---
title: "‘Beyond a joke’ – Jamie O’Hara brands Tottenham summer signing a ‘donkey’"
canonical: "https://readtottenham.com/2026/10/13/beyond-a-joke-jamie-ohara-brands-tottenham-summer-signing-a-donkey/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Vishal Subramanian"
section: "Tottenham News"
published: "2026-10-13T07:37:31Z"
modified: "2026-10-13T07:37:31Z"
---

# ‘Beyond a joke’ – Jamie O’Hara brands Tottenham summer signing a ‘donkey’

**Tottenham Hotspur are still winless in the Premier League this season but secured a last-gasp 1-1 draw vs Manchester United last weekend.**

The Lilywhites have a lot of chances to score but went behind in the second half after Bryan Mbeumo was given too much space inside the box.

Tottenham equalised through Dom Solanke late in the game and snatched a well-deserved point.

However, moments after the Red Devils’ opener, Jamie O’Hara went on one of his trademark rants, with Jan Paul van Hecke his victim this time around.

## Tottenham new signing Jan Paul van Hecke branded a ‘donkey’

“Van Hecke, what is he doing?” wondered O’Hara via [talkSPORT](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgrRd4478pY) after Mbeumo’s goal.

“Cement in his feet, cement. He has got cement in his boots. He is absolute guff.

“Free shot, inside your box, an absolute joke. This team is beyond a joke. I’m sick of it. Who signed Van Hecke, who?

“He needs sacking. Brighton have had our absolute pants down; they have had our pants down.

“Who signed him? Donkey. We let Vuskovic go, and we got a donkey at the back. Every time anyone stands him up one v one, he gets a shot off. He is guff.”

> Jan Paul van Hecke has done pretty well for Spurs. Not perfect, but good enough to be considered a virtue and certainly not part of any problem. Hopefully that injury is short term.
>
> — Seb Stafford-Bloor (@SebSB) [September 30, 2026](https://x.com/SebSB/status/2105298251369062449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Van Hecke hasn’t been imperious since his arrival, but sometimes, you just get the feeling that he is so harshly criticised.

The Dutchman also did well to overcome an injury and feature for Tottenham, which should be appreciated.

And finally, we just wish O’Hara wouldn’t lose his head for once as such comments are never nice to hear for a player, let alone coming from someone who used to play for the club.

​