What could Mourinho have done at Tottenham?
Martin Jol thinks that no one - NO ONE! - could have done better than him at Tottenham in the time that he’s been there.
“I have to come up with the goods, that is what I have done. No one could’ve done better, I firmly believe that. Not even Mourinho.”
Jol also said:
“To be fifth for two seasons with Spurs is probably not bad, it’s very good. There was no manager before me who did the same.”
I sympathise with Martin Jol - his situation at Tottenham is unfortunate, courtesy of the Tottenham board first going behind his back and then giving him enough rope to hang himself by having him publicly declare that Tottenham’s ambition this season is to finish in the top 4 (did they know Chelsea were going to lose Mourinho? I doubt it). I don’t think he’s the man to take Tottenham to the next level but on the other hand he’s done a very good job at Tottenham in the last two seasons and he should not be treated like this.
However, despite the results (I’m sure things will turn around for Tottenham), Martin Jol has had my full support in this matter - until now.
It’s hard to take a man seriously who, in a moment of desperation, boldly claims that no one could have done better than him. There’s ALWAYS someone who can do better mate, unless you’re telling me that the best Tottenham CAN do is be 18th after 7 games.
So here’s the big question - what could Mourinho have done at Tottenham?
Would Mourinho have thrown away 4th spot (which Spurs could have secured before they got sick for the last game)?
Would Mourinho have had as bad a start to last season as Jol?
Would Mourinho’s Tottenham have finished so far behind Arsenal as Jol’s Tottenham last season?
Would Mourinho’s Tottenham be in 18th place this season?
The answer to all 4 questions is the same. NO. However, feel free to debate this in the comments.
Everything else Jol is says is on the money regarding instability, the need to bring in someone who can do better, etc.
- Tottenham: Levy confesses to betraying Jol
- Jose Mourinho page (updated)
- All of Jose Mourinho’s quotes
- Mourinho Leaves Chelsea for…Tottenham?
- A Peek Into Chelsea’s Plans For Duff (Tottenham Fans Please Read)
Discussion - 11 Responses
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Frank Farina (former Australian Manager) could of done better than Martin Jol and that’s saying something.
Please stop saying how the board have harsly treated Martin Jol. After all, the boards actions were a result of finding out that Jol had approached other clubs, 2 premiership teams, and offered his services if they doubled his salary. Jol is hardly an angel in this.
Jol, what an embarrassment! Again he shows a lack of good judgement - please wheel him away before he tears down the good things he has achieved! Levy - crack on with the replacement . . . before we all regret it! Big daft Martin.
Fantastic artical, please could you tell me the lottery numbers too oh seer of what might have been! Could you please explain just how exactly you KNOW that Mourinho would have done better? What cast iron proof do you have that clearly proves the ’special one’ would have achieved more? There is only one fact here, that is, you honestly don’t know what would have happened if Jose took charge, you can’t prove a bloody thing, speculative opinion is all you have to speak of…stop wasting web-space with inane comments like this. Get behind the team, the manager and the board and forget you delusions of what might (or not) have been.
John B seems to be the only sane one on this web page.
OK Ahmed.
“It’s hard to take a man seriously who, in a moment of desperation, boldly claims that no one could have done better than him.”
Firstly, in case you hadn’t noticed, Martin Jol doesn’t do desperation. If you watch any of his interviews or the comments he makes, he is confident in what he says and thinks, and will not bullshit. Everything he says is calculated, calm and rational.
“There’s ALWAYS someone who can do better mate, unless you’re telling me that the best Tottenham CAN do is be 18th after 7 games.”
About the “ALWAYS someone who can do better mate”, you are being ridiculously unfair on a man who steadied our ship for the first time in years. And, “unless you’re telling me that the best Tottenham CAN do is be 18th after 7 games.” When MJ said
“I have to come up with the goods, that is what I have done. No one could’ve done better, I firmly believe that. Not even Mourinho.”
I’m sure he didn’t mean “no-one could do better than 18th in the league after 7 games.” You apply this to the wrong facts. It is obvious he means no-one could have got two top-5 finishes.
Q1 - Would Mourinho have thrown away 4th spot (which Spurs could have secured before they got sick for the last game)?
Fourth spot was hardly thrown away. It’s not like we bombed spectacularly. We still played well to the end of the season, I am aware we had the odd bad result e.g. 1-1 West Ham but we had hardly reached the heights of 4th before so whatever we did it was to be a great achievement. Plus in hindsight, over-achievement, which is what 4th would have been at the time, could have been detrimental to the club. It is better we competed in the UEFA cup regularly before the challenge of regular Champions’ League football, where we would have had an improved squad and a better chance of going further.
Q2 Would Mourinho have had as bad a start to last season as Jol?
Yeah, it was not a good start, but it meant nothing once the season was over as we once again qualified for the UEFA Cup for the 2nd consecutive year. Mourinho lost his second game against Boro’ when he hadn’t lost for numerous games the previous season. He didn’t win the title either, so I could ask you, would another manager with all that money to spend not done as ‘badly’ as Mourinho and won the title? You can’t obviously say this, there are other factors but your question does not take them into account.
Q3 Would Mourinho’s Tottenham have finished SO FAR behind Arsenal as Jol’s Tottenham last season?
Oh yeah, REALLY far, 5 points. In a season where you could ask why did Arsenal, potential championship contenders finish something like 30 points behind Manchester United? Because of injuries. But no it’s fine, lets blame Spurs finishing SO FAR behind Arsenal on Jol.
Q4 Would Mourinho’s Tottenham be in 18th place this season?
Well as this is speculation, lets see what Mourinho has done. 6 played, 3 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss. Not top of the table. Hardly championship form considering he’s had hundreds of millions to spend. (I personally take into account injuries etc, but as your question doesn’t, neither will my answer.)
Even Mourinho could not deal with the injuries he had last year and this year, so it would not have mattered who was in charge of Spurs and the injury-ridden team, unless you are some sort of miracle worker.
Yeah. Forget of what might have been and support Crystal Palace instead.
sure why not
Martin Jol time is up at Spurs. That’s is all he can do for Spurs. Nothing more. Bringing them to 5th place for the last 2 season is the best he can do. He can never do better then that anymore.
That is why Spurs need a new manager to give their hopes of improving a fresh start. It got to start from the sacking of Jol!
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
Although Martin Jol had done well for the past 2 seasons， he is not the man to take Spurs to another level。 He does not have the track records compare to Mourinho。
Even though the “Special Ones” is a big mouth， he had won numberous medals。
Be careful what you wish for. The Sevilla manager (Juande Ramos) so lauded a month, ago has had a shocker since. His side have now lost 5 games in a row, including a 3-0 drubbing by the Arsenal. Spurs board: do you still want Ramos? Even if he finishes outside the top four in Spain this season?
All teams go through difficult patches. It’s about making sure you hold your nerve when in difficulty. The problem for Spurs now is that the manager has been so undermined, that it is hard to see him doing as well as he has done over the last two seasons.
Spurs may have to content themselves with a top ten finish and forget about the top four - for this season at least.