Why isn't Martin Jol playing Maradona, or as he knows him, Adel Taarabt?
'Martin Jol reckons Adel Taarabt is Fulham’s version of Argentine legend Diego Maradona.
The mercurial Moroccan has endured a frustrating start to his career at Craven Cottage since his loan switch from QPR, making just two league starts.
Taarabt has failed to even make the bench in recent weeks, but is back to full fitness and in line to return to the squad for tonight’s Capital One Cup clash at Leicester City.
The playmaker’s former boss Neil Warnock claimed last week that Taarabt’s time in England is up because no other manager can handle him.
But Fulham chief Jol reckons the 24-year-old is only getting started, and likened him to Argentine ace Maradona.
“Taarabt is a Maradona type of talent,” said the Dutchman. “He’s a one off. You only see three or four players in Europe like him.
“He’s one of the most gifted players you will ever see on the pitch, but he has to be a team player as well.
“If things are not coming off people could say he’s not a team player and that his time is over.
“But he’s still young, so if his time is over we’ve got a real problem.”
Taarabt has scored just once in seven games for Fulham after being frozen out at Loftus Road.'
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/adel-taarabt-fulhams-version-maradona-2652654?
When your team is in trouble, and let's face it Fulham are struggling in the Premiership, lying in a relegation spot at the moment, you need your best players on the field. Martin Jol was Tottenham Manager when he took seventeen year old Adel Taarabt to White Hart Lane; he was even labelled 'the next Zidane' at the time; but first team oppotunities didn't really happen that often.
When the Dutchman left the North London giants Harry Redknapp took over and what his previous Manager saw in the player, his new boss didn't. He was loaned out to Championship side Queens Park Rangers and his football started doing the talking. Neil Warnock snapped him up for a million pounds and to many it was the bargain of the century!
Neil Warnock believes Adel Taarabt’s days in England are numbered because managers can't handle him like he did.
Taarabt excelled under the guidance of Warnock at QPR helping the west London side to promotion in 2011 but fell out with current R's boss Harry Redknapp last season, who made it his priority to get rid of the Moroccan this summer.
The 24-year-old has struggled to nail down a starting spot at Fulham having joined on-loan for the season - something which hasn't surprised his former manager.
'I don’t think he’ll ever have another season like the one he had with me, and that’s no disrespect to Harry or any other manager.
'I just can’t see another manager in England having a go with him for 12 months.
'For me it’s my biggest achievement as a manager – no-one else could manage him.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2476674/Taarabt-longer-England-warns-Warnock.html
When Harry took over the West London club it looked as if it could be a second chance for him and his former boss but it wasn't to be. The club were relegated and in pre-season, Taarabt was sent home from the tour of Devon.
Martin Jol handed him a lifeline and back to the top division of English football. So you'd think he'd get his head down and work hard; therein lies the problem.
He is doing extra training sessions but it's his attitude that's the problem; he thinks he is better than anyone else!
Only a fool would say he isn't any good; he has such skill in his feet it's sometime scary. But with great talent also comes attitude and laziness and the Moroccan has all three.
He's a 'game changing' player and when he's on form he's a danger to any defence; but his form, due to his attitude, has hardly been seen since he helped the West London club to promotion two and a half seasons ago.
It's all very well Martin Jol saying he is like Maradona, but who in their right mind would leave a player like that out of the side?
Fulham's last game was a four nil defeat to Liverpool. They had two loan players on the bench, Darren Bent and Taarabt, both could be seen laughing and joking. If I was a Fulham fan it's the last thing I'd want to see.
So if he doesn't make it at Craven Cottage then what? Harry Redknapp has made it clear he doesn't want him back. Maybe a move back to France will give him the kick up the backside he really needs.
It will be football's loss if Adel gives up or just can't find a club; but he only has himself to blame. At twenty four years old he has time on his side as well as the skill factor; he just needs to sort his head out and get his attitude spot on.
Written by Paul Moore, a football fan.