The Man of the Moment
And so it begins. The dark tanned face of our new man, Juande Ramos, could be seen in the stands next to Levy & Co.(molli) watching our half decent performance on Sunday but his work had already begun. A noted student of the game, he would have been scribbling mental notes if not actual ones and each player on the pitch was clearly of it. You could see their work rate upped by a good 50%. But that isn’t going to be enough.
Juan de la Cruz Ramos Cano, as his mother probably refers to him when he’s being a naughty little Spanish manager, is renowned for his attacking football and one of his keys to this style is in his approach to work rate and fitness. He went to the dressing room after Sunday’s defeat and shook each player by the hand. He told them they played well but that you must play for more than 50 or 60 minutes. The game is 90 minutes long. If Robbie and the boys were in any doubt what was to come even after the appointment of Ramos’s fitness coach, Marcos Alvarez, that was swept away on yesterday morning as they were treated to a double training session of fitness in the morning and a practice match in the afternoon. Admittedly time before Juande’s first game but MJ would only ever use light training the say after a match.
Much has been written about how Ramos has turned teams around with his 110% ethos but if you really want to know just how much he means it there’s only one anecdote worth listening to. Six years ago while managing Rayo Vallecano - a team that he brought up into the Primera League and to an impressive 10th place finish in their first season - Ramos went to make a substitution when his team were leading by two goals to nil. The only difference is that he didn’t bring another player on. He let his team continue with 10 men.
“I wanted to teach the players a lesson,” he said. “The players were not trying, so I took the drastic step because I wanted them to work harder.”
Ramos is known to be as tactically astute as he is hard as a task-master. He is a known lover of the game in the that true football obsessive style as epitomised by Benitez and Wenger with every match from every league recorded for further study. When they’re not coaching the game, they’re watching it. I always imagine them selecting the correct club shirts from an endless replikit wardrobe and sitting on the edge of their beds with scarf, rattle and foam hand at the ready to celebrate every goal.
Veteran Sevilla keeper, Andres Palop, talked of his Ramos’s passion for football and the English game. He said:
“He had English football at home and we would always talk about the English games that were going to be on the television and how he was going to be at home to watch them.”
Rumour has it that Ramos arrived in the UK clutching a collection of Tottenham DVDs. As for his approach to each fixture, Palop continued:
“For all his knowledge of the opposition he knows that if we play the way he wants us to play, the opposition are going to end up a lot more worried about us than we are of them – so he doesn’t dwell on their strengths.
“He normally tells us the four main ‘virtues’ that the other side has and we try to make sure that they don’t do us any harm with any of these, but the emphasis is on us to stamp our identity on the game and play to our strengths.”
Apparently our four virtues when we played them last year were Little Aaron, Keano, Bonders and of course, Dimitar the Great. Keano is the only one so far who’s come anywhere near his form of last season and it’s going to be fascinating to see exactly who comes to the forefront under JR, who is known as man to get very special results out of some very ordinary players. His development of Freddi Kanoute is far from lost on us. The likes of Wayne Routledge must be pinching themselves with this chance to get into the team.
So, he’s good tactically, he’s good physically, he’s good at player development, which only leaves man management, given that Comolli will be signing all the players. So how does Juande rate here? Well, it’s over to Palop again:
“He talks a lot in the dressing room. He talks both before the players go out to warm up and before the game.”
“He talks with each individual player about what they need to be doing on the pitch. He tries to let each individual know exactly what they are going to come up against during the match.”
Sounds good, provided he can speak English but then that’s why we’ve hired old boy, Gus Poyet aka “The Radio”; so named because he never stops talking (cheers Charlie). If Ramos lacks anything in motivational speaking anyone who ever saw Poyet score a goal will be in no doubt of the kind of passion the Uruguayan nutcase can radiate.
Still though, I’m curious why Poyet was chosen? Sure he speaks Spanish and English and he knows the club and one or two of his players but he appears to have no connection with either Ramos, Comolli and the majority of the squad. Is he in for the long term or just until JR has dispensed with the “English in five easy steps and £8,000″ CDs?
Everyone out there is hailing this latest signing a real coup for Spurs and a closer look at the man and his methods shed light on just what all of them are saying. The only down side to this man is his apparent loyalty or lack of it. Eleven clubs in 13 years is not the kind of stats you want on your CV, with his two year reign at Sevilla as committed as he’s been, but then I remember a certain young Irish striker who arrived at Spurs with a similar record and that was more than six years ago now.
Naturally, there’s much to discuss in terms of the instant rumours about the players Ramos intends to poach from his own club and the ensuing fury from Sevilla President, Del Nido but doubtless these are stories that will run and run. We’ll catch them soon. But today I leave you with the words of the man of the hour himself. Make what you will.
“What you put into football you get back, a thousandfold. You have to invest hard work, dedication and enthusiasm into football. That is what I want to impart to you today, with all humility and with the single purpose of, like yourselves, being devoted to this beautiful game that is football.”
The Bagel.
October 30th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Amen to that.
On paper it all looks good.
Vamos Ramos!
October 30th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
11 clubs in 14 years, not exactly a stayer is he ?
I think you need someone more like lee marvin to turn your bunch of misfits around.
Still, he won a couple of Uefa cups, and I know your lot will be dead proud of those levels of achievement.
October 30th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
You are right WHS. We are very proud of the 3 European trophies that we have won compared to your laughable 2.
Forever in our shadow in Europe.
October 30th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Recent Premiership managers who have won two European finals
Ramos, Mourinho, Ferguson, Benitez.
I’ll leave you to work out which one has lost two…
Of all the things you could criticise about Tottenham or our new manager, it shouldn’t be their record in Europe!
October 30th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Well, well, well… So it begins:
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2201885,00.html
I knew it! He is a fan - but hardly worth billions…
October 30th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Nash combining football and basketbal perfectly
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mSddOzsxIjk
October 31st, 2007 at 12:20 am
what a load of bollocks
it’s a shame clive mr personality allen couldnt take charge and carry on the relegation battle. it was like the good old days under gross, all this flirtin wifh relegation….now oneday ramos will whip your handbag carrying lost bunch of plebs into shape!!
October 31st, 2007 at 10:37 am
So where was levy yesterday ? Not only is he a poor chairman who knows little about football, he’s a coward to boot.
As for European success, congratulations, I’m glad you find salvation in your underwhelming achievements, doesn’t that just reiterate that you are just a poor cup team ? Show me some league success and you can call yourself a big club.
Right now, you should be worrying about the drop while we ride the crest of the premier league.
Now for a question, at what point will there be no surviving fans who remember spuds winning the league ?
Already you have to be at least 50 to remember, another 20 years time and it’ll be a old wives tale to scare the grandchildren.
October 31st, 2007 at 2:52 pm
The board have valued our players by more than £40 million compared to 12 months ago (and we wont get £16m for Bent nor the £28m touted for Berbatov in the summer).
The amount we owe to other clubs has double in 12 months too - from £30m to £60m.
And the possibilty of no European competition next season to boost the figures.
Why does that all worry me..?
October 31st, 2007 at 4:40 pm
WHS
Well done for conceding that our history in European competition is far more glorious than yours.
In response to your absurd question, you make the bizarre assumption that Spurs fans alive in ‘61 will only live until they are 70 odd. There is every chance that some Spurs fans will live to a ripe old age of maybe 95 - 100 which really does make your question pointless.
First you try to criticise our European record at which you failed miserably and now this. You really are rubbish.
November 1st, 2007 at 10:59 am
Far more glorious ?
That’s a bold comment.
Perhaps you remember the runs in europe so vividly as you appear there so rarely.
Your european successes are not exactly awe inspiring, and are pale in comparison to villa or forest, so not an area I would proudly announce.
Maybe you should put your trump cards away, then perhaps you will see that the best team in london play in red and white - c’mon Charlton !!! erm, I mean Arsenal ! 8^)
Not that it matters, but I fear you manager will just lead the fans toward another false dawn of hope, but there may be changes afoot. If enic can’t get you into the champions league, can’t get you the new stadium plans, then they might sell up and you could find yourself a new sugar daddy.
November 1st, 2007 at 11:23 am
Villa???? Are you sure
If you are including the European Super Cup (not really a competion, more a reward for winning the European Cup) then Forest have won 3 trophies and Villa have won 2.
So, Spurs having won 3 trophies in Europe certainly puts us above Villa and at least on a par with Forest.
Whereas you lot are trailing behind everyone.
With the excellent teams that you have had over the last 15 years you should really have won more, both domestically and in Europe but I’m sure you know that already. Never mind eh!
November 1st, 2007 at 3:11 pm
I think you’ll find that Arsene’s medal collection is very impressive, not as impressive as the turn around in the club at the same time, but impressive none the less.
The transformation of the training ground / youth facilities and finally the stadium has all been driven by his knowledge of economics and largely self-financed through shrewd players aquisition and resale.
We are now in a position with a current squad potential value far exceeds the secured debt of the club, his knowledge of finance also allowed Arsenal FC to get a triple A S&P rating. This allows us to flex our muscle when arranging finance, and could even allow us to speculate basis interest rate swaps with lesser rated companies.
So you go on about 3 measley cups and how Arsene hasn’t really done as much as he could.
I just sit back and admire someone who has created a legacy, and as manager of a club, any chairman would view him as priceless.
Your lot on the other hand, throw good money after bad while trying to achieve enic’s goals of new stadium blueprints and the holy grail of CL football. After which (if it ever happens) they will sell to the highest bidder and you will still be in the same position as now - even worse if a liverpool / manure self financing takeover happens.
November 1st, 2007 at 3:47 pm
What utter nonsense.
Your new stadium has got nothing to do with your managers abilities in the transfer market or his maths ‘o’ level.
It’s simple, you pissed on what history and tradition that you had, knocked it down and then builty yuppy apartments on the site so that you could move to a bigger ground. Well, I suppose you do have a very good track record of relocating to suit the bean counters at the club.
By the way, when you went off on one about interest rates swaps etc I fell asleep.
Boring boring Arsenal!
You have to either be an accountant or studying economics at college. Either way it’s dull.
November 1st, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Actually I’m an Investment Banker, which mean, yes, I have to deal with various boring financial products, but the flip side is the cash, which, in my humble opinion, is fakin magnificent.
Perhaps if you studied a little harder, or managed to understand life a little more, then you wouldn’t have to take it up the pipe down at you insurance call centre / drive through hamburger joint / paper supply factory you work at. Then perhaps you would understand why businesses do what they do, and realise that investors expect rewards, especially speculators such as Joe Lewis.
Unfortunately, your lack of interest in money and finance and reasonable command of the english language proves that you are a puppet, only able to entertain what the government thought was a good ‘education’, not what might be actually useful for you, such as understanding the very thing that affects your life most - money.
Shame really, try reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad, it might help you.
November 1st, 2007 at 6:23 pm
An “investment banker” ?
I’ll keep setting them up if you keep knocking them in. Priceless!
By the way, did you mean to say “reasonable command of the english language”?
Firstly, I’m flattered. And the other thing, “english” should have a capital letter E.
Anyway, better get back to the drive thru. Mickey Hazard has just pulled up so we need to get some extra Big Macs on the grill.
November 1st, 2007 at 6:34 pm
An investment banker, maybe- But you have the writing skills of a 10 year old. (N/C level 4b - at a guess)
Your command of the written word, WHS, is both poorly constructed and badly punctuated.
Money is never the ‘thing’ that affects anyone most in life.
Try to keep your comments on footballing matters - When you start making personal insults, you sound like a Penis.
November 1st, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Talking of sounding like a Penis - I have just watched Damien Commolli at the ‘press conference’ introducing Ramos.
Honestly, 10 years in the media and I NEVER saw a press conference that bad. Really quite poor… As a fan, there really is nothing you can do about those higher up, is there?
November 1st, 2007 at 9:37 pm
WHS
Investment Banker… Is that rhyming slang? If so, it certainly suits you
November 1st, 2007 at 11:27 pm
Toby,
I am amazed that you have managed to find a new type of barter system that allows you to get by without money - could you share your secret with us all ?
My command of the english language is poor - I wouldn’t claim otherwise, my knowledge of how money makes the world go round is pretty good though.
All I was doing was pointing out the various differing conditions between the standings of the 2 clubs, yours being pretty shite in comparison.
Fiunally, I didn’t realise that investment banker was some sort of slang, I have heard though, that merchant banker is used as an insult, perhaps you are mistaken ?
November 2nd, 2007 at 8:55 am
oi oi
I didn’t for one moment state that investment banker was indeed rhyming slang, I merely posed the question. You’ll find it’s called humour, but perhaps investment bankers aren’t equipped with a sense of humour?
November 2nd, 2007 at 10:32 am
Hahaha,
Yotn - you are very astute, that is indeed the case - the city of London does have a humour by-pass, that laughter you hear from pubs all down bishopsgate is in fact the tedious cackle of hopeful underlings, all finding the bosss’ anecdotes hilarious despite the 12th hearing.
These desperate pleas for butt kissing rites are, of course, standard fare for promotion in these circles.
If only being a milkman paid so well, I’d be shagging your wife right now while balancing the laptop on her pert, yet spotty, behind.
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:38 am
WHS / HaHaHa / Oi Oi / Hoi Hoi
Why all the different names?
Too much listening to Quadrophenia by the Who? It is a great album but you seem to be taking it too seriously.
In response to your eulogy to money I couldn’t disagree more. I have 2 small boys. A 3yr old and and 7 week old baby. My 3 year old has some health problems. Sadly, there is no cure. No matter how much money I have, I am unable to change this. Believe me, I wish I could just go and pay for him to be OK and to take away the crushing stress and worry that it puts on me, my wife and the family but money cannot do that for me. We have to hope that with the love of his family he will have a happy and fulfilling life.
So, the thing that affects me most in my life is my children, their health and their happiness, and that is something that money cannot buy.
Enjoy your “fakin magnificent” bundles of cash but remember that it’s uses are limited.
Oh, and thanks for the literary advice. I’ll stick to “Where going on a bear hunt”. Much more fun for me and the boys.
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:19 pm
I’m sorry to hear about you son’s problem.
My digs are at you and that pathetic team you support, all insults thrown under the umbrella of banter, no insult meant at all to your family - except the wife - but she really does like the milkman !
The reason for the multitude of names, is the number of pc’s I use - one at home - the missus’s laptop - several work pc’s (they keep moving me).
I’ll have to get out the album now, ahh, the film, Lesley Ash.
Now I’m gonna tell my boss to shove the franking machine right up his arse, that’ll learn ‘im !
November 2nd, 2007 at 1:42 pm
oi oi,ha ha,blah blah… Whatever
I, like yourself use a myriad of pc’s & laptops, however I don’t need to log on as different names for each machine. I don’t, all that money & shit for brains
By the way, don’t flatter yourself with any sad references of dreamt up liasions with my darling Mrs YotN, she’s as much a Yiddo as I am, so she wouldn’t sully herself with any nomad scum. Have a good weekend, enjoy your banger & mash. I’ll be enjoying the weekend with my family, the thing I value the most
November 2nd, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Hope you enjoy your weekend and find some solstice in your family after spuds get slapped down again.
I too will enjoy my weekend, my free time is the thing I value the most, but maybe thats where the communication failure occured.
All I said was that money affected your life most, that’s all, cos without it, we have no heat / food / drink or comfort, I certainly didn’t say that money was the most important thing in life:
The Mighty Arsenal, greatest team in the world, on target to smash the mancs back home.
November 2nd, 2007 at 8:08 pm
So no mention as to why ha ha la la da da blah blah na na etc… has so many names because he uses so many pc’s & laptops… A bit embarrassed I suppose, all that money & no common sense. I don’t know, I manage to get by with one name across umpteen pc’s & laptops & I’m sure anyone else who uses this site has worked out what to do. Quite frightening how people trust la la (& no doubt his friends poe, tinky winky & dipsy) with money
Maybe dipsy is a more apt name for this one after all
November 5th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
And his use of his own mother tongue his laughable.
According to WHS you can find “Solstice” in your family. Would that be the summer or winter variety?
Maybe he lives near Stone Henge? (or a 3 ft model of it)