mawspurs
18-08-2007, 09:43 AM
Source: The Mirror
Darren Bent will get the chance to lead the Tottenham line for the first time today.
The two-week absence of fellow striker Dimitar Berbatov with a groin problem means £16.5million record signing Bent will spearhead the Spurs attack against promoted Derby.
Jol said: "Darren scored a lot of goals in pre-season but so did the other guys.
"Nobody is guaranteed a place but he is totally aware, he wants to play and he wants to win.
"Against Everton in the last game I had the same feeling but it was not easy. There was no space for him or for the other players
"We did everything in the second half and the spirit was good. My players never threw in the towel, they kept fighting but it wasn't enough.
"Everybody knows they have to do better, much better. In both games so far, the problem was that we didn't score first, and if you do that against teams like Sunderland and Everton, it's a lot easier.
"Derby will be the same. I have seen them and they are full of energy, a typical club who have got promotion and want to do well, like Sunderland. We feel that and sense that.
"In my team we have enough players to try to do something with that but now we have to play opponents who are difficult to break down. It is why we have to do something and score the first goal."
Jol's attempt to kick-start his side's season will see him restore stand-in skipper Robbie Keane to a forward role as Bent's support striker, with Jermain Defoe again starting on the bench despite looking the liveliest of the Tottenham quartet when he came on against Everton.
"I thought maybe with Robbie on the wing we would do something different and he did well creating two chances at the beginning," added Jol.
"But later on, if you don't score, there is no space in those games."
Darren Bent will get the chance to lead the Tottenham line for the first time today.
The two-week absence of fellow striker Dimitar Berbatov with a groin problem means £16.5million record signing Bent will spearhead the Spurs attack against promoted Derby.
Jol said: "Darren scored a lot of goals in pre-season but so did the other guys.
"Nobody is guaranteed a place but he is totally aware, he wants to play and he wants to win.
"Against Everton in the last game I had the same feeling but it was not easy. There was no space for him or for the other players
"We did everything in the second half and the spirit was good. My players never threw in the towel, they kept fighting but it wasn't enough.
"Everybody knows they have to do better, much better. In both games so far, the problem was that we didn't score first, and if you do that against teams like Sunderland and Everton, it's a lot easier.
"Derby will be the same. I have seen them and they are full of energy, a typical club who have got promotion and want to do well, like Sunderland. We feel that and sense that.
"In my team we have enough players to try to do something with that but now we have to play opponents who are difficult to break down. It is why we have to do something and score the first goal."
Jol's attempt to kick-start his side's season will see him restore stand-in skipper Robbie Keane to a forward role as Bent's support striker, with Jermain Defoe again starting on the bench despite looking the liveliest of the Tottenham quartet when he came on against Everton.
"I thought maybe with Robbie on the wing we would do something different and he did well creating two chances at the beginning," added Jol.
"But later on, if you don't score, there is no space in those games."