The Redknapp Revelation
Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 9:10PM Harry Redknapp has revealed himself unto me. He appeared and spoke, softly but firmly, and assured me that everything was in hand. He spoke not in a voice or manner I recognised. I was startled at first, but then felt a wave of warm, comfortable euphoria sweep through me. He said ‘Fear not my child. And listen not to what is said. For the truth is thus – we will put those godless fuckers in their place. United, City, Chelsea, Arsenal – Judgement Day is upon them, and soon mankind will rejoice in the Kingdom of Tottenham.’ It was at that point I realised that how Harry appears physically to us is simply his ‘earthly body’. He has to do this; otherwise we would be bewildered by his brilliance. He has spent his time in the wilderness. Many people doubt him, and call him a shaman. But he will lead us to the Promised Land.
Harry has been tested this season more times than I care to remember. And each time he has come through with clarity and skill. I knew he was a good coach, able to organise a defence and get a team passing the ball better than the average gaffer. What I also thought I knew was that he was a man of simplistic footballing views and assertions. And that these assertions would be what ultimately held him back from the upper echelons. More fool me. When Robbie Keane was being sent on loan to Celtic, or Jenas was being basically put out for the binmen to pick up after the Wolves debacle, I found myself double and triple taking – is this really happening? Did Harry really haul Jenas off at half time, never to dress him in a Spurs shirt again? Did he really publicly humiliate £20 million club captain Robbie Keane? Did he really make the calls that all of us implored him to make, but privately thought were a bit too outrageous? Yes. Yes he did.
How many of us, hand on heart, would have gone with the Modders/Hudd CM combination? We thought Harry would be humble, play it safe. 2 points from 8 games. Never had it so good. Punching above our weight. And how we all fell for it! The clues were there though. All season, whilst always playing things down, he quietly muttered that we were aiming for 4th. Of course, he did more than enough to counter that with the constant bollocks spouted about how good Liverpool are, how far we’ve come, how grateful we should be etc etc. And I use the word bollocks advisedly. Because that’s what it was. Pure bollocks. Harry knew all along that we would do it. Privately, he is probably mad as a lorry that we finished with as few points as we did. Privately, he knows that next season they are all there for the taking. All of them.
He could have brought in a safe bet as keeper (James, Green), but he didn’t. He stuck with the big, odd, whackjob. He could have sold Dawson, or just let him continue having the regular schoolboy panic attacks. He could have let Bale drift as the next floating showpony. He could have let Huddlestone become Jan Molby but without the team-mates. BAE and Bentley have come on so much since Harry and his team of coaches got hold of them. Harry has coached the arses off them, and induced quite remarkable rises in the performance levels of most of the team. Even the recruitment of Sherwood and Ferdinand, when viewed retrospectively, is genius – what PL player has ever heard of old jokes Kevin Bond and Joe Jordan? Better get a couple of flash gits with nice suits and lush birds that the players will listen too. Then sneakily make them better players without them even noticing, while Shersy and Ferdsy regale them with enthralling tales of mindless idiocy.
Harry made many errors this season. Playing Keane and Jenas for too long. Not playing Pav. Getting the left sided choice wrong at times. But on all of these occasions, he has righted his wrongs with startling speed. Once all the debris had been cleared and the engine was tuned up, the team was like a runaway train. And when the hard choices had to be made, he made them. No sentiment whatsoever. Wilson, sorry, but you are not the centre midfielder for the ‘next level’. Thanks, but no thanks.
He has learnt a lot. Nobody knows everything, something that certain other North London managers would do well to remember.
And maybe I’m losing my fucking mind here, but maybe, just maybe, Harry is about to switch on all of us. Secretly, late at night, in Harry’s palatial home in wherever, when Jamie has been tucked up in bed in his Spiderman PJs, Harry lights up a fat Cuban cigar, and sits back in his big chair, Tony Montana style. And he turns to Sandra and says ‘You know what luv? We’re gonna rip this shitty little slag-league apart next season. Wenger? Fucking losing it. Fabregas? Gone. Fergie? Alzheimers. Drogba? Don’t worry; I’ve got a mindgame for that little tart. Lampard? Modric. Mancini? Can’t speak English. Ferdinand, Essien, Persie, all crocks. Vidic is off. Ok, so maybe give me Evra, or that other little ponce who can play left back. And Rooney or Tevez. The rest can fuck right off.’ I’m not saying this because I necessarily believe it. I’m saying it because I believe that Harry is at least 2 steps ahead of us all, and believes in the talent of himself and his players a lot more than anyone else does.
All this transfer talk of Bellamy, Richards and Carlton Cole is rubbish. He is going to sign 2 shit-hot strikers and 1 left back. He knows that there is no such thing as standing still in this league. You’re either going forwards or back. And forwards for us means challenging the top 2. And you ain’t doing that with Craig Bellamy, much as I have always been a fan of his play. Behind the façade that Harry presents to us, there is a disturbingly ambitious and motivated man. Harry wants to prove he is the best. Behind old cockney bagpuss is an absolute beast of a manager waiting to be unleashed.
By guest-blogger, Chrisman.
Reader Comments (64)
Respect to harry. He has always done well but his whole career has been at small clubs with mediocre ambitions. One wondered whether his ambitions we high enough and whether he had the ability to make that next step...something that the likes of other 'great ' england managers, Allardyce and Curbishly failed to do.
Everyone talks about his lack of tactical astuteness but to me tactical astuteness seems to mean the ability to play 433, defend in numbers and bore the opposition to death, rather than playing to ones strenghts. We try this on occasionss, at OT at Emirates and The Bridge and always lose. The likes of United, Chelsea and even Arsenal do this in the big games. There is perhaps a niavity about Spurs' play but as we all know...To Fucking Dare is to Fucking Do. Perhaps after many failed years in the CL we might be more critical of HRs tactics but lets take it one step at a time and enjoy the ride.
Brilliant article, no shit just commonsense (oxymoron actually) commonsense i mean. Arry is great because he learns from his mistakes, Robbie as captain for example. We do need a top class striker and another lb, we do have a backup cb in Kaboul who will develop into one of the greats. Incidently read Jose's comments on how to build a winning team, 2 great cb's a strong midfield and a striker who can score 1 out of 2 chances not 1 out of 15. Again brilliant article ..thanks
Yep, best guest blog yet. Can we add teaching Lennon how to cross?
Oh look, Braveheart Brook has changed his name on Page 2 to give it the bertie bigguns.
YOU SAD TWAT!
Afine and welcome comeback chrisman, funny how you appear to have been vindicated about your comments on Defoe. Hindsight is a wonderful thing for the modern day fan, as is fickleness it would seem, still onwards and upwards.
Whilst I agree that Harry has indeed proven more than his facade would appear to be, there is one issue that still worries me. He is fit for purpose, no question, in fact it has turned out that he has been more than fit for purpose. But for how many years? He has previously stated that he would like a few years under his belt at WHL before handing over the reigns with the club in better shape than when he arrived, (not difficult though under the circumstances). But then what? He is a man to rely on maybe for a season or two more, but we still need our long term plan and direction.
Until that day, I shall just enjoy the sunshine and the thought /prospect of potential european away days to break up those winter blues.
Best blog i've read in donkeys.
Tricky – I though a few weeks ago, ‘what would be the perfect long term prognosis for Redknapp?’ and it would be him managing us for 4-5 years, as his last job in football, and taking us eventually into the CL and establishing us as consistent top 4 finishers/challengers, not dropping to 11th or whatever, before retiring as a spurs hero having provided the perfect platform for the next manager to come in.
In truth, if we want the kind of Hiddink/Lippi megaboss to come to us, it’s going to be the responsibility of Harry to raise the level of the club so that when he leaves, he leaves a CL quality team regularly finishing in the top 4 that is an attractive proposition to the top level managers in the world. To think about replacing Harry before then is pointless, because until we consistently get in the top 4, we are not going to be able to attract anyone better than him. Our long term success and ‘progress’ is dependant, in my opinion, on Harry staying as long as possible. We need him to lay the groundwork and provide some sort of example to follow. Yes at some point in the next 5 years we will have to replace him, but I think he should be given maximum scope in that time to take us further forward. Go flat out for the next 3 seasons then see where we are.
I think it’s easy to think of Harry as a short term type of boss, quickly fixing things up then moving on to the next renovation job. But that is where I think we have him wrong. He has a long term plan for Spurs, and is interested in what he can achieve over the next 3 years, not 1 year. He knows this is his last (and probably only) crack at the ‘big time’ and I think that challenge is motivating him a lot more than he is letting on. He may have made noises about retiring but I think you will have to prise him away with a crowbar. This current team is at the start of a 4-5 year window in which the potential for them is quite spunk-inducing. Harry would be stupid to not want to be around to get in on the action and ride this bitch as far as he can
I hope you're right. If he can stabiise the ship there or there abouts in the top 6 for a few seasons, it will provide the stability some of us have longed for for a while.
Harry Redknapp is a very lucky manager. Had we not had injuries then he would have sold BALE, BENTLEY and PAVLYUCHENKO and at least two of three were major factors in keeping us in and around the top four. That isnt skilled that is pure luck I'm afraid. As for slating Wilson Palacios, I think it is slightly harsh and shows ignorance on your part. Huddlestone and Modric won't sustain us next season, especially away from home.
Awesome post. I almost had tears in my eyes. :-P I think I'll sleep in my spurs shirt tonight and dream of what cuban smokin' 'arry is cookin up for next season.
Jarvis - Huddlestone and Modric won't sustain us away from home? What, like they didn't against Man City? You know this for a fact do you? Away v Man City was the only meaningful away game they played with each other and they did pretty well, so to say they won't be any good next season ignores the gaping evidence. It's a preconceived notion you have that Modric and Hudd can't play together, one which has been swiftly proved wrong. Come on, catch up. I also appreciate you have a soft spot for Palacious, many spurs fans do. There will be a strong support network for you, but it's less painful in the long run for all concerned if you just accept that he will be 4th choice CM next season.
"Had we not had injuries then he would have sold BALE, BENTLEY and PAVLYUCHENKO" - this comment is the really odd. So after getting rid of Keane, he would have sold Pav would he? He would have sold Bentley with only Lennon as our other right winger? He would have sold Bale and left us with only 1 left back? Talking out of your arse mate. There was no way he was selling Bentley, Bale or Pav without first getting a replacement in beforehand. To suggest that he would have sold Bentley if Lennon didn't get injured, or Bale if BAE didn't, ignores 2 things: 1st, if this was the case he would have sold both in summer (he quite clearly didn't) 2nd, it goes against the most basic, simple rules of management ie don't leave yourself with only 1 player in a particular position. So unless Harry personally told you that what you are saying is correct, I would say that this point you have raised is a complete non starter. It's not 'pure luck', it's a decision that Harry made that turned out to be a good one.
chrisman is right, hudd and modders are going to be brilliant for us in the middle next season. they have an UNDERSTANDING about how to play central midfield that we don't have in any other pair of midfielders at our club. they know how to make space for each other and how to defend and where the other person wants the ball and what flavor of gum the other person prefers and if the other fella is a boobs guy or legs guy. THEY UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER. palacios' offensive play has been severely lacking this past season and i just can't see him replacing either hudd or modders to any great success for us.
I think Wilson needs to be given a little more time, up untill the point he got himself suspended (admittedly it was stupidly done in a shambolic FA cup Semi!) Wilson had been pretty good. all thingws considering i think the consistency he showed us this year is amazing! it was only a year ago his brothers remains were found in a suitcase in Honduras! i know a year is a long time but not in the life of a footballer, that must have been devastating for him and his family and he commented himself that he considered retireing! i have big love for big Wils and if you all remember he was the catalist for turning our season around after the 2 point form 8 games joke! i know he was a bit off form in his last few games but i think after all he has been through he earned that! i think with a respectable showing in the WC with his beloved Honduras and we could get our General back because after all he is the best tackler/ball winner i have seen in a spurs shirt for many a year! and i think there are some games where you need to go to war with teams (everton, Blackburn & Stoke spring to mind) Modric & Hudd wont be able to play beautiful football because they simply wont be allowed, Big Wilson will be vital in those games where you have to earn the right to play football, i do think we are a little quick to right players off, Wilson is still a vital cog in the Spurs Machine although admittedly not as vital as he once was!
on another point, every1 has mentioned us signing 2 WORLDY strikers, but who? Dzeko has been touted as one, i admittedly havent seen much of him and i would like to know what he has done to grant him that status, but who else?
id like us to bring in Joey cole & Bellamy, as they are both special players. And my heart would like us to sign Eidur on a permanant basis, hes such a versatile player who clearly plays well with the likes of Modric, and when he come on with 5/10 minutes to go the way he holds on to the ball is out of this world! he never looks like losing the ball and always plays the right pass which keeps my heart rate at a slightly more normal level then it is usually, proof in the pudding is how many games we won by 1 goal this year (bolton was a perfect example), compared to last year (1-0 up at blackburn before Samba & Co. struck)
but i dont agree with the LB, Bale has been touted as a great LB in the future but how is he going to become that without playing there? we are going to have to stick with him at LB, he is going to make the odd mistake but he is sooo young and has soo much ability he could well be our LB for the next 10 years atleast!
COYS!!!! IN ARRY WE TRUST!!!
Great article. I think it's time now for DL to step up and make his intention clear that Spurs are going to be a club to be reckoned with. It's all very well suggesting EPL players to bolster the squad but we need players with CL experience. I'd like to see DL go out and buy Dzeko, Turan and Silva! Slim the squad and save on wages by selling Hutton, Jenas, O'Hara, Bentley, Keane, Defoe, GDS, Taarabt. Dzeko IMHO would be a Defoe upgrade and could play up front on his own allowing a 5 man midfield to try and improve our poor away record, with Crouch and Pav giving impact options; Turan would give us a left flank with options. Silva would replace Bentley and would give us a 4th striker option as well as being able to play anywhere across the midfield. Add Sandro to the mix (will maybe need time to bed in) and you have class and versatility all over the park.
Suggestions are probably wishful thinking but we can dream (we do support Spurs after all!). Wouldn't like to tinker too much, but most of the suggested sales weren't involved in the new improved Spurs we saw towards the end of the season. The only player I would feel sorry for is Defoe but successful managers need to have at least a hint of a ruthless streak and I'm sure Harry has that.
COYS