Harry has a decision to make in regards to Jamie O’Hara. Do we take him back in January, or allow him to stay at Portsmouth until the end of the season?
Whatever happens will surely say a lot in regards to whether or not O’Hara has any kind of future at Tottenham. Personally, I’d like to see him be given another shot at Spurs.
I was very surprised when his loan to Portsmouth was announced and not just because it left us with just three recognised central midfielders. Harry seems to be something of a fan and O’Hara had enjoyed a good pre-season, so it was a somewhat baffling decision.
One assumes that the decision to let him out on loan had something to do with the deal to sign Niko Kranjcar. Otherwise it didn’t really make much sense, other than to give some first team experience to see how he handled it.
O’Hara certainly seems to be playing pretty well at Portsmouth (although so is Kevin Prince Boateng and I wouldn’t want him back) and they will be pretty desperate to keep hold of him.
How much football would O’Hara get back at Spurs? Not much, seems to be the likely answer. Huddlestone and Palacios are our first choice midfield these days, with Jenas for back-up. If we sign Sandro in January, then opportunities are likely to be even more scarce for O’Hara.
There’s still a job for him to do in our squad though. O’Hara is not a left winger, but against Everton when Seamus Coleman was causing havoc down the right flank, O’Hara would have been a great option to bring on for Kranjcar and just ask him to provide cover for Bale.
My inkling is that he will stay at Portsmouth if we sign Sandro or another central midfielder and will only return to us in January if we’re unable to bring anyone else in.
From his point of view, O’Hara has claimed that he wants to stay to try and help Portsmouth stay up. You can’t blame him for wanting to stay at a club where he feels part of things, when at Tottenham he knows he will be restricted to cameo performances. The only reason he might want to come back to White Hart Lane is so that he doesn’t have to keep lending the Pompey players money.
There’s plenty of Spurs fans who think that O’Hara will never be good enough for us, despite his undoubted effort. Whilst it’s clear that O’Hara is unlikely to ever win the Ballon d’Or, I think that his work rate and attitude are enough for him to deserve another chance, even if it’s next season.
I’ve been someone that’s always supported Jermaine Jenas, but this season I’ve come to the conclusion that he’ll never fulfill his potential. Jenas is becoming increasingly marginalised at Tottenham and I wouldn’t be disappointed if he were sold in the summer and replaced with a player that has less ability, but for whom playing for Tottenham Hotspur clearly means something.
Would welcome both Boateng and O’Hara back though the first is not likely.
Both strong committed players who could have played a valuable part for us and taken some of the strain off Palacios who has not been at his best for some time. Boateng is probably the better prospect in the long term but its too late now.
O’hara would have been handy with 20 mins. to go at Everton and would be a useful squad option.
“The only reason he might want to come back to White Hart Lane is so that he doesn’t have to keep lending the Pompey players money.”
Haha 😛