Tottenham Hotspur midfield may be the weakest link
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.
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.
119 comments
Why oh why does he not prioritise that position?
Btw 11:58, Boateng plays on the left, but does have the tendency to drift in
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
'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.
Thanks 12:11
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
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!
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.
You really are useless when it comes to football, and posting anon to support yourself is truly pathetic.
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 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.
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
bring way andy reid - fat cunt - who apparently had the most cultured left foot in the premiership !
Why doesn't MJ play Wayne Routledge on the left?
Cheers
you stupid bastard. we have one full back, a crippled captain and a joke midfield
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..
can i suck your weiner
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.
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
Can you imagine Ferguson, wenger etc even contemplating him for their squads??
I think a quality manager would have achieved more than Jol with the same players and financial resources.
with the same players as Jol bought, and injuries etc. we did about as good as could possibly be expected
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
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
BMJ inherited him, didnt he have his own boys to bring in ?
fuck me this place gets worse.
Let's hope somebody takes his mate, Ghally, off our hands too
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
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 th…
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?
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
freak
third link down
And I thought Poshwank is a complete tit.
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
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!!!!
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