Top 10 Premier League Managers I'd Want at Tottenham

We've seen just enough of the Premier League season to make wild assumptions about all of its managers. I don't look at managers in a vacuum though, I view them all through potential Tottenham lenses. As such, let's take a look at the ranking of the top 10 current Premier League managers that I'd want to coach my beloved Club.

1. Jose Mourinho- Look I get it, he's a complete prick. He might have the easiest job in the League currently given Chelsea's finances to boot so I can understand why some would question his managerial ability. However, this game is about winning trophies and "the special one" does that on a regular basis. Add in the fun he'd with Arsene Wenger and the Scum and he tops the list for me.
2. Garry Monk- I love his style. I love that he's English. More importantly, I love that he has Swansea punching significantly above their weight. He's also a reported lifelong Spurs fan so that has to move him up the list for any supporter. He made Gylfi Sigurdsson look like Messi so he must be doing something right.
3. Mauricio Pochettino- A lot of fans have taken to criticizing Poch over his lack of a plan B, emphasis on youth, etc but I think he's done a fair job so far. Time will tell whether or not he'll take us from good to great, but I still think he has a fair chance. Don't forget how much we all loved him when he had Southampton playing beautiful football. We've seen glimpses and I think we'll get there.
   
4. Roberto Martinez- I know that Everton haven't exactly clicked on under Martinez, but I still like the cut of his jib. He's an affable fellow who is engaging with the media and also with his players. He has instituted an attractive style of football for the Toffees and knows how to work with a Club that isn't super rich. He might not be a sexy choice but he's a proven winner.
5. Ronald Koeman- Southampton still play really attractive football despite the departure of Pochettino. The real question is, is Koeman just carrying on the Pochettino tradition or has he added his own style to the Saints? I think it's a combination of both and that's good enough to hit fifth on this list.
6. Manuel Pellegrini- This man is underrated as a manager. He might not be a tactical genius, but he is able to meld a very diverse group of egos into a coherent team more often than not. This is a skill that most managers simply don't have. My concerns for him and Spurs would be that he has no clue how to work with a budget. Not sure he'd have us punching above our weight.
   
7. Alan Pardew- I know most people don't like him and I agree, he's an a#$hole of epic proportions. However, he has Crystal Palace playing great right now and you can't question his managerial prowess. He's sort of like Mourinho lite in that respect. Add the fact that he's on his best behavior right now in hopes of getting the England job and it'd be a good time to have him at Spurs.
8. Louis Van Gaal- This is quite a drop for a man that many of us wanted Spurs to hire just over a year ago, but his style hasn't exactly lit the Premier League on fire. He is a quality manager tactically, but his arrogance and rigidity have caused him to fail for United at times. I think if he were at our help we'd finish fifth every year despite playing a variety of crazy formations.
9. Tony Pulis- This no-nonsense manager wouldn't mesh well with those of us who crave stylistic football, but we wouldn't be in any danger. He'd sort out of our defense and make us a really difficult task to defeat. Unfortunately we would finish 10th every year and die of boredom in the process.
   
10. I don't think he is a particularly astute tactical manager and he's been found out after Suarez's departure. However, he does preach an attacking, attractive style of football and seems capable of conning management to spend loads of money despite a lack of results. I think our entertainment factor under Rodgers would be high, but our results would be uneven. Ironically, I think he's got a little Harry Rednapp to him. Make of that, what you will.

Hope you've enjoyed this. Please share wherever possible and comment away. I want to hear your reactions!

Building a Premier League Squad with NBA players

If you have read much of this blog you can tell that the two most common subjects will be professional soccer and professional basketball. The Premier League and the NBA are my preferred leagues to watch respectively. Rarely do I get a chance to write on both subjects at once so I've made one up. Hope you enjoy this piece where I form a starting 11 entirely from current NBA rosters that would compete in the Premier League. There are few rules to this exercise but it can only be active NBA players and selections are made irrespective of their actual soccer ability. For instance, I wouldn't select Dirk Nowitzki because he played a lot of soccer in his youth. Players are only selected on their athletic abilities and mental makeups. So without further explanation, enjoy my squad. Would love to hear your thoughts!

Keeper- Anthony Davis

This was a tough choice right off the bat. Picking one of the NBA's best shot blockers leapt immediately to mind. I considered DeAndre Jordan, but don't think he has the quick feet I'd like in a keeper. My dark horse thought was Willie Cauley Stein based on his length and switching ability, but I'm not sure he has the mental focus required. In the end, I choose the Brow because he is the total package. He has the length, quick feet and focus to keep the ball out of the net.

Center Backs- Tony Allen and Marcus Smart

I bet these choices surprise a few people but both of these guys embody toughness and the competitive streak I want to protest the goal. I considered going with Mike Conley to be a steady presence in concert with Allen, but ultimately think Smart makes the more intimidating pair. I considered a number of taller players but worried they lacked the foot speed of these two. 

Left Back- Mike Conley

I think I may need someone to calm the center backs down and Conley can certainly do that. Don't forget, he is left handed so he fits comfortably on that side of the pitch. He provides a solid two way option at left back that can contribute on both ends. I considered other lefties like James Harden and Manu Ginoibili here but Conley wins out due to his all around game.

Right Back- John Wall

With three defense first players in my back four I felt like I could be more adventurous at this spot. In steps John Wall as one of the fastest and most attack minded players in the NBA. He has enough pace to provide great overlapping runs and to recover on the other end when needed. 

Defensive Midfielders- Kawhi Leonard and Draymond Green

I wanted two guys in the middle of the pitch who can anchor the squad defensively while providing some threat moving forward. Both players have the bulk required and the quickness to guard more diminutive speed merchants. They also are constantly thinking one step ahead of opponents on the defensive end and are capable of countless interceptions as a result. There were lots of quality choices here but I wanted size, strength and height.

Left Winger- James Harden

Again, I wanted a left handed player on the left side of the pitch and it came down to Harden and Ginobili. With Conley protecting the position I felt good about going offensive first with my choice. Harden's ability to irritate defenders and draw fouls in dangerous areas would be a perfect fit for this team.

Center Attacking Midfielder- Steph Curry

I want my number 10 to have creative license all over the pitch and Curry is the most dangerous perimeter player in the NBA today. Imagine him pulling the strings and spraying passes all over the attacking third and just when you focus on the pass, bam, he drills a laser into the back of the net. He isn't the strongest player and might get knocked off the ball a bit but I'll take the creativity and compensate for the rest.

Right Winger- Russell Westbrook

I have literally considered the mercurial Westbrook at every spot on the pitch. He embodies the competitive spirit and motor required to be an elite Premier League player. On the right he would have license to tirelessly torment the opponent up and down the field. He would no doubt attack goal with wreck less abandon and his interchange play with Curry would be a nightmare for defenders.

Striker- LeBron James

I had to think about this one quite a bit as well. I considered going with a more selfish attacker like Kobe or D Wade but decided I wanted a more all around player instead. LeBron's physical prowess also worked in his favor because he could threaten defenses with a run in behind while also holding up player for attacking wingers. We would probably have to stress to him in training to always have an eye for goal but it's always easier to teach a player to try harder to score more as opposed to teaching him to involve his teammates.

Thanks for reading and let me know who you'd select instead. If the interest dictates I'll do a blog in reverse as well. I'll build an NBA squad out of Premier League stars.

It's Not About Race: Why Spurs fans prefer Soldado to Adebayor

Both Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado are seemingly at the end of their time as Tottenham strikers but almost universally, fans wish Soldado the best while hoping Adebayor is finally consumed by the Juju. Why do Spurs fans remain sympathetic to Bobby while burying Adebayor?

Right off the bat let me address the possibility that this is based on race. I imagine for some fans this might be the case, but I don't see it as the primary motivation for many fans. I think the cultural relatibility of Soldado for most fans is significantly higher than Adebayor's given their backgrounds but at best, that is an undercurrent for most.

The real reason behind the difference between the two in fan's minds comes down to visible effort in the pitch. Close your eyes and think of Soldado....chances are the image in your mind is of his face marred in angst after a near goal. Now do the same for Adebayor...you likely get an entirely different image. Perhaps you are like me and are cursed to see the image of he and Sherwood locked in salute, maybe you see him loafing after a loose ball or even in an Arsenal kit. The point is we have always been convinced of Soldado's effort and care for his performance while Adebayor has frequently been absent both physically and emotionally.

The psychology behind this is pretty straightforward. We can all relate to Soldado as a man who gives his best effort and is suitably frustrated. Who among us hasn't tried their best and failed at something? On the other hand, there are precious few Tottenham fans know what it feels like to squander enormous talent while being made rich with zero apparent misgivings. Adebayor is the classic villain while Soldado represents the quintessential Everyman hero. It is a story old as time. To sum it up, we like Soldado because he gives a damn. We ridicule Adebayor because he doesn't.

Lastly let me say to critics who will defend Adebayor due to his personal difficulties you can save your breath. I know that Adebayor's family is as crazy as a box of ducks and that he has done a great deal of charitable work. Ever wonder why we seem to know every twist and turn of Adebayor's life? We know because he wants us to see his personal life as a justification or counterweight for his lack of on field performance and effort. I don't blame him for the strategy but let's view it for what it is. It's a public relations strategy from his agent not a series of heartfelt mea culpas.

So fellow Yids continue on wishing Soldado the best while hoping the Juju finally does Ade in. After all, he once played for Arsenal. Do we need a better reason for our disdain?

The Tottenham Chase: Has the Champions League ruined our club?

In philosophy I am generally in agreement that sport, and football in particular, has fallen victim to over commercialization in recent years. Even beloved Tottenham now charges forward with plans for a new stadium and a transfer policy designed to profit the ownership group above all else. Yet one criticism of Tottenham by many traditionalists really irritates me. The notion that the pursuit of Champions League football has ruined Spurs is simply the anthem of those bereft of ambition.

I get the basic argument. Finishing top 4 has become an obsession and we have only managed to achieve Champions League qualification once. As such, our other seasons have been failures. What's worse is that many of our seasons are over well before the end of our fixture list because we are too far out of contention. Many even argue that given our financial limitations we will continue to struggle to finish in the top 4 behind our richer peers. I won't even delve into the intricacies of how the cost of Europa League participation drives some people mad. My question to those who feel this way is simple: what in the hell do you want us to strive for?

People who detest our obsession with CL Qualification want you to believe they are staying true to the Club's history. The game is about the glory, to dare is to do, etc line up nicely with going full tilt after trophies but isn't pushing for Champions League really going after the biggest of trophies? I'd like to win a FA Cup (and end our trophy drought) as much as the next guy but that is trying to win an English trophy. By simple logic isn't the quest to win a European honor more daring? What seems more glorious to you: a FA Cup final versus Burnley or a Champions League knockout match versus Roma?

Even worse are you Spurs fans who abhor the CL ideal because of our inability to compete with other Premier League Clubs. Shame on all of you. If we can't finish in the Top 4 then surely we can never challenge for a Premier League title. Why not drop down to the Championship so we can go after a League Title? Do we have an easy road to a League title or even a top 4 finish compared to richer teams? No, but we are Tottenham for God's sakes!!! There is something special about our Club. Whether you think it's the gleaming white on our kit, the magic of White Hart Lane or the spirit of our fans there is something amazing and utterly unique about Tottenham. If you don't believe that unique quality can help us "punch above our weight" and compete at the highest levels of football then I pity you. Your experience as a Spurs fan lacks the best thing about my fandom: the belief that there is magic in Tottenham.

Many of you will read this and laugh at what you perceive to be my naievety. You have my deepest sympathy. I go into every season daring to dream of a magical run to the Title or at least Champions League qualification. You begin the season sadly waiting for failure. Remember why you fell in love with Tottenham in the first place, dare to be special....dare to be Tottenham.