Spurs were unlucky to leave Anfield with just a point. The game with Liverpool was an extremely entertaining, end to end encounter packed with goals and incidents. Liverpool started the game better, and Voronin put Liverpool ahead as he was the quickest to react from Robinson blunder. A Gerrard freekick was deflected off the Spurs wall and Robinson reacted well to get to the ball, but couldn't hand on to it and gifted the ball straight to an alert Voronin. Also if not for some overly elaborate play from Voronin, who should have just shot, they should have been 2-0 up by the first 30 minutes.
However, with the potent strike force of Berbatov and Keane, Spurs made Liverpool pay for not taking their chances. Time and time again, they served warning to the Liverpool backline. If anything, these two are the classic example of how NOT rotating your strikers can benefit a team. Their understanding and movement was almost telephatic, and they scored 2 gems of a goal. The first came before halftime and the second came just after the second half started, to make the scoreline 1-2.
But as the commentator rightly said, Liverpool cannot be counted out, especially at Anfield, and they made an almighty effort to get something out of the game. They risked a lot, leaving plenty of space at the back and Spurs should have capitalized on it on a few occasions.
In the end though, Torres scored from a bullet header right at the end. There was nothing Robinson could do about it. The Spaniard has been a joy to watch this season, and did his team a big favour by scoring that equaliser. Alarm bells will be ringing in the Liverpool camp though, as a loss and a draw at Anfield isn't just what is expected at this club.
What a game it was though, a showpiece for what the EPL is all about. It will be hard to believe that Spurs will stay at the bottom of the table if they continue to play like this.
Showing posts with label Martin Jol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martin Jol. Show all posts
24.9.07
The Mourinho Exit Winners And Losers
Happy He's Gone
Roman Abramovich
The moral of the story is that, regardless of the success a manger brings, the owner is still the most important man at the football club. In a battle of wills, there can only be one eventual winner. Even armed with public support, Mourinho was fighting a losing battle against Roman's growing disenchantment.
Abramovich's dissatisfaction was understandable. Having spent unparalleled sums, he had good reason to expect more than economical football. It is this tension that was at the heart of the Mourinho-Abramovich divorce. The failure of the Mourinho regime was the refusal to explore - let alone prove - whether it was possible for attractive football to produce winning football. Having been seduced by ManYoo's epic 4-3 win over Real Madrid in 2003, Abramovich's mistake was to pick the wrong wife.
Yet Mourinho's ousting - probably best described as a jump before being pushed - will not be universally appreciated by supporters seduced by the notion that winning football is the definition of good football. Whatever the condemnation, Abramovich is unlikely to be moved. His reluctance to utter a single word in public since buying Chelsea in June 2003 is telling - by saying nothing, Abramovich has unwittingly revealed just how little regard he has for the opinion of the club's supporters.
If, as expected, Avram Grant is confirmed as Mourinho's full-time successor then Abramovich will have replaced a manager whose footballing ideals did not tally with his own with a coach who happens to be a close friend. Unmistakably, Abramovich is decisively stamping his own identity on the club. This is the price that the club once known as Chelsea FC must pay for ceding its autonomy in return for £500m-plus worth of investment.
Chelski's Big Four Rivals
The fact that every available bookie has increased the odds on Chelski winning silverware this season says everything.
But winning was no longer enough for the man who never says anything.
Peter Kenyon
Unlike the hapless Claudio Ranieri, Mourinho is not a Kenyon victim. Yet, as a victim of Roman's wish to be treated to stylish football, the Chelski chief executive has cause to cheer Jose's removal.
The embarrassment of Tuesday night's draw with Rosenberg occurring on the day that the club outlined its plans of world domination was less the draw with the Norwegian minnows than so many supporters turning up in fancy dress as empty seats.
In mitigation, Rosenberg were hardly enticing opponents, and Chelski have never boasted an especially large fanbase - a consequence, in part, of Stamford Bridge being situated in an affluent area of London rather than in the type of working-class district from which footballing behemoths have traditionally drawn their support.
However, the empty seats also underlined the incompatibility of Mourinho's minimalist style of play with Kenyon's remit of securing world domination. The advantage accrued from attractive football was further emphasised in the hours immediately before Mourinho's departure by Arsene Wenger calling for the Emirates' capacity to be extended beyond 100,000.
Avram Grant
Even if his 'permanent appointment' turns out to be seat-warming for Guus Hiddink, Grant has been handed a managerial opportunity that only Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafa Benitez will not envy.
From playing second fiddle to Harry Redknapp as Portsmouth's Technical Director to being appointed manager of one of the four sides with a feasible opportunity of winning the Premiership title in little over three months is an astonishing promotion. Rarely in English football can a manager have been appointed with his new team boasting such a lofty league position and their aspirations of major success so realistic. Grant may face a win-or-be-sacked ultimatum but at least he has the opportunity of winning.
Officialdom
One of the particularly unedifying aspects of Mourinho's reign is the regularity in which a baying pack of Chelski players hounded referees. It was such a frequent sight that it is impossible to believe that it was not a specific tactic, encouraged by manager edict and designed to intimidate.
Mourinho's absence will not prompt the reinstallation of respect for officialdom, but it might cause temporary relief from the descent into anarchy.
Mourning His Departure
The Nation's Press Men
Win, lose, or draw, Mourinho was always good for a quote.
The Chelski Supporters
The vast majority of Chelski supporters revered Mourinho. There were exceptions, yet, on the whole, the Stamford Bridge faithful were prepared to accept his foibles in return for two Premiership titles. The confirmation that Abramovich has greater sway at Stamford Bridge sits incongruously with their blinkered insistence that Mourinho's management rather than Abramovich's money was the decisive factor in their success.
The Chelski Squad
They will be shell-shocked and, mostly, devastated. That Mourinho personally informed five players that he was leaving in the early hours of Thursday and arrived at the training ground at 7.30am to inform them all in person is indicative of their intimacy.
Sunday's trip to ManYoo should concentrate minds and players such as John Terry, whilst mourning their master's exit, will need little encouragement to prove that Chelski are still title contenders.
The flip side is that ManYoo have the opportunity to inflict a crushing, and possibly mortal, blow.
Martin Jol
The Tottenham boss will have done that rarest of things on Wednesday night: celebrate an Arsenal win. Yet just when the Dutchman must have thought that his job security had increased on account of Juande Ramos' awful audition as a Big Four vanquisher, he has another mighty foe to fear.
Tottenham would represent a retrograde step for Mourinho but it is difficult to foresee him settling for being a part-time boss (which is what an international manager is) and his family is settled in London. And only a special manager could make Tottenham a top-four outfit...
(Courtesy: www.football365.com)
Roman Abramovich
The moral of the story is that, regardless of the success a manger brings, the owner is still the most important man at the football club. In a battle of wills, there can only be one eventual winner. Even armed with public support, Mourinho was fighting a losing battle against Roman's growing disenchantment.
Abramovich's dissatisfaction was understandable. Having spent unparalleled sums, he had good reason to expect more than economical football. It is this tension that was at the heart of the Mourinho-Abramovich divorce. The failure of the Mourinho regime was the refusal to explore - let alone prove - whether it was possible for attractive football to produce winning football. Having been seduced by ManYoo's epic 4-3 win over Real Madrid in 2003, Abramovich's mistake was to pick the wrong wife.
Yet Mourinho's ousting - probably best described as a jump before being pushed - will not be universally appreciated by supporters seduced by the notion that winning football is the definition of good football. Whatever the condemnation, Abramovich is unlikely to be moved. His reluctance to utter a single word in public since buying Chelsea in June 2003 is telling - by saying nothing, Abramovich has unwittingly revealed just how little regard he has for the opinion of the club's supporters.
If, as expected, Avram Grant is confirmed as Mourinho's full-time successor then Abramovich will have replaced a manager whose footballing ideals did not tally with his own with a coach who happens to be a close friend. Unmistakably, Abramovich is decisively stamping his own identity on the club. This is the price that the club once known as Chelsea FC must pay for ceding its autonomy in return for £500m-plus worth of investment.
Chelski's Big Four Rivals
The fact that every available bookie has increased the odds on Chelski winning silverware this season says everything.
But winning was no longer enough for the man who never says anything.
Peter Kenyon
Unlike the hapless Claudio Ranieri, Mourinho is not a Kenyon victim. Yet, as a victim of Roman's wish to be treated to stylish football, the Chelski chief executive has cause to cheer Jose's removal.
The embarrassment of Tuesday night's draw with Rosenberg occurring on the day that the club outlined its plans of world domination was less the draw with the Norwegian minnows than so many supporters turning up in fancy dress as empty seats.
In mitigation, Rosenberg were hardly enticing opponents, and Chelski have never boasted an especially large fanbase - a consequence, in part, of Stamford Bridge being situated in an affluent area of London rather than in the type of working-class district from which footballing behemoths have traditionally drawn their support.
However, the empty seats also underlined the incompatibility of Mourinho's minimalist style of play with Kenyon's remit of securing world domination. The advantage accrued from attractive football was further emphasised in the hours immediately before Mourinho's departure by Arsene Wenger calling for the Emirates' capacity to be extended beyond 100,000.
Avram Grant
Even if his 'permanent appointment' turns out to be seat-warming for Guus Hiddink, Grant has been handed a managerial opportunity that only Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafa Benitez will not envy.
From playing second fiddle to Harry Redknapp as Portsmouth's Technical Director to being appointed manager of one of the four sides with a feasible opportunity of winning the Premiership title in little over three months is an astonishing promotion. Rarely in English football can a manager have been appointed with his new team boasting such a lofty league position and their aspirations of major success so realistic. Grant may face a win-or-be-sacked ultimatum but at least he has the opportunity of winning.
Officialdom
One of the particularly unedifying aspects of Mourinho's reign is the regularity in which a baying pack of Chelski players hounded referees. It was such a frequent sight that it is impossible to believe that it was not a specific tactic, encouraged by manager edict and designed to intimidate.
Mourinho's absence will not prompt the reinstallation of respect for officialdom, but it might cause temporary relief from the descent into anarchy.
Mourning His Departure
The Nation's Press Men
Win, lose, or draw, Mourinho was always good for a quote.
The Chelski Supporters
The vast majority of Chelski supporters revered Mourinho. There were exceptions, yet, on the whole, the Stamford Bridge faithful were prepared to accept his foibles in return for two Premiership titles. The confirmation that Abramovich has greater sway at Stamford Bridge sits incongruously with their blinkered insistence that Mourinho's management rather than Abramovich's money was the decisive factor in their success.
The Chelski Squad
They will be shell-shocked and, mostly, devastated. That Mourinho personally informed five players that he was leaving in the early hours of Thursday and arrived at the training ground at 7.30am to inform them all in person is indicative of their intimacy.
Sunday's trip to ManYoo should concentrate minds and players such as John Terry, whilst mourning their master's exit, will need little encouragement to prove that Chelski are still title contenders.
The flip side is that ManYoo have the opportunity to inflict a crushing, and possibly mortal, blow.
Martin Jol
The Tottenham boss will have done that rarest of things on Wednesday night: celebrate an Arsenal win. Yet just when the Dutchman must have thought that his job security had increased on account of Juande Ramos' awful audition as a Big Four vanquisher, he has another mighty foe to fear.
Tottenham would represent a retrograde step for Mourinho but it is difficult to foresee him settling for being a part-time boss (which is what an international manager is) and his family is settled in London. And only a special manager could make Tottenham a top-four outfit...
(Courtesy: www.football365.com)
21.9.07
Jol makes no promises to 2 goal hero Defoe
Tottenham boss Martin Jol could not guarantee Jermain Defoe a starting place for the weekend despite the striker coming on and scoring twice against Anorthosis Famagusta.
Spurs were in control against the Cypriots in the first leg of the UEFA Cup first-round clash at White Hart Lane when Defoe came off the bench and made an instant impact.
The 24-year-old, who was not in the matchday squad at the weekend against Arsenal, chipped home the first and curled into the top corner in stoppage time for the second.
However, Jol would not guarantee him a place in the starting XI against Bolton on Sunday.
"Robbie Keane could have....
(Click here to read on)
19.9.07
Mourinho sacked? Good news for Tottenham!
Soccernet has 2 contrasting headlines on their mainpage this morning. But nevertheless, its major news, but one which i think was coming for a long time. I was actually planning to pen something about how i think this season would be Mourinho's last, not because he was lacking as a manager, but because the club was not allowing him to BE a manager.
Moaninho sacked or leaves on own accord?
No one can question his ability as a manger. Winning the EPL in his first season with a team comprising of great players that were NOT his own players. What i mean by this is that he largely inherited that team, but only brought in 1 or 2 players. Then winning it again in his 2nd season was even more impressive, as it is no mean feat to retain the EPL crown.
But of late, many things seem to be happening at Chelsea which seem to be undermining Mourinho's control of the club. Niggly comments from the likes of Peter Kenyon especially. Also the appointment of Frank Arnesen as sporting director was highly suspicious. It is widely acknowledged that Mourinho never wanted Ballack and Shevchenko, and they were probably brought without his consent. These 2 aging superstars was somewhat contradictory to the type of players he brings in; young and talented.
In any case, Mourinho is now out of a job, but don't expect this to last for long. The Board Of Directors of top clubs around the world would have noticed, and least of all the Tottenham Board.
Mr.Nice guy may be out of a job soon
Mourinho would fit in perfectly at Tottenham. All due respect to Martin Jol, who has done a tremendous job there, but now they need someone to take them to the next level, and few would doubt that the Special One has got what it takes.
Moaninho sacked or leaves on own accord?No one can question his ability as a manger. Winning the EPL in his first season with a team comprising of great players that were NOT his own players. What i mean by this is that he largely inherited that team, but only brought in 1 or 2 players. Then winning it again in his 2nd season was even more impressive, as it is no mean feat to retain the EPL crown.
But of late, many things seem to be happening at Chelsea which seem to be undermining Mourinho's control of the club. Niggly comments from the likes of Peter Kenyon especially. Also the appointment of Frank Arnesen as sporting director was highly suspicious. It is widely acknowledged that Mourinho never wanted Ballack and Shevchenko, and they were probably brought without his consent. These 2 aging superstars was somewhat contradictory to the type of players he brings in; young and talented.
In any case, Mourinho is now out of a job, but don't expect this to last for long. The Board Of Directors of top clubs around the world would have noticed, and least of all the Tottenham Board.
Mr.Nice guy may be out of a job soonMourinho would fit in perfectly at Tottenham. All due respect to Martin Jol, who has done a tremendous job there, but now they need someone to take them to the next level, and few would doubt that the Special One has got what it takes.
18.9.07
Mark Clattenburg, you da man!
Phew! What a weekend of EPL action! The pick of the bunch was the London derby, Tottenham vs Arsenal. It was an interesting battle, from every which way and angle you look at it. On one side, you had Martin Jol, his days at Spurs apparently numbered, and would a relieved man if he could knick all 3 points against their bitter rivals. Then there's the English vs Foreign Legion debate, with Tottenham the English team, comprised of a lot of top, young English players versus Arsenals skillful (and just as young) foreign stars.
At the end of it all, we didn't really experience anything new. Arsenal whooped their rivals again, but after having to endure some pretty luckless Tottenham finishing. Adebayor and Fabregas are fast becoming stars. And yet again, Tottenham are shown to be a team with a soft belly. They do a lot of things right, but lack any real killer instinct and winning desire. Oh, did i mention that Arsenal are now sitting pretty at the top of the pile?
You go girl!
However, the Man Of The Match should be awarded to referee Mark Clatternburg. He made top notch decisions throughout the game and can't be faulted for anything. There was a 'flow' to the game, as it swung from one end to the other. Wonderful to watch!
Referees these days always get criticized for their mistakes, but sometimes, we have to stand up and give praise and acknowledge when they've had a good game. So, kudos to you Mr.Ref! Just don't f*** up the next game.
Interestingly though, a Cardiff fan thought Mr.Clattenburg should NEVER ever refereee again albeit about 7 months back.
Adebayor doing well to impersonate Thierry Henry
At the end of it all, we didn't really experience anything new. Arsenal whooped their rivals again, but after having to endure some pretty luckless Tottenham finishing. Adebayor and Fabregas are fast becoming stars. And yet again, Tottenham are shown to be a team with a soft belly. They do a lot of things right, but lack any real killer instinct and winning desire. Oh, did i mention that Arsenal are now sitting pretty at the top of the pile?
You go girl!However, the Man Of The Match should be awarded to referee Mark Clatternburg. He made top notch decisions throughout the game and can't be faulted for anything. There was a 'flow' to the game, as it swung from one end to the other. Wonderful to watch!
Referees these days always get criticized for their mistakes, but sometimes, we have to stand up and give praise and acknowledge when they've had a good game. So, kudos to you Mr.Ref! Just don't f*** up the next game.
Interestingly though, a Cardiff fan thought Mr.Clattenburg should NEVER ever refereee again albeit about 7 months back.
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