#AskArry

via BetfairSports

Made me smile. Even with the scripting. Beats talking about Luka and contracts.

"I don't know what Mario is" - No chance of a cheeky bid then?

This is Redknapp

I see a number of you have misunderstood (misinterpreted) Redknapp's CL quote. Either that or simply taken it out of context and stretched it as far as you can for further ammunition aimed at the target on his back. Any excuse, right? Not sure why considering the amount of gold you can so easily find in his back catalogue.

It's Redknapp, he's hardly the most articulate. He has all the elegance of a brick through the window. If you've not seen it, I'm referring to the interview on SNN earlier today. He cited Champions League football, which included the utterance 'it's over-rated'. He was talking about money/contracts and how players use the 'ambition' of CL football as an excuse to earn ridiculous wages elsewhere (reality is players will move to where the money is). Don't even think this is the first time I've heard him say this. And yes, CL does equate to money...but say we had CL, would that see us compete against City and Chelsea for players? No, probably not based on what's already happened this summer with the Hazard whoring.

And yes, Redknapp is always going to deflect in some way, he's done it all season long. In this instance, his vocabulary sets him up to look dismissive more so than the actual point he was attempting to make. Although haters will hate and say that he's only hooking himself onto excuses rather than perhaps attempting to highlight positives. This is Redknapp, it's the way he's built. People need to stop berating him over a trait he will never lose. He's never going to change. Stick a microphone in front of him, if he needs 10 words to make a point, he'll use 100 and the point he makes will protect his own agenda. He'll always protect himself, whether he does it consciously or subconsciously. Get this...all managers do it. Harry just isn't very good at it. What he is good at is contradicting.

Save your energy for the excuses during the season, not outside of it, and not the soundbites used to entertain presenters of Sky Sports News.

Just my opinion.

The bigger questioning (re: the interview) should be over his contract and ye golden contradiction (told you he was good at it) regarding his one remaining year left and the impact it would have on our players (and our transfer targets). That and the fact he can't contain such matters for private consumption between himself and Levy. That was by far the more 'damaging' of his soundbites. But this is also of no surprise. Harry continues to bask in detachment and disassociation.

Watch the video here.

Nothing has changed from the opinions I outlined in my Regression series (click here, scroll down a little). He remains about the short term and about self-serving. Like most people involved in modern football. If he retains focus and if he and Levy work together during the course of the summer then we'll easily compete next season. Again.

Latest Redknapp quotes

"Let's be honest, without me they'd be playing Championship football"

"It's going to be swansong for Luka. Chelsea will sign him, he's got to go there"

"If we win the cup its because I won it not because Spurs won it"

"I'm going to play Bale at centre-back, he's a natural, he can play anywhere and it's his best position"

"If you delve into history, I invented football in China just after I cracked time travel"

Back him or sack him?

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 5^th 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?

-

The Fighting Cock is a brand new THFC podcast. You can stream it or download it here on DML (make sure you have a Quicktime plug-in installed).

Love the Shirt.

Flav, tehTrunk, Spooky, Ricky, Chicago Dan.

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Harry on SSN (video footage)

Don't think he said triffic once.

Usual soundbites, interspersed with footage of BAE and Rafa van der Vaart talking from their cars. Walker looking likely to stay at the club (no loan deal). That defender we signed from South Africa, you know the bloke, plays in defence...he's possibly off to Rangers along with Livermore. Bale is going nowhere. Looks good in training post-injury.

The stuff on Modric was painful as per usual. Not sure why he just doesn't say 'not for sell, next question please' instead of 'we don't want to sell but...', which isn't as bad as it sounds (got tongue-tied a little) but still feels like he's dragging his heels a little. Just finish off the rumours once and for all. I guess he wants to protect himself if the unimaginable ever happened. Did do well to dismiss the Luka Chelsea bid and not place a 'valuation' on him.

To be honest, he was quite positive about Spurs and challenges going forward. Good PR from Harry on the ambitions and the targets he appears to be setting himself. Although there is a caveat, as ever: down to the chairman to do the business transfer wise.

He wants to win the Championship at Tottenham. We need to get relegated first Harry. But you'll see from the below videos, it's basically the same type of questions being fielded and the same sort of half disassociated answers. We need to sell, we need to buy, we need to buy top top players. Nothing new here. We all know the score.

Did like the bit where he states City had to spend around £140M just to make up the two point difference on us and finish higher. Does put things into perspective. We were not that far off them last season even with the monumental difference in expenditures. But we - no doubt - need to sign a world class forward and perhaps one or two others from the top drawer. Get the feeling we might have to just make do with that all important forward.

Can not fathom a scenario where we don't.

Thanks to Si - www.spursornothing.co.uk

Harry Redknapp bingo

Harry on SSN, tonight in their brand spanking new studio, from 7pm. Anyone for some Harry bingo?

'We're looking to do something'
@aronmoore

'Prices being quoted are ridiculous so well try and get Phil Neville again'
@DJ_Matt_Black

'We've plenty of top lads ere, all of em triffic, no need to sell or buy, this is as good as it gets...'
@jazz15c

'Robbie's a good lad I think next season he'll do well as club captain. Triffic leader'
@benfranksthfc

'With teams like Man City spending the money they are it's difficult to do anything'
@Magarty

'Don't ask me about transfers, that's Daniel's job'
@Bentleysbird

'Yeah, well, we're looking to get a player or two in, but it's difficult to find anything better available'
@Spooky23

'It would be an honour to manage England. Who wouldn't want to manage their country. But I ain't spoke to no one at the FA'
@Jimmyriggle

'I like Vucinic, he's a top, top player. I've always liked Vucinic, but I've got 4 triffic forwards already'
@WindyCOYS

Turns to camera, looks straight down it, rips his shirt off and screams, 'Come on you idiot mugs, 2 pts, 8 games'
@Spooky23


#SSNharrypredictions

In addition, guess how many times our 'arry will say 'triffic' during the duration of his SSN visit.

I'm guessing 9.

disclaimer: this article has as much substance as SSN

Don't blame me, blame him

Harry Redknapp working his way through his copy of 101 Summer Transfer Sound-bites for the disconcerting manager by Harry Redknapp.

According to the gaffer:

- There is nothing happening in the transfer market

- He needs to sell four or five players to bring in funds

- Levy has made it clear to him the club have to move a few players before we can start doing any business

- Unless we reduce our squad numbers we will stay quiet in the market

Superb, such depth, such clarity.

Harry has this gift of saying something when there is nothing to say. It's like he can't just leave it alone with a simple, subtle and polite nod towards the fact the club are going about their business like most others without the necessity to provide directors commentary.

The recent meeting between the club and the Supporters Trust revealed we are looking to off-load players. Which is pretty much like someone revealing to you Spurs play at White Hart Lane. To suggest we can't sign anyone until someone is sold is ludicrous. He then states the same thing again but differently.

(i) "I need to sell four or five players to bring in funds"

(ii) "The chairman has made it clear we need to move a few players before we can start doing any business"

The concluding comment about 'staying quiet otherwise' is laughable. I can see the official club statement from Levy post-transfer window closure...

"I wish to make it absolutely clear that by the time the next transfer window shuts we'll have sold a few players and then and only then we will sign a couple of new ones, but only if there is enough time to do business. It's been disappointing that we've not managed to bolster our summer war chest and spend it on new players but we remain hopeful that Santa Claus will broker some late Christmas deals in the new year."

All we appear to have here is a manager stating facts (yes, we have to sell players and yes money will go back into the pot) but using them in yet another tidy example of deflection and disassociation.

When we sign a player, sit back and note who takes all the credit for it.

In the meantime bask in the irony of a 2000 word article about nothing in particular.

Join the conversation on twitter

Redknapp

Some general musings and observations from today.

Sky Sports News constantly running the 'Luka Modric wants to leave Spurs' story then breaking the Daniel Levy statement response and then still continuing to run the original story like it was completely irrelevant that the club had shut up shop over any possible transfer.

Harry Redknapp on TalkSport. Never listen to this station (I guess only idiots do) but tend to look for relevant interviews or sound bites when told to do so and our gaffer post-Levy statement gave one of his routine interviews to the station.

Read this article for a general overview.

Do you think he makes it clear enough that it's Daniel Levy's promise that the player will not be sold?

He's relentless with it. Okay, so Levy does have the power to buy and sell but once more Harry hardly endears himself with his disassociation tactics. Seems hellbent to get the message across that if anything hits the fan it's not going to projectile from his backside. It will be Daniel in urgent need of Imodium.

But then it's no great surprise. Harry looks after Harry. He's hardly one to talk about loyalty. But clearly his agenda is to always come out smelling of roses so in case you've not quite grasped it: IF MODRIC IS SOLD, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HARRY.

@fizzyswizzle

Daniel Wynne of the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust was also on TalkSport and mentioned how he believes Harry should be more positive about the club when speaking to the media. The same Harry that uses 'them' when referring to us? Disassociation tactics, invisible divide...no matter how you wish to describe it that's how he operates. At least that's how he began to operate last season when the pressure was on. Said it many times, he does great PR that will always appease his pals in the press but he can't quite master the relationship with the fans when things get a little pricky.

I agree with Wynne, Harry needs to be far more positive. But to do so he has to be consistent. I lost count of the times last season when we were in the race and out the race according to Harry. He don't half contradict. He talks like a consultant to THFC rather than our manager (to quote a nail on the head tweet). Perhaps that's all he is. Steady the shape, get us into prime condition for a younger more long term appointment post-2012.

Probably doesn't really matter what Harry says as long as he gets his message across clearly in the dressing room. He loves to have a word on camera, in a mic, so he's hardly ever going to shut up. So he'll continue to churn out the sound bites. Harry should have kept it short and sweet today.

Alas, just roll with the punches.

Love him or hate him, he's worked wonders for us. He has a chance to do so again this up and coming season.

Things Harry Redknapp will say next

First there was the epic “I'm going to go and commit suicide, it's so sad”. Then he delivered the punchy “99.9 per cent of people who go to Tottenham have loved everything they’ve seen. That’s all that matters” and the exquisite “They’re idiots who don’t even watch football".

DML and Spurs fans on Twitter present to you...things Harry Redknapp will say next.

"Bill Nicholson led this club to the double, but he didn't have the handicap of two points from eight games"

Speaking on Oprah Winfrey: "The reason the NDP is non-viable is because there's no room for my statue"

"Spurs fans need to wake up and smell the coffee. If I wasn't appointed boss they'd be sitting midtable in league one"

"I established the club in 1882. Some "Fans" seem to forget that..."

"When I left they had 3 points from 8 games. Triffic compared to where they were when I started"

"Spurs will not be signing any players from La Liga. And up after the break on Sky Sports News, Jim White will be with us"

"Top nine finish is superb for them, superb for this club. Remember, they were bottom when I arrived. Two points from..."

"Look, all I did was unzip and urinate in their direction. I wasn't technically speaking aiming at the home support"

"Two points, eight games, two points, eight games, two points, eight games, two points, eight games"

Harry on potential signings: "I like that Revisita La Norther Premier Hotpoint League. That's the standard of player we'll go for"

"I did tell the FA all about my minor indiscretions when I took the job"

"Yeah, he's a good lad that Tony Cottee. He'll be fantastic upfront with Crouchie with Billy Bonds slotting into midfield"

"I didn't lose today, they did, them lot. Spurs. Nothing to do with me is it?"

"What I'm going to do to celebrate 3 wins from 13 games? Not much, probably just go home and have a bacon sarnie and walk the dogs"

"Crouchie and Defoe, unlucky not to score. Not our day. England fans should be happy. Quarter-final? I'd have taken that"

"I love a bit of wheeling and dealing, it's what makes football proper"

#futurearryquotes

Ain't no pleasing you

guest-blog by Chris King

When is it no longer acceptable to complain? To moan about a service provided, an experience gained or an attitude presented to you?

What makes it unacceptable? Do you have to take in to consideration everything that has gone before – to apply a “mus’n’ grumble” attitude to everything you do – as hey, there is always going to be someone far worse off than you; someone below you – way below you.

When do you hand over your right to complain? As soon as UEFA doles out their 30 pieces of TV silver; or does it go back further than that – to Eastlands last term, to when Harry signed, to when Jason Dozzell went back east?

This is the picture currently being presented to Spurs fans – fans who feel they want to exercise their right to politely point out where the team has gone wrong over the last couple of months. To comment, complain even criticise (lick windows and howl at the moon as some in the media are suggesting us “nutters” do). Yet we are being reliably informed that we are clueless; that we have no right to moan about this past season – as this is the best it has ever been (since circa Sky and all that).

Swallow your penance, shut up and accept your lot.

But what if you are one of those book learning types; you know – those that can read. Can look at a set of results, the names in a squad; understand maths sufficiently well to add up points that could (read: should) have been gained against those clubs below yours. What if you then came to the conclusion that all was not right? That something had gone wrong; horribly wrong – and the slight swagger you presented to the world back in March – was now a hunched shuffle, which had you sloping back in to the pack – to where most believe you truly belong.

City beating us was no great shock last night – eggs, paper bags, and the geek’s even nerdy dad could have Spurs in a rumble right about now. Yet if you read twitter last night, or skimmed through the obituaries – sorry – I mean match reports this morning - you’d think we were just popping off cloud nine for a pint of milk, a decent keeper; and we’ll be back amongst the big boys before next season was but a few weeks old.

It was official – we weren’t allowed to complain. We weren’t allowed to pluck figures like one win in 10 (I appreciate it’s more, I just like round figures) out of the cold, hard facts. We weren’t allowed to comment on the apparent lack of desire at times against West Ham, West Brom or Blackpool. 

We weren’t allowed to question the tactical acumen applied to the team selection in those game, or last night – or the switches made, and the personnel introduced. 

Unbeknown to Spurs fans, a new law was passed across the land placing the penalty of treason on any negative comments directed at the Red Top’s new “King of Hearts”. Harry is lauded as a very good manager who had a bad run with a few dodgy decisions, sendings off, injuries – it was always someone else’s fault.

But what if we want to complain? What’s stopping us?

Well there’s the ever so slightly patronising undertone that we’ve been shockingly bad for so long that, To Dare – is apparently above us. We should be happy with the fact that we’ve beaten AC and Inter Milan – we’ve had a run in the Champions League that no one expected of us, and that we took our beating against Madrid like men.

If there’s a Spurs fan out there that can’t find a positive from the season, then there is a little more than something wrong with them – and in fairness, to those baying for Harry’s head, only Vicente del Bosque would get the sack after some of our European results this term – but there is no disputing that our season was derailed sometime in March – and if we can’t moan, then at least let us ask why it all went so wrong?

I don’t buy in to the notion that the European experience did for us. We’ve been all over clubs at times – West Ham at home, City home and away – and what have we got to show for it? If we can’t criticise Harry, do we point the finger of blame at Dear Mr Levy? – who is so cunning in his transfer bargaining that he left us a striker light, and gave us Pieenar – a player who appears to have left what form he had, back up in Liverpool – no doubt a victim of that gang that targets the prized possessions of their local players.

But we can’t moan – nor question. So what do we do? We do what all Spurs fans do at such times, we argue with each other. If no one is prepared to listen, we find someone to at least shout over the top of on the same subject matter; though for once, we all seem to be shouting the same things.

No Journos will return our tweets, opposition fans only see the folly in our arguments – we’re no longer the darlings – back to being the overly expectant, laughing stock we’ve been since the ‘80s.

If last season delivered the earth, this season promised the moon and the stars as well. There was, daft as it now seems - the faint glimmer that we might even be the club to take the title race in to May. Looking at our last 13 league games, the teams we’ve played and the points we dropped – would it really have been so daft?

Though I guess it is not really our fault. United, Chelsea and Arsenal are where they supposedly belong – City have bought their place at the top table, and Liverpool – well, they’re just the Liverpool of old; same efficiency, same manager, same reliance on the back pass to the keeper. So if it feels like we robbed ourselves of glory; chances are it just wasn’t meant to be.

So if you feel like moaning – ask yourself a few questions: are we better than we were under Francis? Have we enjoyed some fantastic European nights down the lane this term? If the Red Tops want Harry for England, surely he’s still the man for us, right? If we’d have won half of those last 13 games, would we be back in the Champions League next year?

Actually, don’t ask that last question; it’ll only cause you to question, to moan….. To ultimately, be wrong!

Chris King, a regular on the old Shelf and held a season ticket in the Park Lane Upper. He now lives in Leeds, where he spends most Saturdays trying to teach his daughter the words to Spurs’ songs. Writes for In Bed with Maradona and his own blog Northern Writes.

Jim White's head to explode in 3...2...1...

Always amazes me how we can get down to the final day of the transfer window, and still be looking to acquire new players. I guess our desperation (along with everyone else's) and the opposing selling clubs agenda mean that the cat and mouse game played in the weeks leading up to 6pm cut off on the 31st August, serves both best to get a deal done and dusted. So in that final day, everyone goes loopy. Must be easier to negotiate when the clock is ticking because something has to happen, right? Last chance saloon.

If you go by what Harry says (when he's not abusing Sky Sports reporters), we need a CM and a striker.

We've signed a keeper on a season long loan (Stipe Pletikosa). Got Gallas in. Sandro has arrived. But, there is still persistence with Parker. And there are a number of forwards we've been linked with since the summer. So we've not been completely inactive. Just not overly active for areas deemed key for our continued progression. That added depth and removal of deadwood to freshen things up. Plenty of flirting, no first base.

I guess there are no young British forwards or continental gems to wine and dine.

If you look back to the methodology used to sign Modric and Berbatov (to name a couple of examples), these were players scouted and then bought well within the boundaries of the window. You'd think, having finished 4th and qualified for the CL we'd have had players tied up long before today and thus aid in avoiding the imminent melt-down of Sky Sports News.

Comolli, where are yooooooooou?

But these modern times are not as free-spending as previous seasons. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of options, and what is available appears to be way too expensive. I always thought we'd consolidate CL status with a superstar or two. I guess that's an expectancy too far. And probably nothing more than the want for something that's not actually necessary (Moddle, Bale etc - are players we should retain our faith in, as both are potential superstars). Signing of an actual world class player isn't and never has been easy, and is probably something we won't be able to do for a while yet (if all goes to plan). But it's what we lack. It's the difference between contending for 4th and challenging for the title. The other 'top 3' and City would tell you they have one or two world class players in their ranks. Liverpool too.

This is probably why some of us are frustrated with it all. But gun to head, we can't force a transfer just because it works in discussions on blogs and forums.

Perhaps we don't have quite as much disposable money available (to buy really good players who could play for us, if we could afford to match their estimation). Or maybe there is a genuine lack of affordable viable deals to be had (was Fabiano really ever an option?). Which means there is potential for panic. We've done that before what with the re-signing of Chimbonda.

This time round, it's not the defence that needs fixing up. So, who's it gonna be? Adebayor is being linked again. You would also have to speculate that one or two of our current players (the deadwood) will be shifted out on loan or otherwise. Odds on Keane to West Ham and Parker to us? With plenty of spin thrown in to attempt to mask the back footing? I guess with everyone desperate for an injection of new blood, it's all quite possible. It probably doesn't matter what's in the syringe, just stab it into the vein.

I hope we keep a level head. No need for dilatation of the pupils.

Levy and Harry should only sign a player(s) if it's the right player. Might be that there are three or four 'right players', and for reasons touched upon above, it comes down to the last day thanks to the tradition of wheeling (soz 'arry) and dealing and the fact that those opposing clubs play hard-ball right up to the final hour.

Irony to all this is, on the surface, it all looks a bit manic. But then most of what's being written is just commentary on what people think is going on. Leaked info from agents, genuine club insiders talking to their journo mates. Take a look around:

Adebayor to Spurs/Adebayor to remain at City. Parker bid rejected from Spurs/Parker to join Spurs. Young to Spurs/Young in no hurry to move.

All corners covered then.

Keane is now being linked with a move to Besiktas. Jenas to Stoke? Is 46 year old Sully Muntari really going to sign for us? Jim White's head to explode in 3...2...1...

We don't need much in the way of change. I'd rather a new forward than a new CM. Would love a game-changer, a talismanic signing. But my feet are firmly on the ground.

Onwards to 6pm.

I hope to be surprised. But won't be surprised if nothing happens.

Visit the DML Facebook page for collective shaking of the head whilst the hours tick away with no sign of a new player signing for the Lilywhites.

You tube vids here.

Understanding Harry

I do love Harry.

    "I am not being presumptuous turning down Liverpool, because I haven’t been offered the job and haven’t spoken to anyone about it.

    There is no need, as I have one year left on my contract at Tottenham and I am not thinking about anything other than being at White Hart Lane next season.

    I can tell you that I have not been offered a new contract, but that doesn’t mean I am looking to move on – far from it.

    I am loyal to Spurs, I want to stay at Spurs and I have a contract with Spurs, and I’d be happy to sign a new contract at Spurs if I was offered one, but in any case I have one year on my contract"

Subtlety is not his strong point.

contract - 5 mentions
one year left - 2 mentions
Spurs - 4 mentions in one sentence
whereabouts next season - 2

The "Liverpool interested in Harry", story breaks. No word from our gaffer for days, thus building up a little bit of uncertainty from the more paranoid ones amongst us. Rumour festers in the psyche of a certain bald chairman and then Harry strikes, verbally, forcefully, denouncing the Anfield club by repetitively re-educating us on his current predicament. You know, the one about him being one year off from the abyss of uncertainty. I wonder what point he's trying to drum home?

Back in logicworld, Liverpool would never look his way (I don't mean that in a derogatory way, Liverpool's expectations of a manager are of a certain template - foreign and crazy). And geographically, the only chance they would have if they were genuinely favouring our 'arry would be if they upped and moved to the South Coast, and trebled his wages in the process. Back to basics worked for us because we were never a bottom of the table club, just one with an inflated ego that forgot how to stand up and fight. He fixed it up. Restored pride and belief. Considering the plight of Liverpool, they need to suffer a little more indignity before they admit they need to re-think things (starting with new owners and possibly a replacement for Gerrard, if he grows balls and moves on).

For now, we can relax, we won't be seeing Redknapp's face printed on a massive banner alongside Shankly and Paisley with additional witty words beaming below with the Kop singing 'You'll never twitch alone...'

Considering we are two games away from the CL group stages, the only thing on our gaffers mind at the minute is to consolidate his worth with an improved contract/extension for his diligent work. He just needs to calm it down a tad.

I'm sure the next Tottenham good-feel story is not that far off from making the news...