The Jermaine Jenas Hijack Thread

[DC_Boy]

Jenas hate is so dull.

I hate to use such hyperbole but when you say players like Jenas are rubbish you don't really understand football.

Hes very consistent, which is what you want from a central midfielder. .

well said Phil ;-) This inconsistent jibe that is routinely bandied about with JJ has always baffled me - apart from a poor spell around the CFC/PSV game when he wasn't fit - but presumably because he's so important JR gambled on him anyway, JJ tends to be one of our most consistent players

Compared to people like Keane, Lennon, Dawson and Robinson he's been been an absolute beacon of consistency over the past 3 years

Incidentally I don't expect a touch player llike Keane to be particularly consistent - Robbie is robbie and overall he is a spurs legend

 

[DC_Boy]

Top Man.:clap:

 

[DC_Boy]

I don't rate him much either.

PY - I've no problem with that - lots of people don't

it's the JJ bashers that do me in - it's easy on here - I just put them on ignore - unfortunately you can't do that at the Lane - as they are often rather vocal

 

[DC_Boy]

I thin part of JJ's problem is that he gets unfarily compared to Gerarrd and Lampard, yet they don't have the responsibilities JJ has. If you look at the CM stats for Chelsea and Liverpool, compared to ours, you'll observe a crucial difference. Lampard and Gerarrd both top all the attacking stats, but the two key defensive stats are topped by the teams DMs.

Gerrard and Lampard have both made the most passes and assists, created the most chances and scored the most goals for their sides. Jj has done the same in each category for us. However the key difference is that at Chelsea the player who makes the most tackles and interceptions is Obi Mikel (89 and 42). At Liverpool Mascaherano (165 and 67) makes the most interceptions and tackles (double Gerrard's total). Yet at Spurs, JJ top both our interceptions and tackling stats (92 and 58). So whilst Gerarrd and Lampard aren't their teams key central midfield ball winner, JJ has to do that job for us aswell.

I'm not saying that he's on a par with the likes of Lampard or Gerarrd, but that any criticism of him is ridiculous when you see how much more he does for the team than our other CMs.

Great stuff as usual Joey

You don't happen to have stats for 'keeping possession/completed passes' do you - as I'm sure JJ isn't anywhere near the worst of our players for losing possession, yet it seems some spurs fans think he is.

If you don't have them to hand, but know where I might find them, a link would be good

I've tried Googling (oo er but to no avail

 

[joey55]

Great stuff as usual Joey

You don't happen to have stats for 'keeping possession/completed passes' do you - as I'm sure JJ isn't anywhere near the worst of our players for losing possession, yet it seems some spurs fans think he is.

If you don't have them to hand, but know where I might find them, a link would be good

I've tried Googling (oo er but to no avail

His passing perecentage is very good - 87%. However, this isn't a great stat, as it makes it seem that one of his weaker areas of his game, is in fact a strength. JJ is by no means a poor passer, but it ceratainly is one fo the areas that his game needs to improve on. The likes of Fabregas, Gerrard, Lampard, Alonso and Carrick all have a lower success rate, but are much better passers. The difference is they see things earlier than JJ and will therefore try more elaborate passes that stretch and cause problems for the opposition. Creativity and vision are areas that JJ is lacking in and his high pass % probably highlights that.

 

[sloth]

I think DZ is better than most seem to realise. I think he and JJ wil be playing in CM again next year and for good reason. Last season I think the entire team suffered from bad luck, poor coaching and a keeper who's confidence was shot. We have to hope for a better start (and better luck), we have a better coach and I've every reason to believe we've a confident (and dare i say it World Class) keeper.

Just another thing on the keeper issue, it would be too glib to say all our frailties stemmed from Robinson - certainly some of Robbo's lack of belief stemmed from his midfield and defence - but nor should it be underestimated the difference a poor keeper can make. Defences become panicky and make poor decisions (especially inexperienced defenders), midfielders drop deep to try and compensate, creating space for the oppositions midfield to exploit. Some players become too casual in a bid to try and appear in control and restore confidence, others are rash or lose composure... anyway you get the picture.

I think with Gomes in goal and a fitter Ledley King with Woodgate mentoring Dawson and Kaboul you'll see JJ and DZ looking a different class. I'd still like another CB though, but I'm not sure who's out there.

 

[bubble07]

Jenas is a very good player. But because he has no defined role we expect him to do everything which is just impossible. However I can't see him starting alongside modric so I juander what juande is thinking in regards to JJ

 

[DC_Boy]

His passing perecentage is very good - 87%. However, this isn't a great stat, as it makes it seem that one of his weaker areas of his game, is in fact a strength. JJ is by no means a poor passer, but it ceratainly is one fo the areas that his game needs to improve on. The likes of Fabregas, Gerrard, Lampard, Alonso and Carrick all have a lower success rate, but are much better passers. The difference is they see things earlier than JJ and will therefore try more elaborate passes that stretch and cause problems for the opposition. Creativity and vision are areas that JJ is lacking in and his high pass % probably highlights that.

Cheers for that Joey - For sure I'm never gonna see JJ as a great creative passer - but the point is some Spurs fans (and this stat is going straight back at someone on another thread - (PS I'll do it in a tactful manner) think that JJ is one of the worst for losing possession - which he isn't

yes that's partly cos he keeps it simple - but at least he ain't losing the ball

and how often - ad nauseam to be frank, do we hear about how it's the mark of the top sides that they retain possession blah blah blah etc

 

[DC_Boy]

Jenas is a very good player. But because he has no defined role we expect him to do everything which is just impossible. However I can't see him starting alongside modric so I juander what juande is thinking in regards to JJ

Hi Bubble - I suggest we wait until we see who's actually in th squad by Aug 16

my guess FWIW is that barring injury you can pencil in JJ & Modric as the only two certain mid starters

More mid transfers in will of course change that

eg if we get Bentley he's straight in too

 

[Michey]

Jenas hate is so dull.

Hes very consistent, which is what you want from a central midfielder. Central midfield is not a place where you want someone to be great for a bit then below par for the rest of the time. Jenas is consistently good,

What's even more dull is those that keeps lying to themselves

The part in bold is just so wrong and i actually feel sorry for you...what are you trying to do.....get friends??

 

[snake1]

Whoever else we buy this window, I'm sure, barring injury, JJ will be in the starting 11 on the opening day of the season. Despite usually playing for us an attack minded box to box player, I actually think he's currently our best RM or DM option.

We know he can play RM, he played there many a time for Newcastle. ButI've been saying for a while now that JJ could do a job for us as a DM. In my opinion, he has good attributes to play in that position. He doesn't have to be the best tackler, even though he isn't bad, he just needs to be positionally aware, plus he has good pace and energy. With maybe Modric playing next to him as the AM JJ wouldn't need to run up and down the pitch so much.

I think its definitely worth a try. I wonder if JR agree's.

 

[Phil_2.0]

What's even more dull is those that keeps lying to themselves

The part in bold is just so wrong and i actually feel sorry for you...what are you trying to do.....get friends??

Well i'm breaking out the footballing clichés here but really the midfield area is the engine room of the team, if you don't turn up in the midfield area and start giving the ball away and getting defensively out of position, losing your shape and getting lost then basically your team will fall apart and probably lose the game.

Jenas is really tactically aware and rarely gets caught out of position, rarely ever gives the ball away in his own half, he doesn't really put himself before the actual team, he does so much work off the ball its unreal. I mean i sound like such a knob here but i've got a season ticket and he does a lot of work that you don't necessarily pick up on television.

 

[Michey]

Well i'm breaking out the footballing clichés here but really the midfield area is the engine room of the team, if you don't turn up in the midfield area and start giving the ball away and getting defensively out of position, losing your shape and getting lost then basically your team will fall apart and probably lose the game.

Jenas is really tactically aware and rarely gets caught out of position, rarely ever gives the ball away in his own half, he doesn't really put himself before the actual team, he does so much work off the ball its unreal. I mean i sound like such a knob here but i've got a season ticket and he does a lot of work that you don't necessarily pick up on television.

Well, we'll have to agree to disagree :up:

 

[SpurSince57]

Well i'm breaking out the footballing clichés here but really the midfield area is the engine room of the team, if you don't turn up in the midfield area and start giving the ball away and getting defensively out of position, losing your shape and getting lost then basically your team will fall apart and probably lose the game.

Jenas is really tactically aware and rarely gets caught out of position, rarely ever gives the ball away in his own half, he doesn't really put himself before the actual team, he does so much work off the ball its unreal. I mean i sound like such a knob here but i've got a season ticket and he does a lot of work that you don't necessarily pick up on television.

Yes, he does. Possibly too much. Maybe this is down to his not having had a clearly defined role over the past couple of seasons—or since Carrick left.

If it's possible to express concerns without being labelled as a 'basher' I have two:

a) his passing's accurate but unimaginative, and all too often sideways or backwards

b) his tackling really isn't good enough

He's got a lot of potential, writing him off is plain silly, but I do think that this season is going to be absolutely huge as far as his long-term future at Spurs is concerned.

 

[Phil_2.0]

i completely agree with point 'a'. I just think thats not his game though and he takes stick unfairly for it because he just knows his game and he knows he can't 100% make those 'tricky' passes, so he just decides to keep the ball instead of trying stupid balls that will hardly come off for him. Hopefully with Modric alongside him he can take the weight off JJ's shoulders with this because Zokora is very limited when he actually has the ball so it can make our midfield look very 1 dimensional. I actually don't think he has an awful range of passing i just don't think he has the confidence to 'try' stuff i think the fans at newcastle and at spurs haven't been the best to him and frequently get on his back, mostly unfairly from what i've seen. I actually think hes not been helped with playing inside Lennon who doesn't have the most intelligent movement to say the least.

I think the problem with JJ, is that he does everything very well, there is no glaring weakness in this game and another side of it he doesn't do anything spectacular either, i'm sure he could develop a special characteristic to define his game and i think goalscoring could be it but because hes had so much defensive work to do, its hinder him.

I do think however a JJ/Modric midfield will work because at international level Modric plays with Niko Kovac who isn't a stereotypical holding player like Makelele but more of a 'destructive' midfielder like Haregreaves/Flamini/Gattuso. I think Jenas can develop into this style to complement Luka, as he can cover ground quickly, has a high work rate and can get box to box. Carrick and Jenas was a great partnership in this division and i think Modric/Jenas could be aswell, because Luka is more of a deep lying playmaker than an attacking midfielder and Jenas is so well rounded he can go to a defensive midfielder at one stage in the game and switch up to a more advance role later.

I don't think we should be looking at improving central midfield as we are clearly worse off on the wings with only Lennon, Steed and Gio as out and out wide players.
I actually think trying to play Jenas at right midfield would be suicidal as hes awful there i feel, he can do a job but wouldn't want him there more than 5 times a season.

 

[g_harry]

anyone forget his goals against arsenal in semi of Carling cup & move which lead to winning penalty - jenas was immense in those games

plus think ramos likes him which really matters -

 

[BigStu]

And you're welcome to it SHY But seriously it's wrong - unless you expect a level of consistency from JJ that very very few top class players match - it's very hard for 90% of prem players to consistently play well - but for some reason the inconsistent jibe gets thrown at JJ time and again when he's actually one of our most consistently good players

This is part of the problem, he is consistently good but very rarely great. Whilst I by no means hate JJ I do not think he would be a regular starter in any of the top 4 teams. Fabregas, Gerrard, Scholes and even (god I can't believe I'm saying this) Lampard can be great and are great more than once or twice a season. When was the last time you walked away from one of our games saying god jenas was great he controlled the game and dominated the midfield.

 

[DC_Boy]

It's getting trying though, it has been so for ages. Some people are abusive to Jenas, pathetic- but there are worse things going on in the world. Some people don't rate Jenas highly, wrong in my opinion but people are entitled to their opinion.

Although I agree with you broadly, what really pisses me off is that you don't let others have a contrary view of him and just start every other post with 'As I have been saying all summer, Jenas is staying and Jenas is playing'. We get it. Most probably he is staying, very possibly he will be playing regularly but you don't know that for a fact. None of us does.

Just the chill out and let others have different opinions and stop sounding like a broken record. If everyone agreed on this site, it wouldn't last very long.

Absolute rubbish Coyboy - what pisses me off is posts like yours

I sit and read anti JJ stuff week in week out - I see post after post leaving JJ out of their teams - that's up to them -

tell you what CB if you don't like it - stick me on ignore - chances are you'll be on my iognore list pretty soon - so then you won't worry about me being a broken record will you -

 

[DC_Boy]

Just don't agree his performances have consistency, infact quite the opposite, he is either exceptional or mediocre in fairly equal measures.

.

Hi DarT disagree - but fair enough all about opinions

 

[DarT]

This is part of the problem, he is consistently good but very rarely great. Whilst I by no means hate JJ I do not think he would be a regular starter in any of the top 4 teams. Fabregas, Gerrard, Scholes and even (god I can't believe I'm saying this) Lampard can be great and are great more than once or twice a season. When was the last time you walked away from one of our games saying god jenas was great he controlled the game and dominated the midfield.

Agree with what you say, and to me that is the problem. He fully has the potential to be great, but doesn't deliver enough consistently.

For me he had an excellent game in the cc cup final, where he played to his potential, but can't remember one much after this, obviously my memory may not be what it used to be if someone wants to correct me !