JENAS: The goldfish needs a new bowl
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 10:17AM A sense of dejua vu with this one. It's a question repeated countless times by the Tottenham faithful and one that I covered in detail here.
What should we do with Jermaine Jenas? If we get a tasty £10M offer for him do we bite their hands off?
I was actually, at various points this season, sympathetic towards the midfield enigma believing that with Redknapp at the club - and the dawn of another new dawn - with Palacios bossing the midfield, JJ might finally blossom into the player we all hope he would became. Alongside Wilson he showed us glimpses of a man who had suddenly found freedom after years of repression.
Jenas, some would say, is a luxury player in that he has to be in the right team with the right team balance to be capable of turning it on. Others will quickly state that a true 'top 4' midfielder wouldn't need to rely on the people around him in the same way JJ needs General Wilson. And someone at the back will whisper that we are not a top 4 club and compared to other teams outside of the elite, Jenas is possibly as good as anything they've got. Or is that another delusion?
Give him another chance, one more chance...is the groundhog day opinion that will not go away. Isn't it about time the day just ended and we woke up to a brand new one?
If Harry believes Modric should be played down the middle with a winger (Ashley Young perhaps?) taking responsibility on the left - Jenas would suddenly find himself benched long term, surplus to requirements downgraded to squad player rather than first team regular.
I'm not going to run through another in-depth analysis of the player (the conundrum series covered it in detail). Everything that's been said has been said. Fans are split and indifferent to the lads form and end product. Managers and coaches seem to rate him very very highly. Which means either fans can't see what the professionals do or Jenas is a criminal mastermind responsible for digging up dirt on everyone in the game in the greatest mass blackmailing in history.
I can only go on what I know and what I see. As I'm sure you too have an opinion on this.
When we speak of potential in a player, it's the hope - based on current abilities - that they can grow and develop and improve their game. It’s a question of finding that extra 10%, 20%, 40% or whatever from somewhere, usually from the experience of one season on top of the next. Jenas might have the ability. We see it when he is at his box-2-box best, but usually against lesser opposition. And it's here where we cite potential as the excuse. If he can destroy Hull or Derby and he can sometimes do it against Arsenal then the next stage of evolution would be to perform at that standard every week and show signs that his in-game weakness are gradually being eliminated. But he never quite grasps the opportunity or indicates that he has overcome his demons (the ones that suffocate his confidence).
The fact he is not performing at a high standard every week means its not so much 'he has the potential to do so' but more the case of 'he just isn't good enough to get there'.
Imagine if the lad had the same mental strength as Frank Lampard. He'd be very good. He'd be exceptional. And that's what we hang on to. That extra 20%, 30% or so that's required from him to finally make the grade. But what we ignore is that football is more than just the ability to play it physically. Composure, decision making...are also fundamentals, but if you're not 100% in the head then that can be the difference between being good and reaching world class status.
JJ doesn't have that arrogant swaggering belief that's required and his perpetual search for a heart, stuck on the yellow-brick road all alone and lost, is never-ending. There is no potential to come to the rescue. The Wizard has shut shop.
Going back to the Lampard analogy, saying that if Jenas did have the mentality of the Chelsea midfielder he'd be outstanding is a bit like saying imagine if Joey Barton didn't have a temperament problem. Some people are built in a way that does not allow for change.
So I guess we either have to except this is it and that the player is as good as he will ever be and we simply compensate for his deficiencies because - for all that is frustrating about him - he's still a decent footballer. Or we except its time for him to move on and allow another club and manager to take the responsibility of being the Wizard.
I think it's time Jenas moved on.
And yet I find myself looking in the mirror and seeing M. Night Shyamalan staring back at me as I think to myself...I'd be gutted if we sold him.
Reader Comments (39)
Outstanding Spooky.
Some thoughts: I don't think enough has been done to work on JJ's weaknesses. For all the hype that is pushed towards the player from people in the game they appear to ignore the fact that Jenas needs to concentrate on the parts of his game that are not strong. I do sense the irony however that if the problem is completely in his head then no amount of extra training will 'fix it'.
We do love a bit of Jenas don't we? Most discussed Spurs player of the past 10 years I reckon.
Can't make my mind up either.
I made mine up two seasons ago. Let's do the right thing and sell.
The pro-Jenas brigade keep losing their argument season after season.
It's becoming embarrassing.
We can do better. There are better players out there. I just don't think Jenas has got what it takes to make that next step. He's been on the same fucking step for three years!!!
Spooky, do you have a crush on Jenas? Haha, kidding mate, it's a great topic to discuss because like you said it does split fans straight down the middle. You either love him or hate him. I think we should hold onto him and let him play out the season as a squad player. You just don't know what injury might be round the corner and I think he's quite adaptable and therefore a good guy to have as part of the team.
Who would we buy to 'replace' him, if we had to make a like for like signing?
jenas reminds me of a car which has everything but lets you down at times no matter
how much you look after it and appreciate its qualities
He has scored great goals arsenal semi final and last years draw for example.....
He needs to dominate midfield areas with palacios .......consistently
whatever the balance redknapp is looking at .....
As much as I like the lad, he should go. But...it would be foolish to offload Jenas, Huddlestone, O'Hara and Zokora. At the very least, we should aim to keep Huddlestone with strong reinforcements coming in (preferably, an experienced player and a young talent). Centre mid is where matches are won. One thing that does worry me is that we are abandoning all our (young) English players with Bent, Jenas, Huddlestone, Bentley, O'Hara, even Bale potentially heading towards the exit.
Jenas will stay. It's Modric we need to be worried about. Redknapp wouldn't have much trouble selling him and going for a more traditional line-up. Fergie is sniffing round our gaff.
you are DICKHEAD, DON'T YOU THINK SHIT LIKE THIS MAKES JENAS THINK HE CAN'T PERFORM GAME IN GAME
No danger Rednapp will sell Modric without trouble and JJ will stay. Goes against all evidence. Harry rates Modric very highly as opposed to Jenas.
you are DICKHEAD, DON'T YOU THINK SHIT LIKE THIS MAKES JENAS THINK HE CAN'T PERFORM GAME IN GAME Jun 16, 2009 at 11:36 AM | A TRUE YIDO
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Yeah, cause JJ spends his free time reading blogs and message boards, you absolute weapon.
God help Jenas if he ever browses into the GG forum then.
I have my doubts whether Jenas can actually read.
After Arry arrived he exclaimed incredulity on how Lennon had never been taught how to receive the ball. My worry with Jenas is that his development too has been hindered through lack of communication, guidance or simply the expectation of previous managers that surely players on his wage and with his age and experience shoudl simply be able to do whats asked of them without a Hanes manual or Idiots guide.
There is also the issue of familiarity and complacency. The first breeds contempt at the interminable issue of enigma and the second leads to effort being shown intermittently at best.
When you reflect on your expectations of a Spurs team and its qualities, what comes to mind? You have high hopes that next season will be better than the last, but usually it isn't. You anticipate a full-on assault against the so-called 'weaker' sides, but often you get turned over by them. You see them punching above their weight against the Sky 4 sides, and giving them a bloody nose, but often they swat you like a fly and you leave the ring humbled. You see so much talent and, as much as you factor in the variables that affect any individual or team sport, you can't reasonably argue why Spurs shouldn't achieve success with it - and yet the team still comes up short. On paper, you see a team that should be competing for fifth place every season, and pushing hard and close for fourth; and yet, for much of this season, it languished in the toilet of the league, where the shit is flushed.
Jenas is analogous to Spurs, exemplifying the essential qualities of expectation and disappointment. He is like a default talisman.I n that sense, he itruly s Mr Tottenham.
I like the cut of your jib.
I most certainly object to Desktop's labeling of Jenas as 'truly' being 'Mr Tottenham'. This slights what I consider real testaments to the Club not least being Mr Tottenham himself, Sir Billy Nick.
If this negative perception of the club is now ingrained, and the traditions and foundations of Glory that our club was built on forgotten, then I am sure our heroes are turning in their graves or appalled at such comments.
I like the blog, Spooky. Only second time I've commented, but I frequently read. It's insightful and a genuine football education.
All the talk about Hudd, Zokora, O'Hara leaving with other teams mentioned, has any other team shown any real interest in Jenas? No, not even Sunderland or Fulham.
Potential...the boy has it but what does he do about it?? I have the potential to be fit and healthy but I still can't see my toes why? coz I just can't be bothered and I don't think he can either. JJ seems to be happy being an OK player as I do being fat. I think it is time he joins another team and fills their blog sites with the will he won't he debate
I think Harry wants a team full of pace down the flanks, Ashley Young?? and Lennon with beauty (Modric pulling the strings) and the beast (Sgt.Wilson) though the middle. COYS
Why should we be bothered any more if Jenas can read all the abuse or not? The guy is a waste of effort. I've been sick of his "slow development" for too long now. He needed to grow some stones a long time ago, and has clearly failed to make them permanent fixtures. I'm not into watching his BS square pass cos he doesn't want to take responsibility and try something more penetrative. Jenas, if you are reading this, go elsewhere. Then come back and do what you usually do for 9 out of 10 games when you play us.
Trembly, you're living in the past whilst Desktop makes an accurate summation of the present. Being a Spurs fan during the last twenty years is like a love affair that's never quite consumated.
Hi, Trembly
I did say that Jenas has become a 'default' talisman. He's certainly not my preferred one. He's the eternal underachiever - comparable to how the club has been over the years. The club - and the fans - deserves success and glory. As such, I'd be happy to see Jenas moved on. I don't want his underachievement meme pervading Spurs any more and insinuating its way into the mentality of other players. The bad habits have to be stopped.
So, I agree with you.
Thank you Desktop. We've been caught up in a such a mire that we've lost direction and can't see the (dead)wood for the trees. Silver_Spurfer - lessons learned and guidance from those such as Sir. Bill, shouldn't be condemned as living in the past. Ok some of the rules have changed, some of the technology (boots, balls etc) have changed as well. However our brief glimpses of success over the past 20 years were built on blood sweat and tears from previous decades and we should always hold these examples as guiding lights - more so than the fly by night chancers that in the modern game are so prevalent.
Hang 'im high!
It's not coaching the boy wants, but a giant kick up the arse. One which is directed outside of Tottenham.
Whether you see Tottenham in the bright light of past glories or in the shady gloom of our recent mismanagement, we need and deserve better.
Ah yes. If only Jenas had the confidence of Lampard. While we're at it imagine if he had all/ any of those other attributes that decent footballers have like a Huddlestone eye for a pass, or Modric's trickery, or Wilsons tenacity or Lennon's pace. He's surplus.
Expecting JJ to fulfill his 'potential' (based on turning it on once every ten games) is like expecting Bobby Zamora to become a 30 goal a season striker because he occasionally hits the back of the net.
But he scored that goal against Arsenal.
Sign him up for life.
Trembly,
"That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history."
Aldous Huxley
I'd like to see us putting our more successful contemporaries models under a microscope. We've spent similar sums of money to them with far less success. I'd rather be proud of the present than still dreaming of glories past.
G'DAY, From DownUnder Spooky,
First time on your site but I read it everytime, Keep up the good work.
When I read the comment from Mysteriousstranger, I have to agree with the comment about slow development and when you mention this the names of Jenas and Thud spring to mind. When you see the likes of Ronaldo, Rooney, Young, etc,etc. Then when these kids are turning it on in their teen's then perhaps it's time for a few of our players like JJ and Thud to seek pastures new to start afresh and I think it would be good for them and in the long term SPURS. Perhaps this could also be said of our Captain.
COYS.
Silver_Spurfer
Following your lead "From their experience or from the recorded experience of others, men learn only what their passions and their metaphysical prejudices allow them to learn"
I hear what you're saying. That the business/footballing models of other clubs seem more successful than our own? That we should be doing better given the financial investment etc? Surely the issue here is that whilst other clubs have stayed consistent with their 'models', we've adopted and discarded many in the same time frame.
"The charm of history and its enigmatic lesson consist in the fact that, from age to age, nothing changes and yet everything is completely different."
By all means be proud of the present (what we can be proud of in comparison) but don't forget the past (including recent) in your rush to the future or it might not turn out as you would like (can't remember who said that first). Jol, Ramos, Comolli, Buying/Selling decisions, Negative substitutions, Negative tactics, Predominantly young british (or french) squads, only buying galacticos - all are surely recent lessons to be learned and we can benefit from?
Zola,hes got a monkies head,hes got a monkies head,hes got a monkies head
You muppet! I generally mean the way fans respond to Jenas next to Gerrard and lampard Jenas is the best centre midfielder in the league. You so called fans go on at him you sense it in the ground he gets no backing.
The argument is is dosn't perform game in game out. If he did he would mentioned in the same breath as Gerrard but he dosn't and spurs are mid table team pushing for glory he exactly the type of player we deserve if gets we get better our futures are linked. But lets face it he won't and we won't we will never play champions league game.
Get a grip of yourself.
Jenas for £10M? We should be so lucky.
Trembly,
Fair points. I have high hopes that Levy has learnt some lessons, and that Harry has us heading in the right direction. Whilst it's good to look at the glories of our past, i'm sure we'd all appreciate some glory in our near future. Those that have had potential for too many seasons need to be shipped out and replaced by that have acheived their potential.
First time I've ever contributed to such a discussion online, but I do agree with most on here..........we should sell JJ.
For all his many ball skills & fitness level, he either does not have a 'footballing brain' or is unable to think fast enough!
I'm heartily sick of seeing his hunched shoulders with arms outstretched; as if to say (I can't decide what to do).
Frankly, I'm amazed he ever gets a call up to the England squad!
First game home vs. Liverpool....... In first 6 games we play Chelsea, Man U and Liverpool. In the last 5 games of the season we play Arsenal, Man U and Chelsea.
You know that a player is not particularly good when the first 'quality' people list is that of "high fitness levels". Paula Radcliffe has high fitness levels but I don't want her pissing about in midfield.
I have said it before and I will no doubt say it again; Jenas and Tottenham go hand in hand - A load of hype, talk and unfulfilled potential but really, they're both very average.