What the pundits & media are saying about us

[bomberH]

As far as the best football goes, there were about 4 games under Redknapp where we played proper football that was collective, coherent and excellent. The rest of the time it was about chucking out a group of extremely talented individuals into a lottery barrel and hoping their numbers came out more often than a group of less talented individuals did.

The fact that we got one CL qualification with a team that contained King, Gallas, Modric, Parker, VDV, Adebayor and Bale at a time when the PL was nowhere near as difficult as it is now, whilst managers like Rodgers, Ranieri, Klopp and Pochettino have exceeded that comfortably with (in some cases vastly) inferior bunch of individual talent in a much tougher PL demonstrates what a blagger Redknapp was.

This was before the PL contained the likes of Guardiola, Mourinho, Conte, Klopp (at the same time) and the massively enhanced squads and vastly improved tactical competence that we are operating in now. Can you imagine the possibilities if Redknapp didn't leave the coaching to Kevin fucking Bond?

What AVB achieved after Modric, Gallas, Adebayor (mentally) and VDV had departed was more impressive. I only wish we'd hired him instead of Redknapp and we might have got what Porto got with the squad we had at the time. Talented players and good coaching and work ethic.

You only think Redknapp was great because he told you so. Constantly.

Best regards
The Duke of Churlingham

Harsh. Amusing but harsh.

You say there were no Guardiola, Conte, Mourinho or Klopp but you leave out the fact that instead of those, there were Ferguson, Benítez, Ancelotti, Hiddink, (a better) Wenger etc. We have punched above our weight for a long time now, including through the Redknapp years. We were still the 6th highest wages then (maybe even 7th or 8th) and we did well considering. He was the first manager to get us into the CL and the first to realise we were soft to the core before he bought in Palacios. He did a lot of things well.

Your argument is we should’ve done better with those players and you may be correct but all those other teams around us with those excellent managers and money all had a winning mentality, something we never had (and still don’t really now). Redknapp couldn’t change that, unfortunately. Also, as amazing as the players are that you mentioned for us, there were shedloads of amazing players for the other top teams too. It’s all relative and just as hard then as it is now.

I think he’s looked upon even more favourably because of what he took over from (I think it was something about 2 points in 8 games but I could be wrong............). We were awful that season and also played boring football under AVB afterwards so Harry was like a breath of fresh air inbetween. He deserves to be remembered favourably, despite his face and son.

 

[WiganSpur]

As far as the best football goes, there were about 4 games under Redknapp where we played proper football that was collective, coherent and excellent. The rest of the time it was about chucking out a group of extremely talented individuals into a lottery barrel and hoping their numbers came out more often than a group of less talented individuals did.

The fact that we got one CL qualification with a team that contained King, Gallas, Modric, Parker, VDV, Adebayor and Bale at a time when the PL was nowhere near as difficult as it is now, whilst managers like Rodgers, Ranieri, Klopp and Pochettino have exceeded that comfortably with (in some cases vastly) inferior bunch of individual talent in a much tougher PL demonstrates what a blagger Redknapp was.

This was before the PL contained the likes of Guardiola, Mourinho, Conte, Klopp (at the same time) and the massively enhanced squads and vastly improved tactical competence that we are operating in now. Can you imagine the possibilities if Redknapp didn't leave the coaching to Kevin fucking Bond?

What AVB achieved after Modric, Gallas, Adebayor (mentally) and VDV had departed was more impressive. I only wish we'd hired him instead of Redknapp and we might have got what Porto got with the squad we had at the time. Talented players and good coaching and work ethic.

You only think Redknapp was great because he told you so. Constantly.

Best regards
The Duke of Churlingham

I think you're being slightly harsh on Redknapp.

I totally agree about his lack of tactical knowledge but one of the reasons why those players looked so talented because of Harry's man management. He created a relaxed environment that allowed the players to enjoy and express themselves and I think that did a lot of the players good. I think that tactics are far more important that man management but I certainly think the latter has a part to play and in that regard I think he was better than AVB and I won't hold that against Redknapp.

As far as his first season went you are correct about AVB too. I always felt apart from the odd collapse that we were well organised under him and he took us to within a point of 4th place. This was in a season where we lost Modric, Adebayor (pretty much), King, VDV, and also had to contend with a Parker past his prime after injury as well as a serious injury to Sandro mid season. At many points, our midfield consisted of Livermore and Huddlestone with Dempsey in front.

I always wonder what could have been under AVB if he'd managed to bring in Moutinho.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Harsh. Amusing but harsh.

You say there were no Guardiola, Conte, Mourinho or Klopp but you leave out the fact that instead of those, there were Ferguson, Benítez, Ancelotti, Hiddink, (a better) Wenger etc. We have punched above our weight for a long time now, including through the Redknapp years. We were still the 6th highest wages then (maybe even 7th or 8th) and we did well considering. He was the first manager to get us into the CL and the first to realise we were soft to the core before he bought in Palacios. He did a lot of things well.

Your argument is we should’ve done better with those players and you may be correct but all those other teams around us with those excellent managers and money all had a winning mentality, something we never had (and still don’t really now). Redknapp couldn’t change that, unfortunately. Also, as amazing as the players are that you mentioned for us, there were shedloads of amazing players for the other top teams too. It’s all relative and just as hard then as it is now.

I think he’s looked upon even more favourably because of what he took over from (I think it was something about 2 points in 8 games but I could be wrong............). We were awful that season and also played boring football under AVB afterwards so Harry was like a breath of fresh air inbetween. He deserves to be remembered favourably, despite his face and son.

Guardiola's Barca made Ferguson's Utd look like cannon fodder. Another level. Guardiola, Conte, Mourinho, Klopp absolutely muller Fergie, Benitez (who may have been parking buses before Mourinho but is just not in his league, which is why he was managing in the championship last year), Ancelloti (who is pretty much the thinking mans Redknapp) and Hiddink.

And it's not just those handful, it's from top to bottom, everything is better now, level of coaching, the level of scouting, analytics, preparation and tactical application. Then add in the quality of players throughout the league and at the rival big clubs.

 

[bomberH]

Guardiola's Barca made Ferguson's Utd look like cannon fodder. Another level. Guardiola, Conte, Mourinho, Klopp absolutely muller Fergie, Benitez (who may have been parking buses before Mourinho but is just not in his league, which is why he was managing in the championship last year), Ancelloti (who is pretty much the thinking mans Redknapp) and Hiddink.

And it's not just those handful, it's from top to bottom, everything is better now, level of coaching, the level of scouting, analytics, preparation and tactical application. Then add in the quality of players throughout the league and at the rival big clubs.

I agree everything’s better now but I still think you’re doing those managers a massive injustice. As much as you think the current crop are better, Fergie is one of the best managers ever, Benítez was excellent at Liverpool until the last season (and a CL winner) and Ancelotti has won titles everywhere he’s been. You can slate them as much as you like but they’re all CL winners and their pedigree isn’t in doubt.

Of course I’d rather be where we are now than where we were then, but ‘cannon fodder’, ‘bus parker’ and ‘thinking man’s Redknapp’... come on.... ? Anyway, the point is they were all better managers than Redknapp, all winners and all had much more money to spend on superior squad players.

We did well under Harry. We had plenty of faults but plenty more positives.

 

[IfiHadTheWings]

As far as the best football goes, there were about 4 games under Redknapp where we played proper football that was collective, coherent and excellent. The rest of the time it was about chucking out a group of extremely talented individuals into a lottery barrel and hoping their numbers came out more often than a group of less talented individuals did.

The fact that we got one CL qualification with a team that contained King, Gallas, Modric, Parker, VDV, Adebayor and Bale at a time when the PL was nowhere near as difficult as it is now, whilst managers like Rodgers, Ranieri, Klopp and Pochettino have exceeded that comfortably with (in some cases vastly) inferior bunch of individual talent in a much tougher PL demonstrates what a blagger Redknapp was.

This was before the PL contained the likes of Guardiola, Mourinho, Conte, Klopp (at the same time) and the massively enhanced squads and vastly improved tactical competence that we are operating in now. Can you imagine the possibilities if Redknapp didn't leave the coaching to Kevin fucking Bond?

What AVB achieved after Modric, Gallas, Adebayor (mentally) and VDV had departed was more impressive. I only wish we'd hired him instead of Redknapp and we might have got what Porto got with the squad we had at the time. Talented players and good coaching and work ethic.

You only think Redknapp was great because he told you so. Constantly.

Best regards
The Duke of Churlingham

Whats the weather like up there me ol' china?

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Whats the weather like up there me ol' china?

It’s cloudy with a hint of “as good as it gets” showers.

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

Continuing with the theme of criticism against good players, which is often unfounded. Defoe makes a similar point regarding Dele.

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/05/10/jermain-defoe-raves-about-tottenhams-dele-alli/

 

[CheeseGromit]

As far as the best football goes, there were about 4 games under Redknapp where we played proper football that was collective, coherent and excellent. The rest of the time it was about chucking out a group of extremely talented individuals into a lottery barrel and hoping their numbers came out more often than a group of less talented individuals did.

The fact that we got one CL qualification with a team that contained King, Gallas, Modric, Parker, VDV, Adebayor and Bale at a time when the PL was nowhere near as difficult as it is now, whilst managers like Rodgers, Ranieri, Klopp and Pochettino have exceeded that comfortably with (in some cases vastly) inferior bunch of individual talent in a much tougher PL demonstrates what a blagger Redknapp was.

This was before the PL contained the likes of Guardiola, Mourinho, Conte, Klopp (at the same time) and the massively enhanced squads and vastly improved tactical competence that we are operating in now. Can you imagine the possibilities if Redknapp didn't leave the coaching to Kevin fucking Bond?

What AVB achieved after Modric, Gallas, Adebayor (mentally) and VDV had departed was more impressive. I only wish we'd hired him instead of Redknapp and we might have got what Porto got with the squad we had at the time. Talented players and good coaching and work ethic.

You only think Redknapp was great because he told you so. Constantly.

Best regards
The Duke of Churlingham

A bit tongue in cheek but in essence a lot of true stuff.

We were suffering when Redknapp joined, not as badly as he would like you to think but nevertheless under achieving. He got the ball rolling and used the momentum to go effect. He is imo a clasic example as to why most managers dont last at football clubs. They cant evolve the club and players. They can only do it under a fairly defined circumstance. Coaches along the Pep type are few and far between.

AVB ceratinly appeared to be but either lost is way or did not have then courage of his convictions. Poch seems to be driving the right way but lets hope he ha staying power

 

[C0YS]

Harsh. Amusing but harsh.

You say there were no Guardiola, Conte, Mourinho or Klopp but you leave out the fact that instead of those, there were Ferguson, Benítez, Ancelotti, Hiddink, (a better) Wenger etc. We have punched above our weight for a long time now, including through the Redknapp years. We were still the 6th highest wages then (maybe even 7th or 8th) and we did well considering. He was the first manager to get us into the CL and the first to realise we were soft to the core before he bought in Palacios. He did a lot of things well.

Your argument is we should’ve done better with those players and you may be correct but all those other teams around us with those excellent managers and money all had a winning mentality, something we never had (and still don’t really now). Redknapp couldn’t change that, unfortunately. Also, as amazing as the players are that you mentioned for us, there were shedloads of amazing players for the other top teams too. It’s all relative and just as hard then as it is now.

I think he’s looked upon even more favourably because of what he took over from (I think it was something about 2 points in 8 games but I could be wrong............). We were awful that season and also played boring football under AVB afterwards so Harry was like a breath of fresh air inbetween. He deserves to be remembered favourably, despite his face and son.

The thing is the top 4 were much much stronger than they have been recently. Now almost every team was considerably big weaknesses at the time though it wasn't the case and the teams were much stronger.

During that period of 4 years that Redknapp was in charge 5 English teams made the semi-finals of CL and 3 made the final.

Since Poch has been in charge for 4 seasons now, 2 English teams have made the semi-finals and 1 the final.

The teams were stronger, in a way its harder now because we are competing against 5 teams not 3 but those 3 were much better than the average quality of the 5 now.

Interestingly there was one season, Redknapp's last one where we should of finished in the top 3 and we were competing for the title till about February where we dropped off. We ended up finishing 4th but we ought to have done a bit better, Redknapp was sacked because of it.

 

[Sir Henry]

The thing is the top 4 were much much stronger than they have been recently. Now almost every team was considerably big weaknesses at the time though it wasn't the case and the teams were much stronger.

During that period of 4 years that Poch was in charge 5 English teams made the semi-finals of CL and 3 made the final.

Since Poch has been in charge for 4 seasons now, 2 English teams have made the semi-finals and 1 the final.

The teams were stronger, in a way its harder now because we are competing against 5 teams not 3 but those 3 were much better than the average quality of the 5 now.

Interestingly there was one season, Redknapp's last one where we should of finished in the top 3 and we were competing for the title till about February where we dropped off. We ended up finishing 4th but we ought to have done a bit better, Redknapp was sacked because of it.

It's been done to death so I'm not going into it again, but that's not why Redknapp was sacked.

 

[C0YS]

A bit tongue in cheek but in essence a lot of true stuff.

We were suffering when Redknapp joined, not as badly as he would like you to think but nevertheless under achieving. He got the ball rolling and used the momentum to go effect. He is imo a clasic example as to why most managers dont last at football clubs. They cant evolve the club and players. They can only do it under a fairly defined circumstance. Coaches along the Pep type are few and far between.

AVB ceratinly appeared to be but either lost is way or did not have then courage of his convictions. Poch seems to be driving the right way but lets hope he ha staying power

No we really were suffering, probably worse then some people seem to remember. Redknapp likes to repeat it a lot but we were in serious trouble.

8 games 2 points. Rock bottom of the table, 6 points from safety with performances slowly getting worse. The teams we played in that run were 6 teams which would finish in the bottom half of the table, and Aston Villa and Chelsea. It was a piss easy run our next 3 games were Bolton, Arsenal, Liverpool. Under Ramos we would of well to get a point out of that.

We were awful back then, I remember thinking that the only player who was playing well enough for us was Jamie O'Hara, thinking that he could become our Gattuso in Central midfield, cos at the time the Modric and Jenas partnership was split open by Middlesbrough on the first day of the season. We were so poor.

Whats forgotten is we were actually still in a relegation battle, until about game 29, it was a very tight league that year, so even though we finished 8th its only because there wasn't much distance from bottom to mid table. At the end our late season flurry we ended 18 points above relegation zone, but the damage done at the start of the season meant even in decent form it took us a long time before we were free from that battle. Partly because of nature of the games at the start of the season, it was piss easy start, we had a lot of hard games left to play.

 

[C0YS]

It's been done to death so I'm not going into it again, but that's not why Redknapp was sacked.

Was definitely part of it. There was internal conflicts, but us taking the foot of the gas at the end of the season, definitely turned the fans against him and provided the perfect situation were he could get sacked.

 

[Bobbins]

No we really were suffering, probably worse then some people seem to remember. Redknapp likes to repeat it a lot but we were in serious trouble.

8 games 2 points. Rock bottom of the table, 6 points from safety with performances slowly getting worse. The teams we played in that run were 6 teams which would finish in the bottom half of the table, and Aston Villa and Chelsea. It was a piss easy run our next 3 games were Bolton, Arsenal, Liverpool. Under Ramos we would of well to get a point out of that.

We were awful back then, I remember thinking that the only player who was playing well enough for us was Jamie O'Hara, thinking that he could become our Gattuso in Central midfield, cos at the time the Modric and Jenas partnership was split open by Middlesbrough on the first day of the season. We were so poor.

Whats forgotten is we were actually still in a relegation battle, until about game 29, it was a very tight league that year, so even though we finished 8th its only because there wasn't much distance from bottom to mid table. At the end our late season flurry we ended 18 points above relegation zone, but the damage done at the start of the season meant even in decent form it took us a long time before we were free from that battle. Partly because of nature of the games at the start of the season, it was piss easy start, we had a lot of hard games left to play.

Bang on, that was a genuinely scary season for a long time, haven’t had genuine relegation fears like that since the Gross days when Jurgen rescued us.

 

[walworthyid]

Martin Jol before that, I think he made the club believe and started to help us fall in love with the club again after many years of doom and gloom. Redknapp did a great job and I'm grateful to him but I've always seen him as an opportunist - he's renown for not really coaching, more man managing - and we did have a very strong attacking team in those years. How much of that was down to Redknapp is hard to say but I think it was the recruitment that had gone on before him mostly. He just allowed the players to become more expressive. I wouldn't have trusted him for another season, especially a transitioning period.

Totally agree regarding Jol. That is how I felt at the time. He gave us back some belief and dignity. For me it was the first step towards where we are now. I'll love BMJ for that.

 

[CheeseGromit]

No we really were suffering, probably worse then some people seem to remember. Redknapp likes to repeat it a lot but we were in serious trouble.

8 games 2 points. Rock bottom of the table, 6 points from safety with performances slowly getting worse. The teams we played in that run were 6 teams which would finish in the bottom half of the table, and Aston Villa and Chelsea. It was a piss easy run our next 3 games were Bolton, Arsenal, Liverpool. Under Ramos we would of well to get a point out of that.

We were awful back then, I remember thinking that the only player who was playing well enough for us was Jamie O'Hara, thinking that he could become our Gattuso in Central midfield, cos at the time the Modric and Jenas partnership was split open by Middlesbrough on the first day of the season. We were so poor.

Whats forgotten is we were actually still in a relegation battle, until about game 29, it was a very tight league that year, so even though we finished 8th its only because there wasn't much distance from bottom to mid table. At the end our late season flurry we ended 18 points above relegation zone, but the damage done at the start of the season meant even in decent form it took us a long time before we were free from that battle. Partly because of nature of the games at the start of the season, it was piss easy start, we had a lot of hard games left to play.

Cant agree with your statement that we were in serious trouble. It was 8 games in. i am not saying all was rosy but please 8 games in. CP have shown this year what can be done from very difficult starts.

Sure the manager was wrong, sure the team were disaffected but if you are talking awful I have truly seen many a worse Spurs side in my many years going to The Lane.

A new manager, especially one who empathises with core of the team will have a positive influence.

As I said earlier momentum is a powerful thing and brings lots of confidence. Most new managers would have made sure we werent relegated. It isnt a case of too good to go down just far to early to making those kinds of judgement.

 

[scat1620]

As far as the best football goes, there were about 4 games under Redknapp where we played proper football that was collective, coherent and excellent. The rest of the time it was about chucking out a group of extremely talented individuals into a lottery barrel and hoping their numbers came out more often than a group of less talented individuals did.

The fact that we got one CL qualification with a team that contained King, Gallas, Modric, Parker, VDV, Adebayor and Bale at a time when the PL was nowhere near as difficult as it is now, whilst managers like Rodgers, Ranieri, Klopp and Pochettino have exceeded that comfortably with (in some cases vastly) inferior bunch of individual talent in a much tougher PL demonstrates what a blagger Redknapp was.

This was before the PL contained the likes of Guardiola, Mourinho, Conte, Klopp (at the same time) and the massively enhanced squads and vastly improved tactical competence that we are operating in now. Can you imagine the possibilities if Redknapp didn't leave the coaching to Kevin fucking Bond?

What AVB achieved after Modric, Gallas, Adebayor (mentally) and VDV had departed was more impressive. I only wish we'd hired him instead of Redknapp and we might have got what Porto got with the squad we had at the time. Talented players and good coaching and work ethic.

You only think Redknapp was great because he told you so. Constantly.

Best regards
The Duke of Churlingham

Nope.

 

[C0YS]

Cant agree with your statement that we were in serious trouble. It was 8 games in. i am not saying all was rosy but please 8 games in. CP have shown this year what can be done from very difficult starts.

Sure the manager was wrong, sure the team were disaffected but if you are talking awful I have truly seen many a worse Spurs side in my many years going to The Lane.

A new manager, especially one who empathises with core of the team will have a positive influence.

As I said earlier momentum is a powerful thing and brings lots of confidence. Most new managers would have made sure we werent relegated. It isnt a case of too good to go down just far to early to making those kinds of judgement.

Those games were awful, really bad very little positives to take from them. We were in relegation scrape throughout most of the season. It was only in March that we were able to get 6 points between the relegation zone an us. Even with Redknapp we were dangerously close to relegation, it was a relegation battle. Its only because of our form in the last ten games that our final position didn't reflect really how close we actually were to relagation.

It was a very good talented side who had such a bad start, who were so low on confidence that we truly risked relegation with that time, if we stayed with Ramos I think we really could of been relegated, I really do, because those 8 games we showed no sign of being able to turn it around. No sign at all. A lucky draw against Chelsea aside we had no attacking edge and no structure, it why we didnt win.

Crystal Palace is a great example, there form has generally been good since sacking De Boer but that start almost cost them their league position, and they picked up more points in there 8 games than we did and we closer to safety. Yet if you asked a Crystal Palace fan if they would stay up a month or so ago, most thought they were going down. Crystal Palace showed you can stay up despite a bad start, but still truly risk relegation, we were better than this crystal palace but we also struggled to get out of a relegation scrap.

 

[Dashy]

So.........what are the pundits saying about us?

 

[worcestersauce]

So.........what are the pundits saying about us?

Nothing much today, we rather shot their fox last night.

 

[alfie103]

Guardiola's Barca made Ferguson's Utd look like cannon fodder. Another level. Guardiola, Conte, Mourinho, Klopp absolutely muller Fergie, Benitez (who may have been parking buses before Mourinho but is just not in his league, which is why he was managing in the championship last year), Ancelloti (who is pretty much the thinking mans Redknapp) and Hiddink.

And it's not just those handful, it's from top to bottom, everything is better now, level of coaching, the level of scouting, analytics, preparation and tactical application. Then add in the quality of players throughout the league and at the rival big clubs.

Have you ever done any coaching or any management?