Thoughts on AVB's 4-3-3

Jan Vertonghen, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Clint Dempsey...Totthenam transfers make sense in Andre Villas-Boas' 4-3-3. The appointment of Villas-Boas was a risky step by Daniel Levy, after his first stint in EPL ended prematurely.  To make the new project working, Villas-Boas wanted all the pieces in place to run successfully his play. While at Chelsea team failed to adapt his philosophy, and ownership didn't give him the time to change it, Spurs revamped their squad in the way AVB wanted. From a tactical viewpoint, AVB is strictly anchored to his beloved high tempo 4-3-3 with a high defensive line pressuring on the other half of pitch and with two attacking full backs. According to his principles, AVB 4-2-3-1 is similar to 4-3-3 system he ran at Chelsea. In Hugo Lloris Spurs finally have an established backup and a top tier goalkeeper in place to sub Brad Friedel. Spurs’ personnel is more suited to play a high defensive line than the players who was at Chelsea. At Porto, in Fernando, Joao Moutinho and Fredy Guarin, Villas-Boas had switching midfielders who were able to rotate their position in the way to provide options in the build up. To rebuild those movements, Villas Boas tried to lure his former player Moutinho but it doesn't happen. And Rafael Van der Vaart - no a natural fit for the high-tempo 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 - walked out the door. Despite those issues and with Luka Modric's saga finally over, in Scott Parker and Sigurdsson Villas-Boas had a holding midfielder and an attacking one linked to his high-energy system. But the most interesting part of his scheme is the role of Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon. AVB's play relies on attack and with his decision to swith from  Harry Redknapp's 4-4-2 to to a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1, the problems was on the flanks. Villas-Boas likes to have his wings pressing high and cutting inside towards the net. The success of Hulk and Daniel Sturridge confirms that AVB knows how to made those players producing. Villas-Boas wants those players stay wide open to spread the field then drift in the middle. Both Hulk and Sturridge provided him two wide forwards with an eye for goal. That means because Spurs spent $9.5 million to get Clint Dempsey away from Fulham. The 29-year-old despite Dempsey scored 23 goals last season. He's the highly needed attacking winger to line up opposite to Bale. In fact, Bale - despite his scoring skills - and Lennon are more outside wingers than offensive threats.