Harry's take on Spurs

[Dr Know]

Have a read and have your say!!

Patched-up Spurs squad feel the wrath of exasperated Redknapp

The Tottenham boss has turned on his squad, but come the end of the season the buck will stop with him

Harry Redknapp is fond of recalling the mess he inherited from Alain Perrin at Portsmouth when he returned there as manager in December 2005. The club appeared destined for relegation, as they had only 10 Premier League points from 15 matches and a squad that was horribly short, in Redknapp's view, on character and quality. He still jokes about luminaries such as the Greek goalkeeper Kostas Chalkias and the Colombian midfielder Jhon Viáfara.

Redknapp was asked on Tuesday whether the situation he found last October at Tottenham Hotspur, where he succeeded Juande Ramos, who had taken just two points from eight games, was comparable. "Not really," he said. "There are good players here. The players when I went back to Portsmouth were useless. I mean, where did [Perrin] find that lot? We had the Colombian, who was bringing in coffee or something, the Greek goalkeeper ... I don't want to say any more."

The sentiments he expressed did not amount to a ringing vote of confidence in his present squad but they did buck an alarming recent pattern, which has seen Redknapp speak with brutal honesty about the problems he faces and the shortcomings of certain individuals. Consider the uproar when the Chelsea manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, said last week that he felt some of his players were performing at only "35 to 40%" of their potential. Now consider some of Redknapp's critiques over the past couple of weeks.

He has spoken out about David Bentley's lack of work-rate and he has slaughtered Darren Bent for that critical miss against Portsmouth on Sunday, claiming that even his wife, Sandra, would have scored. Redknapp has since fielded questions about whether she would be available to bolster his attacking options.

The manager also raised concerns about Roman Pavlyuchenko's toughness when, after the striker was carried off against Portsmouth, he immediately said that the Russian would be fit in the morning, which "luckily enough, he was", and Redknapp made it clear that he did not relish the prospect of giving the goalkeeper Ben Alnwick his debut at Burnley in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg on Wednesday night, in which Tottenham were awful. They went 3–0 down to the Championship team and only wriggled through on aggregate late in extra-time.

Then, there have been the comments about his "badly balanced and put- together squad", a tacit criticism of the Ramos regime and, indeed, the chairman Daniel Levy. Redknapp described it as a "mish-mash of players" after the Burnley game, "put together by I don't know who and I don't know how". Most damning of all, he added: "We've got a group of players who are not physically or mentally strong enough."

On one level, it is refreshing to see a Levy managerial appointment so gloriously off-message. Levy is not used to loose cannons. Redknapp's response to those who bridle at his criticisms was typically forthright and old-school. "Don't be so ****ing precious," he said.

Yet, on another level, the impression is that Redknapp is making excuses and betraying an element of desperation. The team responded positively to his arrival, and they have progressed in cup competitions, but their form in the Premier League has dipped. They have won two and drawn three of their past 10 matches and Redknapp anticipates a struggle against relegation for the rest of the season.

What is clear is that the honeymoon period is over and that Redknapp recognises the full scale of the challenge ahead, which not only involves ensuring Premier League survival but also turning Tottenham into a top-four power. The encouraging noises that he made at the beginning of his tenure about the quality of the players sound increasingly distant.

Redknapp's fears about the depth of his squad will be laid bare at Manchester United tomorrow, in the FA Cup fourth round when, with an eye on next Tuesday's Premier League fixture at home to Stoke City, he will field "the weakest team I feasibly can". Alnwick will start again, as Heurelho Gomes remains injured, while Redknapp is considering the starting claims of Ricardo Rocha, Adel Taarabt and Giovani Dos Santos. "No one respects the FA Cup more than I do," said Redknapp, who won it last season with Portsmouth. "But we're in a position at the moment where the squad is just not big enough to keep playing all these games. I'm going to have to patch up any kind of team I can to send out at Old Trafford."

Redknapp is no stranger to pressure but the Tottenham job is his biggest yet and the burden on him is only increased by the mountains that Levy moved to get him; he even abolished the two-tier continental management structure on which he had previously staked his reputation.

Redknapp has spent almost £30m this month on the striker Jermain Defoe and the midfielder Wilson Palacios, and he will now have to sell players to raise funds for the further reshaping work that he feels is essential. The majority of his squad, rather unnervingly, is in the shop window, although the latest to depart will not bring in any money, the third-choice goalkeeper César Sánchez is set to join Valencia on loan. Redknapp, who has long been synonymous with wheeling and dealing and man-managing players, has sometimes complained that his coaching skills are overlooked. They will be under an intense spotlight until the end of May. As always at White Hart Lane, the buck stops with the manager.

Changing tack - The boss's about-turns

Harry on... The Tottenham squad

"I was impressed with the players in training. If we can show our quality we will quickly move up the table. We have a lot of good players." (28 October)

"I'm trying to make the best out of what I've got. This is the hand I've been dealt, basically. I've got nobody else. It's difficult to find people." (11 January)

Harry on... Heurelho Gomes

"He has been terrific, outstanding. I'm not telling you a lie. He has got a big reputation. I'm really pleased with him. He's a good lad." (9 January)

"I have got to stay with him. We've got to keep believing in him because that's it, he's our goalkeeper. It is no good caning him - I've got nobody else." (7 November)

Harry on... Darren Bent

"He is in great form. When he gets the opportunities he is sticking them away he looks a terrific finisher and he's confident at the moment." (9 November)

"You will never get a better chance to win a match than that. My missus would have scored that one." (18 January)

Harry on... Motivating players

"Hossam Ghaly has always shown a positive attitude since I have been here. We need to get behind everyone in a Spurs shirt. We need him." (3 January)

"I think Gilberto was quite happy to come off at half-time - that is the problem now. I don't think there is a way back for him here." (18 December)

Harry on... David Bentley

"It is about making them believe again. We know what a player he is and we've got to get him playing like he was at Blackburn." (29 October)

"Maybe he thought, 'I'm at Tottenham and we have to play their style, a bit more entertainment'. The work ethic has suffered." (21 January)

Source you really should read some of the replies at the bottom, quality!!:rofl:

 

[Kendall]

I do get the sense that he's covering his back. He is now very very worried and desperate and so we all should be.

 

[muffwah]

I do get the sense that he's covering his back. He is now very very worried and desperate and so we all should be.

I think he is just saying what many, including myself, are thinking. We do lack character and fight and that is because a certain type of grafting player was entirely disposed of and never replace by the previous regime.

 

[Kendall]

It's not just that reason.

I honestly believe if you took our team, put them in Uniteds squad for a month, then played them all in a game where they are all part of a team at the top of the tree, they'd beat teams like Hull, Stoke, Boro, West Brom etc... comfortably.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Some of the comments from general fans at the bottom of the article are quite interesting. Anyway after spending £30m on 2 players there really shouldn't be any excuses for not keeping us up. Only City in the bottom half of the table will spend that kind of money in January on 2 signings.

Basically I want to see Harry prove himself through coaching, tactics and selections from now on. Yes we don't have a great squad and the balance isn't the best but it is definitely a better squad than AT LEAST 6 other teams.

 

[Dr Know]

I think we've got the strongest team on paper outside the top 4 of last season, we should be the Aston Villa of this season and I put it down to stability. There is no stability at our club and as much as some may say HR can't get us any further than the last couple of managers (forget Ramos) I still think that given time he could. Its not about HR, its about the players being a team, their the ones on the pitch not HR, it makes no difference what HR says or not, its up to the team to play with heart because they already have the skills

 

[DEFchenkOE]

I think we've got the strongest team on paper outside the top 4 of last season, we should be the Aston Villa of this season and I put it down to stability. There is no stability at our club and as much as some may say HR can't get us any further than the last couple of managers (forget Ramos) I still think that given time he could. Its not about HR, its about the players being a team, their the ones on the pitch not HR, it makes no difference what HR says or not, its up to the team to play with heart because they already have the skills

I would say that the 1st choice teams on paper of Aston Villa, Everton, and Man C are better than ours but other than those I agree. I do feel the players are partly to blame but also Ramos made some real bizarre choices to leave us in the situation we was in, imo HR has also made some strange decisions despite us picking up more points. We still don't seem capable of playing as a team or a unit and I really don't know who's fault that is.

 

[Dr Know]

I would say that the 1st choice teams on paper of Aston Villa, Everton, and Man C are better than ours but other than those I agree. I do feel the players are partly to blame but also Ramos made some real bizarre choices to leave us in the situation we was in, imo HR has also made some strange decisions despite us picking up more points. We still don't seem capable of playing as a team or a unit and I really don't know who's fault that is.

not a dig at you m8

Now this is why we're in the shit we are, too much of who's fault and a mish mash team, bla bla bla, ffs most teams in the league would bite our hands of for at least 95% of our first 11. If Harry would concentrate on getting the best out of what we have rather than fucking moaning all the time he would'nt look the fool he does now, he comes in and says what a great squad and he can't understand why we are not in the top 5, he then makes a few selection and tactical mistakes (which is ok, he's new to the team) and instead of saying "new team I'm just finding my feet" he blames the players. I've always thought that Harry has a good track record of getting the best out of average players but we are not average and he needs to take stock of his attitude. He's moved up a notch from pompey to Spurs so he needs to move with the change too

I said before its up to the team to play better and Harry is not playing himself just gives the orders but he needs to take some responsibilty and stop blaming everyone else but himself!!

 

[alpha]

not a dig at you m8

Now this is why we're in the shit we are, too much of who's fault and a mish mash team, bla bla bla, ffs most teams in the league would bite our hands of for at least 95% of our first 11. If Harry would concentrate on getting the best out of what we have rather than fucking moaning all the time he would'nt look the fool he does now, he comes in and says what a great squad and he can't understand why we are not in the top 5, he then makes a few selection and tactical mistakes (which is ok, he's new to the team) and instead of saying "new team I'm just finding my feet" he blames the players. I've always thought that Harry has a good track record of getting the best out of average players but we are not average and he needs to take stock of his attitude. He's moved up a notch from pompey to Spurs so he needs to move with the change too

I said before its up to the team to play better and Harry is not playing himself just gives the orders but he needs to take some responsibilty and stop blaming everyone else but himself!!

100% FLAT FACT you're right. Harry needs to get the best out of what he has got and if he has to slate his players, is it going to be constructive airing it in public all the time. I bet half of the players are so nervous that they're beginning to seize up.

It would appear Harry on a number of occasions is just covering his ass, to make it look like none of its his fault.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

it's clear what the problem at spurs is. in the business world it's called high labour turnover. when there is regular changing of staff at a company productivity inevitably suffers. the spine of our team changes every summer and every january so our productivity, or performances, suffer.

 

[Glenn_Purvey]

he is the manager of tottenham hotspur, what do you want him to say..

all the points above are 100% correct.

bent's miss was shocking and it was critical he scored that goal.

if a player can not motivate himself to play for spurs then why are they in the team?

 

[Mullers]

I think we've got the strongest team on paper outside the top 4 of last season, we should be the Aston Villa of this season and I put it down to stability. There is no stability at our club and as much as some may say HR can't get us any further than the last couple of managers (forget Ramos) I still think that given time he could. Its not about HR, its about the players being a team, their the ones on the pitch not HR, it makes no difference what HR says or not, its up to the team to play with heart because they already have the skills

I have said this as well. We have four top CBs who have all played at international level.

In fact if you take BAE and O'hara out of the equation it is a team full of internationals we should be at the very least in the top 8 and no where near the relegation zone. Mish mash? Bollocks! I think he is flustered and does not know whether he is coming or going.

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

He's annoyingly loud-mouthed.

 

[coldasice199]

I like that he says what he thinks.

He's honest. And some of the spurs players need a big kick up there asses

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

He's right most of the time.

We have lacked the fighting spirit and we have lacked balance, for a long time now.

 

[stemark44]

If we are such a good side,take a look at our away results for the past few years(not just this one) against mediocre teams in the league.
Still think its Harrys fault or could it be something else?

 

[DEFchenkOE]

If we are such a good side,take a look at our away results for the past few years(not just this one) against mediocre teams in the league.
Still think its Harrys fault or could it be something else?

This is my point when I said I'm not sure who's to blame, while redknapp has made some odd choices and seems to be moaining about squad depth etc it must be partly to do with the lack of quality the players are showing on the pitch. Look at how poor we were playing at times under jol, used to resort to robbo and dawson's long punts quite often, yet at times we could be brilliant, under ramos we seemed to do well against top 4 teams but shite against others. Under Redknapp our form has been erratic. So is it the players, managers, or a combination of both?

 

[double0]

Like I've always said; "The truth hurts"

 

[Dr Know]

still think its Harrys fault or could it be something else?

M8 my point is its not always about finding someone to blame or going over previous managers mistakes.

Look, how many of you on here got stepkids? Well I got a stepson he's a grown man now but when he was younger and misbehaving I could'nt just sit there and say "if only his dad did give him licks he'd be a good boy today" or look to blame his dad every time he did something wrong!!
My point is like stepkids Harry took on a team and he knew they were not performing if he thought they were a mish mash team then why take the job?
If you met a female and when you got to her house and found she had a devil child you could:
A) run like fuck
B) take on the problem 100% with the confidence you could turn that kid into a saint

Harry took option C which is:
fuck it they are desperate, 2 points from 8 games I'll be a called a god if I keep them up!!

 

[Rackybear]

Harry's got a point, some of the players attidude generally stinks. I think being at Spurs just seems to get the worst out of some players, id bet that the likes of Bent and Hudd would do phoenominally well at other clubs in comparison to their form here.

Harry must take some of the blame too, he is the one that sends them out with whatever instructions he gives, the formation he chooses to employ and the players filling those positions.

50% Harry's fault 50% Players