Jol Had to Go

Was getting Tottenham Hotspur to 5th in the table enough to make Martin Jol bullet proof in the eyes of so many Spurs supporters and members of the press? Take a look at the current squad - a squad Jol was largely responsible - and explain to me how they aren't locked in a top 4 position right now. This isn't bad luck. While I don't think hiring a Spanish manager is the answer (just ask Liverpool how that has served them in the league) I do think Jol had to go. The recent Spurs signing have not come together to form a true squad that gets results and more damaging has been the fact that the players have not improved under Jol's guidance.

Dimitar Berbatov is world class - I don't dispute that. He has been the best Premier League signing over the past couple seasons. He is also as good as gone during the January transfer window. The Bulgarian has had few moments of brilliance this season and I don't hold him solely accountable for that. The players around him are awful. Jol clearly didn't do anything to endear himself to the best player on the squad either. Opponents are willing to focus on Berbatov and give Robbie Keane a chance to get his goals because they are confident enough that the Spurs defense can be broken down without problems. The defense is the glaring mistake of Jol's tenure at the club. He did nothing to shore it up. Michael Dawson is one of the most overrated players in the Premier League. Ledley King may or may not ever play again. Anthony Gardner is useless. Do I need to talk about Paul Robinson?

How about the midfield that Jol assembled? Jermaine Jenas has taken several steps backwards since Jol's arrival. Jenas pops up every now and again with a wonder strike but for the most part he is invisible when on the pitch. Didier Zokora has not improved one iota since coming to London. Tom Huddlestone was supposed to be on the brink of being a regular with the England national team and now he isn't sure thing to see the pitch for Spurs. Steed Malbranque isn't going to get playing time on a club in the Premier League with serious Champions League aspirations and here he is starting regularly for Spurs.

Before the emails start pouring in with subject lines of "Gareth Bale! Gareth Bale!" please wait a moment. Bale is the one moment of brilliance Jol can point to in the transfer market. In three years time Bale will be considered world class. He'll be pushed up to mid-field and be a scoring threat at all times. He is a true play maker and one of the exciting young players in Europe. Spurs fans should thank Jol for his arrival if they are obliged to thank him for anything at all.

As much as I love the Bale signing, it remains overshadowed by how atrocious Darren Bent has been. Bent doesn't go from being one the biggest scoring threats in the league to a bench player overnight. He isn't being properly utilized. Same with Jermaine Defoe. These are two terrific talents that have gone stale with Jol at the helm. I promise you a manager like Sven-Goran Erickson, Alex Ferguson or Mark Hughes would have Defoe or Bent realizing their full potential right now. Look what Hughes has done with Benny McCarthy and Roque Santa Cruz. Look was Erickson has done with Elano.

Jol squanders talent. We know that much.

Is Juande Ramos the answer? He's led Sevilla to 2 straight UEFA Cup titles, but I don't think he is the proper fit. Spurs should try to lure Fabio Capello to the club. Everyone knows he can turn clubs around in an instant. Jurgen Klinsmann would also be a strong candidate.

Either way, Spurs will not be in the bottom 3 for long. They won't realize their lofty goals. The club will come good and finish mid-table. With the mourning period of Jol being quite short.

American Football Visits London

The National Football League is proudly reporting that 88,000 spectators will pack Wembley Stadium this weekend to watch the New York Giants play the Miami Dolphins in the first regular season game to be played in England.

The Giants have a record of 5-2 and are in second place in their division. The Dolphins are 0-7 and considered the worst team in the league. I understand this game was decided upon before the NFL was aware the Giants would be mediocre and the Dolphins dreadful, but that doesn't change the fact this isn't a match up that will turn Europeans on to "American Football".

There are a few questions that are being asked with regards to this game. The first of which is does the NFL plan on doing this every season moving forward? NFL tickets are very expensive. Season tickets especially, and the holders of those tickets are not going to be happy losing a home game every season. Sundays are an event in America because fans are so fiercely loyal to their NFL teams. More loyal than any other sports fans in the country. For these fans to learn they are going to lose a home game will result in a major uproar. The league's counter argument that these overseas games will bring in huge amounts of revenue will fall on deaf ears.

Americans see sports such as soccer, rugby and cricket as alien. They don't relate to them. They don't want much to do with them. Americans hold the NFL and Major League Baseball close to their hearts. It is a part of them and to share this with Europeans is not going to go down well. The NFL has stated it is their plan that eventually every team will be playing a game overseas during the course of a season. I'm not kidding when I say this could lead to a massive revolt by fans. To accommodate this, the NFL will have to either add a regular season game or hire a Public Relations wizard that can cast a spell over the entire fan-base, convincing them that this is for the good of the league.

Another question is: Do Europeans even care? A big chunk of the 88,000 on Sunday will be Americans living, working or stationed by the military in Europe. This is similar to when the European football teams tour America during summers. But the poor MLS attendance would reflect Americans have not taken to soccer. The dead and buried NFL Europe league is proof Europeans were not exactly ready to embrace American football. They prefer their action to be on-going, done in under two hours and devoid of television timeouts and play calling huddles.

The Giants and Dolphins will probably sell quite a few jerseys on Sunday. But the Giants and Dolphins don't have songs that their fans sing the entire game. They don't have a Supporters Section that stands the entire time. In general, atmosphere at American sports can be rather dull. Cheering is very mechanical and that isn't what English football fans are all about when they pack Old Trafford, Anfield or Fratton Park. Americans get up during actual play to hunt down nachos and peanuts, use the bathroom or talk on cell phones! The question of "Do Europeans care?" or "Will the league see long-term success if they launch an actual club overseas?" is already answered. No.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodall has plainly stated he would consider having the Super Bowl played in London in the future. For those that don't know, the Super Bowl is basically a national holiday in America. It is an event unlike any other. Partying starts early, fans pack bars for the game and the partying lasts late into the night. And this doesn't necessarily include fans that have their team playing in the Super Bowl! Offices around the country are typically a little empty the Monday after.

The Super Bowl tends to start between 5:30 and 6:30 in the evening. To coordinate the start time with a different time zone the game would have to be moved up at least two hours. What to some might seem a minor change, to others (meaning NFL fans) this could mean a disruption of epic proportion. Not to mention the national pride some invest in the pre-game festivities. There is the singing of the National Anthem, a flyover by fighter jets and sometimes God Bless America is thrown in for good measure! Imagine this going down on foreign soil? The Red State folks in America would be running through the streets in panic.

So, while I agree it is kind of cool to see the NFL played overseas, I don't think this has any legs to stand on long-term. I love soccer. I go to multiple MLS games, pre-season tours of European clubs and am up at the crack of dawn every Saturday to catch the early Premiership match. But I'm in the minority here. I don't mind if the team I support - Green Bay Packers - plays a match in Madrid, Frankfurt or Milan during the season. I love the thought of Packer fans wearing their foam Cheesehead hats walking through the streets of Milan.

That being said, the majority of fans would be throwing their Cheesehead hats through the NFL headquarters windows if that ever came to fruition. The NFL should not plan their end-zone dances just yet. The idea of playing meaningful games on a regular basis overseas has a lot of questions to answer first.

I Don't Want LA Galaxy in the Playoffs

I hope LA Galaxy get beaten well and good on Thursday against New York Red Bull. It would be a tragedy to see them have an opportunity to qualify for the playoffs on Sunday against Chicago. Galaxy have had one of the most disappointing seasons in MLS history. They don't deserve to be in the playoffs (the same can be said for half the clubs that will qualify). Landon Donovan did not deserve a US player of the year award and he certainly does not deserve any more opportunities to score penalty kicks. Essentially allowing him to boost his goal total for the season and giving MLS further chances to promote a truly ordinary player. David Beckham hysteria has come and gone. The World Series is just days away, the NFL season has several huge story lines and Kobe Bryant trade rumors are growing louder. Beckham would go unnoticed and it is best to let him heal up and make a real go at next season leading this out of sorts club.

Galaxy in the playoffs could hurt the league's image. What does it say about the regular season when a club can go on a brief run and have a shot at winning the championship? Galaxy are not close to being in the same class as DC United, Houston or Chivas USA. Those are clubs that have been consistent the entire season. They are well coached. They have players far more exciting and skillful than the likes of Donovan. I would hate to see their outstanding seasons overshadowed by Galaxy making the playoffs and the MLS putting all their hyping efforts behind Beckham and Donovan.

How many times throughout his career - club and international - have we witnessed Donovan come apart when the pressure is on. When has this "greatest American talent ever" risen to the level all these soccer writers claim he is destined to attain? Probably not as many times as he has scored penalty kicks. But definitely more times than he has scored from open play. For the good of the sport Donovan should end his career with the Galaxy a loser. Unless they make a move for another Designated Player roster spot they will have to let him go. He clearly won't leave the state of California - we know he can't handle being out of his tiny comfort zone. But let him leave LA a loser.

If poor sides are going to be let within a shout of winning the MLS Cup I'd much prefer Chicago or Kansas City be given the chance. I want to see Blanco, Chris Rolfe and Justin Mapp play an extra match or two. I want to see Eddie Johnson light up an opposing defense a couple more times before we can put this MLS season to bed. And that is really what I want to do.

Writing as someone that wants MLS to do well. Writing as someone that goes to matches, watches them on TV and stands up for the league when other sports fans put it down I am upset at the way this season has been handled. Too much hope was placed on Beckham. How in the hell can there not have been a Plan B in place in the event Beckham got hurt? Juan Pablo Angel, Luciano Emilio, Jozy Altidore and Taylor Twellman are legit stars of the league. I beg MLS to promote them next year. It might be too late for Altidore as I expect him to bolt the league the first chance he gets. But there are players currently in the league and that will be coming next season that are more important and more talented than Donovan.

Everything that American sport is supposed to stand for: Heart, Intensity, Desire, Competitiveness - Donovan is the exact opposite. And it hurts the MLS. It drags it right down the ladder in terms of importance on the national landscape. For the good of the league Galaxy should not make the playoffs.

An MLS Cup that goes unnoticed is one thing. An MLS Cup that goes unnoticed with David Beckham participating could set the league back years.

Terrific Grant Wahl Article

On SI.com Grant Wahl has written a fantastic article about the Heerenveen and US National Team midfielder - Michael Bradley. When most US soccer fans were disgusted this past week to see a Landon Donovan win any type of award, it is encouraging that a soccer writer has focused on a really great, young talent such as Bradley. The writers that were clueless enough to cast a vote for Donovan should not only willingly retire from ever writing about soccer again, but realize there are far more talented US players not just in MLS but abroad.

Things Could Get Worse at Liverpool

In hindsight, the six goals against Derby were an illusion. It was after all Derby and not some giant of the Premier League such as Birmingham or Wigan, correct? The form Liverpool have hit since the 6 goal explosion against the worst club to play in the top flight in years has revealed that not much has changed at Anfield despite the big spending spree. Rafa Benitez refuses to stop tinkering and the attack refuses to show any sign of consistency. When you have title aspirations and you see the likes of Portsmouth, Birmingham and Wigan in front of you that should be an automatic 9 points. Not 5 points and just one goal to show.

And when you have a squad big enough, talented enough to play in two competitions the likes of Porto (even in Portugal) and a dismal Marseilles (at Anfield) should be an automatic 6 points giving you a clear path to the knock out round of the Champions League. Instead, Benitez has made a complete hash of this early part of the season. By not starting Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel every match he has me totally confused. You sign players like that to start, play 80-90 minutes and get 3 points week in and week out. You don't spend a fortune to let them toil on the bench while mid-table sides dreaming of UEFA Cup qualification out work you over 90 minutes. If you make that your policy. If you make "rotation" your policy you will not win anything. Liverpool fans that doubt that (and there can't be many out there left) need only look at the Premier League results under Benitez for proof it doesn't work.

Two Champions League finals and a miracle win in one of them. Indeed. Phenomenal. But are Liverpool now only a Champions League club? You could argue they are since Benitez essentially refuses to compete in England. You could argue that Liverpool ought to be deeply concerned about Spurs Sunday. The reaction from the players after the Aston Villa draw, running over to Martin Jol and celebrating, proves they are ready to fight for their manager and their season.

If Spurs carry that emotion into Anfield and Liverpool carry their form from mid-week the result will be embarrassingly lopsided in favor of Spurs. Things could get much worse before they get better at Anfield. And if they do get better later on (as they usually do) it will be too late.

Liverpool must now win the next two matches in the Champions League to have any chance of advancing. The next of which will be played in Istanbul. Symbolism aside, it is never easy to win in Turkey.

Consider their league schedule. Sunday at home against Spurs. October 20 (after the International break) away to Everton. October 28 (after visiting Besiktas) home against Arsenal. November 3 away to Blackburn. Listen, that is a stretch of matches that is very dangerous. The early part of their schedule was set up to allow them a blip during this rougher part and not lose ground. Instead, they botched the matches that should have been 3 points and now risk being done and dusted in the title race should they drop points against real competition.

What started to look like a dream season against Derby is long forgotten. It was Derby after all! If Liverpool fail to qualify for the knock out round and if they fail to mount a challenge for the Premier League, Benitez should be shown the door.

Terry Should Save Face, Sit This One Out

Why is the Chelsea captain willing to risk further injury by rushing back from cheekbone surgery? The Champions League match against Valencia is not a make or break situation. If Chelsea lose - and I fully believe they will get well handled - they can still advance out of the group stage. More important, he should place country before club and ensure his health before the crucial Euro '08 qualifiers in over week. Despite playing uninspiring football at the moment (to put it gently) Chelsea should be able to ease past Bolton on the weekend without Terry as well. This would set them up for another 3 points against Middlesbrough and a chance to move up the table. Risking serious injury is just moronic at this point when Chelsea are in desperate need of looking at the bigger picture.

Terry has not been a motivating or inspiring captain for over a year now. Coming back from a broken cheekbone injury and participating in a Chelsea loss won't help matters. If he plays and Chelsea knock off Valencia I promise it won't be due to Terry. The club needs players like Joe Cole, Michael Essien and Solomon Kalou to have a massive evening. Players will need to pick up the slack when manager Avram Grant decides to give Andriy Shevchenko a run out.

Thus, John Terry should do the right thing and take a week off. He should encourage his teammates on from the bench, boost morale at the club by saying the correct things about manager and owner to the press and ready himself to lead England. An elbow, knee or foot to the face and the man could be on the mend for weeks. With Frank Lampard already battling injury, Didier Drogba and John Obi Mikel dealing with PL red card suspensions and Richardo Carvalho's return date not set in stone a serious Terry injury will all but eliminate Chelsea's hopes of a top 3 (or 4 finish).

Sit this one out captain.