In Defence of Redknapp
Friday, January 23, 2009 at 10:54AM “When I see it devalued like a couple of years ago when teams suddenly didn’t want to get involved, like Manchester United did, it’s very disappointing. As far as I’m concerned I’ve always had a go at the FA Cup wherever I have been. I’ve never been at a club where we weren’t interested in winning the FA Cup. We start the season in two cup competitions where we have a chance of winning — the FA Cup and the Carling Cup — and we go for it. We’re not going to win the Premier League at Portsmouth, so we need to have a go at the cup competitions.” - Harry Redknapp, April 13, 2008
“I can’t risk [Jonathan] Woodgate on Saturday because we’ve got Stoke on Tuesday and I will go to Old Trafford with the weakest team I can possibly find.” - Harry Redknapp, January 21, 2009
For any Spurs fans having a dig at our King of the Soundbites manager, get a grip and look at the bigger picture. If we sat on 31 points rather than 21, or for that matter, had we beaten Pompey at home in the Prem the other week and avoided extra-time against Burnley, we probably would made plans to go to OT with a strong(er) team. Not that the desire to do well shouldn't be evident on Saturday, regardless of the team fielded.
Play a strong team against Utd, lose more players to injury, then lose to Stoke at home in the league is not the way I want to see things pan out over the next few days. Rock and a hard place at the minute for us. And unfortunately, in a competition which has a rich history for Spurs fans, its a sacrifice we simply have to deal with. Sums up our season really that we have to make the Prem the priority, but for the wrong reasons...which are the right reasons if we want to be playing top flight football next season. At least we've got a day trip to Wembley to look forward to.
I wonder how many copies of the 2008/2009 Season Review DVD the club shop will sell when its released? As long as we secure rights to have the theme tune to the Great Escape as the soundtrack, I'll be more than happy to kick back with some popcorn and a can of coke zero and relive those magical moments.....like the thrashing dished out to Stoke City at White Hart Lane on the 27th January.
Cough.
Reader Comments (6)
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Utd have injury problems also. I reckon we should give it a right go on Saturday.
PLAY ADEL!
Harry says things to suit the moment. When he first arrived he mentioned how all the 'lads' were decent and positive in training. And they reacted well and we took a few points. Thing slip again and now he slates them for being shit which I'm hoping gives them an uplift. Fragile idiots that they are. Who would believe you'd need and uplift earning 40K a week and having 36,000 fans screaming at you?
Thrash Stoke ( no disrespect meant) is the minium requirement this coming Tuesday.
United will still have far too much quality for us. They've played 'kids' in the Carling Cup so they are a team rather than the disjointed mishmashed side we will take up there. Only chance is if we do a Pompey from last season and fluke it.
Unlikey.
Nice read. Liking your blog, especially the more manic stuff you write.
Utd 4
Spurs 0
Roll on the Prem.