Can Harry Redknapp Lead Spurs Into The Champions League?
How far can Harry Redknapp take his Tottenham Hotspur team? A thumping 3-0 victory over Manchester City on Wednesday evening has cemented their status as perennial fourth place chasers. But who will drop out of the top four to make way for Spurs? And does Mr.Redknapp have the financial clout to usurp one of the traditional big four?
The season so far for Harry Redknapp and his Tottenham side has been one of many ups and a few downs so far.
The Lilywhites have endured a number of disastrous results thus far in the 2009/10 campaign, most recently against Everton where they threw away a two goal lead against the Merseysiders and ended up drawing the game 2-2. They also were beaten by Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 at White Hart Lane, displaying an abject and soulless performance.
Salvation has come in recent weeks, the most notable being the 9-1 victory over Wigan. Though, inconsistency still reins for the North Londoners as they were soundly beaten by a Manchester United reserve side in the Carling Cup at the beginning of December.
The victory over the Reds’ city rivals has meant Harry Redknapp has taken Spurs up to fifth place in the Premier League, two points behind fourth place Aston Villa and North London rivals Arsenal. However, the stop/start nature of Spurs’ campaign thus far could threaten to derail any charge for a Champions League spot, which is the ultimate ambition for the club.
The squad assembled is one of the best around, in my opinion only bettered by Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. Harry is a manager of quality, but for me there are questions about whether he can tough it out with the big players i.e. Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti.
Who will they displace? Liverpool seem the likely targets but a disastrous season has left them surprisingly in sixth place, a mere three points off Tottenham’s pace. For me it would take a great effort from Spurs in infiltrate the exclusive Champions League club, but Harry has assembled probably the best Tottenham side in 20 years, there appears to be ample investment from Mr Levy and board, a new stadium in the offing, things look very bright for Tottenham.
Exactly why this Jan transfer window is the most important in the clubs history. We need quality, not quantity. We need players who are a step up from what we normally buy. More importantly we need to get rid of the players who are holding the club back and tha means you Mr Jenas,Pav,Bentley,Hutton with the jury still out on Bale,Ekotto,Hudd and then the enigma that is Ledley and Woody. We need a top class Central defender,this is a necessity as much as we love Ledley, he nor Woody are the way forward. Bassong and Ekotto are on Africa cup duty, which leaves us just Dawson and Bale as first choice CD and LB. We have never had a top class left back for decades.Midfield we have Wilson,Modric,Krank and Lennon. 4 quality players but not a balanced midfield. We need a ML and another holding midfielder a la Diarra.(Don’t know anything about Sandro).Up front we have 3 good strikers.Defoe is the poacher,keane has the cunning and guile to create and score and Crouch is like Marmite. However he does provide the long ball option,which might not be prety but I don’t care if we need a goal to draw or win then we can hit long to Crouch all day. I want 3 points first and pretty football later. So to sum up, Santa my christmas list reads; Van De Vaart, Drenthe, Mahamadou Diarra all from Real Madrid along with a central defender, and a striker.
glad to see vic has read a few blogs and decided to jump on the band wagon rather than watch matches and make his own decision. Jenas comes under criticism but i do not know why.. Granted Harry does not like Pav but how can you make a decision on a player you have never seen. Both Bale and Ekotto have dealt with anything thrown at them this season and most goals we have conceded have come through the middle of the pitch (that Arsenal Game) and from set pieces.
We have a good squad, good enough for 3rd on paper so support the boys and stop writing dros and leave the worrying to Harry.
Steve, I’ll tell you why Jenas comes under criticism; lazy, on occassions lacks concentration, goes missing in games far too often, gives the ball away far too much in my opinion. He has had ample opportunity to correct these aspects of his game and by this stage of his career he should be the finished article. However, we still wait…
Jenas gives the ball away to often and in very dodgy positions its that stupid square ball he plays in midfield KIDS are taught no to play that ball it is far to easily read by oponents, Jenas for me is a squad player. agree the central defence needs to be rebuilt. 2 good central defenders to gradually take up the roll for woody and for lends i think keep these guys as squad players and loose daws and Bale,Hutton is a good RB cover, we need to bolster LB with a world class player>
I think we will finish top 6 again this season. I just do not see us getting the results needed to stay in front of Liverpool, I still think Man City will come good in the new year,
We are a goos team and at least the boys on the pitch win more than they loose so i can hold my head up when i talk to my Man u (glory hunter)mates