What else has been happening on Planet JB?

What with being "stuck" in full marathon-training mode right now, my blog posts have been very fitness-focused recently, so I thought it was about time I let myself off the leash and share some of the stuff that has been going on.  None of it very exciting, mind you!

The first piece of "news" as such from 2014 is that the old man has finally had his knee-replacement op.  It was a full replacement, rather than part-replacement.  After many years of bone-on-bone movement due to a cartillage-free knee (removed after his knee locked when I was a young child, the criss-cross stitching I can still vividly see when I close my eyes and think of it still makes me feel sick!), he was in so much pain by just walking a few yards that we hope, given some time, that he makes a decent recovery and can actually walk around a bit more, just as much for my Mum's sake rather than just his.

He seems to be the world's worst patient but hey, he seems to be doing ok.  He's had the stitches out now but still needs to keep the dressing on for another 2 weeks before he can take it off.  I dread that day as I'll probably feint within a few seconds of seeing what's going on underneath but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Work has been pretty slow since returning from the Christmas break, apart from a few busy days.  However, a storm seems to be brewing.  The new CEO has announced a Professional Services Activity Census, where members of the Professional Services staff (Finance, IT, HR...all the non-academic departments basically) are expected to state what proportion of their time they devote to certain tasks.  Pretty much a time and effort analysis but the worry, of course, is what they will do with the data.

We've been told that teams may be asked to change the way they work and the word "change" appears a good few many times through the circular emails we've received so god knows, quite frankly.  I'm all up for change, change is a good thing but as long as I still have a job and I'm not made redundant as quite frankly, that is something I could really do without in so many ways.

I enjoy my job, I've got my work-life balance pretty much sussed and I've got minimal door-to-door travel.  It doesnt get much better.  I have absolutely no wish to start again.

Having said that, there's no point in worrying, what will be will be and all that.  Again, another bridge to cross if it ever comes up.

A few of you may have noticed there have been minimal Spurs posts recently.  Are you surprised?  Well you really shouldnt be.  Time and time again, in recent seasons, by Christmas, the interest levels just wain.  Tim S has done an ok job after taking the reigns from AVB but you just know that yet again, we're in a transitional period, a holding position until Levy finally replaces him with another manager at the end of the season.  Yes, Tim was given an 18 month contract but does anyone expect him to be there beyond 2013/14?  No.

Oh, one other thing.  I actually had a date.  A first date in almost 7 or 8 months I think.  Nice girl but not the one for me.  Of course, my girl friends instantly accuse me of being picky on the post-date de-brief but hey, you either know you're attracted to them or you're not, surely?  Sadly, I knew pretty much within the first 5 minutes but I had a nice time, so was a positive experience.

AVB gone

Going back to the end of November, I wrote about the weekend of sporting disaster, when Spurs were hammered 6-0 at Man City, see here for a refresher.

Spurs were hammered 5-0 at WHL by Liverpool yesterday.  That was the straw that finally broke the Camel's back.  THFC announced AVB was gone by mutual consent just after 11am this morning.

It wasnt a surprise.  I dont think any manager could survive two hammerings in quick succession like that.  As I predicted, another mauling at home and the deed would be done.

Part of me feels sorry for AVB.  He lost his best player in Bale, that would effect any team.  He's had to deal with a fairly serious injury list in the last 18 months since he took over (see Kaboul, see Sandro, see more recently Rose, Lennon, Kaboul again, Vertonghen, Chiriches etc).

The other part of me wants to slap him around the chops with a wet kipper.  The way he handled BAE and Adebayor has been laughable.  His persistence to play with a lone centre-forward when we've been struggling for goals defies belief.  His persistence to play with inverted wingers and not providing any service to our centre-forwards.

Should he have bene given more time?  A 5-0 hammering in your own back yard says no.

So what next for Levy and Spurs?

My initial reaction when the news was announced this morning would be that Technical Director and former Spurs midfielder Tim Sherwood would take the reigns temporarily until the club find a permanent successor.

Around 12:30pm today, ITK appeared from Ali Z, one of the more respected ITKers on COYS, who has confirmed links to the board...

After an afternoon of speculation, Spurs confirmed that Sherwood, Les Ferdinand and Chris Ramsay would be taking temporary charge of the team until a replacement has been identified.  No time scales have been given but with the World Cup only six months away, maybe a short-term option is best given who could be potentially available after the World Cup.  Names that come to mind include Capello, currently in charge of Russia and Tottenham's favourite German son, Jurgen Klinsmann, the USA manager.

The Spurs forums have been going ballistic today and understandibly so.  Various names have been banded about.  Hoddle.  Jol.  Both are available.  Capello was seen at WHL with Baldini on Sunday.  Gianfranco Zola resigned as Watford manager today.  Steve Clarke, one of Hoddle's friends is available after being sacked by WBA.  Could Hoddle and Clarke be the new Spurs dream team?

Of course, the pundits have been giving Spurs a good kick in too.

Jamie Redknapp is a very bitter man.  He was quickly attacking Levy and the way Levy runs the club.  Alan Sugar called it amateur.  (Yes, says the man who employed Christian Gross...now that was amateur!)

So here we go again.  A period of transition.  Again.  Ha, Spurs have had more transition periods than I've had hot dinners.  As my favourite Spurs blogger describes it...

"Never a boring second with Spurs. It's like having fantastic sex with your partner but every so often she pulls out a whip and destroys you."

Spurs go straight back into battle at WHL on Wednesday night against our East London neighbours West Ham in the League Cup Quarter Final.  Even at this stage of the season, one could consider this a must win game as its realistically our only chance of silverware this season, bearind in mind we are drawn against the arch enemy, the Woolwich Nomads in the 3rd round of the FA Cup in January.

After the shock 0-3 defeat to the claret & blue jellied eel munching wet spammers in October, we certainly owe them big time.

Thanks for some good memories Andre.  I'll never forget when we finally won at Old Trafford for what seemed like a lifetime or the 3-2 win against West Ham with you celebrating with Bale on the touchline after his stunning injury time winner.  I so wish it could have worked out.  I genuinely wanted it to.  You're a top bloke, a gentlemen in fact but sadly you werent the manager we needed.  I wish you all the best for the future. 

AVB in happier times at Spurs