Ramos the Ruthless

Edgar Davids Joined : 06 Jun 2007 Posts : 3552

Robinson feels chilly hand of Ramos the Ruthless
Juande Ramos' decision to drop Paul Robinson against Arsenal was a massive vote of no confidence
Dominic FifieldJanuary 10, 2008 12:17 AM
Juande Ramos was greying long before he was handed the task of tightening up Tottenham Hotspur's porous back line but, not yet three months into the job, his patience has already snapped. Paul Robinson shivered among the substitutes as Spurs drew 1-1 at the Emirates last night, his position in the team usurped by Radek Cerny as the England manager, Fabio Capello, looked on from the stands. Ramos the Ruthless has revealed himself.

Robinson has been through plenty already this term at club level, his form veering from high-profile errors to occasional glimpses of his best, but being omitted for this Carling Cup semi-final first leg, Spurs' most important contest of the campaign to date, was a colossal vote of no confidence. Ramos arrived in the Premier League with his teams having gained a reputation for slick, attacking football in La Liga, but it has taken him little time to pinpoint where Tottenham have been stalling. The Spaniard is in the process of instigating an overhaul of his back line, and Robinson is clearly not fireproof.

The Spaniard refused to back the 28-year-old as his No1 after this frustrating draw last night, his non-committal answer actually speaking volumes. "He's a good goalkeeper, which he's demonstrated in his career so far," said Ramos. "We all know what a good goalkeeper he is. But there are 25 players in the squad and all have to play at some point, making the most of the minutes that they have on the pitch. He understands his position within the squad. All players are to be considered. I choose who's best for each match."

Already there must be some doubt as to whether Robinson will return against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, even with Cerny's otherwise impressive display rather wrecked by Theo Walcott's late equaliser. Presuming neither Ledley King nor Michael Dawson is in real danger, the England goalkeeper would be the most high-profile of those currently struggling to find favour.

Robinson's most agonising moments recently have come with the national team but, if a recovery had been hinted at with Spurs, the error against Reading in the FA Cup third round last Saturday - backtracking into his own goal after collecting a Stephen Hunt free-kick - clearly left Ramos exasperated. It can hardly have helped Robinson that he has been working without a regular goalkeeping coach since Hans Segers left the club in the wake of Martin Jol's sacking in October.

Robinson made an agitated bench man and, deep down, the sight of Cerny diving smartly to turn Nicklas Bendtner's header round a post early on could hardly have improved his mood.

Yet Robinson's fragility has been only one of Ramos's concerns. The goalkeeper had shipped 39 goals in 27 club appearances this term but the weakness of the quartet protecting him has been horribly evident all season. Spurs can rip opponents to shreds, but when they scored six against Reading they shipped four at the other end. They have conceded three times or more seven times this term.

In an effort to induce some solidity, the Spaniard has had his back four roped up together in training, making them work together as a unit, tracking up the pitch together and retreating in tandem, always a set distance apart - a tactic once used by George Graham at Arsenal.

There were signs here, albeit against Arsenal's second string, that some solidity has been instilled. The captain King's return has helped, with the England centre-half's excellent display here including a glorious fifth-minute charge upfield, gliding from one penalty area to the other before running out of puff. His presence has pepped Dawson's confidence, the former Nottingham Forest centre-back having laboured this term largely as a result of having to carry the error-prone Younes Kaboul at his side too often. His block on Abou Diaby's late drive from the edge of the area preserved the draw.

Others at the back know their days are numbered. Spurs' interest in Rangers' Alan Hutton can have done little for Pascal Chimbonda's confidence, and the left-back Lee Young-Pyo has never looked really comfortable. The comical error 11 minutes from time, when the backtracking Korean playing the ball on to Walcott's chest before it flew beyond an advancing Cerny, summed up Spurs' capacity to implode at the back. There were signs here that things are improving but Robinson, glum on the bench, could only look on.

Founding Father Joined : 06 Jun 2007 Posts : 1704

See ya Robbo!

Founding Father Joined : 05 Jun 2007 Posts : 3522

no more of that Englands Number One chant that make my toes curl these days...

Gary Stevens Joined : 07 Jun 2007 Posts : 1015

he obviously needed dropping - to be honest his form picked up after he was dropped for the crucial England game, maybe another stint on the bench will improve him. there is a decent keeper in there somewhere - he's just got a massive confidence issue at the moment which is seriously impairing his judgement.

Cerny to me always seems nervous - especially during the FA Cup game vs Chelsea last year - and his delivery and clearances were definitely a bit suspect last night. One good aspect of Cerny's play was the speed at which he came off his line to collect the ball (better off not letting our defenders deal with it!) - however that may not have helped him with England's number 22's fluke.

Gary Stevens Age : 30 Joined : 24 Jul 2007 Posts : 1798

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/01/10/robbo-s-row-with-ramos-89520-20280517/

Paul Robinson had a furious dressing room bust-up with Spurs boss Juande Ramos after being axed for last night's Carling Cup semi-final with Arsenal.

Robinson blew his top after being told he had been dropped just before kick-off when the team was announced to the players. The angry England keeper challenged Ramos who refused to explain his decision to axe him in favour of Radek Cerny. Robinson then chased after Ramos and confronted him and they had a row with the rest of the Tottenham players looking on.

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A Tottenham insider said: "Robbo only found out when the team sheet went in and was obviously upset. But it was the manager's lack of English and lack of communication that really upset him because he refused to explain it. Robbo went after him and they had a row in front of the players just as they were preparing for a game. It didn't seem the best way for the manager to handle things."

Ramos refused to confirm Robinson was still his No.1 after last night's game and it could leave the keeper's whole Tottenham future in doubt as his bust-up is certain to alert other clubs, including Manchester City.

It was the first time Robinson has been axed in his Tottenham career and it came as a major body blow with new England coach Fabio Capello sat in the stands last night.
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The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It is nothing of the kind. The game is about glory. It is about doing things in style, with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom.

Founding Father Joined : 06 Jun 2007 Posts : 1704

Toodle pip Robbo!

Founding Father Joined : 05 Jun 2007 Posts : 3522

lets get the Fulham keeper Niemi on the cheap.

Gary Stevens Age : 30 Joined : 24 Jul 2007 Posts : 1798

Jussi Jaskelainen wd be my choice
_________________
The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It is nothing of the kind. The game is about glory. It is about doing things in style, with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom.

Edgar Davids Joined : 06 Jun 2007 Posts : 3552

Ironic. Both Spurs and SIHKFC are looking for new keepers !

Edgar Davids Joined : 06 Jun 2007 Posts : 2497

Cudicini would be my choice. But after last night's performance, Cerny would do for me.
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To dare is to do

Founding Father Joined : 06 Jun 2007 Posts : 1704

Like Janek said, I'd go for that Finish fella at Bolton. Pretty handy between the sticks.

Gary Stevens Joined : 07 Jun 2007 Posts : 1015

and his contract runs out in the summer - he's 32 now - so OK for a GK. Niemi on the other hand is 35 and look at Foolham's defensive record this year. Jussi's only conceded 9 at home in 11 games.

Gary Stevens Age : 30 Joined : 24 Jul 2007 Posts : 1798

Telegraph now reporting the bust up - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=IC2HY5VAXHTOBQFIQMFSFFOAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/sport/2008/01/10/ufnrobinson.xml

How about giving Cerny a pat on the back and wishing him luck Robbo, instead of throwing your toys out of the pram?
_________________
The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It is nothing of the kind. The game is about glory. It is about doing things in style, with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom.

Founding Father Joined : 06 Jun 2007 Posts : 1704

Over paid, over inflated, egotistical wankers - Robbo and Chimbo included. A bit of respect and humility wouldn't go amiss from these tossers sometimes. What gives Robbo the God given right to think he's untouchable after his Keystone Kop performances this season? If you can't see how zhite you've been now for 3-6 months then there's no hope for you and it's better you feck off.

And Chimbo too. He's all mouth and demanding when he wants out of a club, but put the boot on the other foot and now he comes across all defensive and holier than thou. Piss off too, Chimbo.

I'm glad to see that Ramos wants to ship out a load of the time wasters and imposters we've carried on our books for sometime. This club won't move forward until a) half the squad is sold and about a dozen new players come in and b) Comolli fecks off. Unfortunately the latter won't happen so it business as usual for the foreseeable future.

COYS