AVB DISCUSSES FUTURE OF ADEBAYOR AND GOMES Andre Villas-Boas insists that Emmanuel Adebayor has a future at Tottenham, despite the fact that the striker is yet to play for the club this season. The out-of-favour frontman vented his frustrations earlier this week, stating: “I have tried to keep my belief but I cannot get any lower.” However, the 29-year-old added: “I have three years left on my contract and I’m not going anywhere.” And, although Villas-Boas admits the Togo international faces fierce competition for the lone forward role, the head coach says he will get his chance in time. “Ade came back into training again from a foot contusion [that he suffered] the other day - he came back to training today,” said Villas-Boas. “He is not selected for this game against Sheriff but will be available for selection for the game against Newcastle. “My view and take on the situation is that this team has changed from playing 4-4-2 to playing with one striker up front, so it’s a massive change. Alongside the goalkeeper position it’s a position where three players compete for one place. “I don’t see us in the near future going back to 4-4-2, that’s the reality. We’ve been extremely successful with what we have been doing, as we were extremely successful with 4-4-2 in the past -particularly last season. At this moment it’s not going to happen. “Ade is very hungry to get back into the team. He has to understand – and he does understand – that with [Roberto] Soldado and [Jermain] Defoe, one is on eight goals and the other one is on six. “It’s a question of time until he gets that break and that opportunity for him to come back, and then, like every other player, he has to make the most of it. “I’m fine with the strikers I have and I don’t think Ade’s considering any move – he made it pretty clear in his interview as well.” Heurelho Gomes has also found himself on the fringes this season, and the Brazilian is also yet to play a single minute of the current campaign. “There is competition for the goalkeeper position,” said Villas-Boas. “We’ve had a chat with the three of them recently and we’ve allowed Gomes to be back in contention, competing for his place. “The reality is that Hugo [Lloris] and Brad [Friedel] are ahead of him at the moment, and Gomes is not registered to play in the Europa League. “We’ve tried to find him a solution because I think he deserves to get more opportunities and have more playing time, so we’ve always tried to find other solutions for him away from this club. We just have to allow the player to compete for his position as well, and he’s doing that.” Gomes’ ineligibility to play in Europe could become an issue if Villas-Boas opts to rest Lloris for tomorrow’s match against FC Sheriff at White Hart Lane, following the Frenchman’s head injury at Everton on Sunday. But the head coach said: “It’s fine, normally I’ve done this in the past. At Porto I had two keepers registered from the three that I had, and I had a third young one.” Danny Rose and Zeki Fryers are still out of action through injury, and Sandro has joined the list of absentees. “Sandro was substituted in the game against Everton with some pain on his hamstring and we decided to take him out of the game as a precaution,” said Villas-Boas. “Rose and Zeki are making good progress, but not enough to be involved in these next two games.” -Stm
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 17:17:00 +0000
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