Tim must keep his cool at Tottenham
THERE will be a whitehot atmosphere at White Hart Lane this afternoon when Aston Villa come to town but Tim Sherwood has got to keep his emotions in check. This is about what happens on the pitch, not the touchline. worked together at Spurs, Tim needed a calming influence alongside him, as long as it was a peer he could respect. Les was the perfect foil. Don’t be surprised if Sherwood appoints someone like Ferdinand at Villa.
It will be interesting to see what kind of reception Sherwood gets today. But with Villa staring at a relegation battle this is not about unfinished business or gilet throwing.
This is about the result. That’s why Tim has to keep his cool. won’t like being called ‘icing-onthe-cake players’ and I’m sure a few at Tottenham will remember being told they ‘lack character’ and ‘are too nice’.
When I was at Arsenal and George Graham came back to the club as Leeds boss, there was an extra determination to beat him. I expect Spurs to be exactly the same with Sherwood.
There’s no doubt he’s talented but he has to be careful not to let his emotions get the better of him.
Les Ferdinand told me when they balance in midfield but he has given Charles N’Zogbia a chance and still has an eye on youth with talent such as Jack Grealish coming through.
Sherwood’s emotional style can be great for a player — his antics on the touchline prove how much it means to him — but it has its drawbacks. He is never afraid to tell his players what he thinks of them. That encourages some but footballers can be sensitive souls. The Villa squad
The Villa boss is a passionate man but he can’t afford to let things get personal. He did a good job at Tottenham — he’s never afraid to talk about having the best Premier League win percentage of any Spurs boss (right) — but was still not trusted with the job long-term. That will hurt.
He was in charge of the youth set-up for years and the club are now reaping the rewards with a team full of academy players, but he is more than just a company man. When he was finally given a shot at the top job his personality came flooding through. Incredibly driven and extremely confident, he did not take long to make a mark but it was an uneasy relationship and did not last long.
That was a shame, because he is talented and I like to see as many former players as possible in managerial roles. There is so much knowledge to harness.
At Aston Villa, he has set the emotional bar high but it’s working. Villa were lacking confidence all season and it looked like they lacked the ambition to win games. Sherwood’s intensity has sparked them back to life.
He has revived Christian Benteke in the same way as he did for Emmanuel Adebayor last season. Sherwood clearly targets players he feels can make the biggest impact and sets to work.
The big Belgian has seven goals in five games and looks a top player again. He was not affecting games but now his team-mates find him early. There’s nothing wrong with being direct and Benteke is a beast when you get him on the ball.
Sherwood is still searching for a