Robinson hits out in Spurs row
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson has lashed out at the Tottenham board for their treatment of coach Martin Jol after a nightmare England performance against Germany.
A first-half blunder by the Spurs stopper gifted Kevin Kuranyi a simple equaliser in the 26th minute of England’s 2-1 defeat by Germany at Wembley and came off at half-time to be replaced by David James, with his number one position now under threat for next month’s Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia.
But Robinson turned his attention to club matters, voicing his anger at the way Dutch coach Jol had been treated by club after a week of claim and counterclaim over his future at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham denied reports they had offered Jol’s job to Sevilla coach Juande Ramos while chairman Daniel Levy made it clear he expected nothing less than a top-four finish from Jol’s team this season.
Robinson declared: “What’s been happening at the club is very disappointing. When you see how far Martin Jol has taken the club and the way he’s managed it in the last two years, to then go behind his back to obviously seek other options is very disappointing. The manager has the full support of the players.
“I think it is very difficult for him. There’s been a lot that’s happened and what the club has done is very disappointing. The players are 110% behind the manager and we just hope he stays as long as possible.
“I think it is known throughout the club the way the players feel about the manager. I think there a lot of players who are disappointed with the way things have unfolded this week.
“To question somebody’s job after three games of the season is ridiculous, especially after what the man has done in the last two years.
“We’ve started the season better than Manchester United, we are above them in the league, but nobody has said anything about Sir Alex Ferguson so why should our manager be questioned?
“It’s been difficult not to be affected by things, we see the TV and media like everyone and it is unsettling, especially when we’ve been settled for the last two or three seasons.”
Robinson could only palm Bernd Schneider’s cross into the path of Kuranyi, who cancelled out Frank Lampard’s ninth minute opener from three yards and Christian Pander then netted a winner from 25 yards.
Robinson did not hide when it came to facing up to the howler that led to Germany’s equaliser.
He added: “I am disappointed with the way I played this evening. The beginning of the season has been good but I had one step back tonight. We never like to lose, we wanted to have a good record at Wembley.
“We want to be one of the best teams in the world but it is always going to be a tough game against Germany.
“I think I took up a reasonable position for the ball to be crossed and was unlucky on two counts. The first was when the ball ended up in the top left corner from the touchline and after managing to get it out, it’s gone straight to their player.
“People won’t show sympathy and you can understand why, so I’m hurting tonight.”
