Tottenham's Joy of Winning the Cup 4 (2008)

Tottenham's last Cup winning performance in 2008 came in unusual circumstances as Martin Jol was replaced as manager by Juande Ramos in late October after his team had reached the 4th Round of the Carling Cup which was Ramos' first game in charge.  Victories over Arsenal and Chelsea made it a very special Cup campaign. 

2008 Carling Cup Final
Tottenham Hotspur 2 Chelsea 1 (aet)

Woodgate's Header Wins Cup for Spurs 

Woodgate Celebrates Win

Tottenham recorded their fourth success in the League Cup (Carling Cup) in a season that saw them appoint a new manager in late October and with new players who had only joined the club during the January transfer window.  Victories over 'top-4' London rivals in the semi-finals and Final helped to create a positive feel at the club that Spurs had at last started to close the gap on the the clubs at the head of the Premier League.  It was their first trophy since winning the Worthington Cup in 1999 and fans were over-joyed at the opportunity of another trip to Wembley and another European 'Tour'. 


Road to Wembley:
3rd Round v Middlesbrough (h) Won 2 - 0 Bale, Huddlestone
As they had qualified for the UEFA Cup by finishing 5th in the Premier League the previous season, Spurs were exempt from the competition until the 3rd Round.  It took two goals in three minutes late in the second half to see Spurs into the next round.  The introduction of Robbie Keane with twenty minutes remaining livened up Spurs' attacking options and within three minutes he had set up Gareth Bale for the first.  Three minutes later Tom Huddlestone scored the second and Spurs had overcome Middlesbrough's stubborn resistance.

4th Round: v Blackpool (h) Won 2 - 0 Keane, Chimbonda
The first match for Ramos as manager and an early goal from Keane set Spurs off against Blackpool, newly promoted to the Championship.  It required a hard-working performance from Tottenham and the second goal was scored by Pascal Chimbonda with just under an hour played.

5th Round: v Manchester City (a) Won 2 - 0 Defoe, Malbranque   
Jermain Defoe gave Spurs the lead on five minutes but Didier Zokora was dismissed after twenty minutes putting the team under added pressure.  However, they reorganised well and held City at bay and eight minutes from time Steed Malbranque secured victory.

Semi-Final (1st Leg): v Arsenal (a) Draw 1 - 1 Jenas
For the second successive season these two teams were drawn to meet at this stage of the competition.  Ramos decided to omit Paul Robinson for the first time, Radek Cerny taking his place.  Spurs started well and went ahead through Jermaine Jenas eight minutes before the interval.  They should have added to their lead in the second half but with ten minutes left Arsenal levelled.

Semi-Final (2nd Leg): v Arsenal Won 5 - 1 Jenas, Keane, Lennon, Malbranque, Opp. o.g.
What a way to reach Wembley!  Jenas started Spurs off with a goal after three minutes.  The second came courtesy of an own goal from a corner after half an hour.  Arsenal were losing it.  Keane scored early in the second half, Lennon added the fourth on the hour.  With twenty minutes left Arsenal pulled one back (Adebayor) but Malbranque added extra salt in the wounds with the fifth in the final minute. 

Final: v Chelsea (Wembley) Won 2 - 1 (aet)  Berbatov (p), Woodgate 
Ramos restored Robinson to the team and new signings Alan Hutton and Jonathan Woodgate, replacing the injured Michael Dawson, made their first appearances in the competition.  Tottenham started with a purpose taking the game to Chelsea and surprising their opponents.  Slowly Chelsea came more into the game and following a number of free-kicks around the Spurs box, Didier Drogba gave Chelsea an undeserved lead late in the first half.  Spurs continued to create chances and on seventy minutes were awarded a penalty for a handling offence.  Dimitar Berbatov remained calm and slotted home.  Chances continued to be created but missed until in the fourth minute of extra-time Woodgate scored with a header from Jenas' free-kick.  It was then all hands to the board as Tottenham held out to win their first trophy in nine years.


Team: Robinson; Hutton, King, Woodgate, Chimbonda (Huddlestone); Lennon, Jenas, Zakora, Malbranque (Tainio); Berbatov, Keane (Kaboul) Subs: (unused): Cerny, Bent

Tottenham looked to this win under their new manager as a stepping stone to breaking into the top four having overcome both Chelsea and Arsenal to win the trophy.  However, it didn't work out like that - their form dropped off alarmingly after the Final and they finished in mid-table, in the summer they lost both of their Cup winning strikers, Berbatov to Manchester United and Keane to Liverpool and by the following October Ramos was gone and Harry Redknapp had been recruited to ensure the team avoided relegation after taking only 'two points from eight games'.

Spurs' Carling Cup Success Based on the 'Ramos way'

Tottenham’s Carling Cup Success Founded on Belief in the ‘Ramos Way’

It’s little over four months ago that Juande Ramos took over the helm at White Hart Lane for a Carling Cup tie against Blackpool. In that time he has turned an ailing Spurs team, totally lacking in confidence, into a team that was able to defeat the Carling Cup holders at Wembley. Chelsea are a club who take the Carling Cup seriously and over the years have always fielded a strong team in the competition. Their manager selected his best team but Spurs were deserving of their fourth League Cup success.

We all know the ‘Tottenham way’ but this was a victory very much based on the ‘Ramos way’.

There was much criticism about the way Martin Jol’s departure was handled by Spurs and everyone admits that it could have been handled better. However, as Ledley King lifted the Carling Cup on Sunday, Daniel Levy and his directors must have felt certain satisfaction and justification in the decision they took to appoint Ramos.

In his time in charge Jol had lifted Spurs out of mid-table mediocrity and to a certain level which has now given Ramos the opportunity to take the team a stage further.

The seeds for Sunday’s victory were sown, not in the past weeks or days, but at White Hart Lane on an early spring evening last April.

Was it at approximately, 7.52pm on Thursday, 12th April that Levy and the Board of Spurs were first attracted to the Spaniard’s managerial talents? That night White Hart Lane was abuzz and high with expectation for the most important match of the season. Spurs were unfortunate to be a goal down from the first leg against Sevilla in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals - it had taken a controversial penalty to bring the Spanish side back into the game a week earlier. Spurs had been gallant losers but everyone was expecting them to put things right in the home game and qualify for the semi-finals.

However, totally unexpectedly Ramos didn’t bring his team to defend their one goal advantage, he sent out his Sevilla side on the offensive. Spurs were caught cold and within seven minutes were two goals down. Every Spurs fan was deflated and while the team recovered in the second half to earn a draw, they were never in a position to seriously threaten Sevilla’s progress to the next round and eventually a second UEFA Cup victory. For the third time in the season Spurs had been knocked out in the latter stages of the Cup competition, having been in a strong position.

It was with similar impressive style that Spurs started out against Chelsea at Wembley. It’s the ‘Ramos way’. It had been evident in both of the recent games against Manchester United and was most effective in the 2nd leg of the semi-final victory over Arsenal when Jermaine Jenas scored in the opening minutes.

But even when that early play didn’t lead to a goal, Ramos showed against Chelsea that he had the tactical acumen to change the game and give them belief that they could win the match. Having taken a fortuitous lead before half-time Chelsea seemed capable of grinding out a result as they drew Spurs tighter into their web. The impetus had gone from Spurs’ play but rather than accept what appeared at the time to be the inevitable outcome, he made a few tactical changes which lifted Spurs and took them on to success. He had shown such ability in earlier games but to achieve it so successfully in the Final against Chelsea was masterful.

Tottenham deservedly won the game and have received considerable acclamation for their achievement. Fans are looking forward with optimism to more success in the future, starting with a UEFA Cup win in May.

Sceptics say that Spurs have been there before and look where it got them. In 1999 George Graham was appointed after sacked Christian Gross was sacked and he won the Worthington Cup within months of taking over and was unlucky not to take Spurs back to Wembley in that season’s FA Cup. To many, at the time, it looked as if that was going to be the start of something good but it all turned sour. Graham was never popular due to his Arsenal history and his style of play never appealed to the Spurs faithful. In addition the Spurs team of that time was composed of many players who had had the best days of their career.

This time it’s different. The Spurs fans have quickly accepted Ramos and Gus Poyet, their style of play and appreciation of the game is akin to the ‘Tottenham way’ and the current players at Tottenham are eager for success and realise that they have a manager who can bring it to the club.

The manager has brought in his own backroom staff and they have worked to build the confidence of the players. They are determined to instil good habits into the players both on and off the field and they have them working as a team for each other.

In the short period of time that they have been in charge there has been considerable improvement in the play of several of the players. Steed Malbranque has worked tirelessly in every game, Aaron Lennon has shown that not only can he be a threat going forward but that he can help in defence covering and supporting his full back while Jenas has at last started to use his obvious talent throughout the game and against top class opposition. Others have shown increased confidence and a willingness to play for the team while the new signings have added to the quality in defence.

Spurs have finally broken that hoodoo of the ‘top 4’ teams and hopefully they can now set about claiming more trophies and their place in that elite group. The top clubs have in recent years been concerned about a Spurs’ revival and have done everything in their power to unsettle them because they know how great a threat Tottenham could be to them. At this time they realise that that under Juande Ramos there is serious potential for Spurs to unsettle the cartel at the top of English football.

Spurs Continuing Defensive Woes

The defensive woes that blighted Martin Jol’s final months as manager continue to derail the Juande Ramos/Gus Poyet revival at Tottenham.

Spurs have never been a defensively minded club in the search of success at any costs. They have always preferred to concentrate on attacking play and winning with style. The only Spurs’ manager who countenanced defensive play was George Graham and by tightening up Spurs’ defence and their approach to playing, he won the Worthington Cup in 1999 in one of the most boring Cup Finals at Wembley but then it was against Martin O’Neill’s Leicester City who is similarly inclined in his appoach to football. However, when Graham oversaw four successive 0 – 0 league games in 2001 his end was near – supporters weren’t prepared to accept that from their team.

Tight defensive play was the way of football on the continent and in the early days of European competitions the Italian and Spanish clubs came to the away tie with a ten-man defence and set out their stall determined not to concede a goal and prepared to use any method necessary, legitimate or otherwise, to achieve that aim.

Liverpool, Leeds United and Arsenal in their early days based their success on solid defensive play and the belief that if you didn’t concede a goal, you couldn’t lose the game and were satisfied if they won by the only goal of the game. It was from this premise that over the years they then developed their more attractive style of play.

Injuries to key defenders have badly affected Spurs this season and Juande Ramos has had to use a number of permutations at the back since taking over. He has also used every conceivable tactical manoeuvre to try and win games for Spurs, succeeding as evidenced in a number of games and particularly in the win over Reading at the weekend. Even against Villa, his second half substitutions and tactical switch revived Spurs and brought them into the game to equalise. However, it simply isn’t possible to win every game in that way as Ramos has been forced to do because of the inadequacies of the defence. Ossie Ardiles tried but failed with that system at Tottenham and once again at Villa the defensive frailties caught up with them.

Earlier in the season, shortly after Ramos was appointed I highlighted the short-comings of Spurs’ defensive play and detailed the goals that they had conceded from individual errors, free-kicks and corners. Initially, on taking over the problem seemed to have been addressed but in recent games it has reared its ugly head once more and cost Spurs dearly. Incredibly, of the past ten goals Spurs have conceded, eight have been from free-kicks or corners. A very worrying statistic and every manager in the land will know it and realise that at a set play all they need to do is play a long ball to the centre of the Spurs defence and there will be goals aplenty.

Spurs’ Defensive Woes (up-dated)

Sunderland (a) Lost 0-1 - conceded an injury time goal.
Everton (h) Lost 1-3 - conceded a goal from a free-kick within the first minute (identical to last season) – that made two goals conceded in two minutes over the first two games.
- goalkeeper and defender collide leaving opportunity to score
- deflection off wall from long range free-kick
Manchester United (a) Lost 0-1 – deflection on long range shot
Fulham (a) Draw 3-3* – conceded from a corner
- shot deflected, looped over goalkeeper
- failed to clear a long throw in and overhead kick from edge of area in injury time
Arsenal (h) Lost 1-3* – scored from a free-kick (similar to last season)
- long range shot on the break
- last minute goal but game was already beyond Spurs.
Bolton (a) draw 1-1* – scored from a free-kick
Aston Villa (h) Draw 4-4* – goalkeeper drops the ball from simple cross from corner, clearance sliced to defender who scored an equaliser
- failed to clear a centre and ball ricocheted to defender for his second goal
- failed to deal with long clearance and shot from edge of area
- shot from long range free-kick
Liverpool (a) Draw 2-2* – goalkeeper parries shot from free-kick, defence too slow to react
- last minute equaliser from long cross
Newcastle (a) Lost 1-3 – defence failed to clear a routine long ball giving home side goal on stroke of half-time
- conceded from a corner
- failed to clear ball creating opportunity for an unchallenged strike from edge of area
Blackburn (h) Lost 1-2* – shot took deflection off defender
- injury time free-kick half cleared and strike unchallenged from edge of box
Middlesbrough (a) Draw 1-1* – long range shot
West Ham United (a) Draw 1-1 – individual error by Kaboul
Birmingham City (h) Lost 2-3* – Poor challenge to concede a penalty
Long range shot in injury time
Manchester City (h) Won 2-1 – Conceded from corner
Arsenal (a) Lost 1-2 – conceded from corner for second goal
Fulham (h) Won 5-1 – conceded from corner
Reading (h) Won 6-4 – conceded from a free-kick and two corners
- fourth goal conceded on the break
Aston Villa (a) Lost 1-2 – conceded from two corners through poor marking

(* Games in which Spurs had been leading and dropped points)

To overcome this problem, Spurs need to find an experienced, commanding central defender who understands defensive play and can organise those around him. The play of Richard Dunne for Manchester City is the type of leadership and commitment that’s required at White Hart Lane.

Previously, I have questioned who was responsible for defensive coaching at the club – the same position needs to be considered. I greatly admire the theory put across by Alan Hansen on Match of the Day and in his newspaper column. He is well versed in defensive play from his time at Liverpool – get him in on a short-term contract to sort out Spurs’ defensive problems. Hansen or someone like him who has a thorough knowledge of defending – according to Mark Lawrenson, Hansen’s partner at Liverpool and in the MOTD studios, it is quite easy to organise a defence to defend set-pieces – so come along and show the Spurs’ defenders how to do it. Tony Adams has the Portsmouth defence well marshalled – Spurs need someone with similar credentials, experience and authority.

Tottenham Defending by Numbers (or not) [League matches only ] (up-dated)

3 Clean sheets in League this season

9 Goals scored by defenders against Spurs

7 Goals conceded in final minutes

8 Games Spurs have been ahead but not won

8 Points lost through conceding late goals

38 Goals conceded

21 Home Goals conceded

17 Away Goals conceded

25 Second half goals given away

Until Spurs resolve this major problem, they will neither challenge for Europe nor a trophy because they will always be susceptible at any set-piece play. Juande Ramos and Gus Poyet now know the extent of the problem they have inherited at Tottenham. They know what they need to do to achieve success.

Ramos - Tactical Genius or Lucky Manager?

Finding his team a goal down early in the second half, Juande Ramos took off central defender Ledley King and replaced him with striker Jermain Defoe. For the next ten minutes Reading spurned numerous opportunities to add to Spurs’ grief as the home side’s makeshift three man defence struggled to come to terms with their manager’s new tactical plan. Many a manager would have seen his team go under but Spurs somehow survived the Reading onslaught and equalised with Berbatov’s second goal of the game.

More inept defending from a corner, that was three goals conceded from set-pieces, and Spurs were behind again. Almost immediately Berbatov completed his hat-trick to keep Spurs alive in the game, a lovely goal from a corner when he got between two defenders and turned and passed the ball into the net.

More mayhem in the Spurs defence as Reading counterattacked to take the lead for the third time. Surely, Spurs couldn’t make another comeback. This time Steed Malbranque provided the goal to the delight and amazement of every Spurs supporter.

Was it going to be another 4 – 4 draw like the Villa game? No – Defoe scored from the rebound after Robbie Keane, previously so composed and assured with penalties, missed his second penalty in a week.

Up steps the manager to remove Keane and replace him with Teemu Tainio and resort to a back four defensive formation again. Berbatov scored his fourth to make victory secure and Spurs moved ahead of Reading in the league table.

The players showed admirable fighting qualities and endeavour to come back in a game that at one point looked lost as the defence struggled with any Reading attack and especially their set piece play from free-kicks and corners.

Ledley King looked bemused when taken off and many fans were equally confused. It makes sense to treat King carefully as he returns from injury but taking off the club’s best defender when a goal down looked foolhardy and the next twenty minutes of defensive frailties only added to that opinion. However, Spurs striking qualities and Dimitar Berbatov kept Spurs going to eventually achieve victory.

Ramos has shown in earlier games that he is willing to make substitutions in an effort to turn a game around and it worked to admirable effect against Reading. In previous games it also had the desired result where a nervy Kaboul was replaced with a more attack minded player in order to take the game to the opposition.

Are such moves the ideas of a tactical genius or is he a lucky manager?

Whatever your views, Juande Ramos is a brave manager – he has been prepared to make changes in an effort to win games rather than settle for a draw. Such dramatic changes won’t be successful every week so Ramos and Gus Poyet will be only too aware that their first priority must be to strengthen and steady the defence. The transfer window will give them the opportunity to add to that area and from a sound defensive base Ramos will hope that Spurs’ attacking options will continue to flourish.

Ramos’ Early Shoots of Recovery

In the Express of Saturday, 15th December, Harry Harris’s assessment of Juande Ramos’s first weeks at Tottenham read,

‘There looks to be little difference since Ramos took over from Jol.
Tottenham still cannot defend, especially from set-pieces. They are still missing inspirational skipper Ledley King, Dimitar Berbatov remains an enigma, hankering for Manchester United, and I don’t buy his denials.
There is no sign, yet, of Ramos sorting out his four strikers or that troublesome defence.
Tottenham might have won a couple more matches, but they are marginally worse under Ramos than when Dutchman Jol was in charge!’

Now many of you will decry such comments and heap abuse on their author but for my part on that Saturday morning, I would have said that they were a fairly accurate and fair analysis of the past six weeks – Ramos still had a lot to prove.

However, by Saturday afternoon that view was starting to change. In the game against Portsmouth there was a clear indication that Ramos and Gus Poyet were beginning to have an influence on the team. Where previously they would have gone back into their shell in an attempt to hold what they had, now they were much more positive. There was a greater composure about their game and they looked more comfortable, even in defence and with a makeshift defence at that.

Such composure carried itself into the Carling Cup game where they started confidently and positively. The early goal from Defoe helped to build that confidence but even when faced with adversity through the loss of Zokora, they didn’t panic but worked together, competed and frustrated Manchester City who had ten straight home wins to their credit. For seventy minutes they battled to ensure qualification for the semi-finals.

Individual players are showing greater confidence - Robinson, Jenas, Malbranque and Lennon, but all are working for the team and in a positive way.

Ramos was fortunate that his early games were a comfortable introduction into the Premier League. They provided him with a sequence of fairly winnable games, that the team would probably have reaped reward from whoever was manager but two away wins at teams sitting in fourth and seventh places in the Premier League is an early glimmer of the progress that is being sought under Ramos.

Now, he couldn't fashion three points at the Emirates last Saturday, that was too much to expect and we really would have thought he was a miracle worker. However, he saw his team produce a performance worthy of the three points and if Robbie Keane hadn't unexpectedly missed from the penalty spot, it could have been so different.

On Boxing Day, Spurs over ran a poor Fulham team, scoring five, with Keane and Tom Huddlestone both scoring two. Jermain Defoe scored a late fifth. With Ledley King's return and the new manager having an increasing influence, Spurs' fortunes are looking up.

Ramos Proves Jol’s Case

Ramos Proves Jol's Case

[first posted on Topspurs.com]

The final weeks of Martin Jol’s tenure as manager of Spurs brought much vitriolic criticism of him and the team as messageboard fanatics came alive as a consequence of the team’s failure to add to their August success over Derby County.

The fanatics’ unreasonable criticism, apart from calling for Jol’s dismissal, poured blame on Paul Robinson for every goal that was conceded and called him the worst Spurs’ goalkeeper ever, called as usual for the removal of another of Jol’s ‘favourites’, Robbie Keane to be replaced by Jermain Defoe, called Dimitar Berbatov moody and lazy and a hundred and one other names, never wanted to see Jemaine Jenas pull on the Spurs’ shirt again and so it went on. Also the ‘experts’ wanted to see the Adel Taarabt and Kevin Prince-Boateng selected and despite their lack of experience these young players were seen as the ‘saviours’ of the team.

Such over the top criticism was unnecessary and way off beam.

To regard Robinson as Spurs’ worst ever goalkeeper – you either haven’t supported the club very long or you have a very short memory when in the past we have had to endure such goalkeepers as Mark Kendall and Bobby Mimms. The calls for Cerny to replace him were based on adequate performances in pre-season friendlies and early Cup games. However, when he met with the high pressure games at Newcastle and against Getafe, he was less impressive and failed to suggest he was the answer to the ‘supposed’ goalkeeping crisis. Such was an indication as to why Jol persevered with Robinson who was low on confidence behind a defence lacking an experienced leader.

On his arrival Ramos tried out a few players and then for the game against Wigan, a must win match, he selected his strongest available team.

How disappointed the Jol critics must have been – he selected the exact same team that Martin Jol would have selected – the team that Jol regarded as his best formation for most of last season (Kaboul apart) – Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Kaboul, Lee, Lennon, Jenas, Zokora, Malbranque, Berbatov and Keane.

Perhaps Martin Jol actually knew what he was doing and what his best team was. I’m sure Jol felt vindicated when he saw that team selection – ‘his’ team was going out to play Wigan at White Hart Lane.

Then, of course, Jenas received plaudits for his two goal performance – ‘Ramos has got him playing well’ was the general opinion. Jenas has always been capable of performances like that in games when Spurs have been given plenty of space and time to display their skills – remember his Cup performance against Southend last season, his goal against Derby in August and many others. When Jenas puts in performances like that on a regular basis and against Arsenal, Chelsea or United, then will be the time to praise Ramos and Poyet for the influence they have had on the player.

Berbatov finally managed to show some interest and produce a performance akin to last season. Perhaps Ramos got through to him or perhaps it was his agent who had a word in his ear about trying to impress possible suitors.

Why did Ramos persist with Robbie Keane instead of Defoe – perhaps he saw, as Jol had done, that the team needed him to be creator as well as scorer and put in the extra work supporting the midfield.

Having watched the 125th Anniversary match against Aston Villa again, the performance against Wigan was similar to that earlier game but Wigan were unable to punish the defensive mistakes that Spurs made while Villa took advantage of every one of them.

In time Ramos will have a great influence on the team to get them playing in his way but for the present while the players will be putting in that extra effort to impress the new manager, Martin Jol can take some satisfaction that it was ‘his’ team that beat Wigan at White Hart Lane to bring Spurs three vital points.

From Hero to Zero in 50 Weeks

[first posted on Topspurs.com]

Martin Jol took charge of Spurs on 5th November, 2004 following the unexpected departure of Jacques Santini and two years later on 5th November, 2006 his team recorded the most impressive victory of his time as manager and raised expectations around White Hart Lane.

In his first full season in charge Martin Jol’s Spurs had finished fifth and only missed out on fourth place and the Champions League on the final day of the season when ‘Lasagnegate’ struck down many of the players before their game against West Ham at Upton Park. In reality, if Spurs had managed to resolve a persistent problem through the season of conceding injury time goals they would have been comfortable in the Champions League spot, ahead of Arsenal, well before the final game of the season.

However, throughout Jol’s time at White Hart Lane while his team had made steady progress they were unable to make an impression on the ‘top 4’ sides. Their best efforts had always fallen short – a draw or undeserving single goal defeat being the best they could achieve for all their endeavours.

So, their victory over Chelsea at White Hart Lane on 5th November, 2006 was so satisfying and a worthy reward for all the effort and the previous missed opportunities. It was taken as an indication that they had finally broken the Chelsea and ‘top 4’ hoodoo and would be a challenge to the top sides in the major competitions. Coming from a goal down, the win had been achieved with Spurs young ‘for the future’ players playing a prominent part – Michael Dawson and Aaron Lennon scoring the important goals. The tension throughout the final minutes was unbearable as Spurs held on to record victory and ‘Martin Jol’s Blue and White Army’ reverberated from all sides of the ground. The players and manager were being lauded as heroes and optimism was high among many supporters that finally Spurs had found a manager who could take the club on to greater things and follow in the footsteps of Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.

It was looking good for Jol and Spurs – he had a good array of international players and the team were starting to play more attractive football with Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane developing an understanding as strikers while the English strength in the team was prominent – Robinson, King, Dawson, Jenas, Lennon and Defoe. Following on from that win the team put together an impressive run of results through to the end of the year in League, Carling Cup and UEFA competition.

The climax of the season saw Spurs again claim fifth place in the League and a second season in the UEFA Cup. Martin Jol had achieved Spurs’ best back to back League finishes for twenty four years.

However, in the months from November to May questions had arisen about Martin Jol’s ability to take Spurs on to the next level which was seen as gaining a Champions League place and again it centred on his team’s performances and ability to take on and beat the top sides.

The first query arose when Spurs faced Liverpool at home in the final game of 2006. Having made White Hart Lane almost fortress-like with a good run of results and only one home defeat all season, Spurs succumbed rather timidly to a Liverpool side who showed greater determination and endeavour – it was a disappointing way to end 2006, a year which had seen Spurs make so much progress.

The next two months saw a downward turn in Spurs’ form – no League wins and only Cup success to keep the spirits up but defeat to Arsenal in the semi-final of the Carling Cup was another bitter disappointment. The ‘young’ Arsenal side had been two down in the first leg at White Hart Lane and Spurs seemed in a strong position but two second half goals for the visitors turned the tie and greatly increased Spurs’ difficulties for the second leg. Injury to Berbatov during the game had affected Spurs’ play and his unavailability for the second leg along with Lennon increased their problems. Eventual defeat in extra time left Spurs looking to the other Cups in hope of success.

A defeat at home in the League to Manchester United by four goals again raised doubts and rumours suggested that if Spurs lost their FA Cup tie at Fulham, then Spurs could be looking for a new manager. However, somewhat unexpectedly Spurs turned on an exciting display of football to win 4-0 and the manager was reprieved for the meantime.

The next meeting with a ‘top 4’ team saw Spurs visit Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup. At half-time Spurs were leading by two goals (3-1) and a semi-final place seemed a possibility. However, a determined Chelsea fight back saw them equalise and take the tie to White Hart Lane where they brought more heartache to the Spurs’ faithful.

The final disappointment came in the UEFA Cup where Spurs were undone in Sevilla by the award of an unwarranted penalty which gifted the home team an equaliser, enabling them to bring a one goal advantage to the second leg. However, within seven minutes the tie was effectively over as Juande Ramos’ side scored twice and although Spurs mounted a second half comeback to earn a draw, they had once again fallen short against a top side in a critical game.

Having qualified for Europe for a second season, any doubts about the manager seemed to be have been set aside during the summer as £40 million was spent on strengthening the team and many commentators were predicting a season which would see Spurs challenging for a top for place and even ousting Arsenal from that top group.

However, after opening the season with two uninspiring defeats, the concerns about the manager were brought into the public domain when directors of the club were seen in a hotel in Sevilla courting the manager of the UEFA Cup winners. Denials and statements were issued, Martin Jol was assured there was nothing sinister in the meeting and that his position was safe but the matter was never resolved and wouldn’t go away.

From that time in August Martin Jol knew that his days as Spurs’ manager were numbered. The players knew it, the supporters knew and with continuing media speculation on the back of poor results it was only a matter of time.

That time came fifty weeks after Jol was being hailed a hero following his side’s first success against a ‘top 4’ side and the first League victory over Chelsea since 1990. The match against Getafe in the UEFA Cup which had brought such exciting football to White Hart Lane last season, was the background to the manager’s departure. Rumours had circulated on the internet before the game that this was going to happen and during the match the spectators became aware of the situation and responded with a constant roar of support and appreciation for Martin Jol.

The deed has been done and it could have been handled so much better but while Juande Ramos has been installed as manager of Tottenham Hotspur, Martin Jol deserves credit for what he achieved at the club. He brought the club a respect that had long been missing from Tottenham Hotspur and he achieved more than any of his immediate predecessors and qualification for two successive UEFA Cup campaigns.

However, nothing is assured in football. Last year on the strength of that win over Chelsea it appeared that Martin Jol would be in post for a considerable period of time but in fact for Jol it went from ‘hero to zero’ and the dole in only fifty weeks.

The Undermining of Martin Jol at Spurs

[first posted on Topspurs.com]

Martin Jol started out with the ambition of emulating the success achieved by the great Bill Nicholson but ended up joining the long line of managers who have failed to bring success to White Hart Lane. His final match against Getafe in the UEFA Cup ended in defeat but in spite of everything Martin Jol left Tottenham Hotspur with dignity and honour.

It was a sad and disappointing way for the manager to leave the club after he had done so much to lift Spurs from the mediocrity that had preceded his almost three years in charge. To finish fifth for two consecutive seasons was way beyond anything that his immediate predecessors had achieved but it wasn’t enough for the Board or some of the more demanding supporters. His target for the season had been to break into the top four and the Champions League positions with his ‘card’ had been clearly marked by the Chairman, Daniel Levy. However, with the poor start to the season that was looking a forlorn hope and with the players’ confidence so obviously at a low ebb, there was no indication of an immediate improvement in the position.

Defeat at Liverpool before the break for international games would probably have brought a close to Jol’s managerial reign but a spirited performance from the players took them to within seconds of a historic victory. Another difficult away game at Newcastle last Monday saw a terrible defensive display contributing to their defeat and was probably the last straw for the Board.

Having taken the decision to remove Jol and his assistant, Chris Hughton, before the Getafe match, the subsequent defeat would have justified the decision in the minds of the Chairman and directors.

However, Martin Jol had been in an untenable position from the end of August when the initial approach was made to Juande Ramos at Seville. From then on everyone knew it was only a matter of time before he would be leaving White Hart Lane and as the weeks dragged on the situation only deteriorated with the manager looking more forlorn on every occasion.

Through those difficult weeks and the period last season when a poor sequence of results in the early weeks of 2007 had put his position under threat, Jol conducted himself quietly and with dignity, never speaking out or criticising those in charge at the club. Last season, the Cup victory at Fulham brought a stay of execution and a series of results that lifted the club to fifth but there was to be no reprieve this time.

As manager of Tottenham Jol did much to restore respect for the club which had suffered so many ignominies in the recent past. His style may have been over-cautious on occasions but when the team played well they could produce the attractive, exciting football associated with the club. Where he failed was in the inability to win the critical ‘big’ games against the top four or in the latter stages of the Cup competitions. When drawn to play a top side there was an inevitability about the result.

It was probably this last difficulty that influenced the decision of the Board who thought that Martin Jol was unable to take the club any further.

But was the manager helped by the policies of the club?
· the restrictive salary scales which prevented them signing top quality, experienced players
· the preference for signing young players with an improved sell on price
· the insistence on a Director of Football with a say in the players who were signed
· the refusal to sign a left-sided midfield player
· the prevarication on transfer deals which usually floundered after weeks of negotiations
· the sale of Michael Carrick, around whom Jol had built his team.

All of these issues contributed in making the manager’s job more difficult and undermined his position but through it all Martin Jol kept his countenance and his thoughts to himself, striving to make a team and produce results from the players with whom he had been provided.

Martin Jol was a gentleman – he had a feeling for Tottenham Hotspur and its historical success and he had a desire to bring success to the club and to the supporters who appreciated his endeavours.

Martin Jol didn’t deserve to be treated as he was by the Board and he didn’t deserve the harsh criticism that was dished out on some of the supporters’ internet message boards.

He has left now and rightly been well rewarded for the remaining period of his contract.

Thank you Martin Jol for your efforts on behalf of Spurs, you brought us great hope and perhaps it was that that lifted our expectations to a new level and brought about your own demise.

Best wishes for the future – you will be remembered at White Hart Lane as a gentleman but one who ultimately failed to achieve the success we all desired.