We’re starting to warm to Timmy.
He’s talking football sense, he’s labelling himself a lunatic and he’s calling Chelsea ‘patronising c***s.’
You don’t really expect a dull moment with Sherwood but the new Aston Villa manager was in profound mood this week after he guided the club to their first league win of the year.
In an interview with Martin Samuel of the Daily Mail, the former Spurs boss seemed to have a bit of a pop at Tony Pulis when he referred to the West Brom manager’s last two jobs as what Villa won’t be doing in their next 10 games. That’s not Villa. Villa are too big of a club for that.
“We’re like Everton,” Sherwood said. “I don’t think we’ve got a group of players who are cut out for a relegation battle. We can’t be the Crystal Palace of last year, or the West Brom of this year. Digging in, blood and thunder, lump the ball in, protecting a lead, that’s not us.
“Our squad is better on the ball, they’re more suited to pushing for a place in the Europa League.
“I tell them: we do it our way. Go and get the ball. If you give it away, OK, get it back and we start again. I think it takes more courage to do that. It’s easier to destroy than create.”
And the old midfielder looks back at his own career as an example for his team now. Even in the face of criticism, Sherwood never shipped responsibility. He continued to find that courage he talks about to keep playing ball.
“When I was at Blackburn, there were times when it was difficult. My name would be read out and there were a few groans. I didn’t care. I’d sometimes tell David Batty, ‘I’ll give it away more times than you’ll get it this afternoon’.
“It sounds a strange thing to say, but what I meant was I’ll always want it.
“The players have a duty, a responsibility, to fix this mess. I don’t want to hear crap about how difficult it is to play at home.
“Playing for a big club comes with pressure. Anyone can do it for a lesser team — but you have to have bollocks to play for Aston Villa. This is a big club.”
And the new man in the dugout felt the full force of a rapturous Villa Park on Tuesday night when the atmosphere roused the team to victory. Sherwood gets caught up in it amidst the drama but he isn’t changing.
“I can’t believe the other managers are not as emotionally involved as I am. They’re all like me inside.
“I could try acting. I could sit down and make little notes and everyone would say I’ve matured. But I know that’s impossible. I can’t imagine being any different 500 games in. People thought I would calm down as a player, but I didn’t.
‘The day I retired I was the same lunatic that made his debut for Watford in 1987.”
Sometimes though, that passion spills over. Sherwood recalls a particularly tough day with a nine-man Spurs side losing 4-0 to Chelsea. He lost his cool that day but he doesn’t accept any nonsense and he can see through Mourinho even now.
“I saw him when Chelsea scored against Tottenham last Sunday. Tottenham were doing well until that point, but the goal went in and Mourinho turned to the bench as if it was all part of some masterplan.
“It was like he was checking his watch. “That’s strange, 40 seconds early.” He has that way. But he’s Mourinho — he can do what he wants.”
He recalls his own run-in with the Chelsea backroom team.
“I’m hot, I’m upset. Jose Mourinho shakes hands, doesn’t say much. Steve Holland, his assistant, comes up and he’s trying to be nice. ‘Unlucky mate,’ he says. ‘You played really well in the first half.’
“I tell him to f*** off. Lost my temper. Called him a patronising c***. I had to phone and apologise. Still fuming, but it was my mistake. He didn’t mean it as I thought. You’re not safe in the heat of that battle.”
Yet again, he readies himself for another battle this evening.
