So we are 6 games into the new season and Spurs' expensive new signings are stinking up the Premiership, Derby County-style. The stench is so bad that English newspapers have started to suggest that the manager is soon to be canned, and not only that! They have even linked a manager to the position who works for another club. Sound familiar?
As Sarah Palin would say... "You betcha!"
Let's go back exactly 12 months. Martin Jol was having a nightmare and the vultures were circling. Daniel Levy denied that he was interested in replacing Jol with one Juande Ramos. The papers knew what was going on, hell, Jol knew what was going on.
It's a good job that Ramos doesn't speak English as he is shortly to find out that he is no se necesita mas nada, that's surplus to requirements to most of us. So who does Levy have lined up? Maybe one Mark Hughes.
But wait... "Hell NO!" shout Spurs.
This morning they issued the following statement on the official Tottenham Hotspur website: The Club largely refrains from making statements of this nature unless absolutely necessary in order to set the record straight in light of wholly inaccurate reporting.An article on the back page of this morning's Sun newspaper reports that the Club has made an offer to Mark Hughes to take over as manager during the forthcoming international break.This story is completely untrue and without foundation and the matter is being discussed with the publication.
Ok. Done deal. Naughty papers stirring the pot. Bad bad press. Don't trust them, lets move on...
Oh, hang on, no, lets zoom back in time... what's this I find from Aug 24th last year? Daniel Levy finally offered Martin Jol his "100% support" yesterday but no sooner had he done so than his club, Tottenham Hotspur, were forced into another denial about an alleged rendezvous with a prospective new manager - this time, the former Real Madrid coach, Fabio Capello.
Levy has endured a torrid time since a delegation from his board of directors was caught meeting with Juande Ramos, the Sevilla manager, in Seville. Ramos said Tottenham had made him a "dizzying" offer to replace Jol, a statement of fact that Tottenham contest.
We have received a couple of calls about top managers but they have been told politely but in no uncertain terms that we are not about to change our manager," said a club spokesman.
Uh oh.. Get packing Juande. You know the drill. In fact, you devised the drill!
Now what can we learn from last years "situation"?
Well. Capello was mentioned and who knows, probably approached. Hughes may not want to leave Man City for Spurs, even if his new mega-rich employers try to push him as they look for an experienced 'top name' to spend their gazillions, but there is no smoke without fire. Hughes is merely last year's Capello.
One thing is for sure...No statement from Spurs can EVER be believed.
Spurs have spent plenty of cash and the fans honestly deserve better football. After all, Spurs are supposed to be a footballing side. The obvious difference between Ramos and Jol appears to be knowing where players belong. Jol did and Ramos doesn't.
When your manager buys one of the best right backs in the world (Corluka) and then states he may want to play him in central defence, the alarm bells should be ringing loudly. And what's with no English? Capello, Scolari, Mourinho, Benitez, Wenger, Fergusson (kidding) all learned the language necessary to to the job in hand. How can you bring success to a Premiership club when you cannot even be bothered to accelerate your learning to the point that you can communicate with your players without an interpreter?
Spurs need a manger who can take them seriously and the sooner they admit they are looking, send Ramos home and replace him, the better for all involved, especially the fans who have been teased constantly for years. Under Jol they were a decent Lasagna away from the Champions League and with Ramos they were given false hope with the league cup win over Chelsea during his honeymoon period. Today, they are in the worst position they have been in for over 50 years.
Juande (sorry) they may look back and sigh, but today, Spurs need to act and FAST. Last time I looked they were bottom and no one seems to be emulating Derby's disgraceful effort this year. Expect of course... Spurs.
-Bigus.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Deja Vu
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19 comments:
This assessment is accurate. And considering the source, that much more disturbing. Still, can't give up on Juande quite yet.
The side needs stability. He has done it at Sevilla so we might as well give him the benefit of the doubt as another managerial change might make me mental
He inherited a good team. The only place he is taking Spurs is Plymouth away. Lose to Hull on Saturday and he won't even make the press conference. The Taxi will be waking.
inherited a good team at Sevilla..to be clear.
I dunno, TLL. Perhaps Ramos should be given a bit more rope, but his lineups are inconsistent, he routinely plays players out of position (Bentley on the left, Bale as a winger, Corluka in the middle, Gilberto on the wing) and plays players that are just not quality--BAE, Zokora, Dawson, and Gilberto. The nagging injuries to Hutton, Bale, and King have forced his hand a bit as regards the latter, but I can't believe that BAE or Zokora are ever a better choice than Gunter or Huddlestone. He hands the most inconsistent player on the squad an armband (Jenas). Lennon is probably the most effective player on the squad right now, and he's usually benched. It's a side that lacks creativity and pace, and most match days, both Lennon and Dos Santos, players that can provide those things, find themselves benched. It's not all Juande's fault that there are no goals in this side, but his tactical buffoonery this season
...has made a not-insignificant contribution to Spurs poor form thus far.
Phil
When Hutton comes back I imagine Corluka will be playing CB alongside Woody when King not fit (Every other game). I believe he is one of the best RB in the league yet Hutton is no CB and I believe Corluka will have to get used to playing alongside Woody. For now I can live with Gunter, Corluka, Woody, Bale. Its the midfield that bothers me. Zokora while his intent is good is just not quality. Good effort yet not very skillful. I actually miss Malbranque a lot as he had skill and would get stuck in. I cant belive we let him go. Jenas, just not good enough either. Some brilliance and then he disappears. My preference right now is a 4-4-2
Assuming King is fit. If not move Corluka to the middle and Gunter to the right until Hutton fit
Corluka King Woody Bale
Lennon Hudd Modric Dos Santos
Bent Campbell
That leaves Bentley and Pav on bench but without real target men who can hold up the ball we need guys who can open up the opposition.
I think you're right, BB, and I couldn't agree more on Zokora. He is pants. Not Dawson pants, but pants nontheless. I don't like leaving Bentley on the bench, but I agree that the lack of a target man has left the squad with few options. 4-4-2 would be my preferred formation, but Ramos is unlikely to switch from 4-5-1, esepcially now that he and Poyet have got it in their head that none of the forwards can play in tandem with one another.
Playing Corluka in the middle is the work of a retard. Even in Kings absence. He has other CB's including Dawson. Think about it a second. You sign an international RB who you paid 8 million for, a player who has mastered that position during a successful career and you prefer Hutton (who is tat) to play him out of position because you don't like the other CB's in the squad? And you know Corluka can play there how? Because he played there twice during an injury crisis when he was 20. It'[s not rocket science..Ramos is clueless.
hughes will do whatever makes it easier for him to move to united once fergie steps down. if he doesnt think he will get hired from across town, hes gone at the first chance.
BD, Dawson is fucking clueless. I would be a better choice at CB. Hutton's not coming back any time soon, anyway, so it's just Juande's insistence on playing BAE and Zokora at RB that keeps Corluka in the middle.
Wouldn't it make more sense for Spurs to just replace Ramos with Poyet, than to poach another manager? Unless Hughes is just itching to leave Citeh, the legal fight likely to ensure probably isn't worth it.
Maybe they should just bring back Glen Hoddle. LOL
I believe that Dickus has a pt about Corluka yet he must not watch Spurs to properly judge Dawson. If he gets a game we should plan on changing Chas n Dave to
Spurs are on their way to Burnley
I did not suggest Dawson was good, just that he is a professional CB hired by the club. Maybe Commoli and Ramos should have thought about this problem during the summer instead of signing yet another option for RB! Seriously. They just signed Hutton FFS. Not as if they were short of cash was it either.
Do you want Archibald-Henville back boys? Not exactly finding his feet at Carrow Road is he. Yet, he may start tomorrow!
Well, BD, If Hutton may be superfluous nwo that Corluka is there, but Corluka is only there because Hutton got hurt. otherwise I doubt Corluka gets bought. Which is further evidence of the stupidity of Ramos and Commolli, as Hutton, while a nice player, is nowhere near Corluka's class. And I also agree that Dawson should've been shitcanned and a real central defender bought. Spurs lack some real steel at midfield, and have since Davids and Carrick left. That coupled with Ledders' balky knees should've indicated to Commolli that a CDM and a CB signing were in order.
I'd say fella! They knew when Hutton was coming back and still used Zakora at RB once after buying Corluka. It's bonkers. Why not play Lennon up front and put Bent in goal?
BD, best not say that in public, else Juande should hear and get ideas.
In all seriousness, though, I think Juande gets the next three matches to save his job. If he can't pull at least 6 points from Hull, Bolton, and Stoke, he's sacked. And, if the January window does not bring a target man and central defender, look for Comolli to get the sack, as well.
Yeah 10 games is the standard allotment of time when sucking arse at the start of a season. But lose to Hull? Woah....
Losing to Hull didn't seem to warm Arsene's seat....
Yeah, a loss to any one of those teams likely signals the end for Juande he needs two wins and a draw, minimum.
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