Anyway, the question remaining is a simple one every Tottenham fan must ask the administration. If not Klinsmann, a small-time hero at White Hart Lane, then who?

Candidates to Replace Redknapp:

Fabio Capello:

Although Harry Redknapp embraced an attractive brand of football last term, his side was criticized for being defensively unstable, prone to lapses in concentration at the back. Fabio Capello, who is currently unattached following his resignation from the England post, would certainly put an end to that. The Italian trainer has been known in the past for instilling a sense of defensive responsibility in his sides, and was famously sacked by Real Madrid, days after winning the league, because he was “too boring”. Another feat he is likely to be proud of is his record of winning the domestic championship at every single club he goes to, picking up national honors at Milan, Roma, Juventus, and Real Madrid. Such a CV would be difficult turn down if given the opportunity.

It remains to be seen, however, if Capello would be inclined to join Tottenham, without the prospect of Champions League football and the possible departures of key men Modric and Bale as a result. However, the former Milan midfielder has seen posts at Chelsea, Liverpool, Internazionale, and Roma recently secured after speculation linking him with every one of the recently-vacant jobs. At this point, it looks like Spurs is his best option. But at least he can speak English, am I right? Seriously, am I right? He seemed shaky last time I heard him speak. Regardless, expect Capello to be the man to take over this summer. Or at least a Spurs man can dream.

Andre Villas-Boas

The old “New Mourinho” had a turbulent 256 days, 2 hours, 17 minute, and 16 seconds at the helm of Chelsea football, before he found out he was never really at the helm. The old contingent of Lampard, Terry, and Drogba had a tough time warming up to their new boss, and as a result were alienated from the squad. For other senior players such as Alex and Nicolas Anelka, it was too late, as both left the club, taking it for a sinking ship, while Villas-Boas’ departure led to the best few months of Chelsea’s history. Drogba, Terry, and Lampard were all there to enjoy it, while the young Portuguese also probably enjoyed himself, but in a different manner. However, after taking a vacation to clear his mind using the rubles Abramovich told him to sod off with, AVB, as he is passionately referred to as, has made it known he wants to get back into football management. A club like Tottenham, where expectations are lower than that of Russia’s most famous oligarch, would be an ideal place for AVB to continue his career, having learned from his mistakes of the ill-fated spell at Chelsea. It could turn out that West London’s loss becomes North London’s gain. Though you can’t blame West London in this scenario, times were really dismal. Okay, not a perfect use of that saying, but you get the point. Villas-Boas deserves another chance.

Then again, there is the need to contradict myself. With the resources at his disposal, AVB did have a harshly lurid spell with Chelsea, where his side’s sixth place finish was largely of his doing. He refused to use Mata in his most influential role, tucked in behind the striker, instead stubbornly staying true to his 4-3-3. At times, a suicidal high line was played at Chelsea, even though Terry and David Luiz were nowhere near suited to the tactic. And Levy may not be able to afford him. We all know how tempting it is to say, “You can’t afford me”.

David Moyes

While touted as a replacement for Alex Ferguson at United and lauded for the brilliant consistency achieved at financially-mediocre Everton, David Moyes’s side is still in the middle of the Premier League table. Yet another season has gone by without a legitimate challenge for European football, no cup successes to be proud of, and the standout players linked with top clubs. With an approach by Tottenham, and the congenial relations the two clubs share, it is very likely that Moyes would have the opportunity to speak to Spurs. His knack for a good transfer, having never wasted a shilling of Everton’s money, should appeal greatly to Levy, the man looking for a replacement for Redknapp. In the comments section below, I dare you to name a bag signing made by Moyes.

An issue with Tottenham fans may be that Moyes is a defensive coach. His Everton side was never renowned for playing attractive football.Tim Cahill playing as an emergency lone forward at times this season can testify to that. He rarely deviates from a 4-4-2, and when he does, it is usually in favor of much similar 4-2-3-1.

However, with the imminent departures of Modric and possibly Bale, and van der Vaart continually linked with a move back to Germany, a 4-4-2 may be exactly what Tottenham need. Sandro and Scott Parker can form a strong partnership in midfield, with Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore waiting in the wings. Lennon, Spanish midfielder Iago Falque, Andros Townsend, Danny Rose, and Stephen Pienaar make up a collection of wingers David Moyes would relish working with. The utility and potential in each of those players is characteristic of a Moyes signing. The Scotsman helped Pienaar look like a world beater on his return to Everton on loan. Any manager who can do that deserves a shot at the top four.

Moyes is a personal preference of mine, and it has nothing to do with the fact that “You Belong With Me” just came on the radio. Well, maybe a little bit.

Rafa Benitez

After linking himself to the Liverpool job on a frequent basis, poor Rafa Benitez finds himself unemployed, and on his couch watching video highlights of Istanbul. His wife wants him to do work around the house, but he cannot bring himself to get up, while he can’t remember the last time he’s taken a shower. Reports have linked Daniel Levy to the man tasked with pausing the television set and getting Benitez back on his feet.

The Spaniard’s experience in English football, where he brought a Champions League trophy to Anfield, was a success. He made many intelligent signings from his native Spain, from where he brought in cult hero Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres, and er, Josemi. With such a track record, it is entirely possible that he will make more signings than Redknapp. However, do not expect this deal to materialise, given the fact that Liverpool is the only job that has ever interested Benitez. Instead, a more likely option is another Spaniard.

Roberto Martinez

After performing miracles at Wigan, where we all knew that anything less would have resulted in relegation, Martinez has been linked with every vacant job in the country. Liverpool turned him down in favor of Brendan Rodgers, while Aston Villa preferred Paul Lambert to take over from Alex McLeish. But if there was one thing the managerial merry-go-round proved, it is that Martinez is more than willing to leave the DW Stadium this summer.

This suggestion is the most logical one in my opinion, and it would provide the most entertainment from a neutral perspective. Martinez, a young manager embodying an attractive style, and Tottenham, a side just lacking an extra spark these past few seasons, seem like a perfect match. Of course, things don’t always turn out the way they seem. How’s that for a generic statement? Anyway, if Martinez becomes the manager of Tottenham, expect nothing less than on-pitch entertainment. I haven’t even mentioned that he’s such a nice guy.

Some issues, though, of course. Despite leading Wigan to a 15th place finish, he was only linked with the Liverpool and Villa jobs. Is he quite good enough for Tottenham, considering the other managers touted for the job? In February, when Redknapp was flirting with England, the only two managers Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy found worth the job were Mourinho and Guardiola. Despite recent impressive results, this post may come too early for the talented tactician.

What do you think? Not what I just said, if human nature is anything to go by.

Well, now that’s done, let’s get to the good stuff, shall we? Manchester City won the league in emphatic fashion on Sunday, though their loyal fans had to wait until stoppage time against a side fighting relegation to celebrate. And celebrate they did. Supporters swarmed the pitch, with players unable to hide their delight at finally toppling their cross-town neighbors, ending 50 years of hurt. But the methodical Roberto Mancini was wasting no time. On to the next season, preparation for pre-season, and a few difficult decisions await him. To make his load easier, I’ve helped him by making a list of players to waste money on this summer. The Italian desperately needs to replace Roque Santa Cruz and David “We Signed Him on a Risk-Free Loan” Pizzaro, and I have better things to do, but here goes nothing. Feel free to help Mancini as well by swearing me out in the comments section below. I want everyone to feel included.

I am also methodical, though I am neither Italian, nor a recipient of a seven figure pay check. I’ve divided the areas Mancini needs to address into areas of the pitch, which is a novel idea, and I expect many to follow suit. Here it goes.

Goalkeepers:

Joe Hart, the colorful youth product of Shrewsbury Town, has a firm grasp on the number 1 spot at the Etihad Stadium, as well as the other grounds his side travels to next season. Ever since his impressive loan spell at Birmingham City, Hart has been first choice for club and country, and none of that should change. His backup, the impressively-named Costel Pantillimon, has looked solid in cup matches, and seems content deputizing for Hart when necessary. Surely an improvement on Martin Fulop.

Defenders:

In the full back areas, no purchases are necessary. Micah Richards rediscovered the form that saw him break into the England side at 19, while his deputy, Pablo Zabaleta, was solid backup. At left back, Clichy justified his low price tag in defence, while Kolarov’s cup cameos were just as productive.

At center back, Stefan Savic, though earning me extra points for alliteration, serves very little purpose in the City squad other than being a royal screw-up. That is often mitigated by the fact that Vincent Kompany was voted Player of the Year by the FA, Kolo Toure is really intimidating, and Joleon Lescott is left-footed, British, and thuggy, therefore deserves a spot in any team. However, with Lescott nearly costing City the league on Sunday, Toure never looking like the same player since his malaria infection in 2004, and Kompany the only mainstay, Mancini should look elsewhere for reinforcements at the back. But where?

Giorgio Chiellini, the Italian international, has had a phenomenal season, leading Juventus to an unbeaten season and filling in at left back when needed. He is the first name on the team sheet, and traditionally has dominated encounters with top strikers such as Ibrahimovic and Cavani. With fellow Italians Mancini and Balotelli already at City, the next season may be the opportunity for Giorgio Chiellini to announce himself to the rest of the world, which is the sporting equivalent of England. Giorgio Chiellini may have the opportunity to show English fans he is a good player. That’s what I was trying to say.

However, he is settled at Juventus, having just won Serie A legitimately for the first time. Where else to look?

Sunny Spain is where Alberto Botia plays for Sporting Gijon, and evidence points to him being a good signing for the Citizens. The Barcelona youth product has had an impressive few seasons at the heart of his club’s defense since Gijon’s promotion in 2008, which has sparked interest from none other than his former club. Next season, Sporting will be in the second tier of Spanish football, and Botia will not want to be among them. It is counterintuitive- a reinforcement at the Etihad Stadium on the cheap- but it might just work. Chances are he’s better than Stefan Savic.

Other options lie in Udinese’s Moroccan center back Mehdi Benatia, whose name is fun to say and has been linked with Manchester United, Shakhtar’s Yaroslav Rakitsky, and Stephane M’Bia of Marseille.

Midfielders:

Undoubtedly, Manchester City’s midfield with Nasri, Silva, De Jong, Yaya Toure, Barry, Milner and er, Owen Hargreaves is the best in the country. To add to the riches, City possess a promising lad in the youth team by the name of Michael Johnson, who based on his performances on loan at Leicester City, merits a shot at first-team football. Joking aside, City could do with an extra midfielder, not least because Bobby doesn’t have enough of them to defend a 2-0 lead against Fulham.

A backup for the destructive Yaya Toure could go a long way. Who? A French-African midfielder fits the bill and City could do far worse than Moussa Sissoko. The French international is only 22, but has made close to 200 appearances for Toulouse. He has plenty of experience, being one of the goody-goodies who didn’t fall out with Raymond Domenech in South Africa. Sissoko has been linked to Manchester City in the past, though a €30 million price tag was enough to dilute interest. However, the opportunity to work with Yaya Toure, and a shot at Champions League glory may be too much for the young Frenchman to turn down this time around. He was first used a holding player, but is now mainly used further forward. Sound familiar?

I’m required to list other options, though if Manchester City want something, they’ll get it. They’ll just go and grab it. Oh, Eden Hazard- who shares a Christian name with Dzeko- has gone and added heat to the race for his signature by revealing he will sign for one, and only one, Manchester side this summer. Metaphorically, he could walk into any team in the world, and City would be glad to have the opportunity to open that door for him. Metaphorically. But that’s still a saga, and it is oh so suspenseful. Expect whipped cream to be involved, and it will be in abundance if Hazard plays behind Balotelli and Tevez in an attacking trident. Three big personalities right there.

If a move for Sissoko doesn’t work out, alternatives include Stephane M’Bia, equally adept as a defender, and Esteban Cambiasso. If Hazard becomes a red, breaking the bank for Mario Goetze or Lavezzi would be an adequate answer… breaking the bank, who am I kidding?

Strikers:

This is the most controversial area, and it makes me want to add a pun in reference to Balotelli and scoring, but I’ve said too much already. The signing of Aguero last summer added one of the world’s top forwards to a side already possessing Dzeko, Balotelli, and Tevez. However, with Dzeko being Dzeko, Balotelli not running out of crazy things to do, and Tevez pursuing an alternative career in golf, Kun Aguero was the only reliable forward for the duration of the season. And while they all came together in the end- Tevez making up with Mancini, Dzeko not being rubbish, and Balotelli putting his bad-boy act on hold- there is a good chance that past problems will plague City again. I’d love to go ahead and be blunt, actually. City does not have enough strikers. They need more. Must obey…

John Guidetti, young and Swedish, was absolutely electric on loan at Feyenoord, scoring a lot and impressing many in 6 months. His tally of 20 goals in 23 games merits a chance of first team football at the Etihad Stadium, and it would prove many doubters wrong if a multi-million pound signing and a youth team product were the first-choice strike partnership for the Premier League champions. Of course, that is the case currently for Manchester United: Danny Welbeck came back from a loan spell at Sunderland to replace Javier Hernandez in the starting 11. Guidetti may just be next season’s Welbeck.

Other options include David Villa, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldo, Cavani, Andy Carroll (?), Falcao, Neymar, Messi, Eto’o, Jesus Christ, and the emotion “fear”. Might as well.

Am I missing anything? Ah, yes.

The Manager:

No changes necessary here.

Modern times have led to modern advancements, and modern movies starring Brad Pitt as a maverick. The trailer of Moneyball made me want to see the movie; the partnership of the outspoken Billy Beane and stubby Peter Brand was something I had to witness myself. Overall, the movie wasn’t bad, but it had a good idea behind it. Look at statistics, the hard-core facts, and the results are there for all to predict. This was the story of a partnership that utilized the wonders of the 21st century. Statistics, they quipped, were a message nature hides in the midst of the formalities of sport, all made available through technology. Numbers. Statistical analysis. However, while watching, the only thing I could think about was a partnership forged back when a computer was slower than a Prius.

Brian Clough and Peter Taylor won the European Cup two years in a row in 1977 and 1978 with Nottingham Forest. Forest was an average side before their arrival, the term provincial coming to mind. We’ve all heard it before. Clough, fresh from a managerial failure at Leeds United and a confusing few months at Brighton, and Taylor, fresh from a feud with Clough, reunited to promote their team to the First Division and subsequently win the league the next season. European Cup successes followed, and a legacy at Forest was achieved. All of this was compounded by the fact that unlike many successful present-day sides, Clough and Taylor never made a poor signing.

Bringing the subject back to Moneyball, it is important to point out that after Billy Beane’s successes, the theory was accepted. Teams began using the system, and “important statistics” became a thing of the past: every statistic was important. Every statistic was looked at. It evolved into a way of doing things, a style. It brought sides success. Isn’t a winning “formula” every manager’s dream?

Damien Comolli was a good friend of Billy Beane, the man who first experimented with Moneyball. Comolli has worked at Arsenal, Tottenham, and most recently Liverpool, and famously employs the idea of soccernomics. He has been known to look at statistics in his transfer dealings, and one should think that positions at top clubs show his success in his field. Except not.

Recently, none other than Arsene Wenger has spoken out against Comolli’s methods. Indeed, it seems the only players Comolli can take credit for signing are left backs; and that doesn’t include Gareth Bale. The performances of Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam apparently were the last straw in his Liverpool tenure. A poor record, indeed.

So here is the eventual argument, one that purists of the beautiful game jump to immediately. Football is a team sport. You can’t buy players based on their statistics, even if they are undervalued, just like you can’t buy the most expensive players and expect to mold a successful team. Buying a left back because of his successful pass completion into the final third would be futile if he did not track back effectively. In Moneyball, a player who did not have a working arm was recruited. It worked for a reason that I can’t explain because I don’t follow baseball. That sort of radicalism that embodied the spirit of statistical analysis in sport would be impossible in soccer. The case of Owen Hargreaves comes to mind. I’d like to offer a quote from Mick McCarthy:

“Statistics are like mini-skirts. They give you good ideas, but hide the most important things.”

He said it better than I ever could.

Brian Clough proved that you don’t need to look at statistics to compile a side that can conquer Europe on a fairly limited budget. He won the European Cup in 1977 and ’78 with Nottingham Forest. His signings included Peter Shilton, Frank Clark, Kenny Burns, and Trevor Francis, all successful at Forest and all sold for a profit. Clough’s partnership with Peter Taylor was something that no computer could recreate or improve on, and history has been a testament to that. This is the view of an idealist, of course — nostalgia playing a part in remembering the lack of similar partnerships in today’s game. Today, there is not a partnership that utilizes one man to identify a talented player, and another to get the most out of him. Instead, a manager’s influence often sees him doubling up on these duties. The role of sporting directors like Damien Comolli has been mitigated because of past notable failures. Yes, there are notable Number 2’s such as Ray Wilkins, formerly of Chelsea, and Tito Vilanova of Barcelona. However, the manager has the final say in transfer matters, and the next largest influence is from the chairman. So the question remains: In the 21st century, is this lack of reliance on intuition a good thing?

How Wenger Did It

I was shocked when Pedro Leon, formerly of Real Madrid, was not picked by Wenger last summer. He had just earned himself a move to Real Madrid from fellow capital club Getafe, helping them to a Europa League spot in his debut season. He was mainly deployed on the right side of midfield for Getafe, but was used as a substitute for Mourinho’s side. Sometimes. After a spat with the Portuguese coach, it was mutually decided that Pedro Leon would move on. Although his work rate was criticized, he was still a talented player. He just couldn’t find his way into a side with Ronaldo, DiMaria, Ozil, and Kaka. With the arrival of Jose Callejon, Pedro Leon was shipped off on loan to Getafe, where he and his side currently are laboring to stay in La Liga.

Compare his story to that of Bergkamp. The Dutchman impressed with parent club Ajax before earning himself a move to Inter Milan, where he found playing time difficult to come by. After a frustrating few months, he decided that he needed to seek first team football. Arsenal came calling, and although it was not Wenger who made the signing, it embodied the shrewd kind of business that the Frenchman would become famous for.

A prime example of good business was Thierry Henry, the man who many claim is the best striker to have graced English shores. He had a prolific time at Monaco, and a lucrative move to Juventus followed. Deployed in a role on the left, Henry found life in Italy hard, not least due to the fact that by the late 90’s, the bushy mustache he sported was already out of fashion. Arsenal picked up the Frenchman, and to say it was a good signing would be a huge understatement.

How about another member of the legendary Invincibles squad? Robert Pires was a star with Metz and his appearances caught the eye of Marseille. A €5m move and two troubled years came next for Pires, and he eventually fell out with his directors. Wenger made a swoop for him, put him on the left, and “Bobby” tortured right backs in the England for six years, picking up multiple individual gongs in the process, and a two Premier League medals.

I could go on about Patrick Vieira, Kanu, or Jens Lehman, but I won’t, in the interest of Wikipedia being over-exhausted.

So let’s look back at Pedro Leon’s case. Mourinho was so impressed with the young winger that he parted with €10m to make bring him to the Bernabeu. No apparent interest from Wenger, or any top team for that matter. Andre-Pierre Gignac, at one point France’s first choice striker, was the recipient of an even larger price tag in his move from Toulouse to Marseille. Two years later, and he is rotting on the bench at the French club, with Loic Remy and the mediocre Brazilian hitman Brandao preferred. There was interest from Fulham, but they bought Pogrebnyak instead. Lucas Barrios was first-choice last year as the spearhead of Borussia Dortmund’s attack, but has since been taken over by Robert Lewandowski. Again, Fulham were linked in January, but interest from the top clubs has been stagnant. All three of Pedro Leon, Andre-Pierre Gignac and Lucas Barrios would make fine additions to Arsenal’s squad. And they’d be cheap.

The numbers that I looked at when making these observations were limited to price-tags. You don’t need to have an economics degree to understand that Pedro Leon, a hard-working winger who likes to come inside and has a nose for goal, would be a fine long term complement to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. You don’t need to look at the amount of touches Andre-Pierre Gignac has had in his opponent’s penalty area to see that his single-minded goal scoring and physical ability would be a success in the Premier League. You don’t need to make a chart of won headers vs. lost headers to see that Lucas Barrios doesn’t miss chances very often. It’s the principle that if a player can impress at any stage in his career, if a player shows any glimpses of being world-class, then he can achieve anything with the help of a decent manager. That’s where Clough-like characters come in. Sir Alex, Wenger, and Mourinho are all similar to Clough in principle: hard man-managers who get the best of their players by motivating them. Somehow. We’ve seen it with Cantona, and we’ve seen Mancini try it with Balotelli. I’m not saying that Pedro Leon, Gignac, and Barrios are the new Pires, Henry, and Bergkamp. But they are an improvement on the overrated Gervinho, and could all benefit from Wenger’s mentorship.

Then there is the need for a Peter Taylor-like figure; however, these days, you often see Clough and Taylor’s roles combined into one role. It is unfortunate because every traditionalist wants to see such a partnership recreated. There was a glimmer of hope when sporting directors like Damien Comolli were hailed as integral figures in a football club. We now know that signing Benoit Assou-Ekotto does not rival Peter Taylor’s contributions.

Of course, this all goes with the idea that a player should be signed when his market value has depreciated unjustly, just like when I got rich by telling my parents to buy HP when one of its top executives had an affair. Contradicting me right now is probably my good friend, who once pointed out the flaws of treating players like stocks. His words:

“(Wenger) buys too many prospects, not proven quality. Which is fine if you’re buying stocks, but not when the stocks want to play for Citeh after three years.”

Bar Robin van Persie, what Arsenal stocks are Manchester City currently interested in? As a Tottenham fan, it doesn’t pain me to say that the answer is ‘none’. Wilshire will probably come good after a long injury layoff, and the investment in Oxlade-Chamberlain has looked a shrewd move by Wenger. Vermaelen has been solid, but is made of mayonnaise, as is Kieran Gibbs. Song and Koscielny are too inconsistent, and Gervinho is unarguably underwhelming. Sagna isn’t getting any younger, while Ramsey has never looked the same since that injury. Park Chu Young’s finishing is suspect, while Walcott is… well, Walcott. It is not a coincidence that Wenger’s policy of “buy young and cheap” has stuttered: if you look at it, every player has underwent psychological issues because of the sheer hype surrounding them. Don’t get me wrong. The quality in every single Arsenal prospect is evident; it’s not like Wenger is signing fifteen Bebes and ignoring expectations. He is just buying the wrong prospects: wasting money on the wrong prospects. Oh deary me.

Are numbers what you need to deem a young player good enough to succeed in the Premier League? Is the only way for Arsene Wenger to ensure that his youth policy does not backfire through statistical analysis? No.

Make the Formation Suit the Players, Not Vice-Versa

One of the most difficult things to do as a young player is to be played in a system that does not inhibit one’s strengths. Look at Germany as an example of when this kind of caution is taken. From youth levels to the senior side, the same 4-2-3-1 is utilized. In South Africa in 2010, a team of talented German youngsters fitted in seamlessly. In fact, Germany’s only loss occurred when Thomas Muller was suspended and there was no able replacement for him. In the semi-final, Piotr Trochowski was drafted in to a position he was unused to, replaced by Toni Kroos late on. Both were creative midfield players, unable to work their way inside because of Spain’s packed midfield. As a result, Germany’s plan to let Phillip Lahm overlap was futile, as Trochowski, and then Kroos were outnumbered in possession. A better option would have been to switch to a rigid 4-4-2, the formation Uruguay have used to brilliant effect during the tournament, with Ozil behind Podolski and Klose, and a three-man midfield. One fond memory begs.

Liverpool post-Alonso anyone? Alonso’s move to Madrid caused panic on the red side of Liverpool. No longer would top teams have to break down Mascherano and Alonso, with Gerrard in a role behind Torres. Liverpool waned finishing in 7th, five places worse than their previous season’s position. Over the summer the names Gareth Barry, Lorik Cana and even Lee Catermole were all mentioned, and Liverpool eventually opted for a like-for-like replacement in Alberto Aquiliani. Even when fit, the Italian never looked ready for the task of replacing Alonso. He was farmed out on loan to AC Milan in August, deemed a surplus to requirements, and Liverpool’s midfield has been completely reshuffled since.

Could anyone replace Alonso? Maybe a few midfielders in the world could, but the cash-strapped Benitez at the time could not afford them. Meanwhile, Manchester United was making do with Michael Carrick every week. Similarly, no one in Germany’s squad could replace Thomas Muller. But there were other options.

At the time, there was one player I was dying for Liverpool to sign. One player. And I’m not even a Liverpool fan. Ever Banega was looking to go out on loan from Valencia, having found life in Spain difficult to adapt to. Since a move to Everton fell through because of work permit issues, he has been capped by Argentina and linked with Juventus. He was a perfect “replacement” for Alonso, playing slightly further forward than the Spanish international. Unlike Mascherano, Banega was comfortable in a 4-4-2. Instead, Liverpool’s midfield and top-four challenge was forced to make do with Lucas. Lucas. Before he was good.

Moving on, I again address the issue of a North London side with not enough good defenders in their arsenal. Many were expecting Wenger to sign a young, central defender from France in response to Vermaelen’s constant injury problems, or because Koscielny can actually be quite rubbish. Unfortunately, his procrastination issues caused him to sign the player everyone knew would be too slow for the Premier League — Mertesacker. It remains to be seen whether Wenger’s Arsenal funding is living off Social Security, or if he missed class when the professor was doing his little bit on “investment”. However, converting Alex Song to a center back, which would complement Arsenal’s “brand of attractive football”, while instead looking for an extra midfielder to not play Coquelin would have been a much better idea. There would never be a like-for-like replacement for someone like Kolo Toure or a young Sol Campbell. It is useless to look for one. Everton commanding £20 for Phil Jagielka is testament to that. But you can shuffle things around. You need only to look as far as Wigan to see that.

In the past, I have lost $10, a pack of gum, and a pair of expensive shorts when betting on Wigan to be relegated. Under Roberto Martinez, they finally look to be safe, with a line led by Chelsea reject Franco DiSanto, Victor Moses, and Jordi Gomez. In their win against Manchester United, the winner was scored by Shaun Maloney, whose previous experience in England was a failed stint at Aston Villa. Their back line features the sometimes-impressive Antolin Alcaraz, one of the Caldwells, and left-back Figureoa, and I could go on but teary eyes make the screen difficult to see.

Wigan’s switch to a 3-4-3 has been both shocking and genius. Ed Boyce- averagely named- has been turned into an impressive right-sided midfielder, while his opposite number Jean Beausejour provides a much needed blend of flair and efficiency. James McCarthy and James McArthur are not rubbish, while Victor Moses is touted for a senior call up for England this summer after developing impressively this season. But with the 4-3-3, Wigan was stagnating. They were playing the “we play attractive football so our results don’t matter” card. And Martinez’s 3-4-3 is far from boring, using the same personnel.

I’m not saying that Wigan deserve to be Champions League winners and top of the Premier League for their efforts and change of system. I’m not saying that Manchester United should switch to a 3-4-3.  And I am certainly not saying that when things aren’t going well, just do something else. What I am saying, however, is that no two people are the same. Therefore no two teams are the same. In soccer, just like in life, there is an ideal way of doing things and a way that some would argue is much more in touch with reality. Then there is the way of doing things that is perfect, and chances are it is difficult to find. Chances are, especially since every case is different, that perfect way, that perfect system, will never be found. After decades in football, Roberto Martinez has come pretty close, but it took some time to implement. He was always looking for that perfect system for his side, even if by the time it was executed, it could only be relevant for a short period of time.

If I was to be as broad as possible, the idea of assembling a side has one principle. Soccer is a game of intuition, of being so comfortable in a system that everything else is execution in order. Looking at numbers, at statistics, does not take into account the intuition involved. The computer takes into account a set structure, while soccer is the exact opposite. The game has evolved over time, from the idea of passing being bogus, to today’s complex formations. I still believe that all players- all good players- are different, and cannot be separated or replaced by mere numbers. The fact that all footballers play the same game, therefore share a common variable, cannot work to the benefit of those trying to implement Soccernomics using intense statistical analysis. It sucks all the purity out of football. Just ask Clough and Taylor.

Frankly, England has a problem similar to that of mine when I play football. I’m a quality player, a rampaging right back in the mold of Dani Alves, since I’m still at that age where I have boundless energy from a mystical source. I can get myself in a good crossing position, and honest to God, I’m world class in pick-up games. And then I get nervous. Because there’s so much pressure.

Thankfully, the only way to deal with pressure when an entire nation has its eyes upon eleven men, plus one muffled Italian in a suit, is to take it off. All of it. So I’d like to start off by thanking John Terry for being a muffled example of racist scum, even though one, I don’t know what muffled means, and two, it’s only alleged. And I’d also like to thank Capello for doing the right thing and resigning, because with the amount of quality in England’s side, there is no reason to have a(n) I̶t̶a̶l̶i̶a̶n̶ closed-minded manager. So there’s the pressure off of England’s select 23. Might as well enjoy themselves now.

But there’s one thing I have to address that I touched on in the previous paragraph which may have surprised you: “The amount of quality in England’s side.” I know English fans — unlike my fellow Americans, many of whom claim Clint Dempsey is a world-beater — are perpetually pessimistic about their national side’s squad. Now while there is something admirable about the nation who invented the sport maintaining a non-elitist attitude, there’s also the need to point out a few things. England can win the Euro 2012. And I firmly believe in their chances.

Time and time again, England has supposedly found its “perfect formation”, only to have it skewered by a lack of luck or a lack of common sense. In the case of Jack Wilshire’s injury and the niggling ankle problem of Steven Gerrard’s, it was the former. A more devastating trident than Parker-Wilshire-Gerrard is not likely to be unleashed at international level. (Yes, I’m aware of the Barca-boys from Spain, but I said “not likely”. We play percentages here). The World Cup was an example of the latter, with Gareth Barry as a lone holding midfielder, Gerrard fixed in on the left, and Emile Heskey.

So enter the golden boys from the U-21 team who confirmed what many already knew, and that is that English players are unable to cope with pressure. In Denmark last summer, Jordan Henderson was punished for his lack of mobility, while Welbeck and Sturridge’s contributions were limited to long range shots. A lack of fluidity and system was apparent. And the results showed that.

Which brings me to my point. I’ve come up with a series of radical suggestions for England this summer. Here they are.

1. Play Three at the Back and Two Wingbacks

Four years ago, a team with Andriy Arshavin, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Yuri Zhirkov, and a few other half-decent players outdid their own potential and reached the semi-final of the European Cup. The previously mentioned Yuri Zhirkov earned himself a move to Chelsea after impressing in a marauding left wing-back role. For equal measure, he was protected by a back three of Ignashevich and the Berezutsky twins. Moreover, the magic of Russia’s system was that it had the ability to transpose into a back four in two different ways, with either of the wing-backs pushing on and Alexei Berezutsky occupying either full back role. And it worked.

Similarly, England’s strength lies in the versatility of one man: Phil Jones. Although he has produced some suspect performances in his first season at Old Trafford, the 19 year-old is an ideal sweeper in this system. John Terry should take up a role on the left side of a back three, a role he usually occupies for Chelsea. On the right side of central defence is Micah Richards, the Renaissance man. He has been playing at right back for City this year, but is blessed with a strong physical presence that makes him more than adept as a central defender.

My wing-back roles go to Ashley Cole and Kyle Walker, assuming the former recovers from an injury he picked up in recent weeks. If Cole is not available, Leighton Baines is a more than able understudy, especially as a wing-back. At certain times this season, it has been embarrassing how reliant Everton have been on the former Wigan man. Overlapping, all three of Cole, Walker and Baines have proven to be devastating. None of that should change in Poland/Ukraine this summer.

2. Leave Gerrard out of the Starting 11; Replace Him with Leon Britton

I’ve mentioned before that England fans are traditionally non-elitists, but the same cannot be said for fans of the Kop. Liverpool talisman Steven Gerrard does not have the same legs anymore, despite any insistence from the Liverpool faithful that he is immortal, therefore does not suffer from old age. Unfortunately, even though his passing range is still intact, he is not fit enough to undergo a month of rigorous international matches. Creative players like Gerrard, who rely on “footballing feet” rather than a “footballing brain”, tend to have shortened careers. Just look at every single Brazilian attacker in the past twenty years.

On the other hand, Leon Britton is 29 years old, with an entire season’s top flight experience. Although he does not currently hold any caps for England, his simple approach to the game is something that can be implemented in a heartbeat. A modest career means he does not have the spoiled super-ego often associated with the failed generation of England’s players. Instead of recalling Paul Scholes, a call-up for Britton is a good idea. What could go wrong if “The English Xavi” is playing?

3. Play Lampard Up front

This goes with the Swansea approach: If Danny Graham is a pacy striker that can run in behind defences, then I’m Canadian. But the former Watford man has been a success in the Premier League, simply due to him being a step ahead of the rest. He knows where to put himself about, and he’s not afraid to fire a tame shot if it means getting a shot away at all. I’m not saying call him up for England; clearly, he doesn’t possess the proficiency you would expect of an England striker. Then again, who does?

Frank Lampard. It’s been clear for some time that the aging legs of Lampard are controlled by too much of a brilliant footballing brain to be wasted in a slugging midfield role. He is known for his proficiency in front of goal, despite his infamous drought in international tournaments. The way he moves into the box and receives the ball at his feet is something no other England player possesses, including Wayne Rooney, whose task for England has often been single-minded goal scoring. No, Lampard is an eager warrior.

When Rooney returns, he should occupy Lampard’s position. But against France and Sweden, it’s the Chelsea man who should harbour the goalscoring burden.

4. Welbeck on the Left, Young on the Right

This suggestion is the least radical of the four, for a couple reasons. The first one should be that despite diving allegations, Ashley Young has been in stark form after a mid-season injury threatened his chances of a plane ticket to Poland/Ukraine, while Welbeck has been just as impressive. The second reason has to do with comparing Stewart Downing, Theo Walcott, and James Milner, Capello’s other preferred wide players. You’re left with Welbeck and Young.

Another reason Welbeck and Young should be utilized as wingers rather than using Welbeck as an out-and-out forward is because of their potential to counter and the quality of their hold-up play. On the left, Ashley Cole overlaps less often than Kyle Walker for his club but has always shown that he relishes the opportunity to get down the touchline. For this reason, Welbeck is his perfect complement as he normally looks to come inside when playing on the left for Manchster United. On the other flank, Ashley Young has shown his tendency to move into the center from wide in support of the lone striker, which will allow Kyle Walker to exhibit the marauding skills that have seen him win PFA Young Player of the Year. Anyway, Young and Welbeck, as shown in other similar front threes such as Lavezzi-Hamsik-Cavani, can swap wings and wreak havoc. Defences across Europe should beware.

Preferred Starting 11 (Without Rooney):

Hart

Jones

Richards                          Terry

Walker                                                                               Cole

Parker                 Britton

Young                                                                                     Welbeck

Lampard

The Conclusion

The main theme seems to be proficiency, which is the only fool-proof solution to pressure. If you look at the squad, there are players such as Terry, Parker, Lampard, Cole: experienced leaders, all of them. Then there is Jones, Young, Walker, Welbeck, and Britton, five players for the future who have shown enough this season to convince many — namely me — that they have what it takes to perform. In between, Richards and Hart are players who are used to the pressures of a title-race, and are looking to make up for lost time. But think of it this way.

When foreigners started taking over the Premier League, the English brand of football was lost. No longer were players with skills comparable to Gazza and Hoddle getting many minutes of first team football. When today’s game is analyzed, it is not a surprise that Luka Modric and Sandro are starting ahead of Jake Livermore. So how much longer can you use the traditional English 4-4-2, or other similar variants?

If anything, this should illustrate that a surprise tactic is necessary. One thing that England never lost was the quality center-halves and consistent production line of excellent full backs. The amount of goals scored by England’s midfielders in recent years and the overall quality of that area allows for the central midfielders to be highlighted in this 5-2-3. Young and Welbeck have had excellent seasons, while Lampard has shown he still has what it takes to pop up at the right time for Chelsea. If these are not the players, and this is not the system you or I can trust with our hopes for Poland/Ukraine, well then England’s next manager better have something else special planned. Chances are that he doesn’t.

Now only one thing remains: Lots, and lots of pressure.

After witnessing Tottenham’s 3-1 loss to Manchester United last month, where a Tottenham side devoid of their defensive stalwarts succumbed to three short instances of United pressure, I came to the conclusion that this Spurs side that had been performing at a stellar level this season would crumble.

It is a sad thought, as the introduction of Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor during the summer plugged in the necessary gaps that led to a run akin to title winning teams. Spurs was playing attractive football and scoring goals. They got rid of the defensive fragility that has plagued them in the past, and turned talented young players such as Younes Kaboul and Kyle Walker into full internationals. Luka Modric had arguably his best string of form in a Tottenham shirt, while Parker’s energy and tackling made for a perfect foil for the Croatian. On the wings, Kranjcar and then Lennon had equally fruitful spells on either side, while Gareth Bale rediscovered the early-season form of the past term that had him hailed as the world’s best left sided player. Rafael van der Vaart continued to offer a devastating option in attack, as his ability to float between midfield and defence allowed Spurs an extra dimension up front. Adebayor’s physicality and knack for quality finishing offered a great foil to a nimble yet effective Jermain Defoe. The addition of Louis Saha looked to be an inspired piece of business from Redknapp, and Ryan Nelsen had seemed solid if anything. Overall, the only instance of suspicion was how simply cool Assou-Ekotto was. At their highest point, Tottenham looked like world-beaters.

And then it all came back.

The Problem 

The Spurs of old had the second best mentality commonly associated with underachieving teams. The amount of hype surrounding them, and the quality of their players did not add up to be equal, even with Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane even now possessing the ability to walk into most Premier League sides. There was always disappointment when Tottenham continually finished fifth, especially after a rotten lasagna was the difference between fourth and fifth one season. Good results against the league’s bottom dwellers were met with sheer disappointment against the sides in the top four. There was pressure, and not enough quality to handle it.

Which is why I find it almost impossible to believe that Redknapp has not come to grips with the phenomenon that made Tottenham so great during the high points of their season. Spurs was a surprising side. They lacked expectation. They were the innocent Lilywhites playing so aesthetically… almost as if they had nothing to lose. After the addition of Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor — two players with mountains of experience — the holes were plugged.

And there was a pattern: the goal early in the game, the domination of possession throughout the first half, the killer second goal in the beginning of the second half, and whatever they pleased to do in the last parts of the match. It happened again and again, against Liverpool, Bolton, QPR, Everton, and to some extent Fulham.

But as the season has worn on, it became apparent how to beat Tottenham. Have a player like Scott Parker to break up play. Use your talented and sprightly playmaker in a deep position. Play a moderately high line. Let your wingers come inside and encourage stability in your full backs. Play like Tottenham, and you’ll beat Tottenham. Redknapp started a trend, and it became a tactical problem for him.

Teams started to follow suit. It was a philosophy of play rather than a specific formation that was utilized. Teams started to sit up and admire the workhorse that Scott Parker was. They started to notice how Modric would pop up to take possession from his teammates whenever they were outnumbered. They began to perceive Adebayor’s role as a striker who drops deep as a brilliant novelty.

But when Jerome Thomas enjoys a better game than Gareth Bale, something has to be wrong. Right?

Although Tottenham beat West Brom on both occasions, and Jerome Thomas ultimately and continually produced a disappointing end product, Redknapp’s tactics were dire to say the least. They were devoid of any sort of fluidity, relied on the hold-up play of Adebayor and sheer speed of Aaron Lennon. Sandro and Parker produced a mediocre defensive performance but offered very little going forward. Even after the win that Redknapp said “was one of the most difficult three points of the season,” I was biting my nails with full knowledge that the wheels would come off pretty soon.

Tactical Necessity

I couldn’t think of a better way to put it, other than to plainly say that Redknapp’s ideology is to put the best players in their favorite positions and to build around that. At first, I thought there was nothing wrong with that, with full knowledge that my idol Brian Clough would be pleased that such a side were near the top of English football. Then, after I remembered that the difference between an admittedly average side at the beginning of the season, and title-challenging outfit were Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor, I began to understand that Redknapp was not so tactically astute. Last season, Modric played on the left wing of a 4-3-3 away at Manchester City. It was one of the most important games of the season. Against Real Madrid, Jermaine Jenas played on the right. In short, there was too much crap last season and at the beginning of this one, and Redknapp clearly was tactically unable to deal with it.

To be a side challenging for top honors, which in Spurs’ case is a top four finish, a coach needs to have a grasp of tactical necessity. In short, Redknapp doesn’t.

Where to start? Let’s begin with Redknapp’s 4-3-3 that has been far from convincing.

Friedel

   Walker         Kaboul                     King        Assou-Ekotto

Sandro

Parker               Modric

Van der Vaart                                                            Bale

Adebayor

Personally, I’ve always thought a 4-3-3 in the Premier League has been a great idea. However, long gone are the days when a similar tactical setup could be used with two wingers hugging the touchline, a packed midfield, and two full backs who cross like center backs. That is the approach that has given Wigan an excuse to play average players and expect something out of it. The truth is, the formation is bland when you don’t have players who like to come inside and full backs who overlap. You also need a midfielder to run into the box and act as a poacher when the ball is crossed in. In other words, as much as Modric is a playmaker, he is a deep lying playmaker. You only have to look at Bastian Schweinsteiger, a midfielder who shares similar strengths with the Croatian international, to see the full extent of putting players of that caliber in a role where they see more of the ball. For clarification purposes, ever since the 26 year-old German was moved to the middle from his usual wide position, he has been superb.

Let’s talk a little more about Bayern Munich, how Schweni has the midfield all to himself. He enjoyed his best spell of form with Mark van Bommel, and then Anatoli Tymoschuk as a partner to do the dirty work, and it was even more devastating when Toni Kroos was thrown in a position in the hole behind the striker. This formation, a 4-2-3-1, allows Schweinsteiger influence in his deep-lying role, while also taking the creative burden off of him. As a partnership, the Kroos-Schweinsteiger-Tymoschuk triangle has worked. When it is broken up, Bayern look disoriented.

There you have it: a perfectly successful blueprint that Redknapp can look at and decide to utilize with assurance that it will work against… err Everton. Bayern Munich’s poor form has been largely due to their defensive deficiencies, and the inconsistency of Robben and Ribery as wide players, and Muller as a central striker. When Muller has been available to play on the right, and Ribery’s inner Frankenstein does not limit him to the composure of a 9 foot tall beast, Bayern Munich have been quality.

The reason I took the time figuring out how to best explain the Bayern midfield system is to further intensify the search for a quality 4-2-3-1 system that Tottenham can easily transpose to. It looks like this:

Friedel

   Walker         Kaboul                     King        Bale

Parker/Sandro          Modric

van der Vaart

Giovanni dos Santos                                                                                Lennon

Adebayor

Yes, the reason Giovanni dos Santos is chosen is because in a 4-2-3-1, the wide players tend to be wide forwards who like to rearrange themselves centrally, or are just natural strikers. At Real Madrid, di Maria and Ronaldo rarely play on the side of their favored foot, as putting them there may give them the tendency to hug the touchline. At Bayern, Ribery is put on the left for the same reason. Strikers-come wingers Muller and Podolski show for Germany that they are perfect in this system, as their natural nose for goal brings them inside, yet are complemented by their knowledge of when to drift out wide. The reason the center is so important is because of the two holding players who are otherwise isolated when in possession. If the wingers come inside, the full backs overlap, the striker gets service from all areas of the pitch, and the playmaker playing behind him flourishes with play going through the middle of the pitch.

So let’s bring it back to Tottenham.

Modric and Parker make up a central midfield pairing that has been used to devastating effect this year. The only difference is that they don’t have to move out wide to support the wingers, a luxury given that they have been much more useful in the center. In his favorite position, the talented Mexican attacker Giovanni dos Santos is given the freedom to roam and come inside onto his stronger left foot, while still being supplemented by a slightly withdrawn van der Vaart. Aaron Lennon, who has looked more dangerous continually swapping wings rather than fixed in a position on the right, is given the freedom to move into the center and even swap flanks with Gio, with an overlapping Bale looking to do his usual thing.

And yes, I do know what you’re thinking. As liberal as we footy fans are, I’m sure many of you are quick to question how defensively stable this system is. To that I have an even more liberal answer, being that Giovanni was originally an Alonso-type player, and can fill in there when needed. In the event of the Parker-Modric partnership being overworked, van der Vaart can come off for Kranjcar (who is unfortunately injured for the remainder of the season), and the former Portsmouth man can play in a withdrawn position. In the event of Tottenham needing more grit, Sandro should come on for Modric, giving Tottenham a proper “Vieira-dimension” to their play, with Kranjcar screening play in front of them. Arsenal has been using this to great effect in recent times.

Friedel

   Walker         Kaboul                     King        Bale

Parker             Modric

Kranjcar

dos Santos                                                                                Lennon

Adebayor

With Walker and Bale attacking the flanks, Kranjcar’s introduction allows Giovanni more room on the right to conjure attacks, and gives Lennon the space he likes to run at defenders on the counter. It’s a Wigan approach, what could possibly go wrong? With Bale and Walker seemingly possessing boundless energy, most of the play would go down the flanks, which is where Tottenham’s best players flourish.

The Conclusion 

After losing to Chelsea in an embarrassing FA Cup semi-final for Spurs fans and hard-core traditionalists for our beautiful game, Tottenham is actually in a perfect position: a position where not much is expected of them. Full backs will start laying off Bale and Lennon on the counter, and Modric will have slightly more space to work with in the middle of midfield. Of course, Redknapp will continue to turn out a 4-4-2 of some variation week in and week out, or a 4-5-1 with van der Vaart as a withdrawn forward. And it’s still very, very possible for them to finish outside of the top four.

Walker will continue to impress on the right flank, where Tottenham will rely on his ability to overlap. Gallas and the Tottenham defence devoid of Younes Kaboul will continue not playing the high line that was effective before the switch to a sweeper system, while the left back Assou-Ekotto will remain the calm presence with Bale double-marked ahead of him. Lennon will hug the touchline, while Parker and Modric will play a box-to-box game that has led to two figures a shadow of their early-season selves. Adebayor will hold the ball up well, van der Vaart will drift in behind and back as a support striker, and Defoe may come off the bench to score. Or he may not.

With bewildered pessimism in the side and with the fans, it’s not the players’ fault. They were not managed properly, not played in the proper system to manage a season-long top three side. Having said that, a fourth-place finish looks likely and a few summer signings, compounded with the long-term futures of Bale and Modric at the club, is on the cards.