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I loved Martin Jol when he was at Spurs. How could you not? The genial giant with that hypnotic Dutch accent knew how to click with the fans. Besides, I was scared he’d be upset if I didn’t like him. He’s really big! I wouldn’t want him angry with me. No matter how much I liked him when he was at Spurs and no matter how disgusted I was at his treatment at the end, nothing prepared me for the gushings of admiration for him today when he was announced as Fulham’s new manager. Real declarations of love and talk of Spurs fans going to watch Fulham games! What? I know. It passed. I think people got caught up in the moment.

I loved Martin Jol when he was at Spurs. How could you not? Some of the football we played was breathtaking.
The counter point to that though is that we were too often tragi-comic at the back. Jol bought us some great performances, but an often woeful lack of understanding in how to effectively use substitutions or close a game out. I can probably give him the not closing games out thing, that was Spurs all over under far too many managers.

I loved Martin Jol when he was at Spurs. How could you not? That moment at Highbury when he towered over Wenger will stay with me forever. I truly thought he was going to do him. That moment was awesome, but he’d won us all over long before that. Everytime he spoke it was with great respect for the club, its traditions and the fans. He truly was taken to our hearts for many reasons. He wasn’t undyingly loved by all his players though. He struggled to keep fringe players happy, most notably alienating Jermain Defoe. Yes Keane and Berba scored a lot, but I think we all would have liked to have seen a little more JD too.

I loved Martin Jol when he was at Spurs. How could you not? He acted with dignity upon his exit when he had every right to offer Daniel Levy out. Whilst it’s true that Big Martin had been in talks with Newcastle about a possible big money defection, nothing can excuse the way his departure was handled. It was an embarrassing time for the club and everyone attached to it. Some fans cling to Jol’s talks with the Toon as justification but I for one can’t say I’ve never spoken to a rival about switching companies in my career, I doubt many can. So no, his treatment wasn’t justified. I was not alone in being truly sad when he went.  As we all should have been, he did really well for us, got us to within a dodgy lasagne of the Champions League and generally put smiles back on Spurs faces. But I wouldn’t take him back. I don’t think he could get us any further than Harry has. In fairness to Jol he has remedied some of his deficiencies , when Ajax came 2nd under him, they scored over 3 goals per game, very BMJ. They also had the best defense in the Eredivisie, very unBMJ.

I loved Martin Jol when he was at Spurs. How could you not? He let the team eat as many sweets as they like! Hope someone’s told Fulham’s kit manufacturer to +1 everyone’s size from last year. I think he’ll be good for Fulham though, especially if Michael Jackson’s biggest fan gives him the ‘warchest’ that’s been mooted. However much Fayed gives him I hope is enough to stretch to at least a Robbie Keane. His shirt signing at Craven Cottage today was classic Jol and he’s well on the way to winning over the Fulham faithful I’m sure. So he should, after a couple of years of functional football under Hodgson and Hughes they are about to see some proper football again. Not sure how happy another of his ex players will be though. Yes, Danny Murphy, I’m talking to you.

I loved Martin Jol when he was at Spurs. How could you not? I will always have the utmost respect for him. I wish him well now. I will always cheer him and clap him when he comes back to The Lane. Make no mistake about it though, I hope we beat his team as many times as they are put in front of us next season.

COYS

Stuart Watts (@Studub on Twitter)

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