Harry Redknapp. What does he do exactly?
Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 10:45PM Morning. I'm sort of back. My absence? Call it a creative lull thanks to ill health and lacklustre concentration. Not had the time to write. Doesn't look like I've missed much. Michael Dawson with another rallying (worrying) battle cry pre-match. Have we actually won a game after he's attempted a Churchillian speech? Talk about the validity of Europa League qualification continues. Bill Nick would have taken it, I'm sure. Then again, Bill Nick would probably have got us into that other competition. Also there's the transfer tittle-tattle which continues to link Modric and Bale to moves away. Lennon to Liverpool another firm favourite.
I don't mean to be disparaging to other football websites, but linking X player to X club(s) hardly warrants coverage after the 200th time. God help us when the season is over. It's going to be a summer of absolute nonsensical BS drowning out our every move. We wont be able to breathe. And that's just the return of Big Brother. Let alone what the wonders of the summer transfer merry-go-round will bring. Fergie tap-dancing outside the Lane. Redknapp signing ten relegated West Ham players. Jenas, five year contract extension.
Shame there's no such thing as a stasis chamber.
Reader Comments (58)
Ok its all gone pear shaped, but we have had our moments this year, trouble is there havent been enough of them, we all know what we need a world class striker 442 formation which can somehow accomodate VDV and others. nobody wants Europa league after tasting CL football but can anyone want anything else other than win our remaining 4 games... i dont think so. So lets win them all, hope Everton beat city today and keep the CL dream alive going into the last game of the season, we got Birmingham at home, they have got Bolton away, i know who i would rather be playing.... 4 games left 12 points please and who knows maybe just maybe the CL dream is still alive COYS !
Van Dear Vaart lol !
Hey first... thats a first
Had to smile at the end, almost a religious mantra :D
It has been a good enough season, except for Harry's inexperience in rotating the team in order to be able to accomodate both the Premiership (points gathering) and progress in the CL. He has brought us to a new level, but doesn't know how to keep us there.
We need someone to take us permenantly away from this 'underdog status' achieved when Alan Sugar decided to grace us with his dictatorship in 1991.
I have to say also, I'm brassed off looking at him twitching on the sidlines. I think I would rather see David Moyes doing the twitching next season.
His interviews are getting silly. You can see he has great difficulty in refraining from mentioning the 'two points after 8 games' every time he's trying to explain a defeat. Cheers Harry. Don't forget to give back the company car.
ok so jokes aside.....
regardless of all the arguments to and fro one thing is apparent, we can't score for toffee. If you look at the amount of possession we have and chances we create our putting the ball in the net is severely lacking. I went to the open training event on Monday and the finishing there was pretty atrocious too, both in the exercises and the games (Andros Townsend aside). The players that we have are not shooting with swagger, they are not striking with confidence, whether midfielder or forward they should be doing better than they are, regardless of sytem, selection, tactics or otherwise.
Is it me or does Harry always start spouting on about 'ooooo they're a good side arent they, no easy games in the Prem' when we face a low half side? Followed by us scrapping a draw or getting turned over. Talk about resign yourself to the possibility of not winning the game. If you check the pre match Harry Articles on the official website its always saying how good the other teams been, talking them up rather than us. Its supposed to be 'To Do Is To Dare' not 'Lets go into our shell because we might sod it up.' And coming out and saying Man City will spend god knows what now they're in the champions league. Are they?! Not the end of the season last time I checked. I know they've clinched it now with our poor result but talk about already given up attitude.
It saddens me to admit I'm disappointed with Harrys' attitude at the moment. As you say, bigging up the opposition, dissing Europe, etc. 'Tis a shame the flame has all but gone out but, one game at a time. If results go our way... COYFS!
@Devon yid...
It seems everyone who went to the open session came out with the same conclusion...? Not good.
@Spurfect...
You are so right. It fills me with immediate trepidation when I read his pre match comments. I wonder how much confidence those statements instill on the players.
It now appears that our Harry has a "nasty" relationship with Aaron Lennon! I know we should'nt read too much into press speculation, but as the ol' saying goes "where there is smoke... Why did they choose Lennon? Why did'nt the rags say Harry has a bad relationship with Hutton/Jenas/Crouch? Truth is...their poor relationship was expected and is clearly evident in their body language and some recent statements. I love Lennon but I noticed that he was our worst player at Stamford Bridge last weekend. I know he is an "up-and-down kind of player" but his current performances are disturbing. He is no longer determined. Well what did we expect after the manager tried to put all blame on him for Jenas's appearance at the Bernabeu and our consequent 4-0 spanking. Thanks a lot Mr. Redknapp... so much for your famed man-management.
Next season is going to be...difficult.
as long as the pikey phukwits from west sham drop into the chumpionship I will be happy!! We still have a chance of getting that stadium from those thieving phuqqaz, and then we can start getting the extra revenue to use to sustain a Champions League assault consistently!!!!
ha ha ha ha ......west sham 1-0 down atm to Blackburn!!!! #:)
we missed a great opportunity to sign a proper centre forward who wanted to play for a cl team... 2 transfer windows and not a striker insight. VDV was a last minute signing who was banded around by his agent to every club in europe. Great transfer policy Mr levy!? VDV started well and a new system was developed to accomodate him , early doors it seemed a good decision as we played well as a unit. Its when things started to go wrong that harry lost the plot. Surely we needed to revert back to the trusted system which brought us cl football in the first place. As a consequence our strikers have been treated appallingly and confidence has been ripped to shreds. Take JD as an example. played against charlton - scored and benched the next game, the kid hasnt scored a pl goal for what seems likes decades when he scores 2 wonder goals at wolves - next game on the bench, WBA at home - you know whats coming next dont you. And talking of the WBA game how on earth can we play lennonn in front of bale on the left side - A JOKE!. Sticking with gomes is outrageous, harry must really fancy cudicini and the pletikosa fella. The last game cudicini played was against Inter and he was superb. Commands his area , has good distribution, attributes our brazilian friend does not display very oftern if at all. We obviously have had some great moments this season but really after the form & belief the team have had it seems like we have not progressed as we hoped we might. There is next season , hopefully without our entry into the lolipop cup which should provide a great platform to go and try to win the bloody league. that needs to be our aim. In the meantime im off to go and watch our beloved play a spirited blackpool team whose fans sing some of the best songs. COYS x
God, I'm depressed. Yeah, parts of it were funny, but thinking about 'Arry and what he's doing to the team makes me ready to shoot myself now.
So the latest is that if we don't win a single one of our remaining games, that's fine with 'Arry, because the Europa Cup is is pain in the ass what with all the travelling?!? In case you hadn't noticed, sunshine, we had to travel and play in the league with the CL too, so maybe you might want to get the squad accustomed to that schedule if....ah, christ, I can't be arsed anymore. I have only one hope:
Guilty. Guilty. Guilty.
Come on tax court, do us all a huge favor. "We find the defendant..."
Guilty. Guilty. Guilty.
Last minute of that had me smiling. Spot on!
If he keeps going on about how we should be happy how the club has progressed in 2 years that's fine with me.
He has a very valid point, however Ramos did win a trophy and Jol had us knocking on the door of the Top 4 with, in my opinion, a far less talented squad. Although Keane and Berba were different class to what we have now as a partnership.
He sounds like he would rather finish 6th, but do the players feel this way? Or would they rather be in Europe?
The way he treated the competition last time was a joke but it's obvious that the nous Fergie, Wenger and Ancelotti have in fighting on more than one front is not going to be earned by not being in Europe at all. We need to learn how to juggle the competitions.
I hope we get there and try and win it. Audere est Facere!
Looks like a 352. Rose in as part of a five man midfield. Lennon benched again cause he dissed Harry.
"Lennon benched again cause he dissed Harry."
Spooky, don't want to pick on you in your weakened state, but, given your earlier position that yes, Harry is looking out for himself first, but that making Tottenham look good makes him look good, pray, how is continuing to allow Redknapp to indulge himself in this manner in the best interest of the club? Seriously, can't you see he's lost the plot at this point? Or has Lennon suddenly joined the ranks of spoiled wannabes like Dos Santos and Tarrabt?
Too late to do us much good, given we won't try to win remaining matches since it might land us in Europa next year, but a heartfelt "well bloody done" to Everton. What an excellent fight back.
If we win 5-0, it will be glorious genius and we'll all bask in the giddy twitch post-match.
@Ziege....
I'm with you. But lets see how it goes first.
Lennon was...and its hard for me to say this....he was PATHETIC at Chelsea. Please have a look at his game last week. He was never there defensively, nor was he in the picture when we went on the attack. I also don't like how Harry gets to indulge himself at the club either, but Azza should never be allowed to do what he did last week. No matter how badly treated he feels.
Thanks Everton. Fuel for the "Moyes in" camp.
If Osman can head in such a goal, why can't Harry's tall friend do the same? Why must he hide behind defenders and knock-down balls aimlessly into the penalty area?....I've not missed him one bit during his absence.
Space, width at home - imo, would have started Azza. Redemption and such. But I'm still feeling flaky, so continue to ignore.
Harry found out you can get 10-1 on a Blackpool win.
Jeez! Is Robbie Keane trying to singlehandedly relegate West Ham? What a (another) nasty miss.
I saw it (not a slow-mo replay). Did he slice the ball across the goal?
442. Bale left back, Rose left wing.
Ronnie, I did watch the Chelsea match and agree that Lennon was completely anonymous which might have something to do with the fact that he was played completely out of position. Further punishment for not happily accepting the role of scapegoat? Harry plays him in a set up that makes Lennon look bad which further justifies benching him. How long till the transfer request comes in? Is that what you want to see?
BTW, the appropriate, dare I say professional approach to a player having a mare is to sub him in the match with, ideally, a like for like player. Too bad we don't have someone like Niko Krancjar...Oh, wait, we do, but he's in the shit book as well, for God only knows what reason.
Lennon for VDV is so natural...Kaboul is a f*ckin disaster on the right wing. Hes regressed badly.
If Donkey JJ comes on...and he is threatening to make an appearance....we are doomed!
Lol! who are we kidding...
I guess the players have all but given up then?
Bit of desire would be nice.
Lennon in for Pav. Good. Hope that's the end of Pav.
Please please please...No Jenas!
Pav and Defoe don't look like they have met before! This is bad to watch.
Pav off VDV and Defoe can hopefully link up. Been hoping these two could it it off, as we now have to play it on the ground with our massive midfield, have to be next to Arsenal for height and skill.
Bale broken ankle they say.
No card of any ilk from the ref.
Jesus Christ. That staggers belief.
disgusting. absolutely infuriating.
http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg620/scaled.php?tn=0&server=620&filename=vsqdym.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640
Bale injury.
I'm so angry about that Adam attack on Bale. I'm literaly seething mad!!!! He wasn't leven ooking at the ball at all. If that isn't reckless play, I dont know what is.
And why is Harry so eager to replace Bale with Crouch?????? There is no logic in that hoof inducing change and it totally wrecked our shape - resulting in that period of penalty madness. He could atleast have taken a moment to decide, wisely, who was the correct player to bring in. Besides, the left wing could have been covered by young Danny Rose, so what we needed was someone to play left back. Crouch, and the resultant hoofing, was totally needless!
Gomes? I actually understood his rush of blood moment but....he's better than that and he knows it. Why is he allowing himself to go through this period of insecurity?
Thanks to Gomes for comedy. I think he really IS a clown
Maybe it was the amount of wine I'd drunk, but at the time, the tackle didn't look that bad......
Seeing it again - should have been a red card.
Regardless though, we underperformed AGAIN against a team from the bottom 4.
It's completely unacceptable from a side with Champions League aspirations with the quality that we have.
How/Why is it that Lennon gets dropped when he speaks out but plays reasonably well, but Gomes screws up game after game, yet retains his place?!?!?
so for 80 mins no urgency .....great idea lads wait till its 1-1 with 7 minutes left then play as if life depended on it....lots of talk of shape and tactics on here but attitude would have been worth about 12 points this year....a shame..
Its very simple. Mr Harry has screwed up the season. His copaching staff have screwed up this season and harry's insistence tofocus on the Champions cup, his insistence to play Crouch and VDV has totally thrown the team out of balance.
Gomes suffers from anxiety and hypertension, Ive mentioned this before. he is struggling to keep it capped! Watch him gather the ball and rush to release. He is unable to count to 5 and slow things down.
There is no doubt that Harrys team selection, his tactics and his priorities has messed up. What on earth is the coaching staff doing - what is Harry doing!! When did this all go wrong - look back and think about it. Its when VDV joined!! Yes he scored 12 goals but what a price to pay!!
We need to look at this and ask the question!! He is quick to drop Lennon but refuses to drop VDV or Gomes. He is willing to disrupt the structure to accommodate VDV -its Harry and his pals again and i dont only mean the players - its the bloody coaching staff as well and his son.
Something is not right, I've said it all along. There is no penetration in the team at all. VDV runs a lot but does very little. He now takes free kicks, corners everything that moves - gets in the way of Modric - and for what. he is another glory hunter like our good friend Bentley??
We need some serious thinking to get this right and im afarid im not sure its Harry and his army of coaches that can deliver.
Attitude is also down to the coaching staff getting the players mentality right before a game. We have failed big time here. Look at the way we have started some of our games, 1-0 down before we decide to think about playing. They start games like its a stroll in the park.
Maybe some of them are thinking - hang on, £60-£70,000 here but £160,000 over there!!! i cant be asked.
"hotspurs".. i hear you- have also just listened to harrys interview on bbc web...infuriating...criticises dawson for the handball but doesnt mention he was pushed into it...doesnt criticise adams for breaking bale and then spends 2 minutes bigging up chelsea/manu/liverpool/arsenal and man city....imaging moruinho after that game he would have created siege mentality and had the players firing for the next game not have them moping and in fear of other teams...pathetic
Colsey, not i have not seen the interview. Ill try and see it. The problem is, we never complain about anything. There is no fight, no will no desire, no anger - or at least not enough. Everything seems to be - "OK and never mind" we can't compete with the greatest top 5 now, since LIverpool have joined the top, so lets just be thankful for what we had this season and 6th position.
Well actually Harry, we are not happy and we do not accept this as supporters. Harry - your attitude of "never mind" is rubbing off the players and they simply accept that cant do any better and are happy with whatever. Well Harry, there are a number of players in there that will not accept this and will, without any doubt leave this club!! Where will that leave you and the club - and its supporters.
As I've stated time and time again:
Never jumped on the band-wagon that you are all desperately trying to jump off. Martin Jol had us one bad shrimp dinner away from the same result with a far inferior squad. Leave it to Harry and we'll have 4 Spammers next year and other equally "top, top players". HR is a nothing more than a self-promoter.
Erm, when your manager has spent every day since Christmas saying 4th place is an unreasonable expectation and, of late, running on about how 6th place is just fine, why would you as a player at the end of a long and draining season bust a gut to contradict him? Especially when doing so (see Sandros or Lennon) will get you publicly screamed at or benched?
Desire/ambition starts at the top. Harry's got none for this club anymore. He's squeezed the Spurs' orange for every drop and now it's all about making himself look good at all costs, regardless of what damage he leaves behind him. We may not be bankrupt when goes but we will be fair poorer in terms of the unity and attitude and composition of the team.
Below is a post from the Guardian blog (Mawaltrees, fyi) that sums it all up nicely:
"it's this 'we've decided to bypass all this [Europe] cos now we're a CL outfit, though we're not at the moment, but we could be, hopefully again', extremely baseless muddled/insincere philosphy of Harry's that's winding me up. Can't believe the way folks are falling for this.
Seems to me to Harry Spurs is little more than the next big step towards the England job, and his utterances are PR in that respect and offer little in the way of forging a long term viable or convincingly competitive future for Spurs which is what I thought it was all actually supposed to be about."
Can anyone from the "in Harry we trust" brigade provide a single example of anything that Harry has done since Christmas that has contributed to "forging a long term viable or convincingly competitive future for Spurs" as opposed to furthering his own interests?
Disaster. And I agree with much that has been said. At this point, I really don't give a shite who leaves this summer. Bale's injury was horrific, should have been red and I felt the ref missed tons of kicks in midfield. Several replays showed us make a nice turn only to be cut down by a late challenge and nothing given. Pav is fcking horrible. He can't control a ball. He can't win a header. He doesn't even attempt to meet crosses. He can't finish. He is fucking shite. And the statement earlier, 'they look like they've never met is SPOT ON.' Defoe no longer has the pace to beat a man. He hasn't beaten a man in a 1-1 situation a year. We'd get into positions and there was NOTHING in the final third and against a team that has conceded 71 goals. Pathetic.
Harry Redknapp: What does he do exactly??? Well...Mr. Levy, i've helped summarize all of it for you, may the force be with you!!!
-He has brought us to a new level, but doesn't know how to keep us there.
-always saying how good the other teams been, talking them up rather than us
-tried to put all blame on him (Lennon) for Jenas's appearance at the Bernabeu and our consequent 4-0 spanking
-2 transfer windows and not a striker insight
-what he's doing to the team makes me (infact, everyone..!!) ready to shoot myself now.
-Crouch, and the resultant hoofing, was totally needless!
-his insistence to play Crouch and VDV has totally thrown the team out of balance.
-He is willing to disrupt the structure to accommodate VDV
-we underperformed AGAIN against a team from the bottom 4
-He and his coaching pals can't even get the players mentality right before a game
-There is no doubt that Harrys team selection, his tactics and his priorities has messed up
-There is no fight, no will, no desire, no anger - or at least not enough. Everything seems to be - "OK and never mind"
-"it's this 'we've decided to bypass all this [Europe] cos now we're a CL outfit, though we're not at the moment, but we could be, hopefully again'
-Harry and his army of coaches that can deliver.
-just listened to harrys interview on bbc web...pathetic...
-we'll have 4 Spammers next year and other equally "top, top players". HR is a nothing more than a self-promoter.
-Mr Harry has screwed up the season!! Oh yes..!! BIG TIME!!
Yesterday was horrible, and Adams should have been red carded for the challenge on Bale.
I heard Gary Neville on 5 Live this morning, and if we had eleven players with his attitude, his hatred for losing, his burning desire for victory.................then we would be title challengers.
It comes from the manager, and HR is not interested in Spurs long term, he is only here to get himself the England job. If I was Levy I would think long and hard about replacing him in the summer...........and for my money Moyes would be in for with a shout.
Struggling at the bottom of the league? Don't worry, come and play Spurs, we'll help you get your season back on track.
Spurs: a nice team to play against.
Sloppy, unprofessional and no desire... we've got our Tottenham back!
Apart from Sandro who worked his proverbials off and an impressive performance at lb from Rose, it was a poor showing with little urgency, lack of leadership and we've completely lost any form of a winning mentality.
This is what happens when you place all your focus and motivation in a cup competition... but it seemed as though the THFC staff, way before we were even knocked out of the competition, didn't have the courage or character to even try to get back into the CL. As a team we gave up a while ago and we're simply going through the motions and waiting for the season to end.
Very sad...
COYMFS... show us what you're made of!
Spurs = Fragile: Handle with care
Well, one reason to be cheerful, in a schadenfreude sort of way, Stoke are giving the Arse a torrid time, up 2-0 on the 67th minute.