‘Where did it all go wrong’ – Adel Taarabt
Signed for Tottenham by Martin Jol, made an outcast by Juande Ramos and eventually farmed out on loan by Harry Redknapp. Now aged 20, Moroccan International Adel Taarabt had been hyped as the ‘New Zinedine Zidane’ upon his arrival in the Premier League at White Hart Lane in January 2007. However, three-years and three managers later, the question has to be asked! What went wrong for the young starlet, who turned up at Spurs as a 17-year-old from French side Lens, with a big reputation for someone so young?
Now plying his trade in the Championship on a second loan spell, with Queens Park Rangers, where the midfielder-come-winger is finally starting to enjoy some success in England. Former R’s boss Jim Magilton labelling the Moroccan a genius after his wonder goal against Preston last October, a sentiment echoed by Redknapp, who also called him such for his performances in training. So why has the playmaker failed to make the grade at Tottenham? With Redknapp willing to let Taarabt break his season-loan at QPR and leave The Lane on a permanent basis, should a Premiership club come in for him this transfer window.
Jol certainly liked him, having signed young Adel on an initial loan deal from the Ligue 1 side, with a promise to quickly make Taarabt a regular member of the first team. A promise, the now Ajax boss made good on, with the Dutchman giving the midfielder playing time in the EPL during his loan spell, then playing him more regularly the following season for Spurs. After signing him permanently that summer, before he was in my opinion harshly sacked by the North London club.
A more than strong case could be made, that the arrival of Ramos in England spelt the beginning of the end of Taarabt at Spurs. Juande-boy shutting the Moroccan out completely at Tottenham and when I say completely I mean it. Ramos making Taarabt part of the group, who were not given a squad number at Spurs and not even allowed to train with the first-team or use, any of the facilities available. Now for me, this would hit any player hard, let alone someone, who was just 18 at the time and desperately trying to kick-start his career in the toughest league in the world.
Ramos left and good riddance! Harry arrived and duly reinstated Taarabt to the squad along with the others. But despite waxing lyrical about the youngster only saw fit to hand him one appearance in the league along with three Carling Cup games and four appearances in the UEFA Cup. A competition Redknapp didn’t deem important due to the sorry mess Juande had left Spurs in. Indeed the decision to scrap the reserves for this season at Tottenham left Taarabt along with a host of other players at White Hart Lane in limbo. A loan spell, abroad or in the lower leagues the only option for a player, who has found the net 3 times in his 7 caps for Morocco.
Now being a West Londoner and having plenty of friends, who frequent Loftus Road on a regular basis. All, who tell me Taarabt, is indeed a quality player and someone that might just possess the genius of one of the greats of the modern era in Zidane. However, they are also quick to tell me Adel can be inconsistent, despite having the skills to turn a game on its head. Six goals in thirty Championship appearances for the Superhoops most of them spectacular, would suggest the still young Moroccan does have the ability to push on and really make his mark in the game.
If he continues to play well at QPR, will Taarabt finally get his chance at Spurs? Unfortunately I don’t think so! Redknapp already having made it clear to the Championship team that, the playmaker is definitely for sale. And with the likes of Luka Modric, Aaron Lennon and Niko Kranjcar standing in his way at Tottenham, whatever the future holds for the youngster, it would appear not to be in North London as things stand.
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Simple really. He tried too many fancy flicks when in totally the wrong part of the pitch (middle of own half), at the wrong time (while the team was chasing matches), and, quite frankly, just seemed to ahve no idea when to release the ball, or even that he was involved in a team game. He also seems to be overly temperamental.
Having said that, he is clearly very talented and reports from Loftus Road suggest he may have improved this aspects somewhat.
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Simpler than that. Who would we leave out of our midfield to give him a break? Kranky? Modders? Thud? Wilson? Lennon? … dare I say it .. Bentley, Jenas?
Spurs in the top four and can only field 11 players at one time. Would he really improve the team right now?
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From my perspective, he just overthinks the game. When he puts his head down and plays direct he is a wonderfully gifted talent. When he has time on the ball he pulls a Jenas and makes everyone wonder what are you thinking. Agree he does not know when to release the ball which is where the Zidane comparison is lost. Zizou made everyone around him better, Taraabt does not. My suggestion, convert him to a striker – pace, strength, abilty and he is oh so tricky. I would not want to have to lunge in on him in the box because you know 9 times out of 10 you’re not going to get ball. Let him use his reactions and he’ll be a superstar. Let him think and it’s just going to be more of the same. That’s how I see it. COYS
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IT went wrong cos he thinks he is better than he is…not a team player just a player who thinks he is a world beater…simple
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GENIUS KIDS DON’T PASS! They learn it from the playground, where there mere mortal team-mates readily concede possession. Taarabt has as much desire to stay on the ball as Ronaldo had when he came to United. Adel has been mis-managed by successive Spurs managers inexperienced with such talent. They could all learn a lesson from Ferguson in getting this type of player to do it for the team.
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Valid point Stratty, and isn’t that the same problem that we are Having with Pav and Bentley? Isn’t it Harry’s job to get the most out of the talent he has? You don’t like what you see, fine bench them and talk to them. A fortnight and it should be sorted. 6 months is a grudge IMHO. This helps neither club nor player in the long run.
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I agree maybe playing taarabt as a striker may be the better option, no doubt he is a very talented player and i believe if harry gives him the chance he will develop into a quality player. The flaws that have been picked in his game are flaws that many young players have and surely with more experience in the first team, they will improve. I like Harry Redknapp as a manager, but i believe that he is overlooking so much of the talent at white hart lane. Maybe next season with european football (fingers crossed) we will be able to play more of our young players, and they will get their chance to shine.
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