Never wanted him at the club and I was glad when he was given the boot. Sure, he did well with us, but he would have had to have been a complete and utter imbecile not to, give the squad we had. As it is, I think he under-achieved with us, especially during his last season with us. Tactically, I thought he was a bit suspect, but the biggest thing that annoyed me about him was his sticking slavishly to the same circle of players, and giving cold-shoulders to those that, for what ever reason, pissed him off. I rather get the impression that there was something of the "do exactly what I say, or you can **** off!" about him, that is out of place in the modern game. Personally, I will never forgive him for getting carried away with all that tabloid "cry Harry for England!" bollocks. That cost us dear; and when he didn't get the job (undoubtedly to his own great surprise - because he had so cleanly sold us up the river), he tried, cravenly, to back-track. I'm one of the very many who is glad to have seen the back of him.
'Arry assembled the best Spurs team since the early Sixties - he just didn't manage to keep it together long enough (under his charge) to develop and the achieve the success it could perhaps have achieved. Who knows, but the results and performances in that period from Oct 2011 to Feb 2012 suggested that this was a particularly good Spurs team.
Considering the amount we've talked about this subject previously you know full well we think similarly, so I'm not sure why you've read things differently, correct me if I'm wrong but even you said you doubted Harry's ability to maintain us in the top3, the next level from vying for 4th, which is all I've said. If you've changed your mind since and think he was capable of achieving that with us, then yes, we disagree, a rare occasion...no big deal though is it?
Redknapp made it impossible for Levy not to sack him. He was aquitted in February of Tax Fraud in court ... he praised the spurs board and Levy in particular for showing him such good support and then almost immidiately turned down a new contract cos of the England job...so far fair enough. He then spent months pretending not to be thinking about the England job whilst pissing around with our formation and tactics (anyone remember that cup game at stevenage????) to show how clever he was; claimed on countless occasions that the uncertainty over him still being the spurs manager was NOT unsettling the players while he and his team pissed a 10 point lead over 4th place up the wall. Then after he was not given the England job he started moaning that his lack of a new contract offer WAS now unsettling the players (even though the season had ended)...and he did this on TV during an England game in the Euro Championships...while Levy was in America attending his mothers funeral! Like I said there was only ever going to be one result after that lot! I liked our football under Harry and think he was good for us even though he had his limitations but I don't think the club were left with a choice in sacking him. AVB ain't as bad as I thought he'd be but I wish Harry hadn't tarted himself around and had stayed with us.
Back when Ramos was making a king size balls up of everything I lost interest in football especially as two Spurs players were sent off when we were rock bottom and I thought you thick cretins. Then Arry came along and I perked up a bit and my interest was revived when we had the CL. Love him or hate him you cannot deny that life is never dull with this Delboy like character around and his teams mostly improve with him as coach. He goes back to the sixties when we won the WC and there was some good coaches who were English and so learnt under some good names and standards were high. But is he honest? His extra curricula activities impinged on our performances and so it wasn't a mistake to let him go, I feel it was time for him to go. He is Mr Football and good luck to him.
Of the two 4th places, the 4th place that never was as far as CL qualification goes, turned out to be as much use as last seasons record points haul, had Harry achieved a record points total, we'd have qualified automatically. Had both managers achieved what the other one did, we'd be looking at 2 more years CL footy, funny how things work out.
When you look at it we have been incredibly unlucky over the last eight years. First we don't qualify because of a stomach bug on the last day of the season, then we become the first and probably last team that will ever finish in the qualifying places but not qualify because a team finishing outside the qualifying places wins the bloody thing (incredibly flukily too, let's not forget). Then we become the first team EVER to end with 72 points and not qualify. So out of the last eight years we really have every right to feel robbed that we've not been in the CL for half of that time! Imagine what difference that would have made.
...and they say lightening doesn't strike twice...no it doesn't, unless you're a Spurs fan!...don't know about you but over the years I'm used to it. Talking of Spurs bad luck, anyone else noticed how many ex players come back to bite us, or a player who's either a) never scored, b) scored only once some years ago, or c) on a drought of all droughts, suddenly turn up in a game v us with a goal, quite often a worldie, and one that affects the result, never a consolation, nope, an undeserved equaliser/winner, and never score again! plus keepers who have the best game of their career! We can bemoan our bad luck, but the other side of the coin is its not like the Chelsea CL thing was a sudden surprise at the end of the season, we knew it was a possibility well enough in advance and didn't get the required points total to make that not matter, not to us anyway i.e. 3rd. The same principle applies to last year, one result short. Agonising really.
Surely his lowest moment as Spurs manager. Truly bizarre selection. I'm still not 100% convinced that he let the England speculation distract him completely, though. Our form towards the end of the season took a nosedive, but that was what happened in previous seasons too, wasn't it? His contractual complaints to the media and bringing in Rooney's negotiator certainly saw to his demise with Levy, though.
Two of my favourite Spurs managers, along with Sir Bill and Burkinshaw, are Harry and Venables. I think both should have been manager here for longer (although I wouldn't have had Terry in the board room!). AVB time is very interesting (so far not exciting) and I am genuinely excited about what he might achieve.
I don't have the energy for another big Redknapp debate as it's blatantly obvious you either love him or hate him. No real in between and the rubbish some come out with to attack Redknapp makes you realise it's all to do with his personality rather then his record. We forget Redknapp set the standard. We have a hell of a lot to thank him for. Not just in getting us in the champions league but bringing some respect back to the club. Making us competitive in North London derbies and overall not just here but abroad he helped raise our stock as a football team.
Fair enough but in general I find fans either praise or attack him. Based on how they view his personality. It's there view of his del boy type persona which is at the forefront but I accept some can be fair.
If you make posts like that Boss then do not be surprised if you find your self once more in the midst of a debate. I'll come out with some more rubbish just to get you going. Redknapp set the standard!!! Redknapp was lucky to walk into a club that had just had millions spent on players and was floundering under a foreign coach who did not speak English. The only way was up at that point and any half decent manager could have done the job. He did however go on to produce some good football with the club with a big factor the 'lucky' signing of Van der Vaart. He also identified the need for a midfield enforcer as Palacious followed by Parker made a major difference. However all this could have been said of Jol before him who was IMO the beginning of the modern upsurge for Spurs not Redknapp. Apart from that Redknapp is a loud mouthed self promoter with limited ambition, a man who thought Spurs should think themselves lucky that he had managed to drag them up to fourth. FFS Very glad to see him depart.
Spurf you on the Wum again LOL. Redknapp set the standard in terms of us being a top four club. Not sure how anyone can debate that other then attempt to try and downplay his achievements by saying he was 'lucky'! Jol done a good job. Was loved by most fans and deserves credit but Redknapp took us to a different level. A level a manager like Jol could never reach. Jol is too much of a nice guy to really attack. Redknapp is a loud mouth opinionated...., (insert chosen word).. So is easy to attack. Hence my point about his personality being the main reason fans dislike him
No I am replying to the wind up comment that all those who don't agree with your view on Redknapp only have rubbish reasons. Mr Boss wum Jol already had taken us to 5th which could easily have been 4th but for lasagne and he was truly ambitious for Spurs not just himself.
It seems we can talk about pro's n con's as you would on a forum about any other subject, but as soon as its con's re Harry, its tin hat time...love to know why??
I'm not sure that he was lucky with the signing of van der Vaart, as we were playing good football before his arrival and Redknapp had to change from his preferred system to use him. The 09/10 season was arguably our best with Redknapp as manager and we used a 4-4-2 with Defoe and Crouch up front for most of it. The 9-1 against Wigan was a prime example of that working well.
I see cons or negative points re Harry. I Personally defend Redknapp mainly because often what he done for the club gets watered down or played down and praise is directed elsewhere but I certainly know he had negative points about his management. One of my main issues was the people he employed around him. If Redknapp was more open minded and flexible re assistant managers or coaches. He could have been a great manager but he probably never liked his opinion being challenged and no one to see his mistakes.
