'Bring me the head of Harry Redknapp'
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 12:09PM Are people really calling for the head of Harry Redknapp to be served up on a plate with side salad and chips?
Apparently so. There was an article over at Football 365 that cited Guus Hiddink as a replacement (irony of Hiddink and his prior tax issues not lost on me). Are we doing it again? We're a point off 4th not struggling in the bottom three. Harry hasn't even had a full season in charge of the team yet. I know there were reasons for not wanting him in the first place, many to do with his general persona, self-centred priorities, West Ham connections, the fact he would probably up and leave if someone 'bigger' came in for him. And there are questions over his lack of tactical cutting edge to truly make battle with the Prem's disjointed elite. However - arguably - this is the first time he's been at a club of this type of stature. So perhaps he has a learning curve to get through before things even out for him. If he fails to prove he can manipulate the outcome of games with clever switches and substitutions - then the only person who will matter is Levy because he'll have to look at bringing in someone who aspires for absolute perfection (love to know where we can pick one up from).
Let's face it, if this current run of form is considered a 'crisis' then bloody hell, I wouldn't shrug at a couple of these a season if this is as bad as it gets. Think back not too long ago and compare.
Yep. Exactly. Not so depressing now is it?
I know that if we want a team that can seriously compete, then we need a winners mentality - one that is not drowned in self-pity and excuses. So I understand that accepting this current lull is not the way forward - but let's face it. We just don't have the right balance of players. Far too many apologetic personalities who seem to switch off far too easily. Too many remnants of the Tottenham disease remain dormant within the club. The comfort culture has yet to be eradicated.
I do agree there is plenty to suggest Redknapp is not the man with the tools to exterminate every last infestation. But his early work at Spurs is evidence enough that he can inspire and muster up spirit and pride.
Things are not quite right at the minute but they're a long way off from being disastrous, and with 12 games left and 3 additional more required for a potential Wembley trip - we can't frown and start throwing our season tickets at the directors box just yet (I'll give word for when to do so).
There is no room for another sideways step. Consistency and avoidance of another transitional season is of the utmost importance. Otherwise, what's the point? Knee-jerking at the first sign of trouble is truly the most gutless of solutions and will simply set us back, again.
Maybe fans need a fix every couple of seasons. People find it easier to cope with disappointment when there is a brand new start made, one that begins with a new face at the helm. Patience is not a valuable commodity in modern day football and cutting our losses and re-booting seems to get everyone up for yet another journey/adventure. Like a tap of a vein and the roll back of eyes, we get high off it.
Stability is holding the hand of patience, lost and without a compass. I personally think Harry can bring that stability to the club
If Harry doesn't quite make things work (this season or next or because of matters of a non-footballing nature) the issue at hand will be altogether a completely different type of beast. Considering we'd have tried everything (ex-legends, continental, back to basics - to name a few) the only remaining option would be Jack the Ripper. Someone to expertly rip out the guts. Last thing we need is someone who appeases the current batch. I'd love to see a manager at Spurs, in his first press conference, sit down and state 'this was a big club, it isn't anymore' rather than talk us up and quote the Glory days and how we deserve to be successful.
Can we start to write history than simply quote it all the time? I continue to live in hope.
There are many other clubs that aspire to break up the monopoly. They’ve probably not spent as much money as we have. But the fact remains - Rome wasn't built in a day. And it’s a sad fact, breaking the top 4 is not an easy task. As long as were knocking on its door then we're doing something right. Putting our foot through it is the next step forwards. Whether it's Harry's…we'll have to wait and see.
It seems when we were doing very well everyone was happy to support him and shout that he could possibly lead us to the Holy Grail. If Harry was simply a quick-fix interim who saved us from relegation, then let's just play out the season first before we pass further judgement. Support him and our fragmented team until the very end.
It's not over yet. The moment it is, I'll let you know. I'll be selling Redknapp effigies outside the ground for you to string up to your hearts content.
Reader Comments (121)
Redknapp is an average manager at the very best. Every fan is entitled to his own opinion when it comes to his own beloved club. My opinion is that Bobblehead is the laziest manager I've ever seen at WHL, that includes visiting managers. He just sits there for nearly the whole ninety minutes with his hands in his pockets, which I find a total insult to every fan who has paid good money for a match ticket. He won't drop or sub his pompey mates even if that means leaving a far better player on the bench and the way he has treated Pav is criminal. Because as an all round team player Pav is the best striker we've got. Fans who think his the right man for our club are just as deluded as Bobblehead himself. In a way I think Spurs the club, not the fans, have brought this on themselves after the way they stabbed a true Tottenham man, in Martin Jol, in the back and for our punishment we've ended up with this loud mouthed lazy cock of manager. Some would call it karma
Not comparing the two, but Alex Ferguson finished 11th, 2nd, 11th, 13th, and 6th over 6 years after taking over at Man Utd before challenging Leeds for the title in 92 and losing out. As pointed out above, Harry's not had a full season in charge yet. The squad is still not in his own image, with some major surgery to perform when Pav, Bentley.etc. are sold on and replaced. Pav was a panic buy who has failed to settle and mentally has already left, so I don't buy this idea he will suddenly appear and start banging them in. Dos Santos was one of Commolli's white elephants. Not a genius, otherwise why would Barca part with him, and why can he only ply his trade in Ipswich and Turkey. Adel Taraabt can't get in the starting XI at QPR.
We're not the finished article. We will get closer in the summer. We just didn't quite get there this season. The important thing is seeing continuous year on year improvement, and not a new boss every two years which ensures we never move forward. That all started in 1991 and needs to stop.
Is Brook old enough to remember the coke fiends, drunks and money embezzlers of Highbury?
Brook is a fuckin knob head
Case closed.
Totally agree, KennYid. And was I alone in thinking, from the comfort of my sofa on a dank February Sunday, that the Spurs travelling support at Bolton were quite simply MAGNIFICENT?
I wondered how long it would be before the old 'Ferguson was given the time, look where they are now' chestnut was thrown into the circus ring.
That was over twenty years ago ffs!
If continuity means continually having average managers or continuing with an average manager, then I'm all for change.
Let's give Redknapp the job for life eh, if continuity is the answer.
Yes, it would be silly to sack him now or at the end of the season if a real manager isn't available, but all this 3 or 4 season nonsense is laughable. Some of you lot might put up with it for 3 or 4 seasons, but will our better players? No. This is football today; now, now, now. He's got one more season to do it before the likes of Lennon, Modric and Crouch (only joking) see their futures elsewhere.
The article talks about comfort zones, the person that looks as though he's in the biggest comfort zone is Redknapp. Get out of the fucking chair and MANAGE!
Spooks, lay off the medication and get your mojo back on. Spooky of old would be demanding for Harry's head.
Mark Hughes anyone?
The Fergie argument has Ethel to do with it IMO.
But what do we do here?
Half saying give him time because we don't want ANOTHER change, the other half saying your burying your head and we shouldn't keep him JUST BECAUSE it's not what we normally do.
Are we just THAT unlucky with managers or is it those who employ these 'average' mangers every season and a half that are to blame?
My money is on gary megson!
Peterballb and crazyc--agree but with slightly less vehemence. Not much point sacking harry right now, but at the end of this season, I really think it will be time.
During the Bolton match, I began to wonder if the man might actually be ill. Seemed a real effort for him to pull himself up out of that comfy chair after the goal. He spends the entire match in an opened eye doze. You can imagine the chat from the row behind him. "Better give his chair a kick, he's about to nod off. Again." Quite a difference from when he first arrived. If Harry can no longer be arsed to watch the game, are we so surprised that some of the players aren't giving 100% either? He's the manager. He sets the tone. It's his freaking job to get the players motivated and working to their best. What else is he there for?
Re Jol and Karma, right there with you,Crazy C. At this same point in his tenure, Martin Jol had finished 5th the previous season, having stepped up as an emergency replacement for Jacques "midnight flit" Santini, and had had us in 4th place from early December, where we stayed until the last day of the season, with a much poorer squad than we have right now. But apparently an up and coming dutch coach wasn't posh enough for our esteemed board and they completely undermined him by a) not buying requested/needed players and b) getting caught whoring after Ramos.
So ultimately we were forced to bring in a relegation specialist, who in fact did do the job. Ta very much harry. But come on people. Harry is not, never was, never will be a top of the table manager. Has he ever even gotten a team promoted from the fizzy pop league?
or maybe Graeme Souness
Stop the Fergie comparisons. Fergie was one of the top (if not the top) up and coming managers in Britain when ManU hired him. What was it 3 Scottish Championships, 5 Scottish Cups and 2 European Trophies. There's nothing remotely in Redknapp's resume to compare to what Fergie had done when given the job and Harry's had 25 years more to get something done. Average lower table Premiership Manager is what history says. Better talent than Jol ever had and he'll most certainly finish below 5th. Tells you all you need to know. COYS
Yiddoyiddo, Managers and players are two wholly different things. We have no problem paying managers lots of money. We just won't pay players ridiculous wages. Therefore your sarcastic Ronaldo comment has no bearing while Capello and Mourinho remain realistic possibilities. Also never once have I suggested that Harry be sacked in-season. Time to evaluate him is at the end of the year. COYS
peterballb - I don't beleive managers and players are totally different things in terms of whom we may attract, with Capello and Mourinho two examples of those who won't be in the WHL hotseat anytime soon. Anyway, getting in a foreign en vogue manager isn't always the recipe for success - Scolari and Sven had massive reputations but just didn't cut it whilst we had Santini and Ramos, both of whom, well, stunk.
Oh, and sorry for the sarcasm. Really, I'm not being sarcastic.
Very well written article, that makes a lot of sense. we do have a few problems that are holding us back however they should be looked at in the context of what so far is a more than respectable season. For me the problem stems from the type of football we play with Crouch in the side. This is not Crouch's fault. He clearly has a fantastic asset (his size) but i feel this limits the way we play. Too often his team mates will look for the long ball rather than the short pass. Our early season form was at its best when we played a structured passing game with some width. Lennon is of course a massive miss. For me though the biggest lost has to be Modric. He was fantastic for the early part of the season but since his return from injury he has struggled. For me this is all about not structuring the game around the little croat. Too often the ball is not retained in the middel of the park or held up to allow Luka to drift in and dictate play. instead it is hit up to crouch's head where he wins a great many headers but the only person feeding on these scraps is Defoe as both Wilson and Tom are behind play not coming into the box as they can be during a slower build up. for me Crouch has to be a plan B when patience and passing are proving fruitless. If you have read all this thanks guys. On the Rednapp front, He has for the most part done very well in a short space of time at the club. The mentality is slowing changing and we are certainly harder to beat than at any time in the past decade. Yes he clearly has his favourites but if the reports of him vetoing Pavs move away are to be believed perhaps he is soon to give him a chance. For me Jenas is simply not a good enough alternative to Tom if the Hudd is struggling for space in the midfield. I can see O'hara playing a role and think its a shame he has been loaned out ofr the whole season. I would like to know people thoughts so let me know
Great Article, what I've been saying for weeks. Nice work.
"Brook - are you a comedian or a Gooner?? We know Harry's history and don't need to be told anything by some poxy scum rag.
Feb 16, 2010 at 3:24 PM | SULLY"
I think I got on the nerve of some of the spuds today.....sorry again. I was trying to show you the fact outside the spuds tiny cirlce. I strongly advice you all to read that website as it might help you to enlarge the cirlce I Just mentioned.
I come to this blog to pay respect for spooky's excellent writing as well as laugh on your never ending agony.Where else can I get a daily dose of laugh that I need? You can't fault me for doing that, can you?
Thanks spooky
btw spooky is one of the best football blogger eventhough its about the spuds.
stop suckin Arry off and sling him out...you know Levy will sack him if he doesnt get top 6 so get over it..DL has gone through 7 managers in 9 years and IMO Arry is the worst in terms of team selection and tactics. Just cos u blindlessly follow a mug manager does not make you the righteous one..most yids can see he is not the future if Cl is our dream!
get this criminal out of my club.
he has no place in our future.
thanks for keeping us up..now do one!
note to Levy, please do not get caught tapping up a manager again!
to any fans who think this is a farcical opinion, you obviously have diiferent values you are looking for in a manager..i'm looking someone who is not repeatedly in court and who has an intellect sufficient to put his best players out on the pitch...simples
you cannot disguise the fact that Harry has annoyed aplenty of spurs fans with his bazaar tactics,we had the players on the bench to change games when needed, and either does nothing, or brings the likes of JJ for Palacios or Hudd, how is that going to change a game. If we can see it ,how come Harry does not, that is the gripe, many fans have with Harry,get it right and we will be ok, simple.
I am not convinced Harry is the man for the job, but I think he deserves more time.
And if he is to be replaced, lets get a top manager in rather than the usual average type we all to frequently end up with.
BROOK AT 6.28.
As you appear to enjoy a good read might I suggest you have a look on the " JIM DUGGANS TOPSPURS" website, at the article titled "ARSEPASTE - STORY OF THE GOONS".
If your players had timed their prison sentences to coincide and got booked into the same establishment, they would have walked the national prison 5 a side competition!
ALLEGED LONG TIME SPURS TARGET MIGUEL VELOSO SCORES A PENALTY FOR SPORTING LISBON.
HE SCORES PENALTIES!
SIGN HIM UP FOR 20 MILLION.
I have got to say, I'm not so confident.
He has no ability to tactically change a game plus he thinks the FA Cup is more important than a top four spot.
His 5 changes against Wolves was the stuff of gym teacher at school....it was a farce....unless of course he wanted us to lose?!
Against Villa, he refused to substitute Crouch when it was evident - this tactic wasn't working.
When asked about it afterwards, he said, "I didn't need to change it cos Crouchy was winning everything in the air".....Well that wasn't true for a start and what he was winning was ending up in no mans land.
Plus WTF is happening with Pav.....does he really need to be treated this bad. Everytime he comes on he scores - but thats not enough for Harry, he prefers Crouch who is ruining our playing style (not his fault - but the teams lazyness in pumping everything towards him)
End of Rant...
Please Harry start looking to change games with meaningful subs when things are looking like nil-nil
Believe it or not I like Harry, But I love Spurs more
Harry has done some great things for this club in a short span of time. The fans need to get behind him, even if we don't secure the 4th spot.
Yiddo Yiddo. My views of Pav were not formed by wearing rose tinted spectacles, they were formed by watching 4 or 5 Russian World Cup Qualifiers and friendlies. Pav didn't even start all of these games but whenever he played, he scored. His record at International level speaks for itself and scoring 13 or so goals in his first spurs season when he didn't speak the language and had a manager who couldn't speak the language is in my view a fine achievement. I bet you £20 Crouch won't score as many goals as Pav did in his first season and he has no excuses. Put your money where your mouth is.
It is now time we should be looking at the board, in particular Mr D Levy. When i look back at the caliber of managers that has been bought to this GREAT club of ours, i seriously wonder about the footballing abilities of Mr Levy & co. Apart from M.Jol (who 'MAXED OUT'), they have all been abysmal . Fair do's to Mr Levy & co for backing the manager with funds to buy players, but you have to look at all the rubbish that has been bought. We now have another mediocre manager,Harry Rednapp,( who does not have the ability to match the achievements of M Jol, much less to surpass him). I too am fed up with the constant changes of managers at thisclub, but to continue with Harry redknapp, will once again be detrimental to the achievements of this club. Right now Mr Levy & co should be seeking top quality assistance, in locating a manager that can match the dreams of this club (no more trying for 4th spot,go to win the prem), and to have the manager ready for the new season. But when i look at the choices of Mr Levy & co to date, it scares me to think of who the next great mediocre manager they will bring in.
Harry is General Haig " I have a Cunning Plan" over the top lads over the top. Sorry but we might as well have Captain Darling in charge. Blackadder would be better or even boldrick
We need to calm down and understand this when we learn to play with the new Tempo like the star teams Wolves Stoke Wigan at home Hull Blackburn Bolton Liverpool if you had the time to study all these teams You will find the same closing down the defense Goalkeeper and any player who has not scored this year will score thats because they all have bucket loads of energy .We have to believe teams with with the worse defense suddenly when they play Spurs are world class and the Keepers are all oustanding just look at there teams goal difference Wigan -23 Hull -26 Burnley -25 Bolton -17 Wolves -21 Stoke -4 excluding Burnley and Wigan because these are home teams and we have to play them . Another starling fact all the teams have bean weakened when we have played them yet we call Harry for picking Kaboul and calling him for getting mugged by a very good player Jarvis once from a move with 18 passes .Why dont you debate why kevin Davies is taking the piss by calling Spurs a long ball team well he was all over the place and it was is Running mate who run and run while Davies done everything except save the penalty do you Believe Davies speed of is feet was normal even the commentator said that is not what you expect of Davies and neither did Corluka this is the mystery Whelan Jones Davies Ridgwell all had not scored till they played us and no matter who played at the back they stopped us scoring Magic or something more sinister. Stoke with injury's a man sent of 1- 1 Man city and Stoke should have won another great energized performance or is it you decide and leave our players because i will bet any money to any fan if i gave my team the same shite that some of these teams are taking we would nt get beat by any of these teams on this blog the TRUTH
Ahh. After a pint or two I come home to so much banter. Wonerful!!! Ziegemonster, Jol, Karma, yes, we really had it and the board didn't see it! Aaaagh!! David, Veleoso can score pens...yes we need him, now!!
We could be at a turning point, not a bad squad, though could be better, not a disastrous position, but could be better also. Can Harry see what needs to be done? Ay. There's the rub. And would Will Shakespeare have been a Spur....of course. Well, Kenneth Branagh, Charlotte Green and I are of the firm belief that we don't know the answer but I hope Harry is ready to allow Pav a decent shot at it and that he tells the rest of the team to give him the ball when he wants it and we could still win the F A Cup, almost as of right, we are the lads, and lasses, from the lane after al,l and we may be in the Champs League next season.COYS.
The whole thing that Harry lacks tactical nous is complete and utter b/s. So who does have it? Claudio Ranieri? Rafa Benitez? Just because they change their team and formation every week. Alex Mcelish kept the same team for 12 consecutive matches and, blow me down Birmingham have had their best run in years, is that tactical genius? No it is common sense. Harry picks round pegs and puts them in round holes (admittedly with the exception of Kaboul the other day). He has a great eye for a player and basically he de mystifies the art of managment. Get behind him and stop whingeing. Yes it is frustrating that we have dropped a lot of points against teams we need to beat, but we are nearly there. In my opinion all we need is a decent central midfielder and an inprovement on Defoe up front for the big games. That will be the hard one because he is almost good enough but not quite, finding the striker to take us to the next level at the right price will not be easy.
Fuck it, I've seen enough. OUT!
"........As you appear to enjoy a good read might I suggest you have a look on the " JIM DUGGANS TOPSPURS" website, at the article titled "ARSEPASTE - STORY OF THE GOONS".......
Feb 16, 2010 at 7:20 PM | Unregistered CommenterDAVID
..................
There are junk websites but there is one spuds-junk website....i.e Jim Duggan's Top Spuds!!!
Did i mentioned that i never want to spend more than two minutes on spuds websites without laughing at them ??? anyway....i couldn't find the article in that website within two minutes limit........! get me a proper link please!
thanks dave!
Typical minority of Spurs fans who know nothing about football. Arry has been fantastic since he arrived, the only ciritcism anyone could make is that he could make a few more subs!! For the first time in x about of years we are starting to challenge for CL, and yet the dumbass few are still unhappy! It winds me up so much I want to kick their teeth in..
He is right for our club and if we actually give him a few years to prove what he can do at a big club, I have absolute faith that he will deliver us to the promised land of Chamions League. As for the dumbass twats in the West Upper - howabout you dont leave at half time when we are losing, stop eating your salmon bagels and get behind your manager!! (not all West Upper, but you know who you are!!)
Peace and Yids.
Anyone notice Man City drew last night?!?! And should have lost.......We aren't as bad off as people think we are. The league is tougher this year, everyone, thats EVERYONE is dropping stupid points. Just because we have done it, it doesn't mean anything. Its just the way the league is this year, its more competitive. We have a great chance of CL still and a more than good chance of playing fulham in the next round. Whats the fucking problem!!!
That article really pissed me off and so did the morons who agreed.
Let's be plain about this - we have more points at this stage than any season previously and are still in with a shout of 4th in a season where not only has the 4th placed team stumbled, but there are two other serious contenders to take it.
Redknapp was brought in to save our club. And he did. He was also brought in, clearly, as a last big push in his career to steady the club, re-build it and put it in a good position to push on tot he big time. He's done that. He isn't the long termer that people think he is and I fully expect him to have probably two more seasons before going upstairs and a bigger manager coming in (I'd love Blanc for instance).
The failings of the team are the failings of the club for years - lack of concentration, toomany flash lads and not enough winners. That will change this summer in my view.
Let's not do a Charlton with Curbs, let's just keep the faith and build a serious club, not just a one season event.
Chiefy - I'll take your bet - Pav got 14 in his debut season, which included 9 cup goals, Crouch has 10 already, and as Harry won't drop him, he must get 4+...........mustn't he?
Just to confirm, I'm not Peters illigitmate son nor am I founder member of his appreciation society, I'm not even his biggest fan - however, I think he's the best compliment for Defoe and better than anything else we've got. Anyone who thinks that simply swapping Pav for Crouch will suddenly propel us into the top 4 needs a reallity check.
Of the problems (ahem, challenging for fourth, still in the latter rounds of the FA Cup) we have, the strike force is not the pressing issue, neither is sacking the manager because he doesn't jump up and down like Fergie. Who's older. And obviously cares more...........Good grief.
Kevin, did you even read the article? Spooky is in agreement with retaining Redknapp, and so are most people who have responded. Wash your eyes out son.
Spooky, you are once again right on the money with this post. My view is that Harry needs more time to mould the team and instill the oh so important winning mentality in the minds of the whole squad. Looking at Man U's performance against Inter Milan yesterday evening and seeing how after Schole's goal Fergie standing on the sideline lashed out verbally at Evans who was looking shaky at the back. What a wake up call and as everyone knows MU who were under the cosh in the first half came back in the 2nd with that gritty, win at all costs mindset that we seem to be lacking. If Wolves, Stoke, Bolton and the rest have it why is is for our lads so evasive. Perhaps we need a motivational shrink as part of our coaching team.
Mmm i might be swimming against the current now but i am not at all convinced of the capabilities of our dear Arry.
He has done a more then decent job comparing to Ramos ... but is that really a comparison ? My view is very much influenced by my passionate loathing of the long ball , kick and rush strategy. It hurts my eyes to see a squad like ours hoofing the ball up to crouch ...
But then again as i have also mentioned before, the rash on my knees is getting worse every weekend ...
Spooky, do you remember that phrase 'one game mentality' that I trademarked.
You have my permission for liberal usage to exemplify the the above.
Harry is fit for purpose, and some fans have got ahead of themselves in the 'raised expectations' stakes.
Continuity first. A season last's untl May and it's only then that you will know how the sub plot stories of luck, chances and ability have hopefully all evened out.
By 'trademarked' do you mean you stole it from Harry Hotspur?
Dutchspur - some may say the 2nd half comeback from MU was gritty.
But DavSpur/Rumourman may cite the copious amounts of liquid energy drinks consumed during the break and the red cheeks,staring eyes etc.
Although it would be a 10,000 word post with no punctuation evident.
I'd love to see what David Moyes could achieve with the resources we could offer.
We'd either win the league or ruin him. No inbetweener.
I'd take the chance on it, but only at the end of next season at the earliest.
HR desrves at least that much.
I wish Pav would just shut the fuck up! If you read his comments, he sounds like a school boy that moaning that his teacher doesn't like him. I'm sure harry doesn't like him, with good reason from his constant outbursts in the press. I am in little doubt that Pav puts in very little effort behind the scenes and that is why he never got his chance. I fully expect harry to keep him as a last resort now until summer. Coming out and moaning about everything is never going to improve his chances of leaving or starting so why bother. What a dick.
Begs the question though, If it's agreed Arry doesn't like him, his 'poor' attitude and has no inclination at all to actually let him play, Why the feck didn't we get rid?
If all we are doing here is waiting to recoup what we laid out, he's gonna be one unhappy Russian with splinters up his arse for quite a while longer
Backup incase eidur doesn't come good and crouch/defoe gets injured maybe?
He'd put Kaboul upfront before Pav so I doubt it.