Tottenham Hotspur: 10 Things on Andre Villas-Boas' to-Do List at Spurs

The breaking news this Tuesday is that Andre Villas-Boas, he of Porto fame and Chelsea infamy, has been appointed as the new manager of Tottenham Hotspur.

Just over a year after he was heralded as the bright young managerial prospect to usher in a new era at Stamford Bridge, he is starting a new career as Harry Redknapp’s successor across London, after the Chelsea project went slightly awry.

It won’t necessarily be an easier task for the young Portuguese, still only in his fifth job as manager and his third with a major club.

Here are 10 things that Andre Villas-Boas will find immediately on his to-do list at Spurs—and, as usual, feel free to have your say in the comments below.

Resolve the Luka Modric Situation

Will he or won’t he?

Luka Modric and Tottenham have been here before, ironically when Villas-Boas himself was pursuing the Croatian playmaker to sign for Chelsea last summer.

A year on, Modric has his transfer itch again.

AVB should not tolerate more indecision from a player whose future is admittedly key to Spurs’ on-field successes.

If Modric is to leave, Villas-Boas should secure his transfer quickly, so he can act to bring in an adequate replacement, however difficult that will be.

Seal the Jan Vertonghen Transfer

On the flip side, Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen’s proposed move to White Hart Lane has been on hold for quite a while.

Since Harry Redknapp’s departure, Vertonghen has seen his transfer delayed and even went on record recently stating that he will remain focused on Ajax for the time being.

Given Vertonghen’s pedigree and what he would be able to bring to the Tottenham defence, Villas-Boas must do what he can to finalize this deal, so he can put to bed any lingering doubts about the signing and move forward with his other transfer targets.

Revitalize an Aging Defence

With Ledley King’s Tottenham future up in the air due to his injury situation, and William Gallas approaching a ripe 35, Villas-Boas has only Younes Kaboul and the injury-prone Michael Dawson at his disposal.

Steven Caulker is a hot young prospect waiting in the wings, but AVB has some work to do in the center of defence.

One of the defining memories from Villas-Boas’ time as Chelsea manager was his strong preference to adopt a high defensive line and the inability of his slower defenders to adapt to this system.

If he is to introduce a similar idea with his new charges, he must revitalize an aging defence.

Implement and Stick to a Tactical System That Fits Spurs

It follows, then, that AVB must devise a tactical system that fits Tottenham’s players.

His track record shows a preference for discipline and constant pressing off the ball in addition to the high defensive line, which are non-features of the free-for-all attacking style favored by his predecessor, Harry Redknapp.

Indeed, the hallmark of Redknapp’s Spurs was the sight of Gareth Bale bombing down the left flank, with Luka Modric pulling the strings from midfield and Rafael van der Vaart wreaking havoc behind the striker.

Once Villas-Boas devises a tactical system, he must implement it across the board and stick with his vision.

Secure a Long-Term Replacement for Brad Friedel

There are personnel deficiencies to address as well, not least in the goalkeeping department.

Brad Friedel will go down as one of the Premier League’s finest ever goalkeepers, but even he is surely approaching the end of his career.

Backup options Gomes and Carlo Cudicini may be experienced, but they wouldn’t be top-class replacements and aren’t exactly on the lower end of the age spectrum.

With the recent rumors of Tottenham targeting hot goalkeeping prospect Jack Butland, it is clear that they have already identified this as an important area to strengthen.

Now Villas-Boas has to secure a long-term replacement as soon as possible, so he can begin to prepare for life as Tottenham’s No. 1.

Significantly Strengthen the Forward Line

AVB has some work to do up front, too.

Spurs might have one of the most well-stocked attacking midfields in the Premier League, but they are well short of striking options.

After the release of Louis Saha and the seeming inability to secure a permanent deal for on-loan star Emmanuel Adebayor, Jermain Defoe is their one and only experienced out-and-out striker.

And Defoe is hardly the fast, strong and clinical striker Villas-Boas wanted Fernando Torres to be as the spearhead of a dynamic and creative attack.

Work Within Tottenham’s Sound Financial Structure

Amidst the rumors that Andre Villas-Boas has a significant transfer kitty to work with this summer, he must take into consideration the sound financial structure that chairman Daniel Levy has worked so hard to implement and maintain at Tottenham.

Strengthening his squad and molding his players into a team in his own image will take Spurs forward but require significant spending, but AVB must not go out of his way to break the wage structure at the club.

To do so would be to undermine the groundwork and foundations that Levy has laid.

Unless they bring in the considerable income that comes with regular Champions League football, Spurs might struggle to sustain such lavishness.

Win over the Dressing Room

It goes without saying that Villas-Boas’ tenure and image at Stamford Bridge was massively undermined by his failure to win over his dressing room.

We will never know why he failed to do so completely, but the Fernando Torres camp has since hinted at some man management issues that originated from the ex-Chelsea manager.

The task that AVB was assigned—to overhaul Chelsea’s aging squad—might not be too different at White Hart Lane.

The challenge for him now is to do so in a way that goes down well with his players.

Win over the Media and the Fans

Of course, he didn’t do too well with the media either, given his at-times strangely confrontational press conferences and interviews.

It is clear that AVB is supremely confident in his ideas and approach.

After a baptism of fire in the English Premier League, he will need to show he has learned to distinguish between confidence and arrogance, and to back himself up with results.

If he does that, the media and the fans will take to him in no time.

Deliver Champions League Football Back to White Hart Lane

Last but not least is that Holy Grail of all Premier League teams: Champions League football.

Since his departure from Spurs, Harry Redknapp has claimed he would have been dismissed even if Chelsea had lost the Champions League final, which would have seen Champions League football return to White Hart Lane courtesy of Tottenham’s fourth-place league finish last season.

If Redknapp, who oversaw consistent top-five league finishes during his three-year reign, would have been dismissed regardless, Andre Villas-Boas will have every reason to believe that his time at Tottenham will be judged on whether he can at least sustain such top-level competitiveness.

AVB’s Champions League career with Chelsea ended in a humiliating defeat against Napoli.

He will be hoping club football’s most prestigious competition doesn’t come back to haunt him again.

Your Thoughts

What do you think about Tottenham’s appointment of AVB? Will he be a success? What will he need to deliver?

Let us know in the comments below.

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