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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Tim Sherwood fired up as Tottenham Hotspur return to Europa League | Tim Sherwood fired up as Tottenham Hotspur return to Europa League |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| It was as Tottenham Hotspur led 3-0 towards the end of the first half and the anger boiled inside the Aston Villa supporters that the chant was summoned. "Sacked in the morning, you're getting sacked in the morning," the Villa fans bellowed. | It was as Tottenham Hotspur led 3-0 towards the end of the first half and the anger boiled inside the Aston Villa supporters that the chant was summoned. "Sacked in the morning, you're getting sacked in the morning," the Villa fans bellowed. |
| Down on the touchline, the Tottenham Hotspur manager, Tim Sherwood, turned to the crowd behind him. "That's a bit harsh," he said, with a smile. "We're three-nil up." | Down on the touchline, the Tottenham Hotspur manager, Tim Sherwood, turned to the crowd behind him. "That's a bit harsh," he said, with a smile. "We're three-nil up." |
| The chant, on this occasion, was not meant for him, rather his Villa counterpart, Paul Lambert, whose prospects in the job look decidedly bleak, and not only because the club's owner, Randy Lerner, who has supported him, is considering whether to sell up. This has been another dreary season for Villa and the first-half performance here was down there with the low points. | The chant, on this occasion, was not meant for him, rather his Villa counterpart, Paul Lambert, whose prospects in the job look decidedly bleak, and not only because the club's owner, Randy Lerner, who has supported him, is considering whether to sell up. This has been another dreary season for Villa and the first-half performance here was down there with the low points. |
| Sherwood, though, is also on borrowed time, with the Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy, keen on a managerial upgrade. He wants Mauricio Pochettino from Southampton or, failing that, Ajax's Frank De Boer. Sherwood has been left simply to hope for a stay of execution; the opportunity to shape his vision for the club over a close season. | Sherwood, though, is also on borrowed time, with the Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy, keen on a managerial upgrade. He wants Mauricio Pochettino from Southampton or, failing that, Ajax's Frank De Boer. Sherwood has been left simply to hope for a stay of execution; the opportunity to shape his vision for the club over a close season. |
| It has long since passed the point of it not looking good for him and Tottenham actually had a different manager for a short while towards the end. In the 84th minute, Sherwood beckoned a Tottenham fan down from the seats behind him, handed him his club gilet and plonked him into his seat on the bench next to the assistant manager, Les Ferdinand. It was knockabout stuff. The fan actually left the stadium in Sherwood's gilet. | It has long since passed the point of it not looking good for him and Tottenham actually had a different manager for a short while towards the end. In the 84th minute, Sherwood beckoned a Tottenham fan down from the seats behind him, handed him his club gilet and plonked him into his seat on the bench next to the assistant manager, Les Ferdinand. It was knockabout stuff. The fan actually left the stadium in Sherwood's gilet. |
| "We've got the police looking for him because he's nicked the gilet," Sherwood said. "But it's fine. He can have it. That guy's an expert, seriously. Every week, he tells me what to do. So I have given him the opportunity to do the job." | "We've got the police looking for him because he's nicked the gilet," Sherwood said. "But it's fine. He can have it. That guy's an expert, seriously. Every week, he tells me what to do. So I have given him the opportunity to do the job." |
| Sherwood was asked where the fan might be in the betting for the next Tottenham manager. "No chance, he's English," he replied. | Sherwood was asked where the fan might be in the betting for the next Tottenham manager. "No chance, he's English," he replied. |
| Sherwood said he would be back at White Hart Lane for Ledley King's testimonial on Monday night and he was unclear about when he would have the meeting with Levy that will determine his future. But he said it was important for everybody that a quick decision was made. He added that Levy should either sack him or give him a new contract to replace his current deal, which expires in 2015. | Sherwood said he would be back at White Hart Lane for Ledley King's testimonial on Monday night and he was unclear about when he would have the meeting with Levy that will determine his future. But he said it was important for everybody that a quick decision was made. He added that Levy should either sack him or give him a new contract to replace his current deal, which expires in 2015. |
| "It can only be that, [otherwise] you're a supply teacher again," Sherwood said. "It will be interesting to see what I've been judged on. If I'm to leave, it can't be on [Premier League] results." | "It can only be that, [otherwise] you're a supply teacher again," Sherwood said. "It will be interesting to see what I've been judged on. If I'm to leave, it can't be on [Premier League] results." |
| Lambert could not guarantee that he would be at Villa's end-of-season awards bash on Tuesday night. "I intend to be there," he said. "I have just bought a bow tie. I don't want to pay £3 for a bow tie and not turn up." | Lambert could not guarantee that he would be at Villa's end-of-season awards bash on Tuesday night. "I intend to be there," he said. "I have just bought a bow tie. I don't want to pay £3 for a bow tie and not turn up." |
| Sherwood won this battle of the managerially damned and there was a prize, if a slightly dubious one. Tottenham's sixth-placed finish means that they have made it back into the Europa League. | |
| Tottenham started brightly for a change and they might have run up a cricket score before the interval and the non-event that was the second half. Harry Kane could have had a hat-trick; Paulinho skewed a shot and Brad Guzan saved from Michael Dawson. | |
| Paulinho scored the opening goal after a slick Tottenham move while the second deflected in off Nathan Baker, following Danny Rose's cross. Emmanuel Adebayor got the third from the penalty spot after Gabby Agbonlahor's handball. | Paulinho scored the opening goal after a slick Tottenham move while the second deflected in off Nathan Baker, following Danny Rose's cross. Emmanuel Adebayor got the third from the penalty spot after Gabby Agbonlahor's handball. |
| Man of the match Paulinho (Tottenham) | Man of the match Paulinho (Tottenham) |