Article by Sam Jenkins
Many are still pondering over the lacklustre performance Tottenham put in against Sunderland on the opening day of the Premier League campaign. Can you pinpoint why we played so badly?
Many pundits have blamed Spurs for 'being complacent'. Others clearly leave the blame at Martin Jol's door. The fans who watched the game have each had their say.
This season should be our turning point. This is the season where we make the Champions League.
No Spurs fans make that bold statement as if we have a divine right to. Our right to claim that this should be the season of joy is based on the heavy investment and back-to-back 5th place finishes in the Premier League.
Only one game has passed and another 37 lay ahead; there is no reason to feel alarmed, or is there?
I see a significant difference between our first team and that of Manchester United's, Chelsea's, Liverpool's and Arsenal. Our lack of a decent midfielder.
Our lack of a dynamic, world-class midfielder may cost us in the remaining 37 games. The irony is that we did have a midfielder that would enable us to compete. Alas, he now plays for the Premier League champions. Michael Carrick is another fine addition to a Manchester United midfield that already houses Hargreaves and Scholes.
Liverpool have their man in Gerrard, Chelsea have Essien, for all intents and purposes, I claim to be the best midfielder in the country. Our neighbours have Fabregas. Many of you will not approve of me stating that he is world-class, but the truth of the matter is that the young Spaniard is a superb midfielder that will only get better.
Who do Tottenham have? Jenas? I can't remember the last time he starred in a commanding role for us. Zokora? I do believe that he still needs time. He is the only player that I can see fulfilling the role of an accomplished outstanding midfielder.
We do of course, have Boateng and Huddlestone, who can also go on to fulfil their ambitions at Tottenham.
The Daily Mirror has once again linked us with José María Gutiérrez, better known to you and I as Real Madrid's Guti. If the story is true, and Martin Jol can bring him to White Hart Lane, we may be on the verge of completing our midfield.
I do fear that our weak midfield, also lacking in balance as we all know, may cost us our desired 4th (or higher) spot in the final Premier League standing.
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Tottenham Hotspur midfield may be the weakest link
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119 comments:
We are desperately lacking in midfield. BMJ has yet again not bought a left sided midfielder.
Why oh why does he not prioritise that position?
Boateng is a left-sided midfielder. I am not sure if he will be played on the left though.
who told you Prince is a left midfielder??
No one told me. I saw it for myself.
Great article Thbn. I dont think that its just because we dont have a midfielder though. It would have made a difference if carrick was still around, but i do believe that not having a proper left midfielder or winger, in effect, not giving the team width, is the real reason why we wont succeed.
Btw 11:58, Boateng plays on the left, but does have the tendency to drift in
oh boo hoo THBN. Writing sh*ty articles again. Get a life!
12:03, what is your problem? If you don't like the article, don't comment. Just simply navigate away from THBN.
It really is easy to do. It seems as though you have to much time on your hands. If you don't like this site, please get lost.
Johnny C
One game gone and Spurs fans go nuts again.
'For all intents and purposes' is the correct phrase, what does 'to all intense and purposes' mean? Did you ever understand what that phrase meant?
I dream of a day when Spurs fans gain brains. We've got a great club, we've got all season, now shut up.
Noted and amended.
Thanks 12:11
Why did MJ play Adel Tarbaat all pre-season then not even put him on the bench for the Sunderland game? Think personally he could have added that creativity which Jol himself said we lacked in midfield and attack.
Hope the Guti rumour is true...a mate of mine got a black cab the other day in London and the cabbie just had Guti and his missus in the cab....house-hunting hopefully.
Also 12:11, do you not think that we should just have started off the season with at least a draw?
I know it was away from home but a newly promoted team against a supposedly top 4 side? Don't think there would be this kind of fuss if we'd have lost to any of the top 6
why doesnt he play fucking taarabet is he not a bloody creative player and has scored in pre-season.
Get off the back of BMJ he has done wonders for our club!! We have 37 more league games to go, judge in May.
I agree we should have at least Taarabt in tonight but Routledge on the right would be great to see seen as we went to so much trouble to sign him in the first place!! Jol said he needs confidence, my answer is play him then and he will get it!!
We DO NEED a LMF, get Matty Taylor once the Mido deal has gone through!
When are you gonna stop whining. Our squad is more than capable of finishing top 4. Arsenal have Fabregas, but I believe we have stronger players than them in every other position. Who wants Hargreaves? I'd rather have zokora and hudd. When are we going to learn that success takes LONG time. Why the hell are you so impatient? Why is it a must to get CL-football? coz of the money? I'm proud to be supporting a healthy club where the chairman, board and manager has a true desire for spurs. They are not looking for a quick pay off. They did not buy a club coz that's this weeks flavour. Tottenham are going places, but we won't be there tomorrow. Sucess built over long-term planning lasts-Success built coz of new changes (money, manager) usually lasts no time. We need to continue our investment in Jol. And finally, We have not spent 40 mill (like west ham). We have invested 40 mill into the future of our club. These players will be the new spine of Tottenham. Our squad is very young and it's not fair to them to demand that they should conquer the world at this age.
Well said Kristian Matthiasson
Truth is most of our fans don't have a clue. One pundit says we need a left sided player and like lemmings everyone follows and says the same thing because they think it will make them sound clever.
The team we put out against Sunderland was more than capable of getting a result. The reason we did not is because we are lazy and lack passion.
Before the season started, people were talking about the top 5, now, just after our performance compared with our so called rivals. They are talking about a top 4 again and I'm not surprised.
Look on the bright side, we have never lost a pre-season friendly under Jol so that's always nice to remember considering they are pointless games.
Poshspur...Do you know anything about football? That pathetic article yesterday and now claiming KPB is a left sided midfielder. It is true he can play anywhere across the middle, but his position is central midfield. As he said in his interview he plays CM but is more than willing to play LM for the benefit of the club.
You really are useless when it comes to football, and posting anon to support yourself is truly pathetic.
Kristian Matthiasson...We all understand our team having the odd bad match, but it is unacceptable to have players making very little effort. The 3000 supporters who travelled to the match made more of an effort. The CM has been a problem for a couple of years, even with Carrick. It is too important a position to play lightweights.
i don't understand why BMJ continues to play with batty boy jenas he is 100% batty, no of the other big 4, play with any gays in midfield we will never get in the champions league with jenas in midfield massivley overated.
tomtheyid...What the f***. 'My mate had Guti in his cab'. Grow Up.
I think We have a right to have a go at the over paid stars who did not turn up and play on sat.No pride no passion and desire to play for the Team or the shirt.If mj cant get his team pumped up for the first game of the season who can.Yes we have spent big but for me we did not sign big name or world class players.we have youth that will one day be big name player but we still dont have a roberts a perryman a true leader that can command his player and delivery a winning performance.Lets just hope that we get 3 points tonight or we are in big trouble...Come rain or shine im tottenham till i die......
12:55...I couldn't care if he is a homosexual or not, as long as he is a great player, which unfortuntely Jenas is not. In fact he maked Freund look like Zidane.
oh you people
Kristian Matthiasson...It doesn't take quality managers long to deliver. Simply look at Wenger, Mourinho, Clough and now even Keane. Before you say Fergie he did have quick success in Scotland as a manager, and it took him around the same time as Jol to deliver the FA Cup and then what followed. As Mourinho said when he first took charge at Chelsea, 'managers say 5yr plans to save their jobs. If you are a good manager you know what to do instantly'. Don't say he has the money, he did a fantastic job at Porto.
Kristian Matthiasson, I can see your point but at the same time do you not think that we now have the quality to be finishing top 4 this year? Looking at the quality of our 1st team it is pretty much unacceptable to have another uefa cup finish and going out of all cups when we had good winning oppurtunities (e.g Arsenal 'youth' team and 3-0 up against chelsea)
also you have to wonder how many players will be content if we finish 5th or lower again and want champs league footie? I rate MJ and I like what he's done so far, but its his tactics that have cost us in the past, not lack of quality.
Our midfield is very weak, left side is a joke STILL. why has no one been signed - Petrov looks class.
Our 20 different central midfielders are also not good enough - Jenas, Huddletone - they are not CL players in a million years.
And anyone who thinks that the current chairman and directors care about the long term future of the club is deranged. Why do you think they have taken all the shares and made the club Private again??? So it is extremely easy to sell to anyone who comes along with some £££. No pesky shareholders left now.
tomtheyid...we were leading 3-1 against Chavsea not 3-0. Maybe your mate with Guti in his black cab looking for houses would have known.
1.10 just noticed my mistake. Fact is Jols tactics fucked us up there.
HAS IT TAKEN THIS LONG U LOT TO WORK OUT THE MIDFIELD QUALITY ISNT ALL THERE ONLY BOATENG IS PROBABLY THE QUALITY WE NEED JOL KNOWS THAT HENCE PRINCE. AS FOR A LEFT WINGER HOW MANY OTHER TEAMS HAVE 2
WIDE PLAYERS 2-3 FOR CHRIST SAKE GET LIVES INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT A LEFT WINGER 19CLUBS ALL OF THEM DO NOT HAVE 2OUT AN OUT WIDE
PLAYERS AS I SAID 2-3MAYBE JUST PICKING HOLES CAUSE EVERY BODY JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON 15YRS OF NOTHING LOOK AT ALL THE STATS FOR JOL AND OTHERS HE IS IN OUT TOP FOUR MANAGERS AND U PRICKS WANT TO GET RID OF HIM LET HIM BUILD THE TEAM HE SAID 4-5YRS AS I SAID ITS TAKEN 15YRS TO GET UP THERE BUT U PRATS WANT TO RUIN IT
THE PRINCE IS NOT A LEFT SIDED MIDFIELDER. HE IS CENTRAL.
Jol is gonna be gone by Chanukah
Have any of you actually watched Guti? The bloke is absolute crap, hes just another poser who can't run. Spurs need more creative players with pace and flare in midfield to open teams up, all we have is lennon, taarabat and boateng, two of whom are still learning. Someone like Shaun Wright-Phillips would be a good addition to the team.
TOMTHEYID...AGREE JOL'S TACTICS TAKE A LOT TO BE DESIRED. HE BLAMED THE PLAYERS FOR SATURDAY BUT IT WAS HIS TACTIC OF HANGING IN THERE HOPING TO GET A POINT. THE SUBS BENCH WAS A JOKE, NO VARIETY. WHERE WAS TAARABT AND ROUTLEDGE, WIDE MEN THAT COULD HAVE CHANGED OUR PREDICTABLE FORMATION.
we havent got a midfielder who can kick with their left foot! fukkin steed maluseless cutting in everytime - really hard to figure him out isnt it. bloody joke. doesnt have to be a lennon-type winger, just a left-footed midfielder.
bring way andy reid - fat cunt - who apparently had the most cultured left foot in the premiership !
1.14, no-one has said anything about wanting Jol out, just shape up the tactics, get rid of useless overrated prats like Jenas and get it into his head that we can't sit back against teams like ars*nal and man u just because we go a goal up.
1.16 - Agree completely. Why play Tarbaat all pre-season, not put him on the bench against sunderland, then moan about creativity??
1:14...COS IT TOOK WENGER, MOURINHO AND FERGIE 5 YEARS DIDN'T IT?? JOL HAS BEEN GIVEN MORE MONEY THAN ANY OTHER MANAGER IN THE LAST 20YRS, SO HE SHOULD REACH 5TH!! WHEREAS I DON'T THINK JOL SHOULD BE SACKED, I AM NOT GOING TO PUT MY HEAD IN THE SAND AND SAY THAT HE IS A GREAT MANAGER. HE HAS DONE WELL, BUT LOOK AT THE MONEY AND ACKING HE HAS HAD. WENGER AND MOURINHO WOULD HAVE WON THE TITLE WITH THE PLAYERS WE HAVE HAD FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS AND THE AVAILABLE MONEY.
Hi,
Why doesn't MJ play Wayne Routledge on the left?
Cheers
Figlio...I thought Steed was our 'man of the match' on Saturday. Worked hard and was creative when in possesion. His best performance in a Spurs shirt.
120pm - "WENGER AND MOURINHO WOULD HAVE WON THE TITLE WITH THE PLAYERS WE HAVE HAD FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS AND THE AVAILABLE MONEY. "
you stupid bastard. we have one full back, a crippled captain and a joke midfield
123pm - MOTM tough to call on saturday after that performance. i;d give it to Kaboul personally.
Either way, Malbranque is a pointless man to play on the left if he has to cut in on to his right foot to cross it..
Some of you cock jockeys should go and support the spammers or the scum. We've only played 1 match and your going on like the seasons already over. Get a life you dickheads
127pm
can i suck your weiner
1:24...GROW UP. Are you saying that Ledleys injury, injuries to the left back position are the reason for not winning anything in the last 2 years? Twat.
As for the midfield, who's fault is that if not Jol's?
Think before you post or get a grown up to do it.
1.23, Kaboul was quality and Robbo played well. Malbranque put the effort in but it just seemed that nobody wanted to make a run for him or show his effort. Especially Jenas.
figlio...Kaboul played well but I thought Steed looked like the player of old at Fulham. Agree about playing him left side, should be right or central, where he looks comfortable.
128pm
i'm saying that no manager could have won the title with our lack of depth in defence and poor midfield.
so to claim that another manager could have done it differently with our players is ridiculous
the fact that we are even debating where someone like Malbranque should play, just proves how far we have to go.
Can you imagine Ferguson, wenger etc even contemplating him for their squads??
1:31...These managers have proved it with teams they have managed in the past. Wenger at Monaco and when he first went to the Scum, Mourinho at Porto.
I think a quality manager would have achieved more than Jol with the same players and financial resources.
yes, maybe. but only cos they would have spent differently.
with the same players as Jol bought, and injuries etc. we did about as good as could possibly be expected
figlio...good point. Sometimes I think Jol needs to be braver regarding the playing the youngsters. Lennon would never have played if Routledge hadn't of been injured.
1:36..Sorry disagree. Just think that Jol only has a plan A (which I'm not sure if there was even that on Saturday)and as a result when the opposition managers make a change during a match, as Wenger does when losing to us and Mourinho in the FA Cup at the Bridge, he doesn't know what to do. It's like he cannot think on his feet.
exactly, the young kid tarbaat looks great when he has come on late. why not give him more of a run?
I think all we can hope for is a major cock-up by arsenal or liverpool to let us in to the top 4.
and lets not even start on the 3 or 4 teams coming up behind us
139pm
fair point. what does hughton do with that clipboard and notes etc as the players go on as subs??
it makes u wonder what plans are made pre game
persoanlly think it is a sudoku
1.42, as much as I respect how long Hughton has been here, got to wonder if he's good enough to be our No.2
he is the only consistent thing during our long period of mediocrity.
BMJ inherited him, didnt he have his own boys to bring in ?
Would have thought so, he brought in his brothers as scouts....maybe he feels sorry for him and keeps him there like he does with Jenas
he does make a mean Chili con carne for the team after an evening match
lets face it those water bottles and spare kit aren't going to carry themselves
we'll take more care of you, andy reid, andy reid
mido leaving has also cut the team food budget by 40%
Guti in the back of a london cab ??? you sure he didnt mean Gucci !
fuck me this place gets worse.
.................
its true
Mido deal will be done shortly. Thank god for that!
Let's hope somebody takes his mate, Ghally, off our hands too
And the top prize for quoting the bleedin' obvious goes to Poshwank for
his revelation that the midfield may be the weakest link. Fuckin hell you do like to put yourself up on a pedestal don't you.
And as for you saying you 'saw for yourself' that boateng is a leftie. Don't you mean you took that from his interview on sky he said can play anywhere across the middle.
Oh do please fuck off poshwank
Does anyone else wonder also why we are constantly being linked with Curtis Davies when our midfield needs sorting?
Its seems to be one to forward three back with Tottenham these days we finish 5 then struggle in the league the following season. Get our act together and finish 5 again then go down in a whimper in the first game of the next season.
I personally see people points about preseason the team plays with a freshness and freedom but is often maid up of the younger players who want to show what they can do Tarbaat o’hare even Routledge played well and scored add the prince to the list these are players who are pacey eager and exciting not one was even on the bench for Saturday.
The point about Tottenham fans being impatient do me a favour we have been waiting 30 plus years and only Chelsea have spent more than us in the same time that mourinho has been at the club.
I would happily take 5 place again next season if we give it real passion and really have a go. The performance on Saturday was a disgrace. One dimensional absolutely no creativity and long ball after long ball.
It was the team that Jol picked they were his tactics four central midfielders did not work last season why would it this time.
Beba does not want long balls over his head
Keane does not want long balls over his head
Defoe certainly does not want long balls over his head
Even Bent does not want long balls over his head he is best through he channels
I love martin Jol and want nothing more that for him to succeed but unless he sorts out this mess maybe he has taken Tottenham as far as he can?
Id rather drop Jenas (Clueless more like) and play malbranque in the midfield attacking slot
I personally feel that if we were to lose tonight at the Lane and then again in our next match, the board would be seriously considering Jols position as manager.
Why he keeps playing 4 central midfielders is an absolute wonder?
Give the younger players a chance for goodness sake!
Taarbat (or however you spell his name) should have at least come on in the second half.
Where was he?
Does anyone know when Lennon will be back?
2.32, I saw him in chigwell gym where the squad go and he looked fit enough. Jol left him out of the squad. He was fit and left out of the squad, if jol thinks he's not good enough to face sunderland then why have him at all?
I've heard on the Newnow website that Lennon is rather problamatic and has fallen otu with the coaches a few times, maybe that was why we were after SWP?? Saying that, we desperately lack Lennon's pace, endevour and ability to get in behind the defence
232pm
saw him at the gym? ?! do they get a free membership with their contracts ?!?!!
you fool.
i think they have a little gym at the training ground
Matt you you attention seeking idiot which newsnow sites I view these pages all most daily and have never read a word of this rubbish your squawking about Lennon.
The whole squad use the gym Holmes Place by the training centre. If you haven't been then don't say its wrong. You're the fool
Holmes Place sold up nearly a year ago muppet
Well you clearly don't know what your on about as I was in there last week as were hundreds of others. Maybe they have sold their building lease. Or your not thinking of the right gym
Well congrats on reading newsnow everyday. Obviously not as much as me, cos thats where i read the article. And would explain why we were after Lennon. Wasnt seeking attnetion, i was talking about Spurs players and our club. Isnt that the point of forums. Im sure the boys will turn it around tonight. Keane behind the front two should get things going
No Holmes Place DONT EXIST any more the franchise was taken over and renamed by a certain billionaire, crawl back under your stone
the gym is owned by virgin but is known as holmes place gym still
Put the link up Matt and prove it or just piss off
you're all losers, get back to your homework
It was a few weeks ago. Why the hostility? Anyway, im disappointed we didnt make a move for Wesley Sneijder too, he would have completed the m/field
I hear dozzell's having his medical as we speak
Dozy's certainly got an eye for a killer ball, would be a step in the right direction
Why not brink back Justin Edinburgh and Dean Austin? ...I'm starting to wonder if they'd be a better solution than gardner & stalteri
couldn't be any worse, Tom
Id rather have Clive Wilson at LB than Lee!!
let's think about this seriously, I love the spurs, and i think they';re the greatest team the world has ever seen (that line sticks in the throat a bit, doesn't it?) but surely, if you were wesley schneider, you wouldn't really look twice at spurs' offer if real madrid were sniffing, would you? be honest now.
i miss andy gray's long throws- added a whole different dimension
so spurs players go to a local gym not their own one in the multimillion pound training centre.
freak
however berti, nielsen or howells are all welcome to fill in for Jenas.
freak out mofo!!!
No your right, i do agree. BUT i was holding out some hope that with Martin Jol - the dutch connection, and the fact that he's still quite young - as is our team, he may use us to step up and test his abilities before moving to a Real Madrid standard club in his 27's 28's years of age. Purely hope!
figlio, meet you in crystal kebabs at 6.30.
What about signing up William Korsten at least that would give Jenas a partner to talk to while standing on the half way line doing nothing
3.04 what is wrong with you? i saw the player in the gym if you know anything you also know that at the chigwell based spurs lodge there is no massive gym, which is another reason we're looking to develop a new training centre in enfield. Don't go all on your own assumptions or plenty more people in your life will make you look a fool.
glad benty's starting, was beginning to think i'd made a mistake putting him in scratchwood's starting line up
Im not poster 3:04 but i think there is only one fool around here
that's not fair 3.07, jenas runs around doing nothing
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=spurs+at+holmes+place+chigwell&meta=
third link down
good investigative work
im going to crystal kebabs with andy reid -the fat yock - at 630
He probably has it framed on his wall proving he goes to the same gym as his Tottenham heroes
they really need our business now that the miserable shoe bomber has gone to boro. good riddance.
may be the weakest link. Try is the weakest link. The problem we have is lack of balance in midfield. Most team will go with a defensive midfielder who is also a good passer and then an attacking playmaker. We really have neither. TO add to that we don't have much width. Personally I think Malbranque would be the best attacking midfielder but it seems like Jol like Jenas in that spot. Zakora tends to slow down play and it is unsure as to exactly what he is suppose to do. Huddlestone in time might make a good playmaker but he tends to make lots of mistakes at the back.
3.23 - your mum commented on it this morning
I've heard it all now on this site. People claiming their friend is driving Guti and his wife around in their black cab looking at houses and now Spurs players doing their recuperation training at a local gym!! FFS!!
And I thought Poshwank is a complete tit.
Why was Jenas playing behind Zakora for most of the game ??? Does Jenas actually offer anything other than being the slowest passer ever. Does Anyone actually rate Jenas? If so why Newcastle fans could not wait to get rid
Jenas is useless. He scores a few decent/important goals in the season and everyone seems to think this redeems himself of the fact that he runs around aimlessly most matches. What was this about Everton thinking he was worth £15m?? If that was true half the people here must be worth at least 5
Lets all get on Jenas is back tonight as soon as his starts his backwards misplaced passing. That might make Jol realize we don’t want him
If Jenas can play Tottenham so can I, If Jenas can play Tottenham so can I, If Jenas can play Tottenham If Jenas can play Tottenham If Jenas can play Tottenham so can I
F off Jenas F off Jenas F off Jenas
tomtheyid - I think that is the most sense anyone has written on here in 111 comments. Wait thats the most sense anyone has written on here ever Wait thats the most sense anyone has ever said fall stop
Good article Posh, but I disagree that carrick would have been 'the answer'. He certainly wasn't during his seasons with us although he did help a fair bit. I haven't forgotten how, during many of the tougher games, he went missing. He is to my mind a classier version of all too many of our current midfield; good enough to carry their own in any great midfield, but not good enough together to create one. We need a couple of top drawer midfielders for the others to play off and raise their game to. Greater width would also afford the middle two more room to manouver, more time to think and more options. Unless Taarabt & Boateng are already good enough that is. But then unless Jol plays them, we won't know.
spot on El.... you have to wonder if you can see it, i can see countless others can see it, why don't Jol and Hughton
Taken from the Daily Mirror
Jol said: "There was a good sign in the dressing room because they were all blaming each other"
Maybe I am missing the point but how the hell is that a good sign, surely they should be taking responsibility for themselves and pulling together as a team!!!!
cunts, cunts, cunts
all i have to say is that we have been disspointing so far. played much better last night than at sunderland. Jenas and zokora did much much better. i actually thought jenas had an ok game. but with brutal honesty we need someone world class in cm....and i mean world class. snejdfer would of been lovely but apparently he is off to real with drenthe. such a shame as they would both be perfect. u can look at reasons why we lost......i would have to say it was down to bad goalkeeping and some bad defending by gardener and a big weakness defending wise on our left.......on a plus note rocha was superb. In terms of what we need. yes i have to say we need someone with a good left foot and a world class creative central player. i hope jenas turns out to be this guy. But if we underperform then we sohuld give our youngsters a chance. People like hudd and taarabt. why in gods name he didnt give taarabt a chance yesterday is beyond me but i hope they give the lad a go. he is very talented and has that flair we need to create chances and space. bring on derby and hopefully a clean sheet for once!! i know its only 2 games but the big four dont think like that. u have to go out all gunbs blazing to break the top four and we havent done so yet.....thus i conclude we will be yet again arouned 5th/6th unless we give our youngsters a chance or get some new blood in cm and lm.
tramezzani to replace stalts at left back please
I has you guys breaking into the top 4 this year, but not anymore i think you guys have to get rid of paul robinson.
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