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[print_link] | Subscribe: Main Listening ReportThe learners’ report is a shortened version of the regular weekly podcast. In this report Damian discusses some of the problems that Tottenham manager Martin Jol is facing. You can listen to the report by clicking on the link above, while there is also a worksheet here. You can also listen to the full podcast here.
Transcript: Interview with Damian on Tottenham
Tottenham manager Martin Jol has often been likened to the TV mob leader, Tony Soprano, sharing the same stocky appearance, the well-fed stomach, the hardened face, the thinning hair and an air of menace that suggests that they both would – and could – dispose of their garbage problems in any way possible.
At the moment, Martin Jol has a problem on his hands and after the fracas against Blackburn last Sunday is clearly not a happy man. It might be the chocolate-coloured kit the team have been wearing recently a€“ surely no good can come from that a€“ or the fact that Spurs have picked up only one point from 2 away games against teams that had lost their previous 4 matches, Reading and Blackburn. Perhaps it is the fact that the England goalkeeper, Paul Robinson, has been beaten 5 times this season from outside the box – including 3 shots from aging holding midfield players. It might even be that only Liverpool and Sheffield United have worse away records than Spurs. But more than likely, it is the realisation that the team have not performed anywhere near the levels of consistency of last season and unless they start winning games their season may be over before Christmas.
Now, injuries to key players, the sale of the teama€™s a€˜playmakera€™, Michael Carrick, as well as the new signings finding their feet have been cited as reasons for the decline but Jol may have to take some of the blame, particularly over his recent team selections. Just as in a€˜The Sopranosa€™, the Spurs fansa€™ have complete faith in their boss but they wonder just what is his best forward pairing and how will he get them to start scoring goals.
The next couple of weeks are vital for Spursa€™ season, a point away in Germany against Leverkusen will see the team qualify for the last 32 of the UEFA Cup while they need to get back to winning ways in the League against a resurgent Wigan on Sunday before their next chance to finally win away from home this season on December 2 in the first North London Derby at The Emirates Stadium. Disposing of an annoying problem, such as their local rivals on their own turf, would I am sure satisfy both Tony Soprano and Martin Jol indeed.
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