Matt Doherty admits that the players have to share some of the blame for the dismissal of Jose Mourinho as Tottenham manager.
The Republic of Ireland international joined Tottenham at the start of last season as part of the rebuild process under Jose Mourinho.
He and the likes of Gareth Bale and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg were some of the new players the club signed to make the squad more competitive.
The full-back was expected to better the form he showed at Wolves before Spurs signed him.
He, however, struggled for form and couldn’t even displace the underperforming Serge Aurier, who he was signed to replace at the club.
He has now admitted that although the manager always gets the sack when the club is playing poorly, the players have to take the blame for not performing to expectations.
He says Mourinho had a short time to prove his worth and the players cannot be proud that they underperformed under such an excellent manager.
The 29-year-old said via Mail Sport: ‘I definitely got a fair crack of the whip. I still played 25, 26, 27 games – that’s a lot of games in a season, so I definitely got a fair crack.
‘I had a great relationship with him. He was my neighbour for the whole year, so the relationship was fine. He was a great guy, but unfortunately, these things happen in football.
‘That was the case, but he is Jose Mourinho, he is one of the best ever and I have nothing but praise for him.’
Spot on. Jose’s a great talker, but even the likes of Moyes and Fat Frank easily exploited Spurs’ feeble setup. I’m anazed that this guy keeps landing new gigs. It just proves that being a good bs artist is all the skill you need in today’s mad world.
So, when the manager came out and said he love his team, he had a great summer window, 2 players at each position, a very good problem to have. Did well up until fateful 3-3 draw against West Ham. Setup a team that is better going forward with defensive scheme to have us on our 18 yards 90% of each game. Just like the player coming out and said regardless of that we should have done better. It seems most of you absolved Jose for being a poor tactician and even more poision the team with his comments publicly. Famed statements, my coaching staff is the best in the world
ask them. I told them to go forward. He took zero responsibility for the negative football, but here we are laying every reason for our failed season on Levy. He gave Jose what he asked, Jose mismanaged the team. Some with his personal attacks on players in publc. Some. he just had the wrong system for the kinds of players on the roster. Levy deserves his fair share, but when are some of you going to hold Jose accountable for his boring unimaginable football.
Bale did well. Hope he stays. Winner baller
I agree. He is accepting his responsibility of not performing the levels he should be.
You don’t see the likes of dele coming out and saying that he’s under performed and should be doing better. When he wasn’t getting played it was Jose’s fault.
Not the fact he was playing well enough, performed for a few games when Jose first came in and that’s it.
Same with Bale, not getting played in Madrid, its Zidane’s fault. Not getting played at Spurs, its Jose’s fault. But two managers who know how to win are wrong because of Bale’s price tag.
Doherty in the right system can play. You only have to look at his wolves work to know this. He ain’t no full back though.
Isn’t that is too late? to just tell what everybody was seeing and saying at the time during the competition what difference it makes now to come out and say the obvious when season ended talk is cheap mr Doherty.
You are absolutely right . Last season with the squad we had we overachieved. Whichever manager comes in I will guarantee next season we will end up 8 th or 9 th. Especially if Kane leaves.
I really hate that “have lower expectations so you’re not disappointed” crap. It’s that kind of mentality and lack of ambition that is pervasive in the UK and Europe and why the ROW is miles ahead.
There are 2 tiers of clubs- 1- “Big” teams that have money and compete for trophies, 2- Everyone else that hope not to get relegated and maybe luck into a cup win or Europe spot.
If Spurs are really a big team, then nothing less than a trophy wil do.
I disagree. I don’t think he’s paving a move to Roma. He’s telling the truth. Players are grown men who get paid a lot of money, we supporters need to tell them them to stop hiding behind managers all the time. Whether they like him or not they need to honour the badge and perform because without supporters there are no huge salaries. Take Bale for instance, Zidane freezes out at Madrid, he comes with injuries. He was the one player who was supposed to give 110% to prove a point no matter what. But what does he do, early on he picked games, always on social media & scores hat tricks against small sides but disappears during big games when his experience is needed the most. Personally I’m losing patience with modern players who conspire to fire a manager but don’t go on to win the Carabao cup.
It was levy that got Mourinho the sack. Mourinho managed 7th place with a squad that probably is only good enough for 9th place, from an average manager.
Bielsa doesn’t get slated for reaching 9th with Leeds, because people understand he pushed his squad further than most people expected of them (and with an attacking flair).
Levy and, us the fans, should have lower expectations from the current squad, for next season, then we wont get disappointed. Levy should only ask any new manager to reach 8-9th, with the current squad.
If we wanna reach top four then Levy has to dish out some of that fat wad of money (like Conte asked for, and Poch and Mourinho could have done with).
So either Levy is prepared to accept mid-table or he is prepared to dish out cash for players. If he is prepared to dish out some serious cash… the logical thing to do would have been to do that in conjunction with hiring a world class manager (who could get the most out of them).
Sounds like he’s angling for a move to Roma.
On another note,the rumour is Levy is back in for Ten Haag.He would have to be bought out of his new contract.Comedy Hour again.
Sorry hadn’t seen the daily briefing.