premier League manager.

Picture Courtesy: 101greatgoals.com

Champions League Draw Reaction

The draw for the Round of 16 was held today and the result was some really exciting games to look forward to when the Champions League will make its return in February.

The two games to look forward to are obvious. While the focus has been on how the two English clubs have been dealt a tough draw, one should note that Barcelona and Munich would themselves would've certainly preferred a simple tie. Those two would also not be jumping with joy having draw the English teams.

Manchester City vs Barcelona, is this season's version of Manchester United vs Real Madrid.  

Both of the teams have an enviable line-up of attackers while at the same time frailties in defence that need looking at. Barcelona it could be said are weaker at the back compared to City, who've got Kompany and Nastasic to call on when everybody is fit. Though a certain  little Argentinian in the Barcelona side is enough to cover any frailties that Barcelona may have. Infact it will be the clash of Aguero and Messi that will be most intriguing with both set to line-up together in the World Cup. Neymar, Negredo, Iniesta, Silva will be other key players for both the sides in attack. Also, it will be a return for Yaya Toure to his old club, and he will be looking for a win. 

The other exciting game in this round will involve another English club, when Arsenal once again face Bayern Munich. Both teams have seen changes at their clubs since the last time they met. Arsenal currently hold a slender lead at the top of the table, whereas Bayern have undergone certain tactical changes in their playing style under Pep Guardiola. Pep had a good time facing Arsene Wenger when he was the manager at Arsenal, and will be hoping that run can continue. The Arsenal manager though, would love to beat Bayern over the two legs(instead of just one) and continue proving that this Arsenal squad does have what it takes to win titles. 

Didier Drogba will be returning to his past kingdom, when he makes his grand return to Stamford Bridge with Galatassaray to face his old master, Jose Mourinho and the new Chelsea. It will be an interesting tie as it also sees Mourinho face Mancini, the man he replaced at Inter and also Sneijder who was key to Mourinho's treble winning season with the Inter Milan side. 

AC Milan vs Athletico Madrid will be an interesting tie to look forward to while PSG, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund will all be expected to reach the quarters.

Lot can obviously change over the two months with injuries, form, etc but here are my predictions for who will be still standing when the draw for the Quarters is held:

1. Barcelona
2. Manchester United
3. Athletico Madrid

4. Paris Saint-Germain
5. Chelsea
6. Real Madrid
7. Borussia Dortmund
8. Bayern Munich.

So what are your early predictions for the Champions League? Make sure to tell me what your predictions are in the comments section below. 

Also one more thing, yesterday was a special night for one footballer who has been fighting a very rare disease for what has been almost two years. The moment when Darren Fletcher was subbed in by David Moyes, it was a moment to savour for every United fan and he was rightly applauded on. Here's hoping Fletcher can slowly recover some of his old form and return to the same old Fletcher that the United faithful were used to seeing before he was struck down with the disease. Welcome back Darren Fletcher, Football Genius.

"Today was my re-debut. I replaced my first idol (Beckham) back then and I replaced my other idol (Giggs) today"- Darren Fletcher.