Jermaine Jenas

[joey55]

There's no way JJ will play the DM role, it would be a waste. I'm going to be very interested to see his progress next season, as others have said I think this is crunch time for his Spurs career.

Interestingly I think we saw what a seriously fit JJ is capable of in the period that begun shortly b4 Christmas and culminated in the CC Final. With Alvaraz et al we'll see a very different approach to our fitness this year, I know people said we did a pre-season, mid-season but that's not really possible, it was more of a sticking plaster to compensate for our complete lack of fitness on arrival. I also think that Jol's approach (and you have to say it was successful) was to start gently and let the season's rigours toughen up the side meaning a strong finish ala 2007. Ramos' philosophy is very different, he likes to hit the ground running and keep sprinting throughout the season, using a strict and scientific training regime coupled with rotation in-match to keep his player's fit. It was the mis-match of the two - Jol's pre-season, with Ramos mid-season - which led in part to our burn-out and lacklustre performances late on imo; you could visibly see the difference, it was as if the players used a burst of energy in the middle and couldn't sustain it until the end.

Anyway, if JJ can maintain fitness and stamina for an entire season I for one won't be surprised to see him nail down a role in the CM, both for us and possibly even for England.

According to Chris Houghton (and pro zone), JJ ran further per game than any other player in the Prem during the 2006/7 season. So, in terms of seeing how he'd do at peak fitness, I think we've probably seen it. Also, he made more tackles, created more chances and made more passes during the first 10 games of the season than at any other time of the season. So, it's unlikey his fitness in anyway effected his game. A more plausable explanation would be that he suffered from the same inconsistencies that he has throughout his entire career.

Every season we seem to have the same JJ debates and opinions on him change like the wind. This is because his form also changes like the wind. Every season we talk about him becoming that quality goal scoring midfielder we lack, but every season he stagnates at around 5 or 6 goals. It was suggested that this season will be a crunch season as he is 3- or 24, but infact he's 25. I made the same suggestion about him last season, as did others. He's certainly our best midfielder and doesn't deserve the criticism he gets at times, but he's definitley one of those players that people spend too much time theorising (if that's a word) over, rather than judging him what he actually does. DC Boy touched on when he mentioned it's unfair to say he should be a world class player. People talk too much about what JJ could be or should be, rather than what he is and will probably remain - decent but not fantastic.

 

[DC_Boy]

Hi YidG I refer you to our learned colleague Joey JJ is what he is - he's one of those players who is not the get in your face types, he hasn't the vision of a Hod or the tackling skills of a Stuart Pearce - he does what it says on the JJ tin -

so far it's been good enough for us - but it may be that after this coming season it won't be enough -

of course JJ can improve - most players in their 20s can - but please let's not be too hard on him for not being what we want him to be - at £7m he was a good buy - he's been a key player in our relative success of the last three years - so has more than jutified his purchase and I'm pretty sure we could sell him for more if we wanted to - but I'm very confident that ATM we don't want to (despite the legions of posters here and elsewhere who've wished/predicted his exit)

 

[KeaneIsKeane]

I think the only way Jenas improves is if the manager finds a position for him to succeed. I'm not sure what position or role that is, but I feel like we don't use him correctly. I really would like to see him played out wide. It won't happen though.

 

[Krafty]

Hi Krafty nice to see you being basically positive but why do you (and quite a few others that I've read) say JJ 'should be a world class mid' - it's putting an unfair and I would say impossible burden on the player

I've never seen JJ as being a world class player, but nor do I see most of the Spurs team in that light - I don't demand it of Lennon Keane Zokora Malbranque etc - why should I demand it of JJ?

I'm never quite sure what world class means - but I take it as meaning roughly being one of the best players in the world in his position

I only see Berbs as being world class in our team ATM (King doesn't play enough to qualify for me) - maybe Woodgate/ Hutton and some others can consolidate claims next season, maybe not

presumably Modric will be -

World class is obviously ambiguous, but I think JJ could be as good, albeit in a slightly different way, as players like Gerard and Lampard.

He is deceptively quick (I remember him absolutely skinning Cashley), he can put in a great ball, he can finish from long and short range, he can create, he can tackle, he can run all day, he's strong, good in the air and makes great runs into the box.

If you made a youtube highlights reel he would come off really well. However, the youtube clips of him missing one on ones, not wanting to get forward, being overrun in midfield, hitting the first man with set plays and generally disappearing would be much longer.

Thats the annoying thing. I remember someone had dinner with Woodgate and complained about Jenas and Woody said JJ was the best in training - he probably is but he doesnt have the strength of character to impose himself on the game. He needs a rock beside, someone to direct him, encourage him to get forward, tell when to press and when to drop off. Its not just a JJ problem, its something our whole midfield needs. Zokora isnt the answer, he does best when he has a rock next to him (like Yaya Toure for the Ivory Coast)

If JJ was just average, say like Tainio, then people would be more content with him because you know what you would get, like you do with TT - Solid if unspectacular. With JJ he could win games, however he doesnt win nearly enough.

 

[Langers]

Jenas has been living on his potential for far too long. He's been consistently inconsistent for his entire Spurs career and the latter part of his Newcastle career.

Having three superb games a season, three good games, fifthteen average games and six appalling games, is not good enough in my opinion.

I would be far happier to see a starting line up without him at the beginning of the season.

He isn't the only reason we looked so poor in midfield last season, the fact that every single one of them under performed at some stage of the season is Jenas' only saving grace.

We're overstaffed the in center of midfield. Zokora, Huddlestone, Boateng, Tianio, and Jenas have not performed to a standard that would get them anywhere close to a place in any of the top four teams.

The silver lining to this cloud of doom and gloom is that we have signed Moderic (a player with real potential). We're being linked to defensive midfielders and we have some rising stars coming through in Bostock and Parret.

I'm sorry DC boy, I know you must be related to him :wink:, but in my opinion if we let him go I wouldn't shed any tears.

 

[paulspursman]

he briefly showed what he can do last season but far too often lacked consistency again

i have no doubt he will play a lot of games next season still but he will have to up his game. the whole squad that we carry over from last season needs to though

 

[Michey]

I can't honestly see him going anywhere this summer,

Me either........who would want him? :shrug:

 

[paul_m2k5]

I can't believe there is even a thread on this.:shrug:
Jenas is a quality player.End Of.

Maybe this thread shoud have been about Zokora.
I really cannot believe that most people on here would opt for Zokora over Jenas.:shrug:

Zokora = not good good enough for the Premiership,maybe hes good enough for the average league he was playing in,but he is not good enough for our league.He can't shoot,he can't tackle without giving a foul away or chasing someones shadow,and he can't read the game properly.
All he can do is run for 90 mins,thats it.
We paid £8m for an athlete.

 

[yawa]

Zokora and Jenas should both stay. We need more depth and Gio is only 19 so cant play 40+ games in a season.

We need to be able to rotate the squad a bit.

 

[DC_Boy]

I'm sorry DC boy, I know you must be related to him :wink:, but in my opinion if we let him go I wouldn't shed any tears.

Langers - given my currently dire financial status - having JJ as a relation could be handy, maybe he'd lend me a few quid

however we are deffo not related. Anyway the only opinions on this that really count are JR & co - and my bet is that JR will be picking JJ and that it won't be because of some hitherto unonticed family ties

 

[snake1]

It might be a bad idea but maybe Jenas could be our defensive mid/central mid...
He's got a great engine on him, is always up and down the pitch and isn't a bad tackler, well, I've seen worse. Jenas is a versatile player, in my opinion, he could easily slot in at right-mid too.

Lennon - Modric - Jenas - Gio

:think:

Too lightweight? Yeah, probably.

 

[dynamoSpurs]

i personally think he's a very average player... we should replace him asap.

 

[bubble07]

this is definitely last chance saloon fof Jj. Although he was our best midfielder i think he is incaple of playing in any of the positions in a 4-3-3/4-5-1 whivh i think Ramos will choose

 

[SpurSince57]

Me either........who would want him? :shrug:

Well, I'm certainly not as down on him as you are. In fact, I've been defending him since he joined. But it has got to the point where I feel like saying to him, 'Give me some help, FFS.'

His old boss at Forest said no-one would see the real Jenas till he was 25. Well, he's just turned 25. Time to walk the walk, JJ.

 

[Limee]

I think he will have a role to play for us next season. I would guess it would depend on who else is brought in as to how key his role will be. At the very least he is good enough to be part of a rotation in central midfield. He has the energy needed to press the opposition and he works well off the ball. I think Carrick was pretty much the ideal midfield partner for him (creative but playing deeper.) It will be interesting to see if he can fit in with the new DM (assuming we buy one) and how the extra creativity on the wings affects him. Hopefully with extra quality around him and in his position it will push him to improve further.

 

[sloth]

Well, I'm certainly not as down on him as you are. In fact, I've been defending him since he joined. But it has got to the point where I feel like saying to him, 'Give me some help, FFS.'

His old boss at Forest said no-one would see the real Jenas till he was 25. Well, he's just turned 25. Time to walk the walk, JJ.

I'm completely with you on this. It's now or never for JJ as far as I'm concerned (and this from one of his biggest supporters.).

What is interesting is to consider where he will play next season... assuming we sold the club to Dos Santos on the basis that he'll play plenty (why swap Barca's bench for ours??) and that Modric's also straight in and that therefore we'll need an anchor, the spaces in midfield are becoming seriously limited. Even if Gio's a number 10 and a threat for Keane, I can't believe that we won't be after a DM this window, that leaves Lennon, DZ and JJ fighting for one place.

My personal feelling is that Lennon will be sold, but where does JJ play? Time will tell...

 

[azlankicap]

The debate on Jenas goes on still!
IMO must be the most underated player since Carrick was with us.
I can still remember how Carrick was once flogged and labelled not good enough for our midfield.
While he might not be in the same mould as Carrick, which is naturally a holding midfielder who can spread the ball, Jenas has made up in his box-to-box run and his fair share of goals.
Although some attribute him with inconsistence, how can u expect to maintain a high level of playing when playing alongside Zokora? I always feel that Jenas has got to do extra work when playing aside Zok and although i do enjoy Zoks running sometimes i feel that if played alongside a more composed and a passer like Carrick, Jenas will flurish.

 

[Mullers]

I think JJ will not be an automatic starter next season. I don't expect him to start ahead of Modric in CM and I think there is a strong possibility we will buy a RM. Sergio Garcia, Bentley and SWP are all available. I don't know about Garcia but I'd certainly choose Bentley and SWP ahead of JJ in that position.

 

[General Levy]

Me either........who would want him? :shrug:

He would walk into most of the teams outside the top 4.

 

[Bowlesinho]

I think JJ will not be an automatic starter next season. I don't expect him to start ahead of Modric in CM and I think there is a strong possibility we will buy a RM. Sergio Garcia, Bentley and SWP are all available. I don't know about Garcia but I'd certainly choose Bentley and SWP ahead of JJ in that position.

I disagree Mullers I honestly think that JJ can do just as good a job on the right as SWP or Bentley. I fully believe that JJ must have thought to himself that the RM position is completely up for grabs in the England setup, with Becks age and no natural successor really breaking free from the pack of challengers.

I think we will line up something along the lines of

-------DM--------DM-----------
Jenas------Modric---Dos Santos
------------Berbs--------------

or

Jenas----DM-----Modric---Dos Santos
--------Berbs-----Keane-------------


Jenas shouldn't be writ off by people on here as he's been our best midfielder for the last 2 seasons. And on the right he offers a lot more defensive protection than Lennon but can also play with less responsibility.