Back him or sack him?
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 12:00PM Guest-blog from @therealflannerz
This time last year everything at Tottenham was triffic. We qualified for the Champions League and all we needed was a striker to improve the squad. Fast forward a year and it’s all looking completely un-triffic. We’ve lost both our opening games; have a goal difference of -7 after going behind in both matches and capitulating. Also, there’s the minor fact that our best player is whoring himself to Chelsea and his ‘head isn’t right’. As well as all this, there are lots of other factors that haven’t been right for a while and I believe these have a significant effect on the squad and are causing me to seriously question Harry Redknapp.
I’m not one of the fans who has never taken to Redknapp. I was very happy when he was appointed and thought he was the right man for the job. However, even in the season we got fourth place, I was concerned that we struggled to breakdown teams that parked the bus. That only got worse last season, causing us to draw nine games at home, which ultimately cost us fourth place. The arrival of van der Vaart was supposed to help us unlock these defences, but he faded after a good start, which leads me to my next point.
In some ways it’s like being a Spurs fan in the 90s (not quite, but...) again because of our horrendous injury list. Not only do our players keep getting injured, but players are being rushed back from injury and are playing when they are not fit. It also seems that our players are not as fit as they could be. van der Vaart for instance, faded after an hour during most games last season.
Redknapp has been credited with reviving Gareth Bale, but Bale’s form has dropped off since the Inter game. He was always going to get more attention, but the coaching staff don’t seem to have helped him work out how to cope with getting doubled up on. He also seems to stand by the touchline expecting the ball, instead of running behind the defenders and using his pace off the ball. Our other flying winger, Aaron Lennon doesn’t seem to have the confidence he has had in the past, and doesn’t roast the opposition full back like he used to.
These aren’t knee-jerk points, these are all concerns that I have had for some time. Against Man City, Bale and Lennon should have destroyed their fullbacks. Zabaleta got a yellow card in the first half and Lennon has torn Clichy a new hole in previous encounters. Instead of being run ragged, the City full backs had an easy time of it.
Because of injuries we have started the season with a severely depleted squad, especially in midfield. You can't ignore this fact. When I saw our line-up I instantly knew we would lose. A central midfield of Modric and Kranjaer was always going to get opened up time and time again (visions of Katie Price opening her legs). Why didn’t he try Corluka in central midfield? Football Manager says he can play there! On a serious note, we needed someone in there who could win the ball. Instead of admitting he was wrong, he has tried to blame Modric. Redknapp likes to deflect attention away from his shortcomings. He doesn’t want to miss out on the England job next year does he? (I won’t go into his constant comments in the media about Modric).
With all of this, I am seriously starting to question whether Redknapp is the right man for the job any more. With the possibility of a court case and the England job, surely the board have contingency plans? Will we have a new man in charge sooner than we think? The board are already unhappy at finishing 5th last season. Levy would be annihilated by the media if he did give Redknapp the Spanish archer, but he’s not afraid to make tough decisions.
Back him or sack him?
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Reader Comments (104)
Regarding pro-Harry articles and ones of positive ilk, I have something planned for Friday - after I return from my travels. Prefer to wait until AFTER the transfer window shuts to avoid repetition.
I'd say sack him, but I think Levy is waiting on the outcome of Harry's date with HMRC as it'd be a cheaper alternative.
It's just a pity the trial date got put back, we could have know one way or the other by now.
one annoying thing is that corluka was played in cm in south africa for pre season however that was the match harry was not there and joe jordan picked the team not only that but corluka was brilliant
Can see Harry's house from here.
He's not on gardening duty, but damned well should be.
Try buying a player you haven't bought before (must be some sort of sell-on clause), try learning the art of substitutions and for God's sake your starting 11 with Krancjar in midfield is woeful as is he.
Stop building up opponents in pre-match releases and OPEN YOUR EYES AND EARS.
Take notice or take a hike!
The question isn't so much sack him or not, it's can we get a better replacement, and can we afford his pay-off. If the answer to both is yes, let's boot him out.
His constant soundbites have been pissing me off for some time now and the football has been going downhill for months.
Sack him... players do not respect him and he has no plan B other then fucking Crouch and fucking Jenas... we will never get anywhere with those 2 as they would struggle to get into mid table clubs.
Plus his list of "targets" Joe Cole, Scott Parker, Diarra.. sick to death of us buying 5 midfielders and NO defenders... i understand Friedel is less error prone then Gomes but why did we buy a 40 year old? why are we not looking to bring in a longer term keeper? i mean let say we sign Cahill and we play Cahill and Daws at the back, what good is it building up an understanding with him when he's got what 1 maybe 2 years tops left in him.. bring in a keeper and build that back 4 as a solid unit...
And Joe Cole, Parker and Hargreves can all fuck off as can Redknapp
kaboul could've played in midfield. VdV, Bale and Lennno aint what they used to be. Got to look at the manager for that.
I agree with Flannerz but:
Sack him and get who exactly?
In my opinion, anyone who votes to sack him needs to state a better alternative who is likely to come. Otherwise, why bother?
Martin O'Neil? Mark Hughes?
Either one of them i'd be happy with LordG
and Dixta... only problem with Kaboul playing CM is we would have had to play Bassong CB and i would have preffered to play Stuart Nethercott.. Bassong is shit, cant judge the flight of the ball and switches off straight away...
Tough call. Fingers crossed we may pull off something before the window shuts. A couple of new arrivals may make all the difference (no, I'm referring to the likes of Cole or Parker).
I would give Harry till January the 1st. If we aren't in the top 6 by then he should be fired. My choice would be Ancellotti (spelling!). Great manager.
Chris Hughton/Glenn Hoddle that's who.
I to knew we had lost gamre when i saw the team sheet..... Kranky is the opposite of what we needed a ball winning midfielder, Modders the arse hole did'nt even want to play, City were different class and should have won by more.
The most worrying thing for me and you have already highlighted this spooks is the way we totally capitulated after conceeding, exactly the same happened against Man u... these are very worrying times, I'm not happy with HR or our transfer targets, the one i really wanted apart from a quality striker was Diarra but he looks like he is off to Italy.
If our ability in identifying and installing a new striker(s) is anything to go by.(and how long THAT has been going on) I find it hard to believe we've even thought about a replacement for Arry.
We've been weak and we have capitulated 2nd week running.
The only plus side (as stated by many) is that those 2 games are out of the way now.
I think Arry's mouth might make Levy's decision for him.(if he's even thinking about it)
Ahh fuck it, give it a coupla weeks & we'll be fine ;o)
I am losing my faith in Redknapp. Not only because of our 2 defeats, but mainly on how he has gone about this summer. And of course his transfer policy which is a disgrace. All the really good players we have tried to get I have a feeling is Levy´s doing. Friedel, Bellamy, Beckham, Cole(both Carlton and Joe) are Harrys preferred targets. He has not strengthened us since arriving. Our best players are from pro-kedknapp or Levy buying.
Surely we could've played someone else in the middle of the park?
Could he not have played Kaboul in a holding role? He's done it before and in my opinion reasonably well.
Playing a side that has Nasri, Silave, Yaya, Dzeko and Aguero with what is essnetially 5 attacking midfielders was absolute insanity!
I hate to say it but I can already see the sort of drooping shoulders that lead to 2 points from 8 games (I think Harry might have mentioned those numbers before).
The woory for me is that there was the argument that we wouldn't attract CL quality players when we weren't in the CL, last year we qualified and only bought in VDV last minute.
This time round we've not got the draw of CL football, and we certainly don't have the high wages to compensate.
United, Chelsea, City and Liverpool have all gone out and improved there squads with players that will give them a few good years and the majority of their business was done at the start of the window, Fergie did his buying in June/July and has had the team together for pre-season, as always we're scrambling around to find a cheap deal at the last minute!
We've added an old man between the sticks (He's been immense so far and we probably conceded 8 at OT without him) a couple of kids, and a couple of loans.
It speaks volumes that this time last year City wouldn't let us have Bellamy as we were competing with them for 4th, this time round they've given us Adebayor for a year. We aren't viewed as a threat by the top teams.
I wouldn't go as far as to say i fear for our season, but i think realistically we'll be lucky to achieve Europa league qualification this year.
Will be irrelevant in a few weeks, because sloppy chops will be sewing mailbags along with the Wednesday chairman.
Don't take this the wrong way please but this article is seriously wrong, it should read BACK HIM OR STFU!
Why is it we are always turning on ourselves as Spurs fans, always, always bringing ourselves down and doing the team no favours, Harry needs to be backed end of, players need NOT BE BOO'd though doing the same to the team as a whole is OK when they have played really badly.
Personally I think Bentley was over rated and certainly over priced, but we never gave him a chance and then destroyed his Career, this was not Harry nore was it Ramos beforehand, the fans are to blame for DBs demise, when he started at The Lane the abuse he got as dreadful (I bet even Adebayor gets a better reception!)!
But why I ask, Adebayor has never shown any loyalty for us and has bitten us many times before, what did Bentley do to us before joining? NOTHING, but as per usual FICKLE SPURS FANS sticking their ore in and I am seriously sick of it.
Now please, FFS Laddies & Gentlement back the manager and the players until there is no way back, sure we have had a Terrible start, but at least we weren't beaten 8-2 in the worst result since 1903, well depending on who you ask personally I think it was their best results since then. :)
Either way comon guys stop this shizzle now please!
I'd have sacked him at the end of last season ..... I dont trust him ......
If you dont trust the manager with the signing of new players whats the point .?...
His tactics are to rigid ....
And he talks only with self intrest and not positively for the club ....
He does'nt give a damn that sometimes its in the clubs intrest to reply to reporters with a
....No comment ..Cant comment on that ....Not going to comment on that .......
Blamed Lennon for the Madrid defeat , now blames Modric for Man City thrashing .... Its always everybody elses fault when things go wrong ....
He also works for Roman Abramavich on the sly ... He's done more than anyone to keep the Modric transfer to Chavs thing going ....
Arrogant in the extreme .... We gave him the big club opportunity and he shits on us with remarks such as , we never had it so good and idiots .... like we were a bunch of nobodies before his arrival...
I
There is something very wrong at Spurs.
Harry? Levy? Finances?
2 from 8 got Ramos the sack.
Will we wait that long this time?
Harry won't get the England job anyway and this poor start
and it will get worse I'm afraid,
will give them the excuse to overlook him.
Over the hill; over to Spurs I'm afraid.
Regarding Parker and Bellamy I doubt either will be signed. My guess for those positions would be that the Brazilian lad will be agreed plus the club will decide that Sandro is sufficent.
As for Redknapp we have been in a neither fish nor fowl situation for a couple years now.
Keeping Harry but also keeping the squad rather than sell any and add his targets.
Harry and the club are not chained together. Both parties have free will. Redknapp would be gone with just one phone call. So clearly the club has thought he was the best manager available over the past three years or he would not be here now.
maybe HRs lack of tactical skill is getting more exposed as we scale the dizzy heights and expectations of the prem
i know we used to play the best teams openly and match them but ATM with modders saga and injuries maybe he should realise that you cant just attack
holding to a 0-0 draw whilst player wise were in no position to go for it must surely be the wise move??
COYS
I'd say, YAWN. I'm much happier supporting Spurs with Redknapp than contemplating Spurs changing manager again and again (a subject I'm sure you've broached before) and far happier supporting Spurs with realistic expectations than supporting Man City with Abu Dhabi fake, empty, paid for wins.
We simply have to admit the premiership is made of two leagues the top 4, whether it be nouveaux riche (Man$ity,Chel$ki) or the perennials who also have the cash to splash (ManU,Liverpool,Arsenal[you know they'll be back]) and the rest of us.
I highly doubt we can afford to pay the wages, even if we could afford the sign on fee of half the players we're always linked with - and then we get upset with the players that we do end up with. 5th place last year was really as good as we should/could have got, sure we lost a silly game against Wigan, didn't get the points we ought to against other opposition, but neither did the other teams who also have all the "what ifs" in their closet.
We've started the season strangely, a game behind and off the pace of every other team - and still, more injuries than others (Woodgate playing 3 games in a row?!) winning 5-0 against low low low opposition, but doing it in style, then giving Man U a game until 60 minutes - and capitulating against this seasons champions.I'm not sure anyone honestly expected anything apart from 0 points from those matches - the goal tally hurts, obviously.
Let us get some of the midfield players back that would have given us that bite in the centre (a fit Tommy H, a half fit Sandro, an unfashionable yet undeniably bullish Parker, a more focused Modders?) and see if we can start scoring with a 4 4 2 Ade/Defoe partnership, which I think could be deadly this season.
So I say, back the manager. He got us into the champions league, he got us seen throughout Europe as a team that will ram the ball down your throat. Last season was fantastic - 5th and the quarters of the CL? Do you really think we deserve more?
Year after year Spurs fans deal with this sort of mayhem, with Levy & Harry's logic a crap start can only get better.
How many times is it now that Spurs have had players waiting in the departure lounge at the beginning of the season.
As for the latest requisition, want away from any club that wont listen to my moans Arsenal / Many city reject, oh come unto us for Harry will pay 30 pieces of silver.
Lets face it, thank god the transfer window closes tomorrow or Levy & Harry would be looking for players in their Christmas stockings.
I was pleased by Harry's initial impact; our movement off the ball and passing got slicker, and players seemed to get on well together and enjoy what they did. He introduced an enlarged coaching staff that began to get more out of players, but everyone knew we lacked a good enough striker and that was proved more than right last season. There seems to be a gulf between Harry and Dan that makes me (almost) cry out for the return of Comoli ... (I note Liverpool have no problems in buying). We have stood still of late, and, as we all know, he who stands still goes backwards, and upsets ambitious players. ALL Harry's previous clubs have drowned in the same kind of signings, after good starts: safe but not ambitious, short-term bargain buys. The end product has been financial meltdown at all his clubs. This won't happen with Daniel in charge of the money, but we seem incapable of signing anyone really exciting since Sandro. I think we should sack him and send him home to Sandra and the donkeys. Then we sort out why we can't find players. And I think we say to Chelsea (or better someone else) that they can have Modric at £45M (no bargaining) and accept that the next part of the season is hanging on time. We get a decisive manager who is very active with everything except his gob, and who has no tie-in with Sky, and then ...... begin the usual road back to recovery.
I think it's a no-mark season ahead for us. Levy clearly isn't sanctioning heavy spending in the market knowing that this time next year HR will be either in clink or (more likely) head or our *ahem* glorious national team.
Shoving a load of cash in his sky and saying 'have a spend up 'Arry' would simply be bad business and we know that is not Levy's style... the coffers are pretty much shut and will remain so until the new gaffer gets here for '12-'13. Maybe a cheap 'un here and there but no stellar names, no big money. And he's right to do so, and that's before taking in to account HR's decidedly patchy transfer record with the £90-odd million he's had at his disposal so far during his tenure. A sizable war chest is a prerequisite for attracting any kind of decent future replacement.
So we have to suffer this hiatus period, this transitional phase... grin and bear it. Or sulk, moan, grumble, shout or weep uncontrollably... whatever your preference really. But throwing shed loads of cash at this team is not going to solve anything THIS season and arguably damage us irreparably for next. The same as even contemplating sacking Redknapp, which is ludicrous. Who are we going to get in at this stage without even a transfer window to do business in? It'd be more destructive than constructive. It's pretty much a dead relationship between DL and HR IMO and they're both waiting it, out each with an eye on the horizon. Cordial is as good as it gets now.
IMO that is where we are, it's crap but that's our lot for the next 9-12 months. I also reckon it's a distinct possibility that we do next to naff all between now and 11pm tomorrow. Just hope I'm wrong, we need at least two cheap 'uns to shake things up a bit.
I likened the bloke to cancer not too long ago and recommended that he be cut out the club pronto. A very nasty thing to say, as I'm sure we all know of someone who has suffered from the disease, and the pain it's caused the victim and his/her loved ones.
I stick by it though.
The relationship between Levy and Redknapp looks unworkable from what I'm seeing, hearing and then reading between the lines. Levy isn't blameless in all this either. After the Berbatov fiasco, how he has let the Modric situation drag on and effect our season/morale, and not just the morale of the players - there seems a general air of despondency over the whole club - defies belief. It's been handled with such rank amateurism, that the competency of board surely has to be questioned.
Trying to lock players down to contracts when you clearly have no true ambition just isn't going to work. I understand some believe that by keeping Modric, Levy is making a statement which will put an end to the belief that you can just wave your dough at Spurs and we'll all too obligingly take it up the pooper, but it just won't work.
So we keep Modric locked up in Levy's gimp box to prove a point, meanwhile, we've got a team, manager and chairman, seemingly, all pulling in different directions. The upshot of this is poor performances on the pitch, which will actually give the better players more of an excuse to leave; the very thing you wanted to avoid in the first place.
Go down that route, and Levy had better stock up on more gimp boxes.
Surely after watching that nonsense on Sunday Levy must realise that there is a big problem deep down.
I'm the opposite never liked Redknapp, never wanted him and all the crap that went with him before is surfacing here at WHL.
I've never understood the logic he has in continual comments about other clubs, or his former clubs...Now he's got this thing about City where he feels his need to comment on them. I'd say its a good way of deflecting the noise from how shit a manager he actually is.
I'm not doubting his "get the best out of a shit player qualities" but overall as a coach he's no better than Jol.
Anyone who feels Tubby Huddlestone is a quality midfielder needs their head examined yet he's first on the team sheet every week.
He's the guy on the side, he's the bloke that should be screaming at Bale "roast Zabaletta he's on a yellow" not a word.
We've one option he's unemployed and waiting in the Wings - Dear Mr Levy, go and get Ancelotti in...Please!!!
Harry and Levy are equally to blame.
Harry because of his poor tactics and Levy because he doesn't want to spend big any more.
Harry will not get the England job. His behaviour over the close season, I suspect, has lowered his stock. Hodgson to emerge again as favourite.
I don't want the upheaval of a management change again but I don't trust Redknapp, his tactics are a joke. We play 4 5 1 in all essence which is a tactic that was employed by newly promoted teams 4 or 5 years ago. Look how dangerous but stable a 433 looks with 2 defensive midfielders protecting the back four with 2 wide wingers in Bale and VDV with Modric central and Adebayor up front.
If Redknapp left I think that a move for Ancelloti would be good, he has something to prove and likes London, as long as we don't get Benitez!!
TMWNN...buggsy Arry gets the ball-gag please!
I've been on the fence with Harry for some time. Sure no-one is perfect in tactics, and I actually believe he is doing ok with the youth, and he isn't that bad at transfers.
Despite all this, Harry must go, because his big mouth is killing the team, and the dressing room. As much as I like stability, Harry is the last person I can think of that can bring stability to the team. His big mouth only served to make the Modric situation worse, and for players to lose their trust and respect in him. In both manchester games as soon as we were 1 down, we lose confidence. Why? Because the man at the top is slowly using the media to shred that confidence for his own ego.
I don't believe in Harry's claims we need better players. We've got good players, (except for maybe 1 good striker), and we don't have an aging squad, so if our squad looks worse and worse, there something's fishy. Maybe if we have a manager would stfu for a change, give the players a boost, do some decent fitness training we won't have so many problems.
Harry out, and please bring someone that the players can love and win for. Ancelotti anyone?
have my fingers crossed for owen coyle to be our next manager. Brilliant at getting the most out of his squad and plays positive attacking football. Possibly bring in a new director of football along side him to help with signings
Not an ITK but work at WHL...
Levy is the man "buying" the players... hence why Redknapp knew nothing about VDV until the deal was done.
Levy will not spend mega bucks on players that Redknapp wants, DL wants to take the club forward and signing the likes of Cole, Hargreves and Parker who are all the wrong side of 29 is not his idea. He wants good players (like your Modric's) that if he some chooses we can sell on and not lose too much money and in most cases make money.
Levy/Redknapp relationship is on the verge of a breakdown and there will only be one winner in that battle, Levy wants the gobshite that is Redknapp out but does not want to damage the club in the mean while.. dont be too shocked to see Luka go tomorrow late afternoon for £42 million and Levy binning Redknapp in this international break with Hughes being installed as the replacement the same day, and Redknapp being blamed for Luka going with DL saying the club did not want to sell but Redknapp's comments and interviews left the club with no choice.
Not ideal i know but Mark Hughes has been "advising" Levy on some of the players being spoken about (and a few gems that have not as yet made it into the public eye) as he has been looking at them while he has been out of work.
Levy wants to spend the money but on the right players to take club forward... rumor going round WHL today is a big BIG name is en route as we speak for a medical.. Cant say anymore as only 3 of us know about this as we have had to arrange the transport for player but trust me if he passes medical tomorrow all will be good.
Oh and Joe Cole wont be coming.... thankfully
WW61,
It'll take more than one to keep that trap stum.
Sack him. I thought he was hand-picked as someone with experience in bringing team's from the brink, as we so desperately needed after 2 from 8. There should have been a contingency plan in place to come in after our CL debut year, especially with our results since February, but also in light of said tax debacle and England job opening. Someone who would be more of a long-term legacy manager to take us into hopefully a new stadium in 4-5 years. We can still do it, but fast... only 12 days til we face Wolves.
I need my head read (allegedly). Huddlestone is still the key to unlocking wide players and is the closest we have had to replacing carrick (wrt to turning defence into attack in one swift move). But that's for another day (undoubtedly).
I've always been a bit 'meh' about harry, could never be too enthused, but then was prepared to give him benefit of doubt. To which he has in three years at least achieved something, not great but something to remember his tenure by. A flirtation with the elite for one season is greater than some clubs could ever aspire to.
The question after this weekend for me is not what happens in the next few weeks, but the next few years.
As the rationale behind a european super league grows stronger, as the distance between the have's and have not's increases, and revenue becomes king and unsustainable in it's currrent format. We have to 'know our place', we would never make the cut (and on recent form neither would our erstwhile neighbours) and so second tier europe / 1st tier national is about where our owners would have us positioned (regardless of what the fans may wish us to be).
The real issue then becomes 'where do we want to be in ten years time, and who will take us there?', so in a round about way I would answer the issue now by replacing with Coyle or Moyes now and back them for the next ten years, knowing that medicrity will be about as good as it gets (barring oil investment on the same scale as city). Tragic and brutal, but almost inevitable when you look at the bigger picture.
Spooky-Whats with the Katy Price Jokes?- It's not fair on Katy- she has lovely legs but unfortunately its her chest that gets more attention. To suggest that the Spurs midfield is like Katy's legs is uninformed & misleading. However, there were more than a couple of players that were made to look like complete tits on regular occasions during the city game.
Harry- would I sack him? no- but we need this break to regroup- although I hate to say it-sell Modric- he is damaged goods now. Sell & buy Artetta if he is still available- EFC can use the cash, and he would link up well with peanut when he's fit.
I've no issues with the way Levy is running this team. Buying young/cheaper targets with future worth needs to be done for long term success. The problem is that his manager (Redknapp) is giving him a list of players that he wants nothing to do with signing.
There are definitely issues with team morale, because the players just don't seem to be in it right now. I wouldn't want to play for someone spouting off about internal matters (Modric) and doesn't have a clue on how to change a formation to hold a lead.
Sack'im and bring in Carlos Ancellotti <sp?> or Moyes since Harry seems to be of the same mind as Modric, going onto bigger things (England/court case). It's a little late for that though, since the window's about to shut and any new manager would be stuck with what we've got and no chance to put their own stamp on the team right away.
sack him??? you lot are a bunch of D*ck heads!!
i really do not understand some of our own so called fans... what good will sacking him be, except for leaving the club in a worse state than it is!!
Its taken less than a year for all you muppets from being the happiest fans, competing in the champions league, loving Arry and playhers... to wanting him sacked for finshing 5th. Before his time we were nothing and didnt even come close (obviously apart from Jol)
Grow up and support the team and manager!!
TMWNN ...Beads then...big fuck off beads the size of elephant shits might work.
Oooh insideWHL...intriguing...not ITK but comes out with similar (if not MORE than the usual attention seekers)...Can see how much of that could be bang on the money...but I guess that's how the ITK works...
I WANT TO BELIEVE BUT I CAN'T.
I'm getting really wound up with all this negativity. We are not Man Utd, City of Chelsea and we cant work with tha same budget in the same way they do.
Instead we have to rely on out brilliantly Yiddish chairman and the best man manager we;ve had in he 26 years i've been following Spurs.
I ignore other blogs because of all the BS that gets posted but love "DML" as you are usually funny and on the money...with the exception of the "toys out the pram" paddy you and so many spurs fans are getting chatting thises days.
Harry has known he needs a striker for ages and treid to something about it several times but (rightly so) levey hasnt stumped up £30m for a "Rossi" for example or anyone else and promised them massive wages becaus ehe's not stupid enough to threaten the clubs supebly run accounts.
How many teams can break down a team that "park the bus"?.... the ones that can pay £150k + per/wk thats who.
Harry did turn Bale around and he does play him all over the shop. Left, riagh and now and again he pops up in the middle. Now and again players have below par games especially if the service you get is from a botched together midfield of "stroppy and cant takle" in the middle of midfield.
Who else could do a better job then Harry??? He's a top top manager and only Harry and the training staff know what happens on the training ground and only they can make the decisions as who to play.
We lost massvly on sunday but it was down to City class ( they can afford to buy it) we were a patched together & unsettled team. Not harry;s fault.
Get of his case and wait and see who we buy....even if it is tw*ts like bellamy. If we could afford Forlan, Rossi etc Harry would have snapped them up but we cant, we're still battling with a small stadiums revenue and a sensible wage cap. I back Harry to get the best out of whover he brings in, its what he usually does. Shame he couldnt get our strikers scoring last season because you lot wouldnt be getting on his case if any of them could have hit a barn door this season.
I'll be putting a bet on us beating liverpool to forth.
The issue at play is that we (royal we) are knee-jerking off the back of the two games played. A few will disagree and point to the performances at the back end of last season as evidence that Harry has lost his grip on the team for a while now.
Harry's personality and behaviour re: transfers and Modric has also caused concerned. If this was Jol, people would not be on his back (even though Jol lacked as much tactical astuteness at times) because Jol was one of us. Harry isn't. And because he so blatantly detaches himself from 'us' (them) people find it easier to attack him.
Do 'I' think he should be sacked? Of course not.
Key remains stability as ever. And he has a job to do away from the soundbites and Sky Sports News. We have the players, we'll be stronger (I hope) by close of Wednesday then we can push on with rediscovering our groove.
Footnote: There is obvious conflict regarding funds and targets. Harry wants x players, Levy would prefer something altogether different. Which then begs the question, does Levy have his head firmly in 'the future' re: new appointment/new war chest?
I see what your saying WinterWeekend 61...
But all i'm saying is, and judge me on Thursday morning if i'm wrong, these WILL happen.
IN:
Cahill £8-9 million plus a player (still to be decided as Bolton want a certain player which we want to sell to another PL club for more then Bolton vaule him at swap wise)
Parker £5million plus a season long loan (Should be Jake despite what he said today, if not then either Rose or Kane)
plus a Forward and another CM that i cant yet name (might be able to confirm tomorrow if the names are leaked today) as one is an international forward thats out of favour with current club and is en route TODAY for a medical and to discuss personal terms but might be a hitch in that as he's waiting for current club to offer a lump sum to compensate for the lower wage he will be getting here and the CM is a young talented French midfielder (like a young Diarra i'm hearing)
OUT:
Pav - Espanyol Season long loan
Hutton - Villa or Sunderland (have accepted bids from both)
Jenas - QPR season long loan
Gio - Wigan £4 million + future add ons
Bentley - Villa or Blackburn (have accepted bids from both) £4-5 million
Spurs need to achieve 4th this season otherwised we will not be able to hang on to our best players, and if we do it will be against their will and we know where that ends.
A new manager now will do nothing for us, IMO. Its a huge risk and guarantees nothing.
Harry can be criticised for his selection yesterday, but if we parked the bus and dug in for a 0-0 bore draw he would be being crucified by Spurs fans today also (not knowing that things could be a whole lot worse, like the reality of the situation). He got criticised last season after a 0-0 vs City when we toally dominated
I guess that a fit Hudd & Sandro, a focussed Modric and even a Parker and Adebayor would have seen us perform to a much higher standard, not to mention if King and/or Gallas were fit....Man City and all their pricey talents had the luxury of 1 injury, plus their distracted star (Tevez) has been usurped by, guess what, an £38m, £200k a week replacement.
There is no guarantee that a new man can change our fortunes. Kenny did at LFc but only after a £60m spending spree in Jan followed up by another £50 this summer. WHile that may give us a template and maybe hope that we can do the same with our Modric situation, its too late now unless we say £40m cash and then throw that cash at someone else (like pinching Eden Hazard from under Arsenal's nose).
I say we hold fort until Christams. This "crisis" is a test of our team and we may just come out of it stronger and better.....wanting to put things right and prove others wrong, a seige mentality inspiring us against all odds and against the world. However, if we continue to faulter amnd our lack of heart is exposed, then the writing is on the wall and depending on our staus come December, I can see us following that LFC template, brining in a new man, raising cash from sales and over hauling in Jan to fire us to the end of the season on the crest of a wave..
Too soon to be writing off this season....Effectively LFC, Arsenal & Spurs are fighting for 4th (not actually that convinced by Chelsea, although they continue to win while playing poorly). Arsenal are only 1 point ahead and defeating LFC at WHL in a few weeks can get us back on track
I hope your right "InsideWHL"
insideWHL
I'll be back to give you hell if what you have predicted does not come to pass!
devonshirespur - not predictions, these are the deals being worked on as we speak but as with all tranfers things can go wrong. But all looking positive so far.
and before i forgot... Sgt Wilson to Stoke £7 million plus another £1 million if Stoke get into Europe this season.
FYI Cahill will be at Spurs Lodge approx 6pm tonight
@InsideWHL
You complete me!! - hope you're not a basket case....and the other two you talk of, aren't a reflection and mouse made out of blue tac!!
Does anyone else think that players like Lennon, Bale, Modric, Huddlestone, etc are as frustrated as the fans with our paucity of options up front? I imagine Crouch is quite unpopular with the other players because his foolishness in the Bernabeu. Can you imagine how frustrating it must be to play with a guy who contributes almost nothing to the team and there's no sign of a replacement? It must be the same with Pav, who's effort matches his inclination.
Crouch's lack of movement is legendary! I remember at one point against City; Bale was storming through the middle on the break, Crouch was some 15 yards ahead of him with three defenders lurking close by. At this point we were still in the game btw. Instead of instinctively doing what comes naturally to running along the line, taking a defender or two with him and opening up space for Bale, Crouch simply held his position and in doing so literally blocked the path of Bale. As Bale got closer and closer, I was thinking that he would at least move in order to get out of Bale's path. But he didn't and Bale ran into three defenders and Crouch, allowing City to easily recover possession. What a pillock!
I think this is the difference between us and the top teams lies not in the skills of our players but in how they are coached. There is little movement from our strikers, there are usually no runners from central midfield and that is for two reasons. (1) We often bypass the midfield so they either can't get up with play when we're on the break or don't bother because they know that Crouch, Defoe, Pav are unlikely to win or retain possession. (2) Our favoured midfielders (Modric, Huddlestone, Sandro) all like to sit deep. That's fine when you play with two up front but the VdV often drifting into central midfield the striker is isolated on the rare occasions that he does win the ball.
Redknapp said the squad needs freshening up; I think a change of manager would do the world of good...
As for potential managerial replacements, I'd give either of Owen Coyle or Glenn Hoddle (still think he is an excellent coach, he just couldn't buy the players) a go as head coach under a DoF.