Jol tells Spurs: You can't fire me

Arsene Wenger's formidable production line proved itself once again when his youngsters stepped up to earn a comfortable Carling Cup win over a virtually full-strength Newcastle.

But Jol is adamant that he has a tougher job than Wenger given his opposite number has the luxury of feeding his youngsters in gradually, while he is forced to throw his kids in at the deep end.

Comparing his task with that of Wenger, Jol said: "I feel we have more talented players than any other club. It's totally different at Arsenal. Gael Clichy has been playing there for years, getting used to his role behind Ashley Cole. Cesc Fabregas was there for three or four years. They are all on the bench and come on when things are going well. Against Middlesbrough I played Michael Dawson, 22, Younes Kaboul, 21, Gareth Bale, 18. That is probably the difference still with the biggest clubs.

"It's about the development of players like Kaboul, Bale and Aaron Lennon. I have to combine results with development. Even at Arsenal that is not so."

Much has been made of Jol's relationship with sporting director Damien Comolli and the perceived friction between the pair over who is responsible for unearthing such talent.

But Jol feels his reputation for handing teenage stars a chance at White Hart Lane, coupled with his managerial expertise, is responsible for attracting not only the youngsters but the likes of Dimitar Berbatov to north London.

Asked whether he was proud that he had managed to keep the likes of Berbatov and Bale out of the clutches of Manchester United, a bullish Jol said: "I can mention five or six other players who chose Spurs over other clubs.

"Adel Taarabt was very attractive to a lot of other clubs in Europe, Darren Bent in England, Bale, Berbatov and Kevin Boateng. Shall I go on? Tom Huddlestone, Aaron Lennon, Michael Dawson when he came from Nottingham was injured. When he was fit he came straight in the team. I feel it is a good example."

Jol suggested that despite the continued speculation surrounding his job, the Tottenham board have come to realise just what a talented manager they have.

Discussing the spectre of the sack, Jol said: "I am used to it, I have to cope with it, I have to come up with the goods and that is what I did. That is why it was an eye-opener when I said no one could have done better because I believe that — even Mourinho.

"That is my opinion. There are football people in our board and I think they realise it otherwise they probably would have made a decision. If you see younger players, if you see the development of our players in the last couple of years — even Berbatov, he's 26 — I think we are doing well."

The handling of Jermain Defoe has posed further questions over Jol's management skills. But he got it spot on by replacing Defoe — to boos from the Tottenham faithful — with Robbie Keane in the Carling Cup.

The Irishman set up Bale for the opener against Middlesbrough before Huddlestone sealed a 2-0 win.

Defoe's unhappiness at being replaced was there for all to see but Jol insisted he would not be offering his unsettled striker an explanation for his withdrawal.

"I made a lot of substitutions over the last two or three weeks," said Jol. "Defoe wasn't happy but Keane wasn't happy against Fulham. Berbatov wasn't happy against Sunderland. It's the same all the time. Jermain did OK but no more than that."

DEFOE'S SEASON

Aug 11: Sunderland (a)13min

Aug 14: Everton (h) 29min

Aug 18: Derby (h) 14min

Aug 26: Man Utd (a) 15min

Sep 1: Fulham (a) 22min

Sep20: Famagusta(h) 27min (2 goals)

Sep 26: Middlesbrough (h) 69min

TOTAL STARTS THIS SEASON - 1

TOTAL MINUTES PLAYED - 189

TOTAL GOALS SCORED - 2