The Progression of Harry Redknapp's Tottenham
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 10:00PM There's little point in drafting up a 10,000 word War and Peace blog on Harry's tenure thus far and how best we progress into next season. I say no point because I have the Bill Murrays since the season ended, what with a distinct lack of newsworthy commentary (other than our shared meltdown of the Modric media circus) it's ground-hog day every day if every day is spent looking back at how it all ended.
Not a lot to chit chatter about until the window opens and the universe sucks itself into oblivion whilst we all watch on in agonising slow mo.
In the previous end of season articles (all linked below) I more or less stated what we all know has to be done.
Keep the spine of the side together.
Sign a forward(s).
Patch up other areas and let the deadwood go.
Hardly rocket science. More on the transfer window and the theoretical blueprint for success in the next article.
So what of Harry and his (our) team?
There will always be fragmented opinions on the 'miracle' Harry performed when he arrived. Yes, we were in a mess, but he only proved that back to basics man management was enough to get the players out of their disillusioned state and work as a unit. He stuck men in their rightful positions and got the best out of them. No complexities with the chalkboard. No language barrier. Plenty of mayo and Ketchup. We played for each other, in support for each other and with pride.
Sure, it wasn't the Houdini act Harry wants us to believe it was. But credit to him. You can hardly be critical. From the depths to the heavens. The desire to get into the CL and the manner we fought for it was like nothing we've seen at the Lane for years and years.
Okay, so it's never perfect. When is it? Much like it isn't at any club. Sure, we have a right to want more and shouldn't anchor ourselves just because it wasn't too long ago that we struggled with upwards direction. Ambition - it's imperative in the stands and in the mind sets of the players. Perhaps, the job of the manager is made easier if he was to manage expectations without the ambiguity and bloated contradictions.
Never them, always us. That's how it should be.
We'll always have our team under the microscope. We (the fans) always believe we know best and we also know it better than someone who has just a little more hands on experience at it. Get on twitter to see the evidence.
There's always been an element of circumstance and luck (Gareth Bale, almost loaned out/sold on). But on the flip side, as an example, he worked wonders with BAE. When he returned from injury to left-back, the new-born Bale discovered a brave new world on the left flank. The Rafa signing perhaps highlighting the erratic opportunistic nature of the transfer window and the knock-on effect which was positive and negative with hindsight. Perhaps reactive management isn't the best template to work from, but it's got us stable for the moment.
We still lack that bullying nature, that killer instinct and that fabled cutting edge. We didn't do too badly considering our handicap, but not doing too badly amounts to 5th and not 4th or higher.
We did attack Europe, defending with naivety at times, but that was more down to the fragile mentality of our players who had to grow and mature very quickly. Which we did. Individual lapses of concentration proved costly. But the dismantlement of Inter at home and the patient counter-attacking in the San Siro against Milan, a joy. We finished top of a supposed difficult group and did so scoring goals for fun.
Back in the league, we ended another couple of hoodoos.
We still find ourselves questioning formation and tactics. The van der Vaart conundrum and Redknapp's favouritism to what he thinks is best, the reason behind the lack of cohesiveness that damaged our points total. Far too many games at home drawn. A fine line between 4th and anything below it.
Last season we were underneath the bed sheets with lady luck. This season, we were alone, eyes shut and hands free dreaming about her. You make your own luck and we were far too often apologetic in our body language, never seductive and playful.
The over elaborated expansive play paradoxical at times with the one dimensional hoof.
The disappointment exists because we know we lost out on fourth when others were not exactly a millions light years ahead of us. They simply grinded out more results.
But much like the CL was a journey of self-discovery, the experience of handling both Europe's elite competition and the bread and butter of the league will serve us well as yet another building block of our progression.
The team has to unite once more. All the ingredients are there. Just need to spice it up with some seasoning and not look to over-cook it.
I'm beginning to think perhaps Harry's ego has been left a little bruised. He refuses to accept responsibility publicly, hiding behind sound-bites proclaiming our 'best season ever'. Telling us we haven't had it so good. It's how he works the PR. He's a self-promoter, always has been. He's at a big club which means he has to live up to the expectations he has actually carved out for us by bringing stability and performing at a higher standard - one that equates to the players we possess and potential.
He's mis-managed that a little. Too many sound-bites clogging things up. Too much on the defensive.
I personally think no matter when he leaves, if the club is left in a position not too dissimilar to the 2010 season (or the one that's just ended) it will be deemed a success. In terms of there being a foundation for someone else to hit the ground running. Spurs can not afford the overhaul ilk of transition we became accustomed to through-out the 90's and the early parts of the last decade. Although we were never falling down from a higher step, just constantly tripping over the first one.
Have we ever had it so good?
Truth is, we haven't. Well, we have, but not for a long time and only in terms of being able to look ahead and agree we can challenge for a place in the CL. Hopefully winning a cup isn't completely dismissed as an objective as it was this past season.
We are fragile (the fans), having had a taste of the top tier anything less feels like its a relegation of stature. It's emotional, slowly transcending from pretenders to contenders. We're in a state of positive flux, as are the teams around us (some arguably touching on the negative but hardly in crisis). Our perception of what is progression and what is stagnation is dependent on you and thus varies from one fan to the next.
So what are we contending? Depends on how Harry spurs us into the summer and the start of the 2012 season with support from chairman.
We are in good health. We need to tighten up and we need to rediscover that hunger. There is no need to look for inspiration because it's there already.
The top four.
Don't bother knocking, just kick the door down.
'Seasons End' articles:
Reader Comments (17)
Amen Spooky!!!
Tottenham's progression under redknapp this season has been... Crab like. We haven't scored enough goals and we've let in some real stinkers whilst not beating the lesser teams. Sideways all the way 2010/11. Disappointing really.
Having got all the negativity out of my system during the course of the season, I'm attempting to be as positive as I positively can be.
Hear Hear,
nicely put old chap
The most balanced & accurate report on HR/Spurs I have read on the web
keep up the good work
cheers
Couldn't agree more! COYS
There has been no progression domestically. I lay the blame for that on our forwards. No excuses, they were piss poor. Had they bagged a few timely goals we'd have come 2nd. And a word too for Gomes. I'm not saying we should flog him off, just flog him, before the start of every game and at half time, to keep that crazy, erratic temperament at bay.
Yes, we had a great run in the CL before getting spanked by a very good side. I really hope though that I won't be looking back on this in 2 years time and reminiscing.
Well said. I think because there have been so many false dawns the fans are very fragile. The best we have ever had it? certainly in midfield I would say!
Feels like we are on the verge of greatness and it will be the best feeling to see this squad win something and push on.
However I feel Arsenal are the weakest link in the top 4 now especially if Wenger sticks to his young guns so lets aim for 2nd or third. Lets build on that good home record turn round the draws in to 3 points.
A fit Ledley for the Premier league could make all the difference. I cant wait for next season already.
Well done Spooky. I have to admit that your analysis of Redknapp's tenure is correct. Maybe we've never had it so good. He has done pretty well since arriving from lowly Pompey.
Truth is, I just don't like his tone when he tells us "we've never had it so good". Its not easy being a Spurs fan, and it doesn't help when the manager of the club ridicules us infront of goons and the rest of the world.
Anyway, Daniel Levy, Comolli, Jol, maybe even Ramos, deserve a slice of the accolades for where we currently are. Redknapp takes the third largest potion of the glory after Levy and Comolli. Maybe even 4th largest...after Jol.
I personally appreciate what he did last season and the previous season, I will appreciate more if he can resist the urge to sign Pompey/Southampton/West Ham calibre players such us Phillip Neville and Joe Cole and introduce himself to Tottenham level type of players e.g. Damiao, Eto'o, Falcao, etc. I will appreciate completely if he can finally detach himself from the yoke that he carries around his neck to every club he goes to i.e. Peter Crouchy. That guy is just sh*t.
And if he can get rid of our own yoke i.e. Jenas (...finally!) and distribute his wages equally amongst Luka, Bale and VdV....it would really be appreciated.
If we have to sell...if!...then please don't let it be to Man U. The cost of removing the feeder club tag would be massive. Approximately 100million pounds at the least. "feeder club" will be a tag attached to this club forever if Sir Fergie manages to twist poor Levy's arm again.
A fit Ledley is a dream I am beginning to doubt. We have had more false dawns than Michael Caine, but although some mistakes have been made, you can't view Harry's tenure as anything other than a raging success.
I'm proud of the way MY team took on Europe in a manner to do Bill Nic proud. I doubt Man Citie with a billion pounds and the Italy's answer to George Graham will do England as proud next season.
The development of Bale, Sandro and THudd, as well as the reinvention of BAE have been great man management. As has incorporating VDV into the what has become the most dynamic midfield in the country. Harry has juggle the pieces well and mostly found the answers. We have finally managed to compete against Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea (dodgy goals excepted), even ManYoo came to the Lane for a draw.
Questions remain over how the club buy players; our failure to buy a striker in January, our last minute Charlie Adam bid and lack of signings in the summer until the 11th hour. But I see that as Mr Levy's department
We also have the perennial problem of failing to match the desire of the relegation struggler's. Points dropped against the 3 Woeful Ws and Blackpool could have seen us above Citie and the Arse. Sure we missed a big opportunity last season to cement our place in the top 4, but a few tweaks and with belief, we can challenge.
Considering we messed up in the transfer market, and that we were new comers at the CL table, the season was good, at times brilliant, but ultimately disappointing.
What I won't accept though, is some two bob manager calling anyone who thinks it should have been better an idiot, and that the reason we didn't do better was down to money. If he hasn't already, Levy needs to take rent-a-gob to one side and tell him he's managing Tottenham and not Portsmouth. The teams above us were way below par for large parts of the season, and it was massive opportunity to consolidate a top 4 place missed.
Here's hoping we actually learn from our negligent performance in the transfer market, and that it won't cost us our best player.
Don't forget we had a soft centre before Harry came, which he sorted out with the purchase of Wilson amongst other things.
What bothers me more than the mouthing off in public is the poor squad rotation, and I really hope he's learned from this year. There's no reason (as far as we know) why Niko didn't get more than enough playing time to make him want to stay, and we should have used the squad to freshen things up after CL games. I'd like to see all our big names get rested now and again and everyone accept it as the norm. And I'm not talking about playing 11 strangers in the League Cup (or Europa) - stick to the first team and blood 2 or 3 youngsters.
And hopefully Levy's learnt that it's better to lose a few quid in the market and get the players you want, when you want, and take a loss on the deadwood to benefit the dressing room and preparation.
COYS, we could really achieve something next season.
Harry made one massive error of judgement last season, when he didn't properly prepare his teams for the games with the three W's and Blackpool. That cost us a CL place and that, is the excuse for top stars wanting away. Had he and his coaches prepared the team (and rotation was key here) we wouldn't have the rotten Mirror, Mail and Express Journo's putting our players up for sale.
That to me reveals Harry's inexperience at the heights of CL and Top Four football. He tried to cover it up by slagging off the fans, but that doesn't wash. He has now seen the mistakes and should be better prepared next season. But next season it's either deliver CL qualification or 'bog off'.
Niko should and could have been used a lot more, it took injuries to get Danny Rose into the team and once playing he looked great. With clever rotation Bale and BAEcould have been rested and been fresh for more games.
Just need those pieces of the jigsaw this summer and next year could be very interesting.
COYS
A lot of talk about top 4 next season. I am of the opinion that with 2 or 3 quality purchases, we should seriously be thinking about better than simply the top 4. With a bit of luck (King & Woody managing 40 games between them) and that cutting edge I fail to see how any other team is better than us.
We all know where it went wrong this season. WHile many teams can point to bad results and points dropped, everyone has a bad day from time to time, I think few can claim to have dropped so many points against such lowly teams, and so many games when it was just one of those days. WHU, WIgan & Blackpool alone saw us drop 15 points. Spurs had few surprising results, other than at LFC & Arsenal. We still garnered only 1 point from Chelsea & Utd, which is about normal. Therefore for next season we do not require massive levels of improvement to see much improved results. Just much more ruthlessness against teams we are expected to beat.
Over the past couple seasons, we seemed to have really made progress in all areas. Our away record is much improved, joint 2nd best last season i think. We have more of a physical edge, especially with the emergence of Sandro. We have shown character to come back from being a goal (or 2) down on numerous occasions, we have ended hoodoos vs Arsenal and Liverpool.
Biggest difference between the last 2 seasons is that we often got that early goal, meaning teams had to open up a bit more. This past season we have rarely scored early and the longer the games went on the more the opposition felt they could get something out of it, the more desperate & open we became.
Therefore it all centres around those forward positions.
Harry's problems are a poor squad rotation and lashing out to the fans ibut mainly he seems to be afraid of having real stars in his team , the kind that is World Class or trying to achieve that Level. Just look at the kind of players he wants to attract to the team , not one of them is world class (or even close).
He did very well at the club but also has the most talented spurs squad i have seen in over 20 yrs supporting this club.
I'm sure that Harry would love to have more world-class players but our finances do not run to that and even unproven kids like Lukaku state that they will only go to a club playing CL football.
The scouting network needs to identify the next generation of superstars that are already playing at a senior level but have not yet hit the headlines. Sandro was a good start, Maybe Caulker is now ready for the Prem, but strikers remain a priority and I guess every club is looking for the same thing so competition will be intense.
Regarding Harry's comments about the fans, he is from the same school as Fergie in that he doesn't accept criticism and never admits mistakes. Personally I think that is the right approach as he has too much real work to do instead of entering into a weekly debate with the fans over team selection, tactics and transfer targets. In the end, it is only results that count, something that Mourinho understands perfectly and Chelsea fans were happy to accept even if the football was dire. At least Harry tries to get results by playing football (yeah I know, Crouch/Dawson lump-ball from time to time) and if next season the result is CL qualification again, everyone will take it.