Is Redknapp Tactically good Enough!

[donny1013]

This is what 'Arry said at an LMA do tonight about Lennon: 'I motivate Lennon in training by 'getting worst left-back at club' & telling Lennon to 'skin him"

 

[kkemal]

In answer to the original question posed, (Is Redknapp Tactically good Enough) the answer, for tonight, is yes.

That might well change the next time we have a bad result.

Last night was a fantastic night and we got the 3 points we needed and deserved.

For me last night HR made all the right chnages when he needed to, bringing Lennon on when he did and also JJ was great management from him.

Regardless of the penalty awards we looked tidy and gutsy and even Tommy was showing the passion we all know he has. Maybe HR let rip after the west ham game and gave them all an ass kicking, my whole point for starting this thread was not to say that i know more than everyone else because i dont but at times i cant help but feel that HR lacks that tactical knowledge that is needed to win ugly games at home against the lesser teams. But last night he was awesome in making sure we bossed the game and played effective footy.

I'm not a HR hater, i just think that at times at the lane we have to forget 442 and play keep ball (451) and make sure we dont lose games 1 - 0 cause we are chasing all 3 points with 10 mins left on the clock.

Bring on Villa.

COYS

 

[sloth]

Not sure where to post this, so putting it here as it's about tactics:

So what is causing the Spurs manager such stress about a player who, for £8million, already looks like easily the best buy of the summer?

He is unsure where the Holland midfielder fits into the team when all Tottenham's attacking players are available.

'He's good for us,' said Redknapp. 'But I can't lie, it makes balancing the team difficult.'

Van der Vaart - who has scored in all three home games he's played for Spurs - started the afternoon on the right, but spent little time there.

And only when Aaron Lennon came on for Roman Pavlyuchenko at the break was the former Real Madrid player given free rein.

'He's never going to stay wide when you play him there,' said Redknapp. 'In the end he only comes inside and plays where he wants to play. He wants to be involved so he is never going to stay out wide.'

Someone has to be disappointed as Redknapp schemes a way of continuing to fit Van der Vaart into the jigsaw.

Will it be Pavlyuchenko? Unlucky for the Russia forward given his decent form, but the understanding Van der Vaart has struck up with Peter Crouch makes him a prime candidate.

Will it be Lennon? Hardly at his best and his omission opens up a space for Van der Vaart. But Spurs showed better balance when he came on.

And this is before considering Robbie Keane and Niko Kranjcar, who have been warming the bench in recent matches, and the return of Jermain Defoe when he recovers from his ankle injury.

As Redknapp pointed out: 'It causes problems because if you play two up and Rafa behind, what do you do with (Gareth) Bale? (Benoit) Assou-Ekotto has been fantastic at left back so where would you put Bale?

If Bale plays wide left and you've got two up front and one behind, you'll have two midfield players and no-one on the right-hand side of the pitch.'

But Redknapp admitted: 'When you have a special player you have to work at finding a way of getting the best out of him and finding a way that suits him. I wouldn't change him (Van der Vaart).'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-Vaart-causing-major-selection-headache.html?

The highlighted bit reveals two things for me. Firstly it confirms in my mind whatever Harry thinks Bale's eventual position will be, he feels the best combo on the Left is BAE/Bale; as I think we probably all do these days whichever side of the Bale he's a LB/LW debate you're on.

The other thing it reveals is a lingering uncertainty in Redknapp's mind about the wisdom of playing one up with VdV in the hole. He appears to be be really struggling with the notion as an effective resolution to the dillema he outlines in the article. It's as if for him playing with two up and sacrificing a midfielder or midfield balance is a serious option to be weighed against playing VdV in the hole behind a lone striker.

The thing is, I don't know why he's finding it such a difficult choice to make, I'd have thought it was bleedin obvious. Or does anyone else have a different view?

 

[onthetwo]

yes! (is the question still whether Arry's tactically aware?)

 

[TwoSaintsComeMarching]

Not sure where to post this, so putting it here as it's about tactics:



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-Vaart-causing-major-selection-headache.html?

The highlighted bit reveals two things for me. Firstly it confirms in my mind whatever Harry thinks Bale's eventual position will be, he feels the best combo on the Left is BAE/Bale; as I think we probably all do these days whichever side of the Bale he's a LB/LW debate you're on.

The other thing it reveals is a lingering uncertainty in Redknapp's mind about the wisdom of playing one up with VdV in the hole. He appears to be be really struggling with the notion as an effective resolution to the dillema he outlines in the article. It's as if for him playing with two up and sacrificing a midfielder or midfield balance is a serious option to be weighed against playing VdV in the hole behind a lone striker.

The thing is, I don't know why he's finding it such a difficult choice to make, I'd have thought it was bleedin obvious. Or does anyone else have a different view?

I think he's apprehensive about 451 with VDV in the hole because our strikers have been misfiring of late, and with Defoe out we dont have an on form striker who will get his share of the goals. For all of Crouch's assists he still doesnt score enough. And we know Harry doesnt have much faith in Pav.

I think in the same interview Harry mentions that he needs the midfielders to score more for a 451 to work. Maybe if VDV continues his prolific goal scoring form then Harry will stick to a 451?

 

[Misfit]

Just think of VDV as the player everyone wishes Keane could have been. Sorted. Just tell yourself it's a 442, 'Arry and ponder no more.

 

[MilkyBarYid]

Just think of VDV as the player everyone wishes Keane could have been. Sorted. Just tell yourself it's a 442, 'Arry and ponder no more.

Not sure what you mean by this; Keane has been an excellent player for us over the years, VDV has only been with us for 4 premiership games.

 

[woodward]

Just think of VDV as the player everyone wishes Keane could have been. Sorted. Just tell yourself it's a 442, 'Arry and ponder no more.

In many ways thats a good point of view. Rafa is everything Keane would probably like to be - he even heads he ball, and he actually tackles.

Overall Harry is focused on making Bale in to a LB. Most pundits say that he is a better fullback than a wide player. We look at him and think that his occasional defensive flaps make him a better LM. In reality he causes more headaches for teams when his runs come from deep.

At the moment Harry's biggest problem ( and it's a nice one) relates to fitting Modric and VDV into the team in his preferred 4-4-2 - particularly at home. On the road I reckon we wil mostly play 4-5-1.

When Defoe is back and firing and Daws is fit we will prosper. VDV hit 20 goals in a season for Hamburg and his career stats of about 1 in 3 indicate that he will continue to score. We have the right ingredients and I reckon Harry can manage the recipe.

We may have lost some games etc that we should'nt, but we have handled injuries etc way better under "H' than any other recent manager. He has instilled confidence. The Wigan loss came after the traumatic Young Boys game, the fightbacks against Wolves and Villa are a better indication of our form going forward.

 

[jurgen]

Obviously this point has been made before, but when Harry puts the players out on the pitch and they conspire to bungle every attempt on goal, which is the usual route by which we get strangled by the "smaller" clubs - what can he do?

Every manager comes under scrutiny for their tactics, Ferguson, Wenger, Mancini, Benitez even Mourinho have been variously accused at times of being one dimensional, stubborn, willfully defensive and long ball merchants. I think there's a lot to be said for the way in which Harry isn't afraid to change things when they aren't working, though games are often held in a fine balance when its very much a risk to alter the system - he's often on record about when things don't work and why he does make the changes he does, recently he's had moments where he's been defensive, but compared to any of the above, he's pretty docile.

All I can say is that compared to any other manager in my living memory I believe he makes the least mistakes, shows that his style is not immutable and we can adapt to games (which is so crucial when we still have the ability to drop a bollock). The art of the tactician is nothing without the ability to man manage, and fostering that belief in the players is something all the great managers like to sort upon beginning a new job.

Making the players receptive to tactics is just as big a part of it, and I wouldn't hold much store in the comments about not quite knowing where to put VDV, that's precisely the point of a player like that - he's blurring the lines of our system, and its worked pretty well thus far for a guy who has just arrived.

So in summary, yes he is tactically good enough. Getting a club with our wage structure to 4th could very much be considered overachieving as well.

 

[Misfit]

Not sure what you mean by this; Keane has been an excellent player for us over the years, VDV has only been with us for 4 premiership games.

Well I obviously meant that I hate him and wish him nothing but misery until he dies a lonely death. Duh!

 

[Misfit]

In many ways thats a good point of view. Rafa is everything Keane would probably like to be - he even heads he ball, and he actually tackles.

Overall Harry is focused on making Bale in to a LB. Most pundits say that he is a better fullback than a wide player. We look at him and think that his occasional defensive flaps make him a better LM. In reality he causes more headaches for teams when his runs come from deep.

At the moment Harry's biggest problem ( and it's a nice one) relates to fitting Modric and VDV into the team in his preferred 4-4-2 - particularly at home. On the road I reckon we wil mostly play 4-5-1.

When Defoe is back and firing and Daws is fit we will prosper. VDV hit 20 goals in a season for Hamburg and his career stats of about 1 in 3 indicate that he will continue to score. We have the right ingredients and I reckon Harry can manage the recipe.

We may have lost some games etc that we should'nt, but we have handled injuries etc way better under "H' than any other recent manager. He has instilled confidence. The Wigan loss came after the traumatic Young Boys game, the fightbacks against Wolves and Villa are a better indication of our form going forward.

Indeed. VDV really can be that 2nd striker - the link between midfield and attack, dropping deep and play up front as is his fancy. Keane is a striker, nothing else as Benitez found out. Not a slur but just the way it is.

How do you effectively defend against a VDV. No fixed position etc. Always be a danger.

Agree with the rest, too. Looking forward to getting our bodies all back. We'll do some damage.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Not sure where to post this, so putting it here as it's about tactics:



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-Vaart-causing-major-selection-headache.html?

The highlighted bit reveals two things for me. Firstly it confirms in my mind whatever Harry thinks Bale's eventual position will be, he feels the best combo on the Left is BAE/Bale; as I think we probably all do these days whichever side of the Bale he's a LB/LW debate you're on.

The other thing it reveals is a lingering uncertainty in Redknapp's mind about the wisdom of playing one up with VdV in the hole. He appears to be be really struggling with the notion as an effective resolution to the dillema he outlines in the article. It's as if for him playing with two up and sacrificing a midfielder or midfield balance is a serious option to be weighed against playing VdV in the hole behind a lone striker.

The thing is, I don't know why he's finding it such a difficult choice to make, I'd have thought it was bleedin obvious. Or does anyone else have a different view?

I felt exactly the same reading that. Surely it's becoming really obvious that with the players we have a vaiation of 451/4231 etc is almost mandatory ?

I thought after saturday there would be no doubt. I also find it really hard to belive he hasn't thought of putting Modric in the roaming right side of a "3" in a 4231. Surely he must have considered this ?

 

[Spurger King]

I felt exactly the same reading that. Surely it's becoming really obvious that with the players we have a vaiation of 451/4231 etc is almost mandatory ?

It does seem to make perfect sense, especially as Defoe is out. The main reason I think he played VDV on the right was due to a lack of confidence in Lennon and Bentley. I guess he could be trying to keep Crouch and Pav happy, which seems unlikely. Maybe he just doesn't have a huge amount of faith in any of our fit strikers playing as a lone forward.

Or maybe he just doesn't feel comfortable playing that system. I have to admit I've never really paid a huge amount of attention to his tactical formations prior to him joining Spurs, but I remember him saying that Modric is best playing behind the main striker...which was a formation he completely ignored.

Whatever his reasoning, I'm glad it appears that he recognises the importance of allowing VDV to play in whatever position gets the best out of him.

I thought after saturday there would be no doubt. I also find it really hard to belive he hasn't thought of putting Modric in the roaming right side of a "3" in a 4231. Surely he must have considered this ?

Hmm, I'm not sure. Even for Dinamo Zagreb he mainly played on the left, cutting in. It would certainly solve a few problems, but I don't think that position would suit him.

Plus even if Harry has considered this, he's obviously aware that an on-form Lennon can be a devistating player for the opposition to contend with.

 

[StartingPrice]

In many ways thats a good point of view. Rafa is everything Keane would probably like to be - he even heads he ball, and he actually tackles.

Overall Harry is focused on making Bale in to a LB. Most pundits say that he is a better fullback than a wide player. We look at him and think that his occasional defensive flaps make him a better LM. In reality he causes more headaches for teams when his runs come from deep.

At the moment Harry's biggest problem ( and it's a nice one) relates to fitting Modric and VDV into the team in his preferred 4-4-2 - particularly at home. On the road I reckon we wil mostly play 4-5-1.

When Defoe is back and firing and Daws is fit we will prosper. VDV hit 20 goals in a season for Hamburg and his career stats of about 1 in 3 indicate that he will continue to score. We have the right ingredients and I reckon Harry can manage the recipe.

We may have lost some games etc that we should'nt, but we have handled injuries etc way better under "H' than any other recent manager. He has instilled confidence. The Wigan loss came after the traumatic Young Boys game, the fightbacks against Wolves and Villa are a better indication of our form going forward.

:clap: +1

 

[sloth]

I think he's apprehensive about 451 with VDV in the hole because our strikers have been misfiring of late, and with Defoe out we dont have an on form striker who will get his share of the goals. For all of Crouch's assists he still doesnt score enough. And we know Harry doesnt have much faith in Pav.

I think in the same interview Harry mentions that he needs the midfielders to score more for a 451 to work. Maybe if VDV continues his prolific goal scoring form then Harry will stick to a 451?

The thing is, the fact that the strikers aren't firing on all cylinders would seem to be an argument for leaving them out in favour of playing VdV in the hole. On current form and on past performance as a pairing do Crouch and Pav really deserve to be in the team? At the expense of defensive balance and having VdV in a position where he really do some damage? As well as that, by playing VdV in an advanced midfield role you then have the attacking luxury of Lennon and Bale in your side, making the pitch wide and even swapping flanks on occasion to vary angles of attack.

For me it's a complete no-brainer, we offer more threat in attack at the same time as being stronger in defence with VdV in the hole behind Crouch or Pav.

Overall Harry is focused on making Bale in to a LB. Most pundits say that he is a better fullback than a wide player. We look at him and think that his occasional defensive flaps make him a better LM. In reality he causes more headaches for teams when his runs come from deep.

Which pundits? Everyone including Harry think's he's better at LM atm because the pairing of BAE and Bale is our strongest left-side offering,

"'It causes problems because if you play two up and Rafa behind, what do you do with (Gareth) Bale? (Benoit) Assou-Ekotto has been fantastic at left back so where would you put Bale? " (Redknapp)

At the moment Harry's biggest problem ( and it's a nice one) relates to fitting Modric and VDV into the team in his preferred 4-4-2 - particularly at home. On the road I reckon we wil mostly play 4-5-1.

You've recognised the issue, but the question is why is Harry preferring to play 4-4-2 than 4-2-3-1 or 4-5-1 or whatever you want to call it? He could even, as other point out, still call it 4-4-2 or at least 4-4-1-1 if he wanted and play VdV of the striker; He's certainly at least as effective as Keane ever was in that position. So what's so tough for Harry? Where's the dilemma? He's got all the players for an attacking system with good defensive balance.

When Defoe is back and firing and Daws is fit we will prosper. VDV hit 20 goals in a season for Hamburg and his career stats of about 1 in 3 indicate that he will continue to score. We have the right ingredients and I reckon Harry can manage the recipe.

I still wouldn't want Crouch or Defoe to be keeping one of our midfielders out of the side. Here are the crucial things

• We're more of an attacking threat with a midfield of Lennon, Modric, Bale and VdV with a lone striker than we are with two strikers and one less of those midfielders.

• We're more solid defensively with a midfield of Lennon, Modric, Bale and VdV with a lone striker than we are with two strikers and one less of those midfielders.

It's so clear it's almost painful.

We may have lost some games etc that we should'nt, but we have handled injuries etc way better under "H' than any other recent manager. He has instilled confidence.

You're right.

Obviously this point has been made before, but when Harry puts the players out on the pitch and they conspire to bungle every attempt on goal, which is the usual route by which we get strangled by the "smaller" clubs - what can he do?"

I'm critical because he hasn't managed the balance between attack and defence very well imo. I think his main failure is that he keeps squashing round-pegs into square holes at the expense of team balance.

For instance, his insistence that VdV plays on the right means we have less protection on that side when the other team breaks. Something he acknowledged after the Villa game, but which should have been clear before it!

Against Wigan we got skinned three time in quick succession down our left flank, the third time they scored. Why? Because Gareth Bale was pushing forward from LB in search of a goal.

I groaned when Harry bought Kranjcar on in that game, Kranjcar is slow, creative going forward, keen but totally useless in defence.

Fair enough, you could say, but what else could he do? Get Lennon and Bale to swap flanks for one, change the angles we attacked them from, they'd done it to great effect against Stoke the week before. Take off Palacios before BAE etc etc

Anyway, don't want to rake over past games, they're more to illustrate that not every move to increase an attacking threat necessarily decreases your defensive capability, but in recent times Harry's have seemed to.

All I can say is that compared to any other manager in my living memory I believe he makes the least mistakes, shows that his style is not immutable and we can adapt to games (which is so crucial when we still have the ability to drop a bollock). The art of the tactician is nothing without the ability to man manage, and fostering that belief in the players is something all the great managers like to sort upon beginning a new job.

Making the players receptive to tactics is just as big a part of it, and I wouldn't hold much store in the comments about not quite knowing where to put VDV, that's precisely the point of a player like that - he's blurring the lines of our system, and its worked pretty well thus far for a guy who has just arrived.

So in summary, yes he is tactically good enough. Getting a club with our wage structure to 4th could very much be considered overachieving as well.

Despite what this post suggests I think the right players, motivated to do well with high self-belief and the rub of the green are far more important factors than tactics. If you look at the Harry Reknapp package in its entirety it's clear he's the best we've had for decades. I can see that and I'm glad we've got him, I'm just pointing out specific things I think he could be better at.

We'll need to better at to push on and become a real force.

 

[Mr Pink]

In many ways thats a good point of view. Rafa is everything Keane would probably like to be - he even heads he ball, and he actually tackles.

Overall Harry is focused on making Bale in to a LB. Most pundits say that he is a better fullback than a wide player. We look at him and think that his occasional defensive flaps make him a better LM. In reality he causes more headaches for teams when his runs come from deep.

At the moment Harry's biggest problem ( and it's a nice one) relates to fitting Modric and VDV into the team in his preferred 4-4-2 - particularly at home. On the road I reckon we wil mostly play 4-5-1.

When Defoe is back and firing and Daws is fit we will prosper. VDV hit 20 goals in a season for Hamburg and his career stats of about 1 in 3 indicate that he will continue to score. We have the right ingredients and I reckon Harry can manage the recipe.

We may have lost some games etc that we should'nt, but we have handled injuries etc way better under "H' than any other recent manager. He has instilled confidence. The Wigan loss came after the traumatic Young Boys game, the fightbacks against Wolves and Villa are a better indication of our form going forward.

In reality he does his damage from the wing and thats where he's best at the moment. I would say Harry is focused on getting the best out of him and playing him where he is most effective for the team. IMO thats overwhelmingly on the wing - in the present anyway.

Ekotto is a more accomplished full back at the moment, infact he's getting better and better. With Bale so dangerous on the wing its an easy pick for both positions on the left hand side - and they are a very formidable pairing although the implications for the rest of team is obviously giving Harry food for thought...ie Modric and even Jenas now.

But build your team around your best players and play them in their most suited positions (and that means now, not the future)....find a style and formation that best enables you to do this. Team should be built around Modric, VDV and Bale.

I was still dissappiointed that Harry played Ekotto for 120 mins against the Scum, meaning that combination was broken up for West Ham.

Agree with the rest of your post.

 

[Mr Pink]

Stongest team at present, for me would go like: Gomes, Kaboul, Dawson (Gallas), King, Ekotto, Lennon, Hudd, Modric, Bale, VDV, Crouch.

 

[sloth]

Stongest team at present, for me would go like: Gomes, Kaboul, Dawson (Gallas), King, Ekotto, Lennon, Hudd, Modric, Bale, VDV, Crouch.

Almost the same players, and set up as follows:

Gomes
Kaboul Gallas King BAE
Huddlestone
Lennon---Modric---Bale
-------VdV
Crouch​

Against tougher sides I'd probably sacrifice Lennon for JJ. I also want to see if Sandro's not a more dynamic version of Huddlestone.

I might also give Pav a game to see if he can replicate his second half Twente performance. If not then he's on job share with Crouch; Crouch gets the first 55 mins Pav the rest.

When Bale needs a rest I'd push Modric out left. When BAE needs a rest I'd give Bassong a try at LB.

 

[Mr Pink]

Almost the same players, and set up as follows:

Gomes
Kaboul Gallas King BAE
Huddlestone
Lennon---Modric---Bale
-------VdV
Crouch​

Against tougher sides I'd probably sacrifice Lennon for JJ. I also want to see if Sandro's not a more dynamic version of Huddlestone.

I might also give Pav a game to see if he can replicate his second half Twente performance. If not then he's on job share with Crouch; Crouch gets the first 55 mins Pav the rest.

When Bale needs a rest I'd push Modric out left. When BAE needs a rest I'd give Bassong a try at LB.

Yeah that would be the blue print for me, changing it or mixing it ip when needs be.

 

[Kendall]

Not happy seeing Kaboul as peoples best right back