Harry Redknapp has been struggling to fit Rafael van der Vaart into his Tottenham side for almost as long as the Dutchman has been at the club. Rafa’s recent comments about Harry and his role at the club have done nothing but add fuel to the fire of a contentious issue. He admitted that he dislikes the defensive responsibility that his role forces upon him and simply doesn’t like being applied down the right flank.
The Dutchman also reserved some harsh words for Harry after he was substituted during the Arsenal game. It seems Rafa has an ego and a mouth to match his enviable talent.
It’s clear to just about everybody that he’s best suited to a more central role, but given that Tottenham already have too many bodies in that area, VDV has been forced to take up other positions.
But given that Emmanuel Adebayor, Jermaine Defoe, Scott Parker, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale are all performing well this season it wouldn’t surprise me if Rafa began to find himself increasingly sidelined. It’s a complicated situation that doesn’t really have a satisfactory solution.
Harry recently told The Sun: “Yes, it does seem to be a problem. Rafa can’t run back and chase the full-back. Against the better teams it is a problem, Rafa’s best position is in the middle, playing just behind the front man. The only problem is that Jermain Defoe plays there too and Jermain is playing very, very well at the moment. So, I guess I have got a decision to make, haven’t I? I suppose it’s now between Rafa and Jermain over who plays in the team.”
It seems then that Jermaine Defoe and Rafael Van Der Vaart are set to duke it out for a place in the first team. Now that’s a tough fight to call. Rafa always seems to find space during games, even when he’s not playing at his best. And when he’s playing at his best he’s a real sight to behold.
Yet Defoe has been looking like his old self so far this season. His movement is good and he’s providing a genuine goal threat. Just how is Harry supposed to choose between the two?
It may well come down to which teams Tottenham are playing. When Harry thinks it’s likely that Spurs will have to soak up pressure, it makes sense to select Defoe because VDV won’t offer much protection to those behind him. When playing at home, however and against smaller opposition there’s no harm in selecting Rafa who adds a lot of creative flair to this Tottenham side.
Either way however, this is a pretty good dilemma for Harry to face and epitomises the strength in depth of this Tottenham side.
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When a player misses time & again from 3′-00″ & he cups his hands in front of eyes. When the ball is still in play, he is rubbish. The sooner Spurs rid of Defoe, the better.
Defoe has to be kept in the side, because he is the form man. VDV has undoubted class but his fitness levels are suspect, because spurs game plan & premiership demands players be skilful & put in a shift. Too many teams rely on effort & we have to match that effort bcos it is a powerful force.