Harry Redknapp has been a massive force for good at Tottenham since joining the club. There are few people who would dispute that. He joined Spurs when they were in the centre of a huge rut at the start of the 08/09 season. Tottenham, under the leadership of manager Juande Ramos had managed to secure just two points (remember all the tooth-pick jokes?) from their first eight games and were nestled at the bottom of the League.
It’s largely thanks to Redknapp that Spurs managed to both avoid the drop and build for the future. His astute transfer dealings and tendency for getting the best out of his players have seen Spurs rise and rise, qualify for the Champion’s League – and enjoy some fantastically exciting nights out in Europe.
Despite this, I still have questions regarding Harry’s suitability when it comes to Spurs moving forward. Let’s not forget how little experience Harry has when it comes to managing a club competing at the top of the Premier League. He’s much more experienced in dealing with clubs towards the bottom of the table – given his time at West Ham United, Portsmouth and Southampton.
The signs have been there more than once this season that Harry may not cut it at the very top level. First up, Harry is a lot of things, but he’s not really a tactician. Indeed, he’s much too prone to committing the odd tactical error, or making bad team selections.
Let’s take yesterday’s game against Wigan. Sandro, Tottenham’s Brazilian midfielder, who has impressed so far this season, is a defensive-minded player. To select him sent out the wrong message – Spurs have to start showing more intent against lesser sides such as Wigan. Even more bemusing was Harry’s decision to force Luka Modric and Rafael Van der Vaart out onto the wings.
Luka Modric is at his best in the centre of the park, controlling the flow of the game. To send him out wide is to castrate him. If Modric has been placed in the centre of the park, it would have justified Harry’s decision to play Sandro. Modric’s creativity would have played counter to Sandro’s defensive mindset. As it was, however, Spurs looked unbalanced and lacked creation in an important area of the pitch. It was this lack of creativity that meant Tottenham could only muster a 0-0 draw.
I also have issues with his transfer policy. Sure he’s keen to shake off the wheeler-dealer tag, but he does seem to focus more on finding a player on the cheap than he does on bringing in the right players for the club. Spurs desperately need a striker and yet it’s the already crowded midfield that receives the most attention.
Let me make it clear – I mean no disrespect to Harry – he’s obviously a fantastic manager, but I hope that Tottenham don’t consider him untouchable. He’s a fantastic man-manager and has done wonders for Spurs up until now, but should Tottenham fail to finish in the top four and should Harry fail to address the centre-forward situation at the club, I honestly believe that the top-brass should start considering their options.
He may have been the catalyst for Tottenham’s revolution – but that doesn’t make him untouchable. Remember, Harry will leave should England come knocking – he’s a career man. Tottenham must adopt a similar mindset. Should Tottenham fail to progress and should a better managerial option come along, discussions must be had.
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ANOTHER GOAL BY DOS-SANTOS WITH RACING!!!!!! WHAT A WASTE OF TALENT BY THIS MANAGER!!!!!!
Great article and yes Harry will only get you so far. I’d love Spurs to keep him on as a scout as he does have an eye for talent.
What amazes me is that some players that clearly would never get in the first team to top 6 teams do so at spurs still.
Surely Redknapp knows that Defore is a one trick pony and is only an average striker. He can’t score penalites or one on one’s because lets face it..he is thick!! He can’t score with his head because he is to short, constantly off side as again he is thick and doesn’t do tap ins because he only wants to hit the ball as hard as he can. The west ham game showed him to be a very average player!!! Jenas is another bot fit to wear the shirt and quite literally King is never fit!! What other team in the top 6 would put up with a part time defence.
Anyway…role on Madrid. I know Defoe won’t score in either legs and all these chances we are missing makes me miss Keane.
Harry has definitely not been good at team selection and substitution. We have consequently lost or drawn matches that we should have won.
I agree totally with all you have said, we have been linked with every striker in Europe and further afield yet no move was made in January to address the issue of our mis-firing trio, was it a case of waiting for a VDV type last minute deal that didn`t come off ? Every supporter of the Lillywhites knew the solution, will this be Harry`s legacy/nightmare almost but not quite the real deal. Remember Spurs were the first British club to win a European competition, the Cup Winners Cup in 1963 beating Athletico Madrid 5-1 in Rotterdam. Bill Nicholson was boss and spent his whole career with Spurs, the type of football we play and our fans expect began in 1959 when he took the reigns at WHL. The era of Blanchflower, Mackay and Greaves was born and as a 7 year old my rollercoaster ride began, it`s been amazing, wonderful, Fantastic at times and now the prospect of Real and Barcelona…..i`m not for getting off this ride for a while yet. COYS
Your an ABSOLUTE MUPPET mate! stupid fucking blog!! UR DUMB
Stop being so apologetic would be my only quibble. You, along with everyone else, have every right to doubt ‘Arry. No manager save for the likes of Fergie should be considered untouchable, and our abysmal transfer windows coupled with our catastrophic record against the smaller clubs are plenty of proof that ‘Arry isn’t cut out for the very top. So, thank you, Harry, but when England come calling. we won’t stand in your way, not for one second.