Why 4-4 isn’t good enough for Jol or Tottenham
I sit here in my university room having left the student bar at half time. It was Tottenham Hotspur 1 Aston Villa 3 when I went; I was convinced we weren’t going to come back. I have been constantly updating the score on the net, still with a flutter of hope in my heart. And to my amazement, we came back from 4-1 down to draw 4-4. All credit to the players, and if it weren’t for individual errors we would have easily won a game we thoroughly dominated.
One has to feel though, that at 4-1 down, Martin Jol was clinging on by his fingernails. A heavy defeat on this, the club’s 125th Anniversary eve, would have surely resulted in a sacking. It would have been the last straw in Daniel Levy’s mind. But with Robbie Keane and Younes Kaboul receiving cautions for their goal celebrations, one can get a sense how much it meant to the players.
Though I was not able to witness it, the comeback must have been thrilling. And once the adrenalin has stopped flowing and Martin Jol can assess the game with his players, the question he may be asking is, “how did we let it get to that stage in the first place?” It is certainly what I am asking and I’m sure what Mr. Levy is asking. I am sure many witnessed the elaborate ceremonies before the match, marking 125 years of Tottenham Hotspur FC, and though our performance may have lived up to that, the score line didn’t.
The tough world of football, as it is today means greater pressure on managers and on such a momentous occasion, Tottenham were expected to get a convincing result. A thrillingly entertaining game it was, but also not what we needed today, and though we may have been unlucky, this may not be enough to secure Jol’s job. With the next Premier League game away at Liverpool, heavy defeat there could create an even worse scenario for the Dutchman than at 4-1 down today.
I don’t know what to feel now, but after the mid-week European fixture against Anothorsis Famagusta set to be a formality – in wake of the 6-1 drubbing – I just hope that Jol and the team do enough in the Liverpool game, which is the final game before a two week International break, or we could be looking at a new Tottenham manager when we return to Premier League football on 22nd October, away at Newcastle.
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Thanks for your helpful insight into the game which you didn’t see.
i saw the first half. the rest i didn’t need to see the results said it all
I too didnt see most of the game, well i actually managed to get home from the game in enough time to see the equaliser!! 1-4 down at home and ive seen enough…i dont care for ‘youre not a supporter’ or ’stay and support your team’ they were absolute toilet!! and no 4-4 draw can cover it up this time…. ive been a huge fan of BMJ and as a man i still am but as the manager of MY club..not good enough end of…..to many times picking the wrong team, tactically naive at best!! in theory we won the 2nd half 3-1 so why not play Keane behind from the start, we are clearly a better side with some skill in midfield!!!! ah midfield……..thats another story
I’m glad you missed the feelings of euphoria enjoyed by all those who kept the faith and kept supporting the team until the end.
Its support like yours (and that of those people who left the Lane at 4-1), that Tottenham Hotspur Football Club can well do without. I suggest you may find a more suitable home in west London.
Thank you Nick. What a waste of space. “i didn’t need to see the result says it all”. Just watch on teletext then and keep your shite opinions to yourself.
oh dear Nick…..you *****
i pay my money the same as you and im certainly big enough to make the decision as to when ive seen enough trash. i didnt slag off anyone that i thought mug enough to stay so i suggest you keep your ‘ we dont need people like you’ crap to yourself. i left because the team and club that i love were embarrasing me, and its my choice to come and go as i please. so i welcome your assessment of the team, manager and game, dont start with the fans….unless youre a better one than me of course!!
support what exactly?
Nick the P***K We pay our money to come and go as we please. Have you been watching football long enough to make your own conclusions? or are you a park lane jump on the old blind band wagon? 25 years of supporting my beloved Tottenham and I’ve never been so embarrassed!!
Up the Spurs and up the Wadz!!!
Ha, let’s play “who’s been supporting longest” - always a great way to validate opinions. I’m not even going to dignify your comment by posting my own “credentials”.
If being 4-1 down to Villa but coming back to draw 4-4 is the most embarrassed you’ve ever been - you must have missed 6-1 to Chelsea at home under Gross.
I love the way you call them your “beloved” Tottenham, but you’re happy to walk out on them. That’s a great way to make a difference.
nice one bruuuuuvaaaaaaaaa
Nick…why are you so bothered about what the fans are doing? surely you have an opinion on OUR team, OUR manager and OUR club! why 1-4 down at home? not good enough! why didnt we sign a truly world class midfielder in the window? not good enough, and why BMJ has to go? NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!!
get the picture, or am i missing something
So great Wadz. You fucked off after an hour and now you think your opinion is worth listening to? Tell you what, I’ll listen to the first two thirds then conclude you are a cunt.
yeaaaah lets break out all the BIG words, that means were well ‘ard idiot!!! i guess youll be phoning all the radio stations too later have a lovely day!
The players really need the fans support when they’re down and I’d expect people to give them that support to the end whilst there’s still a possiblity (however small) that the boys coulds turn it round.
I actually felt the game was quite a good reflection of life as a Spurs supported.
Great expectation (pre-game), feelings of progress (Berbs goal), dispare (1-4 down), excitment (as we came back), euphoria (Kaboul’s goal), reflection (what could have been).
If you left last night you missed one of the greatest comebacks in our history.
Hopefully next time you’ll have faith and be rewarded.
I’d look to some of the more experienced players for their dire performances before turning on BMJ.
Robbo should have caught the 1st, blocked the 2nd (although it was hard) and saved the 4th (positioning).
Daws (and I’m a big fan) - shouldn’t have got turned over for the 3rd.
Chimboinda - struggled in the 1st half.
Highlights were Bale, Defoe and Kaboul.
Spurs are certainly entertaining, but not always for the right reasons. Just look at the 4 goal thrillers over the past few seasons.
COYS and have faith.
At best this year is a transition season with us winning a cup (Carling seems likeliest) and I think Jol won’t be with us next season. The question of Jol going is WHEN not IF. In my opinion we’ll lose both our next 2 premiership games and Jol will get sacked. If that happens it will be a disaster as we’ll do a West Ham and quite honestly we might even go down. In my opinion we need to hang onto BMJ and give him a chance even if results do go against us. If we don’t win a trophy and don’t do reasonably well in the league (i’d take top 8 now) get rid of him at the end of the season!! The obvious successor is “the special one” but will he come to us? Ramos would be a very risky choice as he hasn’t managed in the premiership and doesn’t have experience at managing a club “at the next level” in my opinion.
suprising comeback from tottenham..but we didnt expect them to let 4 goals in the first half..there’s something missing in the team..and where would it be?
We do not have a quality midfield simple as that! Rather than waste the money spent on Bent we should have bought Petrov and a ball winning midfielder to replace Davids. Why pay 4.5 mill on Boateng and not use him? Could it be because he’s crap?
Nick is right but apparently all the other Spuds supporters disagree. Perhaps instead of them going to support Chelsea, you should come over and support West Ham mate. Seems to me they are a more accurate reflection of Spuds fans generally than you are.
i saw the whole game… first half was full of energy and Spurs didnt have a clue to how Aston villa were taking them apart.. Second half ssaw a very tired villa.. and all the goals scored in the second were scrappy… but good comeback by spurs.. but still need big time changes if they dont want to play in the championship next season..
PS.. can Man Utd or Chelsea buy berba off you, cos i feel he would not want to play for a team aiming to be in the top 4 from the bottom.
Man what a game congrats spurs i love seeing comebacks but when times are tight and everything looks down. “Football is full of suprises”.
Its too bad you have to play us but coming back 3 goals behind agaisnt a team like Villa?? wat a reasult!!
result*
I fail to see how surrendering 4 goals at home to a team we’re supposed to beat is cause for celebration. We stunk, and only a miracle saved us the point. Jol, please take Robinson with you on your way out.
First step: try Cerny.
Second step: play the youngsters. Taarabt needs to play, at the very least it’ll get the fans on the team’s side, as he is a crowd pleaser.
Third step: play Defoe from the start. Don’t you people think he’s earned that right with his recent performances?
Three easy steps to getting out of the relegation zone.
(P.S. What the hell are we going to do with D. Bent one?)