Is Andre Villas-Boas A Shrewd Choice For Spurs?

Andre Villas-BoasWith the appointment of Andre Villas-Boas as Spurs boss finally confirmed, the question now is: which AVB will we see at the Lane next season?

Will it be the bright and enthusiastic young manager who controlled soccer games in dominant fashion at Porto, becoming the youngest manager to lift a European trophy in the process?

Or will it be the sulky, petulant, and ultimately deflated figure we saw bombed out after just eight months at Stamford Bridge?

My hunch is that it will be the former. Villas-Boas was trapped in some unfortunate circumstances at Chelsea, namely the club’s internal politics, and should have no such restrictions at Tottenham.

Charged with revamping and re-building an aging side, he did not account for the precious egos and their unhealthy influence on the powers-that-be in West London. Though it has to be said, their subsequent FA Cup and Champions League success made his time at the Bridge look even worse.

However, that drive and determination to prove a point could be decisive; he is keen to re-build his reputation and show he has learned from his Chelsea experience.

It should also be noted that the 34-year-old was one of Europe’s most in-demand coaches, just 12 months ago; that talent does not just disappear overnight.

His attacking brand of football should also sit well with the Spurs fans, who will be intrigued to see how the young Portuguese fares in the White Hart Lane hot seat.

Harry Redknapp did little wrong during his time in North London, guiding them to two fourth place finishes. To take them much higher is a formidable task, given the finances available at some of their Premier League rivals.

Villas-Boas may hope that his arrival "on a free" will mean more money in the transfer kitty for substantial summer shopping, in an attempt to fire Spurs into title contention next season. The Londoners are 33/1 to claim the gold in 2013, according to the online betting on Bet365.

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