Ramos, your thoughts so far

[miles_64]

On October 27th 2007, the day that Juande Ramos walked through the door as Tottenham's new supremo, I was extremely excited: the dawn of a new era, the possibility of trophies and the prospect of stepping out of Arsenal's shadow as North London's most successful team were (and still are) all realistic expectations. At the time we were 18th in the league (a popular position for manager's to be sacked in, as Steve Bruce and Lawrie Sanchez would find out to their cost) and if it hadn't been for the almost arrogant obliviousness of a good number of our fans, we would have realised that a possible relegation dogfight was on our hands.

Skip forward half a year and where are we now? Carling Cup Champions, emphatic conquerors of our whingeing North London rivals (how many trophies have they won this season?) and positioned solidly mid-table, not forgetting to mention the fact that we have just signed one of the world's sexiest young talents (sadly not Keeley Hazell but the rather less aesthetically pleasing Luka Modric - although a Croatian mate of mine was 'nursing a semi' when watching the England game). Watching a Spurs game no longer requires a team of St John's Ambulance volunteers ready to perform CPR as soon as Younes Kaboul touches the ball and we have begun to counter-attack rather effectively. Things are looking bright.


BUT and this is a Jennifer Lopez-sized BUT - we are 27 points behind Liverpool and surely they and Arsenal are only going to get stronger next season. That is a BIG margin. I'm hoping that Ramos isn't trying anything too exciting during this end-of-season run in simply because he doesn't want to give the game away for the fireworks for next season. This is a thread where you can air your views about the gaffer - your likes and dislikes and whether you'd let him date your sister if we win a major trophy next season.

 

[Jonboy]

Im Pro Ramos I like him and relly think he is the man to take us forward, however I was a little concerned when he came out and said it was hard to motivate the players as unmotivated players should be dropped full stop.

 

[Rabbi_Krustofski]

He's working with many players that don't have the same mental strength as him. He'll make changes soon enough and prove to be the best manager we've ever had, no doubt about that. This guy is Barcelona level.

 

[MattWilliams]

Sometimes I think he's a genius. Still a bit worried about how he has seemed unable to get any response from the team since the Carling Cup, especially as we've been playing first team rather than trying youth players...

 

[si_yidarmy]

In Ramos we Trust

To dare is to do flows through his blood

 

[DoublePivot]

I have an odd feeling that this one is going to turn into "What do you think of them firing Jol?" thread


I think Ramos has won a trophy. Nuff said.

 

[Lanh]

Not convinced yet that he is better than the big man, awaiting next season to see some real progress in the league, 5th will buy him another season for me, anything less and I'll have no choice but to conclude that it is the same old story with us and that yet again we have gone backwards after a couple of glorious years where we actually dared to believe the dream we all do.

 

[si_yidarmy]

yeh 5th is such a terrible position to be in.

Anyone rememeber the odd ten years we sat mid-table?

 

[TheChosenOne]

On October 27th 2007, the day that Juande Ramos walked through the door as Tottenham's new supremo, I was extremely excited: the dawn of a new era, the possibility of trophies and the prospect of stepping out of Arsenal's shadow as North London's most successful team were (and still are) all realistic expectations. At the time we were 18th in the league (a popular position for manager's to be sacked in, as Steve Bruce and Lawrie Sanchez would find out to their cost) and if it hadn't been for the almost arrogant obliviousness of a good number of our fans, we would have realised that a possible relegation dogfight was on our hands.*Skip forward half a year and where are we now? Carling Cup Champions, emphatic conquerors of our whingeing North London rivals (how many trophies have they won this season?) and positioned solidly mid-table, not forgetting to mention the fact that we have just signed one of the world's sexiest young talents (sadly not Keeley Hazell but the rather less aesthetically pleasing Luka Modric - although a Croatian mate of mine was 'nursing a semi' when watching the England game). Watching a Spurs game no longer requires a team of St John's Ambulance volunteers ready to perform CPR as soon as Younes Kaboul touches the ball and we have begun to counter-attack rather effectively. Things are looking bright.**BUT and this is a Jennifer Lopez-sized BUT - we are 15 points behind Liverpool and surely they and Arsenal are only going to get stronger next season. That is a BIG margin. I'm hoping that Ramos isn't trying anything too exciting during this end-of-season run in simply because he doesn't want to give the game away for the fireworks for next season. This is a thread where you can air your views about the gaffer - your likes and dislikes and whether you'd let him date your sister if we win a major trophy next season.

Last time I looked it was 27 points.

 

[Vegas]

Very happy, although not to the point of blindness. I like the signings we've made while he's been manayer. Youth with talent & experience (Hutton & Modric) & more senior players with talent & experience (Woodgate & Gilberto)

It's fair enough signing a kid like Danny Rose who can sit in the reserves or the bench for a while, but I think signings such as Kaboul & KPB (I think both will improve) have cost us. I think this has been a factor in why we haven't seen them very much in the last month of so. Too much pressure too soon for one reason or another.

I think we're going to be frightening next season. Imagine if Berba stays & we keep adding more quality. !!!

+ the 5-1 over Ar5ena1 & winning the Carling.

 

[donny1013]

I'm very happy with Juande. Only real error was throwing Gilberto in against PSV. I feel he could go and manage any of the elite european clubs he is that good and we are lucky to have him. Cannot wait to see his team next season, bet the players are dreading what is in store for them at pre season as well.

 

[justfookinhitit]

I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do with a squad of his choosing a full pre-season to train the players in his ways. He is a top class manager, unafraid to make the big tactical changes early in the game rather than wait to the 70th minute, and what is just as important he is renowned for building teams that play a fast and exciting to watch style of football. We are very lucky to have him.

 

[Lanh]

yeh 5th is such a terrible position to be in.

Anyone rememeber the odd ten years we sat mid-table?

Eh?

I didn't say 5th would be a terrible position, I said it would buy him another year from me. Nothing more and nothing less.

After 2 successive 5th places under Martin Jol, Ramos must at a minimum match that, especially as the vast majority are of the opinion that Juande infinitely better than Martin.

While the cup was nice, and necessary thanks to abysmal league form, if he fails to live upto Martin's league record then for me we have gone backwards no matter how many cups we win.

Being good in the shoot-out format of a cup competition is not as valuable in my eyes as being good consistently enough to gain those excellent league positions.

Yeah I know people cream themselves over winning a cup or two, but we all know that to progress we have to do it in the league first and foremost, which is where he has struggled this season, hopefully he'll turn out to be fantastic in the league next season, he does have a better squad than Martin had the two seasons he did it, so it's not too much to ask if you ask me.

 

[Banjo]

To me this isn't a Jol vs Ramos thread - there have been enough of those for the while anyway. Ramos is now here - how has he done so far?

Given the situation he came in on, for me, he's made a pretty good fist of it! A season the could have been a total screw has become something of a success (despite recent form) with some silverware and a place in UEFA for next year.

I don't quite see Ramos as the tactical genius as some seem to feel. But really making comparisons or forming even a provisional opinion of him must surely wait at least another year.

 

[brickie]

ramos is a winner(proven),he knows whats required and will deliver,he came in,we were in the bottom 3,jan window he brought in defenders,woody and hutton,it did the trick,with a very mediocre midfield we won the cc,,summer transfers are happening early,and the calibre so far is top draw.
Ramos isnt going to stay here to finish 5th,roll on next season,it might just be good.
all imho

 

[miles_64]

I have an odd feeling that this one is going to turn into "What do you think of them firing Jol?" thread


I think Ramos has won a trophy. Nuff said.

To me this isn't a Jol vs Ramos thread - there have been enough of those for the while anyway. Ramos is now here - how has he done so far?

Indeed, this isn't comparing one to the other (although Ramos does have a slightly inferior win percentage!), I was more interested to see what people thought of his tactics - indeed as one person says, he really sums up audere est facere.

However 27 points is a HUGE margin - we need to win at least 9 more games next season and that is a mammoth task. I expect to see us sign more players 'early doors' as Ramos will want to work with them throughout the summer, getting them working as a unit from the word go.

As for motivational skills - Gus could get a dead man motivated.

 

[Marty]

He got us up from 18th to safe mid table, won a cup and got us in to Europe, and while the performances since the PSV game can be questioned, it is perfectly understandable that everyone associated with the squad has more than one eye on next season. Definitely delivered so far.

 

[PT]

The nine extra wins should come from those occasions when we've thrown away leads and not locked up or gone on to emphatically close down the game.

For me, we pretty much have the players, save for one or two obvious additional improvements.

The heavy pre-season - alleged to take in Spanish slogging - should work in our favour, especially as our fitness guys will have identified our sorry start to this season.

Most of our inefficiencies lie in the mental state of the squad. It's an area where Ramos will work hard to instill the mentality of winners.

 

[eddiebailey]

For me the mark of a top manager, in any field not just in football, is if he can work with the staff he inherits and raise their performance. I am not convinced that we have seen that improvement yet under Ramos. Yes he won the cup, but that owed a lot to bringing in two new players and a Lazarus like appearance from Leds.

One of my concerns with the appointment of Ramos was always that he would have very fixed ideas about the players he wanted and that this would mean we would be back to square one in terms of squad building. That seems to be the case. The upside of this has been that Ramos has forced the Board into the recognition that to match his ambition they have to change the transfer policy.

The tragedy for me is that if the Board had approached the last summer window as they are approaching this one we could well be in a CL place by now.

 

[Montasura]

I think it is simply too early to answer this question.

Ramos took over a team in turmoil amid a fair bit of controversy. I have already read some fairly critical comments about him on SC (presumably from disgruntled MJ fans) but I think that he has managed all that could have been expected of him for the remainder of this season and has indeed surpassed those expectations with the CC win.

Ultimately next season will make or break Ramos. The "big" signing of Modric was fantastic but more need to follow, especially if (as I believe it will) Berbatov departs. But, the gap between Spurs and the "Big 4" is still large and they will also buy big (Another rumour today of Kaka for Chelski). Buying star players will not be enough. Getting the team to play as a star team is what will be needed and in this respect Ramos has serious pedigree.

I was a huge fan of Martin Jol and I won't forget him easily but, for me, Ramos is a far better manager. I'll put my cards on the table and state that I believe him to be every bit as good as Ferguson and Wenger. Whether he can take a Spurs team that (at the moment) lack that killer instinct, is something that we will have to wait and see.