Tottenham Hotshots! Spurs go from worst shooting team in the Premier League under AVB to the best under Sherwood (so how come they still can't win the big games?)

In a press conference ahead of his first Premier League game away to Southampton in December, Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood told journalists he wanted to unshackle his players and ‘go a bit more gung-ho’.

It was a sea-change from the turgid tactical approach of his predecessor Andre Villas-Boas and the squad responded well to Sherwood’s bullish approach. Switching to a more fluid 4-4-2 formation, Spurs came from behind to beat Southampton 3-2 with Emmanuel Adebayor – who had been frozen out under Villas-Boas – scoring twice. It was the first time they had scored more than two goals in a league game this season.

High five: Sherwood (right) has overseen a transformation in Spurs' fortunes since taking over

Spearhead: Adebayor (back centre) celebrates his goal in the surprise win at Old Trafford

TIM'S TRANSFORMATION

Spurs haven’t failed to score in the Premier League since Tim Sherwood took charge, under Andre Villas-Boas this season they failed to score in 6 of their 16 games (38 per cent).

Since Sherwood took charge, Tottenham’s goals-per-game average in the Premier League has more than doubled, shooting up from 0.94 to 2.2. They have also gone from having the lowest chance conversion rate in the top-flight (7 per cent) to the highest (23 per cent) and this is down, in no small part, to the resurgence of Adebayor. The Togolese has netted three times in five matches, including a beautiful header to set up a 2-1 victory away to Man United on New Year’s Day.

His inclusion in a two-man attack has also helped strike-partner Roberto Soldado’s game. The Spaniard was starved for service playing as a lone striker in Villas-Boas’ 4-5-1 system, but Adebayor’s muscular presence is providing him with more openings and though Soldado isn’t finding the net at the moment, he is creating goals and chances.

The progress compared to the shambolic Tottenham side which lost 5-0 and 6-0 to Liverpool and Manchester City respectively just weeks ago is staggering.

Hit for six: Alvaro Negredo scores as Manchester City dismantle Tottenham back in November

Firing blanks: Andre Villas-Boas could not get Spurs playing with attacking flair Final straw: Luis Suarez scores in Liverpool's 5-0 win at White Hart Lane. AVB was sacked the day after

In AVB’s first season, Tottenham averaged a reasonable 1.7 goals per Premier League game and 13 shots, 49 per cent of which were on target. But Gareth Bale scored 21 of Spurs’ 66 league goals (32 per cent) and his sale to Real Madrid for £85million in the summer had a devastating impact on Villas-Boas’ system.

At this stage last season, Bale had scored nine goals and Jermain Defoe had 10 – double the number of Tottenham’s highest scorer this season (Soldado, five). Minus Bale and Defoe – who has started just three league games this season and departs for MLS side Toronto next month – Tottenham have been toothless.

When Villas-Boas departed, Tottenham had scored just 15 goals in 16 league games. In the 5-0 home thrashing which precipitated the manager’s demise, Liverpool’s Luis Suarez scored twice to take his personal tally for the season level with Tottenham’s.

Sore loss: Villas-Boas' Spurs side relied heavily on the influence of Gareth Bale (right)

AVB was heavily criticised for failing to get Spurs’ expensive summer signings to gel. Chairman Daniel Levy splashed almost £89m on attacking talent pre-season, but only two of those acquisitions have scored in league – Christian Eriksen (three), Paulinho (two).

Sherwood’s decision to drop expensive flops and turn to reserve team players like Adebayor and Nabil Bentaleb took guts but his managerial instincts seem to be serving him well and Spurs fans will be hoping their free-scoring form continues.

The main question mark hanging over him is his perceived lack of a Plan B. Tottenham’s score-more-than-you approach paid off against Saints but when they tried to out-punch Arsenal at the Emirates in the FA Cup third-round earlier this month they were comfortably beaten. Sherwood may need to broaden his tactical portfolio if he is to convince Daniel Levy he is the right man for the job long-term.