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.
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.
posted by Anonymous at 12:11 PM
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