Whether or not his much maligned substitutions really cost us all three point against Fulham on Saturday, they will surely be used by the board as another nail to hammer into the Dutchman's coffin. Much has been made of the decision to take off Robbie Keane for Jermain Defoe at the weekend but that's a fairly reactionary accusation that does little service to Jermaine as a player. What is certain is that we still had the players on the pitch to see out the game and, though the confusion of formation change would not have helped, I should be writing about an impressive win in which Spurs completely played their opponents off the park. Of course I am not and now attention inevitably falls on Jol and his fight to keep his job.
That we could not leave Craven Cottage focusing on the definite positives we can take from the match is perhaps the most disappointing element of the game. Younes Kaboul was impressive - imperious in the air and on the ground - and Gareth Bale looks like the left winger we've been waiting for ever since David Ginola graced White Hart Lane for the last time. What is clear to see is that Jol has built a tremendously promising young team that, given time, could go on to achieve great things. Whether Jol himself will be allowed the opportunity to be a part of that future is doubtful.
It's easy to draw parallels with the poor start we made last season and it would seem the Tottenham board are unwilling to allow another poor start to go unpunished. A defeat at home to Arsenal, particularly if it was the result of a weak and spiritless performance, and few could genuinely expect Jol to retain his job. So the Dutchman's task remains seemingly simple - do what we simply have not been able to do and beat Arsenal.
Unfortunately even an emphatic win against the Gunners will do little to convince a hierarchy that has all but written off Martin Jol. Levy's handling of the whole fiasco that was attempting to install Ramos as manager has effectively transformed Martin Jol from one of the most respected and well thought of coaches in the country to a veritable lame duck; A duck that knows that only winning a trophy or qualifying for the Champions League will give him a hope of holding on to his job. Great motivation? perhaps, perhaps not. It isn't, however, conducive to a team attempting to move up the table and win football matches, or to a coach who knows that transforming Tottenham involves a marathon rather than a sprint.
What is for sure is that the result of the Arsenal game won't prove Martin Jol is the man to take us to where Levy wants the club to be. Only continued continuity, stability and patience will do that though I'm guessing those people who find their wallets £45m lighter after a hectic summer aren't unreasonable in hoping for some sort of return.