Imagine my despair as I find that two of the most well respected and talented footballers currently plying their fabulous craft in Europe are linked with a high profile move to Stamford Bridge. When oh when are modern day footballers going to finally wise up and realise that a move to a club that are simply going nowhere could spell the end to their otherwise promising and successful career.

Chelsea to put it mildly are a club without class. The little respect that was earned by a hard working and loyal management has now departed with the Special One and Chelsea are scrambling to maintain the illusion that they are now world beaters on a par with the likes of Barcelona and AC Milan.
(more…)

I went back through the SOTG archives before starting to write this and realised it took me until the 23rd of September last year to reach a similar conclusion that Jol was unable to take us that extra step to the next plateau of Champion’s League qualification / FA Cup winners. Regardless of whether I get accused of being knee jerk this season or not (I’ve been saying the same thing for over a year so I deny completely the knee jerk accusations), even the most ardent Jol lovers will have recognised the look on the big man’s face after Kamara scored to equalise for Fulham yesterday. It wasn’t just the loss of an extra two points to add to our meagre haul this season, it was resignation to the fact that even the much fabled vote of confidence from above won’t be enough to make Martin Jol see Christmas in the Spurs hotseat.

Whether you believe that’s the proper way to act or not, I don’t think the board have any other choice than to have a quiet word in Martin’s shell-like and agree a quiet resignation with the necessary payoff to keep his mouth shut and move on to the next taker for the hardest job in football. Liverpool did it with Benitez in for Houllier and won the European Cup, Chelsea did it with Mourinho in for Ranieri and won back-to-back league titles. Sometimes it’s necessary and I’m unapologetic in saying that Spurs have reached that juncture. The one problem that arises then is who comes next?
(more…)