Jol: We can still get better

[Olzy]

Martin Jol has declared Spurs are "getting better and better" as he prepares them for Saturday's north-London derby with Arsenal.

Tottenham currently sit third in the Premiership table after coming away from Manchester United with a well-earned 1-1 draw last weekend.

The Gunners, though, are only three points behind, and with a game in hand over their fierce rivals.

However, the manner in which Jol's men rallied to come from a goal down to earn a share of the spoils at Old Trafford showed the current Spurs side, still unbeaten away in the league, now have a mental toughness to go with their undoubted talent - a characteristic which had been missing from many of their sides in recent seasons.

There is a growing belief among both supporters and players alike this campaign could end in European qualification, with the consistent performances of Spurs captain Ledley King complementing the gritty determination of midfielders Jermaine Jenas and Edgar Davids, while the lively Jermain Defoe is always a threat in attack.

Jol said: "I think we're getting better and better. If you get confidence out of games like at Manchester United, you can improve further.

"Winning games and not conceding goals must become second nature and that's what we're working on."

Jol added on the club's official website: "I feel we can still improve further.

"I don't think we've played to our potential, but you can't expect that yet.

"We have a lot of new faces and we are gelling together and when we do that in the near future it will suit me because I want to play attractive football and get the results as well."

Jol's enthusiasm is infectious and he has developed a real feeling of togetherness within the Spurs camp, as Lee Young-Pyo revealed.

"The team is developing well and we seem to be improving every match," the South Korea full-back said. "I think we will be even stronger in the second half of the season."

[hanuma]

if you want to get stronger whats the first position you would strengthen?

[Spursmeister]

I know... but I'm not going to give you the satisfaction!

Of course the back line, tighten-up nicely there and wait for the breaks up front/in midfield.

I'm happy with the defence, and chuffed with the cover players we have like the highly experienced Neybet and the usually reliable Gardener.

I can see where Jol is heading, I can see why he has such belief, but I won't dare get on the band-waggon just yet, cos as a Spurs fan you're bred to expect a crushing failure at any time...

[hanuma]

lets say that you were going to be title contendors next season.

who would you need to replace.

oh you dont have to count youngsters in this...lets pretend they have reached their potential.

[Spursmeister]

hhhmmm,

Robbo's fine in goal,

We could use a world class RB cos Stalteri can let us down sometimes a little too often.

Lee at LB, he's good in aiding the attack but the jury is still out on his defensive capabilities.

King fine
Dawson still unsure, need to see more of him

In the Attacking midfield department I'm all but happy with Carrick, Jenas, Tainio, Lennon, Routledge, Reid etc but there's still that one nagging area, defensive midfield, cos when Davids is out we seriously lack the teeth, grit and determination that he brings.

I didn't know whether he would turn out to be so majorly important for us, but he has... With this in mind I'd like to see another proven world class DMF player bought in. Oh how I wish we'd have got Van Bommel...

Defoe/Mido/Keane (if he stays) fine, but we could definatly use another target man cos I don't see Raisiak as being good enough if Mido is out.

[hanuma]

still, i think i proved my point in that your not THAT far off a title competing side.

[Spursmeister]

If you keep dropping points and getting done by the likes of Everton and Charlton we might even take it off you this season lol!!!

[hanuma]

"robbed" by the likes of....

yeah....anyway.

hey at the beginning of last year...i predicted spurs and liverpool to be title challengers by 2006/07/08/09.

[sinoy1]

i love watching the spurs. good 1-1 draw against manchester but to tie arsenal is a bit of a downer. still very optimistic about this tottenham team. ive liked them for about 2 and a half years now, very attacking and they dont just kick it down to those big forwards like most of the english teams do. that being said i hope defoe finds some form. midfield is awsome with jenas davids and carrick. anyways thats my two cents wish mido the best since he wasnt given a real chance at roma. and i hope to see tottenham in the champions league next year.

[daz90]

Originally Posted by Spursmeister

hhhmmm,

Robbo's fine in goal,

We could use a world class RB cos Stalteri can let us down sometimes a little too often.

Lee at LB, he's good in aiding the attack but the jury is still out on his defensive capabilities.

King fine
Dawson still unsure, need to see more of him

In the Attacking midfield department I'm all but happy with Carrick, Jenas, Tainio, Lennon, Routledge, Reid etc but there's still that one nagging area, defensive midfield, cos when Davids is out we seriously lack the teeth, grit and determination that he brings.

I didn't know whether he would turn out to be so majorly important for us, but he has... With this in mind I'd like to see another proven world class DMF player bought in. Oh how I wish we'd have got Van Bommel...

Defoe/Mido/Keane (if he stays) fine, but we could definatly use another target man cos I don't see Raisiak as being good enough if Mido is out.

I agree with most of your post, Stalteri and Lee are both adequate full backs, lets not forget we have two very promising full backs in Ifill and Zeigler so i do feel there is no need for anyone else there. I also have no doubts at all over Dawson, the only slight drawback sometimes is a lack of pace, but his quick mind often makes up for that, as does kings pace. the two have started to form an excellant partnership, and i firmly beleive that they will form one of the best defensive partnerships in the Prem.

Defensive mid has always been a problem since Freund left us, Davids gives us the world class bite of a comabative midfeilder, Carrick is also more than capable of sitting deep and controlling the game, he did this last season in the infamous '1.0' draw against Utd, although his style is very different to Davids i do feel he is vastly important in center mid, he is the man that runs the show. Tainio, Mendes and Davids also provide excellant pressense in center mid Jenas needs more consistancy if he is to completly win me over, but if he keeps playing like he has in the last three games he will be a worthy starter, I have always rated Reid, but he has lost his place of late, and Davids has been playing on the left, i feel that left wing might need to be looked at, we sometimes lack width from the left when Reid is not playing. Right midfeild is covered.

In attack we have three very good prem class strikers, Keane and Defoe should both bag 15 + goals a season, (Keane should be given more games) Mido is more than capable of 15 goals too, he has shown this before at his previous clubs, so hopefully he will become a permament fixture at Spurs and prove his worth, all that said i do think we need an Henry, a Ruud, 20 goals + a season to properly challenge for the league, the midfeild also needs to chip in with more games, although the current crop on paper should be more than capable of that.


Its also nice for fans of other clubs to be looking at our team, and seemingly admiring Jol and the young lads, its been far too long since we had that kind of admiration and interest, long may it last.

[CantonaStillGod]

Originally Posted by hanuma

"robbed" by the likes of....

yeah....anyway.

hey at the beginning of last year...i predicted spurs and liverpool to be title challengers by 2006/07/08/09.

yeah liverpool are clearly on the up

[hanuma]

indeed they are...what a keen eye for trends you have.

[Jester]

Of course we can get better. Whats our average squad age? Low, ill tell you that. We're in our first season all together, like Davids and Mido, and many are staying for a long time, and when they reach their prime, thats when we'll peak again.