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Was Ziegler ever given a chance?

Article by Sam Jenkins
For THBN

The Daily Mail has reported that the Tottenham Hotspur Swiss left wing-back is close to completing a move to Italian side Sampdoria.

With the clubs lack of width on the left, do you not feel that using Reto Ziegler would have been wise? After all, the Spurs fans liked what they saw of Ziegler in the 2004/2005. He was first choice and the tabloids gave the player good reviews.

Something went terribly wrong in the 2005/2006 season though as Tottenham's head coach, Martin Jol, completely discarded Ziegler.

The player, becoming frustrated at not being able to play, left the club, going on loan to German club Hamburg, where he played very little. He was recalled and then loaned out to Wigan, where he also couldn't make the grade. His latest loan move saw him moving to Sampdoria.

So what was the problem with such a promising young player? Why did Martin Jol overlook him after his first season?

If he does leave for Sampdoria on a permanent deal, who will the club purchase as left-sided midfielder or winger?

40 comments

  1. Rumours are that he has an attitude problem
  2. Where did you get that rubbish? He just couldn't make the grade.

    It's obvious isn't it?
  3. There's something definitely wrong with him. He played really well and then was dropped the season after.

    Something must have happened between him and jol for him to be dropped.
  4. I think the club want to keep him. Why else would they only loan him out?

    If they didn't want him at the club, they would have sold him on.
  5. I think that he just couldn't settle in england. maybe he told jol that he didn't want to be at the club anymore?
  6. Things like this do happen from time to time. Maybe they their personalities just don't mix so well?

    Why on earth would Jol drop Ziegler, when it was obvious that we had a massive problem on the left of midfield?

    The only reasons are that he was either rubbish (which he wasn't), or that he's upset the squad in some way (kind of doubt that) or has upset the Spurs management (the most likely).

    If he does end up leaving, we've really got to spend the £13 million that we're going to spend on Bent, on a quality left winger.
  7. That's better THBN! Keep your sites to starting debates, instead of writing exclusives that aren't really exclusives.

    It's a shame about Zeigler. He's a good player and could have done well at Spurs. I don't know what happened at Spurs. What i do know is that something also went wrong at hamberg and wigan to.

    Maybe it is his personality.
  8. I trust MJ so if he feels we don't need him then so be it.

    Keep the faith.
  9. yeah, I agree with 11.34 - Ziegler hasn't exactly set the world alight elsewhere so maybe yet another unfulfilled early promise.
  10. he looked good in his debut season cos the rest of the team looked so mediocre. When we actually started playing well again he was left out cos he didnt cut it. Simple.
  11. I trust him too. It does seem a bit weird though?

    Also, do we trust MJ with £13 million to spend on Bent?

    Isn't Defoe the same player, but shorter?

    We could buy one world class winger for £10 million and use the other £3 million on a potential winger
  12. If he cant make the grade at Wigan then he will be nothing more than a squad player at spurs. And playing 3 or 4 games a season wont improve him or his confidence I think. Its a shame coz I liked him in his first season but he seems to lack belief that he cant beat players now!
  13. If he could'nt break into Wigan 1st 11 and Hamburg FC bench......Do you realy expect he can play regularly with Spurs?


    Same as Routledge at Portsmouth and Fulham and England under 21....
  14. 11.39, yep, personally I do. I think Bent is an excellent player and will get a lot better. To be honest, I can't see many other english strikers around that I believe will be an england regular in ayear or 2.

    Don't get me wrong, I love JD but how long has he been an england fringe player? Is it not possible that he always will be?

    I completely agree that the fee for Bent is too high but what choice do we have? And, if we've got the money why not spend it? I bet we also have another 10m somewhere for that left mid if needed...
  15. Ziegler is still young, but he did not convince when he played last season. A bit strange though because he was doing very well before that. I guess he lost confidence and maybe showed bad attitude. Let him go and play elsewhere. From my point of view Malbranque can play on the left. He is a very good player, that score goals and work hard for the team. Then again maybe he should have played central instead.
    A central defender should be priority, then a left midfielder from my point of view.

    Norwegian supporter
  16. Hi Norwegian supporter.

    Are there a lot of Spurs fans in Norway?
  17. I'm really starting to think BMJ's starting to plan for life without Berbs with Bent. If we don't make Champs League he'll be off and we'll have Bent as backup who will also have had a season to acclimatise to the way we play football. Not bad management really and it looks like JD's refusing to sign an extension which would make him available at a bargain price next season. Losing Berba is unthinkable though.
  18. I'm in Hong Kong and we have 1 official Spurs members club with 134 members in it.

    Spurs are viewed as a bigger club that Chelsea here.

    Regards

    Wang Lee
  19. You're right 11.54

    MJ is doing a great job of securing Bent now as I am sure Berby will be off next season. I just hope we don't sell him to a club in the Premiership.

    Bent will score at least 20 goals for us this season.
  20. Everyone forgets BALE!"!!!
  21. hay bale?
  22. I just don't think Ziegler was ever what we needed, he was average in an average team... we need some1 with alot more class if were going to push for 4th - in my opinion this is a step forward.

    For me though after the left side I would like to see us sign an excellent attacking midfielder - Jenas is good but is he good enough?
  23. hes shit get over it
  24. "After all, the Spurs fans liked what they saw" how do you have you asked me.. who appointed you chief spokenperson for the record i think he was poor certainly as a left winger maybe could have cut made the grade at left back but would have been no more than average
  25. Bale won't play on the wing!
  26. If we get in to the champs league at the end of the coming season (which isn't at all outragious) then why would the Berb leave?

    I don't see Bent as a replacement for the Berb I see him as a more suitable player for spurs and their goals/targets than defoe and mido...

    If we sign Kaboul does that mean Dawson is going next season?
  27. THBN would be better of getting some sort of ACTION/PETITION to keep Jermain Defoe at the lane. He is proven goal scorer wants to play for us. Selling him would only strengthen our rivals. Who don’t seem to be able to afford or want Bent
  28. Do the goons moan as much as we do when they sign/sell a player?

    Petition to keep defoe... If he doesn't fit in to MJs plans, or MJ sees someone else as a better replacement, then why keep him?
  29. I agree with 12:10 lets hit the streets kind of Athlico Madrid style over Torres
  30. 12:17 why keep him beacuse he is better than bent simple as
  31. ell 12.23, when you are manager and that is your decision I will fully back you.

    I do love JD but he also frsutrates me - too much falling over and too selfish (which can also be seen as one of his qualities). Would love to keep him but we can't fit everyone in the squad.
  32. Do the goons care as much???
  33. If Defoe left...that's means Defoe want to leave and has no intention to sign a new contract...Jol has said before that he would prefer Defoe than miss world.

    petition?...what petition? ...nobody owe anything here....


    and Defoe should have learn more about offside rules and how to pass to team mates who are in better positions to score.
  34. Charlton fan here Bent certainly knows something about about how to be offside.

    15 million plus BRING IT ON
  35. So you read the newspaper and then write it on a blog ??? This site is a total waste of time !!!
  36. 1.40 That makes your post even more a waste of time
  37. Berbatov Keane Defoe and keane makes me want to touch myself
  38. Berbatov Keane Defoe and Bent makes me want to touch myself

    I Meant Bent
  39. My opinions for what they are worth, initially very much against the signing of Bent. One thing certainly changed my mind that was him turning down west ham for the reported 75,000 a week, but the money is not the important aspect. The fact is that he wants to play for Tottenaham and that is a very powerful thing, especially as he knows what much competition there will be just to break in the team ahead of Keane and Beba.

    The price is a heavy one 2 much I would say but if the club can afford it and its not a risk to long term future or just as importantly to myself a season ticket holder not going to just be added to the cost of my season ticket next season then why not. Lets be honest he’s going to be supported anyway especially if when starts scoring goals.

    I am also very much in favour of keeping JD at the club again for very similar reasons as signing Bent. He is a quality goal scorer who wants to play for the shirt, no one can argue against that. The ideal of having Bent and Beba…
  40. 3 weeks ago you said in 2 weeks Kaboul will sign...

    so where is he?

    Ah yes, this is because you are guessing and taking newspapers and other fan based websites and trying to make it like your own.

    twats!