By Statto the Yid
December 28 2005

I think that the memories of our old managers of recent times have well and truly gone, well Id like to think so but looking back on the short stays of Hoddle, The man in the rain coat, Gross, Santini and co in the Managers hot seat all have well and truly been shown to be very poor appointments.

We all called for Hoddle to be placed in charge but to be fair never did I want my former hero to be at the helm of the club, always going to end in tears. In contrast no call for Jol to be manager when Santini left as to most of us he was an unknown, but I think we have a maverick of a manager now.

We look like a proper squad now and with fantastic resolve with plenty of steel, the support for the team is growing, even the press in allot of their stories mention either Champions League contenders or saying we will be in Europe next season. Never have I heard the press / media say such things even if the club and fans have been wanting to get into Europe for so long.

Jol for me has been the driving force for our current league status, but there have been some unsung heroes too. Stalteri for me has been solid, he has never let us down and to be fair hasn't set the world on fire but experience in this position was a must after some disasters in the transfer market within this position previously.

Fights within the first team is also a good sign that the team are showing passion, playing for the badge, the club and the fans, they don't want to let each other down and if they feel someone is doing so then they say so. Confrontation is something which breeds a stronger relationships within a team as close as a football squad, get the problem into the open then it can be resolved, either through some verbal or a slap either way passion prevails and the problem can put into a positive.

As for some of the best players so far, Carrick has come on leaps and bounds and even from this board you can see the number of Carrick bashing threads has reduced from 10 a day to almost nil a month. The only problem I have with midfield is the lack of Mendes appearances, he is one player who can play at this level and offer Spurs a different option, I really hope he doesn't leave but I think its all too late for him now. Mendes will do well where ever he goes - lets just hope he isn't sold to another Prem club.

Lee has some flashes of billiance with pace and some of the corsses he has placed have been fantastic, Tainio is one player who will be a Spurs great, a true fighter who covers an amazing amount of football grass in one game. One of the best purchases we have made for the long long time, shorly behind Robinson and Davids or course who have both been outstanding so far this season. Robinson may have cost us a point or two but nobody can complain as he has won us more points than we have lost. Effects of having Davids in the side are all for there to see he is without doubt having the effect that Klinsmann had on the team during the first stay of the greatest Stiker of all time, pushing us up the table and from what I hear sorting out a few issues in training too.

With the transfer window about to open, there has been evidence of some cracks started to appear with the new DoF and Jol disagreeing with the transfer of Vlaar. I think that this transfer may come off now Ledley has picked up a knock however the way this was dragged out into the public eye doesn't look too good for the club.

So who is the boss here ? I wasn't aware of a time where Jol would be upset at a transfer that Arnesen had completed for us, even though most of the signings Arnesen made are now on loan or have been shown the door already. Maybe this is a sign that Jol wants more control of the first team or he would of accepted the DoF view that we needed a new Centre Half ? Its clear as day that Vlaar want on Jols shopping list or was he asked if he wanted him within the first team squad, for me this doesn't look good at all. Makes me wonder if the DoF will allow the Coach to stop transfers of players he feels would be of benefit to the club, indeed I'd like to hear what Levy has to say on the matter . . .