Perhaps Martin Jol was too passive a manager - maybe he was too nice? But despite the fines that were dished out, it appeared that his players were not afraid to publicly show their utter contempt at being substituted. Could one imagine a player launching a verbal tirade in the direction of Sir Alex Ferguson when it was their number that was signalled on the electronic board? Unlikely to say the least. It was January 2007, and there were 23 minutes left of a 1-1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage, when Jermain Defoe was hauled off to be replaced by Robbie Keane. Fuming, the player hurled a verbal volley at his manager, before punching the back of the dugout in sheer frustration. Throwing himself down on the bench, he tore off his boots and chucked them angrily to the floor. Jol was clearly unhappy with the pattern that was beginning to manifest within his squad.
''We always talk about that and we do what we have to do. The team is the most important thing. Its about team spirit. They can be disappointed and not show it. But they are human and sometimes they do that. Robbie Keane did it, so it can happen - once. But I will have a chat with Jermain. - Martin Jol, January 2007.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
