mawspurs
21-10-2008, 09:05 AM
Source: Daily Express
Juande Ramos faces the threat of a row breaking out over his policy of holding Ledley King back for cup games.
Tottenham are bottom of the table and without a Premier League victory after making their worst start to a season.
Chairman Daniel Levy is still resisting the temptation to sack manager Ramos and is mindful of the fact that cutting his contract short would cost about £15million.
But there is serious concern in the corridors of power that Ramos has a history of putting cup competitions ahead of the league. Such fears grow with every league match Spurs fail to win and every time Ramos rests influential skipper King before a cup tie.
“There are people at Spurs who are worried that Ramos places too much emphasis on the cups,” said a source close to the club.
“A cup looks much better on your CV than finishing fifth or sixth in the league.”
Defender King was expected to play at Stoke on Sunday after being declared fit and travelling with the squad.
But Ramos decided to hold him back in preparation for this week’s UEFA Cup tie against Udinese. And that angered a number of Spurs officials, especially as the team suffered a humiliating defeat.
Ramos claims King can only play once every two or three weeks because of his long-standing injury problems and has the added dilemma that Vedran Corluka is cup-tied in Europe. But King played three games in a fortnight, against Wisla Krakow in the UEFA Cup and also against Newcastle in the Carling Cup.
He has made only a couple of Premier League appearances this season, the last of which was at Chelsea on August 31. It could be that pressure is now put on Ramos to leave King out of the Thursday’s game in Italy and save him for the crucial Premier League clash against Bolton.
Michael Dawson will be unavailable for that game after being sent off at Stoke.
He will receive a three-game suspension and could be hit with a further ban by the FA for failing to leave the pitch immediately.
Levy will be desperate for Tottenham to chalk up their first Premier League success against Bolton after learning that supporters are planning to demonstrate and call for his resignation at the game.
It is believed that about 25,000 leaflets will be handed out at White Hart Lane before the match calling on ENIC, of which Levy is the managing director, to sell their majority stake to new investors. Levy has previously made it clear that offers for the club will be considered and the agent Pini Zahavi has been talking to an Asian businessman who is interested in launching a takeover bid. Ramos is historically a ‘cup manager’. He won two UEFA Cups, the European Supercup, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup at Sevilla.
His only success in league football has been a couple of promotions to Spain’s La Liga with CD Logrones and Rayo Vallecano.
The decision to rest King for the cup games worked out last season, as Ramos led Spurs to Carling Cup glory at Wembley while the club were safely positioned in mid-table in the league.
It is understood his No1 ambition was to win the UEFA Cup for a third time in his career this term, but if Tottenham’s league form does not get better he will not be given that opportunity.
Ramos is not only coming under pressure from club officials over his policy of fielding his strongest team in the cup competitions.
His rotation policy has also caused confusion among the players, with David Bentley constantly having to switch position and Luka Modric in and out of the side.
Whatever happens with Ramos, though, Levy is still planning to push ahead with a move to raid cash-strapped West Ham for two of their best players in a £6m double deal during the January transfer window.
Tottenham have targeted both midfielder Scott Parker and central defender Matthew Upson should West Ham, as expected, be forced to hold a fire sale after suffering financial blows.
Former Juventus midfielder Stephen Appiah, who is currently a free agent and is available immediately, is another target for Spurs.
Juande Ramos faces the threat of a row breaking out over his policy of holding Ledley King back for cup games.
Tottenham are bottom of the table and without a Premier League victory after making their worst start to a season.
Chairman Daniel Levy is still resisting the temptation to sack manager Ramos and is mindful of the fact that cutting his contract short would cost about £15million.
But there is serious concern in the corridors of power that Ramos has a history of putting cup competitions ahead of the league. Such fears grow with every league match Spurs fail to win and every time Ramos rests influential skipper King before a cup tie.
“There are people at Spurs who are worried that Ramos places too much emphasis on the cups,” said a source close to the club.
“A cup looks much better on your CV than finishing fifth or sixth in the league.”
Defender King was expected to play at Stoke on Sunday after being declared fit and travelling with the squad.
But Ramos decided to hold him back in preparation for this week’s UEFA Cup tie against Udinese. And that angered a number of Spurs officials, especially as the team suffered a humiliating defeat.
Ramos claims King can only play once every two or three weeks because of his long-standing injury problems and has the added dilemma that Vedran Corluka is cup-tied in Europe. But King played three games in a fortnight, against Wisla Krakow in the UEFA Cup and also against Newcastle in the Carling Cup.
He has made only a couple of Premier League appearances this season, the last of which was at Chelsea on August 31. It could be that pressure is now put on Ramos to leave King out of the Thursday’s game in Italy and save him for the crucial Premier League clash against Bolton.
Michael Dawson will be unavailable for that game after being sent off at Stoke.
He will receive a three-game suspension and could be hit with a further ban by the FA for failing to leave the pitch immediately.
Levy will be desperate for Tottenham to chalk up their first Premier League success against Bolton after learning that supporters are planning to demonstrate and call for his resignation at the game.
It is believed that about 25,000 leaflets will be handed out at White Hart Lane before the match calling on ENIC, of which Levy is the managing director, to sell their majority stake to new investors. Levy has previously made it clear that offers for the club will be considered and the agent Pini Zahavi has been talking to an Asian businessman who is interested in launching a takeover bid. Ramos is historically a ‘cup manager’. He won two UEFA Cups, the European Supercup, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup at Sevilla.
His only success in league football has been a couple of promotions to Spain’s La Liga with CD Logrones and Rayo Vallecano.
The decision to rest King for the cup games worked out last season, as Ramos led Spurs to Carling Cup glory at Wembley while the club were safely positioned in mid-table in the league.
It is understood his No1 ambition was to win the UEFA Cup for a third time in his career this term, but if Tottenham’s league form does not get better he will not be given that opportunity.
Ramos is not only coming under pressure from club officials over his policy of fielding his strongest team in the cup competitions.
His rotation policy has also caused confusion among the players, with David Bentley constantly having to switch position and Luka Modric in and out of the side.
Whatever happens with Ramos, though, Levy is still planning to push ahead with a move to raid cash-strapped West Ham for two of their best players in a £6m double deal during the January transfer window.
Tottenham have targeted both midfielder Scott Parker and central defender Matthew Upson should West Ham, as expected, be forced to hold a fire sale after suffering financial blows.
Former Juventus midfielder Stephen Appiah, who is currently a free agent and is available immediately, is another target for Spurs.