If we are to compare Martin Jol to a former Premiership league manager, then the results would come up with the match: Claudio Ranieri. The Italian maestro whilst in charge of Chelsea had made the West London club a force to be reckoned with in the Premiership. He had seen something in Frank Lampard when he brought him for £11 million from West Ham where others felt that that was a price too steep for an English player, he also brought Claude Makalele from Real Madrid who did not fit into the Gallactico philosophy, and he also nurtured the talents of John Terry and Robert Huth. Of course there was some negatives along the way: selling Dennis Wise, one of Chelsea’s most popular players, and finishing 6th in his first season. But he had propelled Chelsea in his last season in charge, to 2nd place in the Premiership and reaching the semi finals of the Champions League beating Arsenal along the way. It had taken time but Chelsea was finally going places with Ranieri and the fans had begun to warm to the mild mannered, and diplomatic Italian manager. Which is why when Roman Abramovich seemed to stress his impatience with Chelsea not winning any trophies, and outlined that Ranieri’s position was under threat if he didnt deliver, the fans got behind the Italian one hundred %.
Looking back in hindsight, Amramovich’s dismissal of Ranieri in opposition to the fans pleas and appointment of Mourinho was probably the correct one as it had brought one of the club unprecedented success. Here is where the similarities lie with Martin Jol and his situation at Tottenham. At Craven cottage, where he emerged from the tunnel before kick-off, the Tottenham faithful made it clear where their sentiments lied with a warm appreciation for the Dutch manager. Martin Jol’s only ally in recent weeks had inspired his team to give an encouraging display against Fulham, but having played better than their counterparts and seemingly in a comfortable position with the score at 3-1 to Tottenham, Mr Jol felt secure in taking off their most influential players; replacing Robbie Keane for Jermaine Defoe.
So with 13 minutes left to go and three points apparently in the bag, those three points decrease to one point as Fulham pull back two late goals, and that enthusiasm which had galvinised Martin Jol’s moodat the beginning of the match; was forgotten and he stood a despondent forlorn figure. If anything the result was awelcome one for Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy and his fellow directors, giving him enough impetus to begin preceedings in letting his manager go.
Tottenham started well with new signing Younes Kaboul tipping in the opener after Fulham’s keeper Antti Niemi had flapped from Gareth Bale’s corner. Tottenham were all over the West Londoners and thier dominance and goal threat was rewarded further when Robbie Keane and Dimitri Berbatov worked well to increase the lead. Fulham gave themselves a lifeline through a header from Clint Dempsey. While Tottenham’s other new signing Gareth Bale whose influence on this game was immense, completed a great solo run to smash home the third for Tottenham.
Tottenham’s problem in the match was that they could not finish Fulham off. Scoring three goals agaist the West Londoners was fine enough but they had countless other chances to put the game beyond reach, and the chance gifted to Jermaine Jenas in the 31st minute where he was put clean through with Fulham’s keeper and where he could of squared for Robbie Keane but ran into trouble summed up Tottenhams performance in this match. Eventually the tables turned and with roughly 13 minutes left to go a shot from Alexy Smertin that seemed to be going nowhere deflected off Ricardo Rocha to enter the net past Paul Robinson. To add insult to injury and not in anyway reflective of the score or Fulham’s effort, they managed to claw an equaliser when Diomansy Kamara found himself at the edge of the area with his back to goal and executed a sublime overhead kick that beat Paul Robinson and earn his side a fortunate point.
Man of the match : Gareth Bale.
Zappata Dolcy