'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)
It is only last season we were the butt of every joke under Ramos and going through a hundred managers in the past decade is not really something that promotes success. If we sack yet another manager, who is actually doing a good job, then we will look like the Newcastle of the south east.
BROOK @ 4.42.
No. Find it yourself.
Or try googling " Arsenal players in prison" which will lead you to "Arsenal roll of dishonour" which appears to be a goon site, and also an article titled "Arsenal a stain on the underpants of football" which should take you back to Mr Duggans article.
It should even make you chuckle!
I think we are making progress on the attitude, have improved the squad, and are making progress. We are playing good football now - perhaps results not always going our way but if we keep on playing well they will.
Over a hundred comments but non from Chrisman?
555 - so you think Redknapp should be given time to build a team in his own image? I take it then that you're a fan of long ball football and a fan of 'lumping it up to Crouchy'. If this is the kind of team he wants to build, why not ship him off to a Championship club who's fans might tolerate such an approach?
I m with GoldCoast on this one ... end of the season the time could be there to change management ... Not that i have a problem with Arry , just a big problem with his mmm 'tactics' ...
We are in trouble ? Have no inspiration ... lets get the ball in the air then ... that doesn't cut it for me , especially with a squad filled with above par technicians.
Can't say I agree with his tactics sometimes (thats if hoofing it is something he has told dawson to do). But I would say he would prefer not to play that way. Look how we were playing at the beginning of the season. Anyone remember that? Not a long ball in sight then. I'm sure that is the football harry would prefer to play.
Sheffspur , you are right about that but i am under the impression that once the big man got in to the starting lineup , the long ball strategy followed him in ...
But i am not in the dressing room so i just suppose that Dawson is following orders rather than giving the panic long ball.
We all know how frustrating it is. My thinking is that Woodgate wouldn't do that, neither would King. So I think its something dawson is doing specifically, without being told to do it. When is Woodgate likely to be back does anyone know? Its such a massive shame that we have 2 of the best CB in the world and they are hardly ever fit. I think Woodgate has a more a leadership quality about him than any of the rest of the team. Even more so than Leadley. Look at the CC final against chelsea as an example. He was our JT in that game.
I think harry has probably said utilise Crouchy's height but he probably wouldn't have mean't all the time!
Ball to feet. Ball to feet. Ball to feet. Maybe if I say it often enough it will happen...... I understand that Daws used to 'do' a long diagonal crossfield ball in his previous incarnation in the lower divisions of the beautiful game. Perhaps it worked then and no one has told him to cut it out now he's in the higher echelons. Got to say Spooky, this post is drawing responses of epic proportions.
In other news, some news sites are saying lennon could feature on sunday, others are saying he is ruled out. What do you think?
Personally I think we might see a cameo appearance for the last 10-20 mins. (Maybe before if we are struggling).
Oh and spooks, I was reading an interview with you on another site saying you were thinking of getting some more writers to post on the site. Are you going ahead with this? If so, the mighty Davspurs has to be one surely ;-)
So 15 months in the job is enough time to go from our worst start since 1912 to Top 4 shoe-in. We only have to go back a few games to when we were all purring about cementing 4th (of which we are 2 pts away) and some of the top notch passing and movement we were seeing.
So if folks want Redknapp out, I would be keen to learn exactly who the replacement would be, excluding anyone who has zero likelihood of joining us. There must be some messiah out there dying to sign up who I've completely overlooked. And even if there were the miraculous appointment of a Capello or a Mourinho, the relentless grind-outs of 1-0 victories will have the whingers and weathercocks calling for their heads because they don't "play the Tottenham way". Of course I was forgetting - replace the man at the top, and suddenly everything's going to be fine. No other factors involved, of course.
I'm not saying Redknapp's doing a brilliant job. I'm just as exasperated with some of the crap performances I've seen in the last couple of months. But using a mid season wobble as an excuse to yet again wield the axe is simplistic black and white thinking that gets us nowhere. Similar to this idea that we're now a long ball team because we've had to resort to it in the last few games due to a lack of cutting edge and a certain flying winger.
Nicely put 555.
if you were a central defender on the ball, a striker looking to close you down and not one central midfielder shouting at you demanding the ball to feet, perhaps even dropping off to receive it, what would you do?
I like that we have the long ball to crouchy option and it has worked quite a few times. However, having that leader with a bit of balls in midfielf to come and demand the ball from defence and start plays is the only way we can stop this long ball nonsense.
Don't get me wrong, I like crouch a lot, but the guy seems to have no strength or speed of movement ni the box on set pieces and relies only on his height. What's point of having one of the talles players in the prem when we never EVER seem to score from set pieces or indirect free kicks. I think we had about 2 against villa and still couldn't score.
The trouble is when Dawson isn't under pressure and he hoofs it to crouch. I can understand if he was then he should just get rid. More often than not though he isn't when he plays those 40 yarders. But don't get me wrong, it is a viable option, its just far too over-used and therefore makes it easy for their defence because they know what to expect.
Sheff - A davspurs weekly editorial might just work.
'Might'.
Poor old Pav.
Benches up and down the country are going 'medieval' on his little Russki arse.
Much more of this and there's a possibilty we'll see 'Free the Tottenham one' banners at games.
Where can I find spooky's interview?
http://anti-football.co.uk/
Where's the next posting? Last one was Tuesday...lazy