When Spurs signed Younes Kaboul last summer he was roundly touted as "one for the future". Fans who are usually quick to criticise were told to give the lad a chance to develop and the usual cliches about a young player in a new country were brushed off and served up on internet message boards around the community. Wise words indeed, young players, particularly defenders should be given time to grow. If only someone had bothered to tell Younes.
With the ongoing saga of Ledley King's fitness Mr. Kaboul got several opportunities to show why he was so highly rated. He showed glimpses of why the French U21 coach made him captain and looked strong, comfortable on the ball and not lacking in half a bag* of pace.
The only snag with all this is that Younes Kaboul, upon being thrust into the Premiership limelight, decided that he was by far the best player ever to grace our hallowed turf and figured that he would play defence, midfield and maybe even a striking role too if he jolly well fancied it - much to the chargrin of his defensive partners.
Nonetheless BMG stuck by him, even though we never won a single game in the league when he played. All was well with Younes until that fateful night against Getafe when the cuddles dried up and the Spaniard took over.
"I played the entire first half of the season but since the change of manager, I have not played," said Kaboul whilst kicking the floor in a huff.
"Ramos has not really given me a chance. When a player doesn't have the confidence of his coach, he can't do much on the pitch. But when a coach has confidence in you, you take the handbrake off and you race away." said Kaboul, welling up a little.
"I have had no explanation from him. He doesn't talk with anyone. Communication doesn't exist with him. He isn't playing me? That is his choice - I respect it, I am a professional." said Kaboul, by now choking back floods of tears.
What he failed to mention was that between Jol getting sacked and the first of March, Younes Kaboul featured in a further 19 games for Tottenham. Now here we are on the cusp of a new season, with all those old corners turned and nothing but a straight road to glory ahead, but Younes doesn't want a part of it. No sir, his feelings have been hurt and the damage has been done. How very dare we make him endure a few games on the subs bench, a player of his quality too!!!
Nope, he wants out, he's had enough of this treatment and has been gazing lovingly toward the outstretched arms of 'Arry Redknapp and the might of Portsmouth Football Club. Except what's this on the fax machine? Roy Keane of Sunderland is interested in taking him up North as part of the buy 3 get one free deal running at the Spurs shop this week?
Laugh? He damn near shat himself!
Younes was so sickened by the thought of moving to a club of Sunderlands stature that he couldn't even be arsed to comment, instead he left it to his agent:
"Younes wouldn't join Sunderland even if there was an earthquake."
Now, quite what the relevance of this might be is unclear. I for one would like clarification as to when natural disasters started to influence the decisions of football players. Would he perhaps join if there was a tidal wave? Or what about a plague of locusts, would that be reason enough for him to pen a 4 year deal?
Anyway, the noble agent assures us that Kaboul has "more interesting options than Sunderland." which is hardly groundbreaking news, "he would prefer to have his chance at Tottenham rather than moving to Sunderland." and there you have it - who said loyalty was dead?
Younes Kaboul is a decent enough player and I would quite like to have seen him as part of the 4 central defensive options we need. Given time, quality coaching and a well paced integration he could even have been a long term replacement for the King, but I just get a feeling that "Younes knows best" both on and off the pitch and for this reason I think we are banging our heads against brick walls with him.
The problem is Younes, that until that fax machine starts whirring again you are a Tottenham player. You may yet be on the bench at WHL next year and any more of this bollocks, combined with one or two dodgy performances and the boo boys will have a field day with you. Then my friend, Sunderland may suddenly become a very attractive proposition after all.
16 comments:
lol!
Younes who?
He's fine, leave him alone. He wants to stay. Agents always leave the option for a move open - good article
Nicely said
i really like this article.
excellent piece. Well written and absolutly true. In his mind he should be 1st pick for any team in the world. Its like a cleaner wanting wanting out of a company because he's not made CEO on their 1st year. Lets hope a club of his desired stature is foolish enough to hire him, but be warned you drop him at your peril, younes knows best.
a legend in his own lunchbox. ta ta
Was this written by a six-year-old?
I agree - and with most of the comments.
The Management were fully expecting Ledley to be fit - and, as I have argued elsewhere, Kaboul was thrown in at the deep-end with Dawson for a partner, when Dawsdon still needed (needs?) Ledley to hold his hand and guide him through things. Not too mention Robbo's worrying ever decreasing grip on goalkeeping reality.
That said, his enthusiasm and will to win seem to have overcame his composure.
That isn't the real problem though - under these circumstances I would have happy to see him remain at the Lane and learn his trade.
Unfortunately, he seems to have thought that he should have continued as first choice after Woodgate arrived, and/or when ledley was fit. And his mouth ran, uncontrollably away with itself. That, alas, is nothing to do with his agent leaving options open -and it is not something JR will forget or forgive in a hurry.
I have to say, it's been a long time since I've read a well constructed and thought out article on the web. It's a breath of fresh air to read something other than 'Keane kops out of WHL' or 'Berbat-off to Old Trafford but hopefully to Barcelona cos fergy is a whiskey nosed tosser!'
THE ONLY GOOD THING I HAVE SEEN THIS CUNT DO IS SCORE THAT GOAL AGAINST VILLA IN DRAMATIC FASHION. THE GUY IS USELESS AS A BUCKET WITH OL IN IT!
i think we should keep him, him and dawson can keep each other warm on the subs bench next season
I think you're being a little bit silly...of course a tidal wave would make Younes re-consider going to Sunderland, he'd hardly want to be joining Pompey on the south coast with one of them on the way!!
Well said and argued. I think the other pont to note is Younes' desire to win and knuckle down under pressure is suspect. JR likes players who went the going gets tough get going like Woodgate, King etc. Younes reckons he's a superstar just like the other French ponce Chimbonda.
He's a good lad when compared to the likes of Chimbonda..
Given enough guidance, he will turn out to be a quality player.
Good article! - Singapore SPurs Fan
Should have been sent out on loan for a season.Definitely has potential and too much is made of comments reported in the press.Ghaly,Chimbonda,Robbie Keane,Kaboul have all supposedly shown disrespect to the club and the manager or the shirt or whatever.Attitude can be a motivating factor and I dont think Ramos is so thin skinned to worry about it.
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