Is Harry Redknapp attractive? The obvious answer would be, hell no. Look at him, he’s no Jamie or the more appealing Louise unless you’re that way inclined, but either way the poor Redknapp Snr has only got a face his mother could love and I suspect some of the time she wasn’t keen.
Of course I don’t really mean is Redknapp attractive in the literal sense of the word. I’m more concerned with his ability to attract the top players to Spurs. As I’ve said before in Champions League Promises we don’t seem able at the moment to attract that marquee signing. An argument would be we don’t need one and while I say marquee I don’t mean an expensive player who will sell lots of shirts but not really perform. A marquee player for me is one that will not only sell lots of shirts but will also lift the squad to another level. We probably need more than one.
Are we the best team in England? No. So we need to strengthen not only to get better but also to tread water in the top 4 with teams around us trying their best to improve too.
Look at the signings Redknapp has made in his career. No “marquee” players. He’s comically referred to as a wheeler dealer which was great for teams like West Ham and Portsmouth who didn’t have the money or the stature to try and attract Europe’s finest. He would unearth little gems who would put their careers in his hands for the chance to play in England and earn buckets of money. It’s not hard to prise players away from clubs like Lens where they’re earning £15k per week to any club in the Premiership on £35k per week.
What’s difficult is convincing a player currently playing Champions League football in countries like Spain and Italy and earning equivalent to what Spurs can offer to come and play in a colder climate, a more physical league where they have to give half of their wage to the British tax man.
He’s not Fergie, Wenger, Mourinho or even Benitez. How well known is Harry
Redknapp outside of England? I’m not saying within coaching, managerial and top brass circles, I’m suggesting players don’t really know who he is.
Look at who he’s signed since he became Spurs boss. Defoe, Palacios, Cudicini, Chimbonda, Keane, Crouch and Bassong. In Defoe and Crouch he had 2 players he had worked with before, Chimbonda and Keane were returning Spurs which left Cudicini, a keeper who had resigned himself to sitting on Chelsea’s bench forever, Bassong, who would’ve given anything to jump the sinking ship that was Newcastle in the championship and Palacios who had the choice of staying at Wigan or playing for Spurs. With no offence to Wigan, it’s not a tough decision.
All the players who work with Redknapp seem to say how good it is and what a very talented coach he is. However, players have got to work with him to find that out. There’s not the allure of working with a Fergie or Wenger that means players will take a chance of maybe not even playing in the first team immediately just to work with them. It’s not Harry’s fault of course. It’s the result of a career spent battling relegation with “small” clubs (yes West Ham you’re small) and getting the best out of the players he’s got.
Even more worryingly, the reason we’ve only been seriously linked with the likes of Cole, Bellamy and Richards is not only down to Redknapp but also down the Tottenham Hotspur FC. The last time we were really one of Europe’s elite was nearly 30 years ago. That’s an entire generation of footballers (and fans) that have grown up seeing spurs as a mid-table team. Why are we surprised when players like Berbatov saw us as a stepping stone to the likes of United?
If players like Suarez see us in the same light they’ll only sign for us if they don’t believe there are better options for them at the moment and lets be honest footballers aren’t known for the modesty. I’m not saying Suarez and players like him are the answer to all our questions, nor am I even saying we need a new striker, but if Redknapp feels we do, how are we going to attract them without throwing vast amounts of cash at the situation which is a road we don’t want to travel down, just ask Leeds fans (if you can stop them fighting and running into lampposts).
I have no doubt Redknapp could work with the best and make them better and as such Spurs would improve beyond measure. I guess just like money breeds money, success also breeds success.
Discuss this in our forum HERE
Related posts:
Spurs News 24/7
Ahh, Louise from Eternal
I think this transfer window, for Harry and Levy and the club as a whole is suffering because of the CL qualifier position. No player will want to leave the club as if we do qualify they know we will have a need for two teams, so will be good for all players as there will be pretty much 2 games a week.
Same reason no one wants to sign for us, because if we don’t qualify there will be too much competition for space, and who wants to just be playing in the Carling Cup (which I assume we will now not focus on at all)
Similar issues to the Berbatov saga, when we screwed up the opening few weeks of the season trying to do deals rather than get shot of him and buy someone else.
This is not the year to try and make an extra million, it sounds blase, especially as it is not my money, but I think we may have to take some gambles on keeping players (Keane?) and if we are going to buy, it is going to cost us.
If it all works out, Redknapp and Levy will be hailed as geniuses, if not, we have a lot to sell in January….