SPURS NEED HARRY REDKNAPP
Daniel Levy must keep faith with man who's saved White Hart Lane
ON the train back from White Hart Lane tonight, some of Newcastle's long-suffering fans ought to hop off at Peterborough station.
They might as well take the chance to look around the place because it's one of several unfamiliar venues they could be visiting in next season.
Because even an unlikely win for Alan Shearer's side at Spurs today won't stave off the looming threat of relegation. Certainly today's meeting puts the plight of Newcastle into poignant perspective.
How their fans must rue the day 15 months ago when Harry Redknapp turned down the offer to succeed Sam Allardyce.
Since then, the Toon have lurched from the fantasy of believing Kevin Keegan could revive former glories to the farce of turning to not one, but two caretaker managers.
Unfortunately Joe Kinnear's health record was bound to catch up on him. As for novice Shearer, his best bet of saving the club from relegation is dusting down his boots and playing himself.
In contrast, once Spurs chairman Daniel Levy eventually grasped the nettle and got rid of Juande Ramos, he turned to the proven experience of Redknapp.
Redknapp has turned the club's fortunes around after inheriting a side that was rock bottom on two points in October. After last week's win over West Ham, Redknapp declared that having reached 41 points his side were not only safe but on course to beat the Hammers to a UEFA Cup spot.
A rough estimate would suggest that he has already saved the club £50million, so he's more than earned a reputed £1m bonus for keeping the club up.
And yet I hear murmurs some people around the club who have the ear of Levy have not been won over by Redknapp.
Unbelievably, there is a view Redknapp's no-nonsense style of management is a bit too 'old school' for them and he can be a bit too blunt on the TV.
The machinations of modern football clubs can be baffling. More and more agents and spin doctors seem to rule the roost.
At many clubs an agent may get on the phone to someone in the boardroom and complain that his client is not getting a regular game. Redknapp had to shake things up. If some supposed stars are sidelined so be it.
If Spurs want to kick on next season and chase a Champions League place then the club must let Redknapp run the football side of the business.
Surely Levy can't make the same mistake again. If he does - and Shearer proves to be yet another false prophet on Tyneside - then maybe Harry's next mission should be to revive the Cartoon Army.
Now get the News of World print edition for more from Rob Shepherd
This article has 7 comments
How much did Harry spend in January? Is it a 'miracle' that Spurs have shot up the table.? Harry is a good manager who needs lots of money ( and a few dozen hangers on I mean assistants) I hope Spurs can afford it all.
By willie. Posted May 17 2009 at 12:24 PM.
no way is levy going to make redknapp leave he already has
made spurs defence one for the record books
get real!
By billiospur. Posted April 20 2009 at 12:42 PM.
if spurs get rid of redknapp, i would seriously consider give up supporting them
By gazza. Posted April 19 2009 at 8:16 PM.
YOU LET JOL GO YOU FOOLS IF YOU LET THE BEST THING WALK INTO WHL IN YEARS GO THAN AS A SEASON TICKET HOLDER FOR YEARS I WOULD GIVE UP.
By SPURFECTYID. Posted April 19 2009 at 7:45 PM.
I AM A TOTTENHAM SUPPORTER SINCE THEY WON THE DOUBLE IN 1961.
IF THE BOARD GO ANYWAY NEAR GETTING RID OF HARRY I FOR ONE wILL HAVE HAD ENOUGH.
HARRY KNOWS THE GAME INSIDE OUT
HE SHOULD REMAIN IN FULL CONTROL OF THE FOOTBALL SIDE OF TOTTENHAM.
TOTTENHAM SHOULD HAVE LEARNED FROM THERE MISTAKES OF THE PAST.
DES,
REP. OF IRE.
By des whelan. Posted April 19 2009 at 6:35 PM.
Why are Spurs fans being so negative. Harry will not be sacked. He will take his know-how into next Season, and just maybe the usual forecast that next year is Spurs`s year (oh how often I`ve heard that) will come true.
By Bill Burke. Posted April 19 2009 at 9:44 AM.
Surley EVEN Mr Levy could not be so stupid, players are pampered, paid well and live the good life if they cannot tolerate straight talking then tough as for the directors who you claim wish to get rid of Arry
Levy should get rid of them.
Stats are facts
Played 8 lost 6 drew 2 bottom where are we now.
remember this at the end of the sdeason Mr Levy.
You got rid of Jol do not make the same mistake get your croonies to back and dont sack Arry
By Dave Glover. Posted April 19 2009 at 8:16 AM.