Thank You And Goodbye.

Harry Redknapp. Thank you and goodbye.








Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 10:27PM









Two points. Eight games. We'll never forget the ride. Run out of gas in the end.

I thought it would be apt to go back in time to when Harry Redknapp
was appointed Spurs boss and quote some choice paragraphs from a 2008
article (following on from a 2-0 home win against Bolton before we
played Arsenal away). Times have changed in the space of four or so
years. Our expectations have shifted. Interestingly, some of us forget
(ignore) what that catalyst for the shift was. We didn't consider it at
the time that a few seasons after his appointment we'd be gutted about
missing out on 3rd spot in the league. Gutted and ironically
disappointed at the very same catalyst that led to said progress.



<blockquote>
And in comes the media whore that is Harry Redknapp. A manager with
little integrity. Sorry 'arry, but it's true. His Pompey/Soton merry-go
round will tell you all you need to know. Levy claims that he's had
conversations with Harry in the past, suggesting that 'he almost got
here' before. Shudder.

Yeah, he saved Pompey from almost certain relegation. But couldn't
save Soton and also relegated West Ham. What exactly is so great about
his CV? Have we now lowered our ambitions? Have we accepted a place
alongside the likes of Blackburn and co?

Well firstly, scrap ambitions and comparisons, because that's what
has got us into this mess in the first place - believing the hype.

We are now behind the likes of Villa and City. As they develop and
progress, our work has to begin again. Maybe not quite from ground zero,
but we are limping at the minute. Although in modern day football 5th -
8th spot tends to shift about every season so all we need to do is
regain a bit of pride and form. And no matter the progression you make
(that goes for Villa and City at the minute) - you still need to depend
on one of the Top 4 having an off season if you. Which is rare. And
even if it does happen, you might find hotel food conspire against you.
So we are not that far behind if you go on recent Prem records.

The simple fact of the matter is - at present - we are bottom. The
players were not playing for Ramos. Levy had to do something drastic.
Sacking Ramos and co was the first part. Appointing Redknapp was the
second. Because for the moment, the only thing that's important is
remaining in the Prem.

Survival. That's it. That should be the mission statement for this
season. And having tried every type of manager, we've now gone for the 'not really done anything, loves his money a bit, Sky and the tabloids love him a lot' type of appointment.

We've stopped acting like the 'big club' and just taken stock of our current predicament.

So, am I happy? Nope, unsurprisingly, I'm not.

Levy, for all his little boy lost innocence, is knee-deep in damage
limitation and blame deflection. The players, having performed today
well enough to claim 3 points are questionable commitment wise if you
look at some of our prior performances (although, I'm happy to agree
that Ramos wasn't helping himself with selection and tactics). New
manager usually gets a reaction from the players, but I still can't get
rid of this feeling that Spurs will never push on until they get rid of
the vanity at the club. £15M+ for Bentleys hair is proving to be a
hard pill to swallow.

Harry himself paid money for Kaboul and does select players out of
position. Sometimes has three DM's in his team and still gets bullied by
the opposition and generally isn't the most astute tactically. So, I
would guess, it's down to his man-management to get things going again.

It's worked one game in. And come Jan, we might see the return of
Defoe and one or two other players - including some very un-Tottenham
like signings that might have some of us question wtf is going on (BRING
BACK THE DOF!!!!!1111) but that's what we want isn't it? Players we
NEED - and not superfluous signings. So, there is a positive, one hopes
in his appointment. Although getting rid of the DoF and letting Jol
sign his own players would have worked fine too.

So, is Harry an interim manager for the club? I hope so. Am I know
being a hypocrite for suggesting we are too big for Harry? Call me that
if you want. What I'm saying is, Harry isn't a great manager and has
limits which will become apparent in a couple of seasons. But this all
serves a purpose. A recovery period, washing off any remaining residue
of the DoF era. It's the consequence, not of Comolli but of Levy. The
buck does stop with him, and this I feel is the final sorry chapter of
mismanagement. He's admitted it hasn't worked, so he has gained a final
encore. And this is it. Harry will take us so far, and then Levy (if
he's still around) will no doubt appoint someone new. We'll see how it
all pans out. No point dwelling on this at the minute. If Levy suggests
that Harry is the one to reclaim GLORY - then Daniel will be leaving
us in the very close future.

If (there's that magic word again) Harry performs a miracle and is
still knocking around with us in 4 years time then Levy will be deemed a
genius and I'll have to eat a hat (preferably made of bagel).

In the mean time, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt (that's
Harry). And do what any fan would do: Support the team with all my
heart......and cry uncontrollably when it goes tits up. Again.

</blockquote>


Well, I guess I got certain aspects of it correct. The main point
that should be made and will probably be drowned out by a fair few is
that regardless of Redknapp's inability to control his mouth and his
lack of articulation and timing (and his contradictory statements that
are based around reacting to the moment in hand rather than fitting into
a more robust consistent bigger picture) - with all his faults he's
achieved measurable success at Spurs. It's just that from that success
we - he - could have achieved so much more.

When you look at the competition at the top of the table and the
managers there, was there anyone else that could have done what Harry
did? At that time, no. In the end, he's only guilty of being Harry
Redknapp. That's Harry with all the good things and the bad. Much like I
predicted he would be, even if he did prove me wrong along the way. The
bad for me was not his media persona and love for car windows but his
lack of cutting edge on the pitch when the chips were down. His
man-mangagemnt skills don't always work when they're required the most.
Harry is reactive to making sure he looks good at all times and walking
slowly away from any blame. You've got to be accountable. So do we. We
(the fans) have hardly covered ourselves in consistency either. Much
like Harry, we've struggled to get to grips with the expectations that
have continued to evolve over the past two seasons.

He was actually likeable when we were having success on the pitch.
But then people tend to smile more when their team is winning and only
point, complain and accuse when things go wrong. There was even a
connection during his court case battle and during the immediate
aftermath. But in the end, Harry looks after Harry and for the most part
- we as a collective remain fickle but equally so ambitious and in love
with our club. Something Redknapp was never likely to ever have.

Positives from all this? We've lost a manager but we're not 'in trouble'. Not unless in trouble
is finishing 4th spot and akin to our past mid-table mediocrity
(regardless of the fact we could have finished higher). We're not dizzy
or confused or punched in the gut in tears on the ground. We've just sat
down for a moments rest and a re-think. We have stability. There will
be no mass change transitional season to follow. Not if Levy appoints
quickly and appoints the right man and we go marching on.

(I'm sure that 'right man' comment will come back to haunt all of us,
as most are already arguing the merits of certain potential
appointments and disagreeing about them already).

Harry came in, fixed us up, got us playing like a team and got all
the assembled quality playing to their potential. The stats don't lie.
And in that is the crux of the issue. We grew stronger and with others
lagging around us, the opportunity was there to take advantage. We
messed it up. Perhaps if Harry was younger or more willing to adapt.
Perhaps if he saw eye to eye with Levy on the long term rather than
short-term season-to-season moneyball strategies...perhaps if he was a
little more shy in front of the camera. Who knows? He'd have got another
crack at it next season. But alas, no. His lack of focus has seen to a
not so surprising ending.

I should also cite the lack of
investment into 'long term' signings in recent seasons. We'll soon find
out if this was largely down to manager and chairman disagreeing on
targets based on whatever the new man achieves in the transfer market.

In the end, that rather fragmented disassociated relationship he
appeared to have with Levy dissolved into nothingness. Levy pricing out
Redknapp from getting his dream job, a different catalyst to the one
that started this journey. From the outside looking in. Harry voicing
his position from tv interviews, the club remaining silent. The England
debacle, the slump in league form...it's the right time for change. We
would have moved on had the FA given him the job so this doesn't change
much. I'm not going to knee-jerk and concern myself about whether this
will impact transfers. Levy will have a contingency. So, all that's left
to say is...thank you Harry Redknapp. When we were good, we were very
good. We made it to the promised land people! We had our adventure. We
wanted more. We might still get more but it will be with another leader.
So thanks for the memories. It's a shame that you couldn't quite find
the balance of team selection and contain the pressure to guide us just
that little bit further forwards (and upwards). It's a shame you
couldn't be completely committed to the Cockerel or at the very least
disguise your true intentions.

Football, is a funny game, because had that margin of a point been
two in our favour, had Chelsea not beaten Bayern...this blog article
would never have been written.

Onwards.

Here we go again then. Got nutters running this club. Sickening. 4th 5b44th. Not good enough,get real.

shearspur wrote:Here we go again then. Got nutters running this club. Sickening. 4th 5b44th. Not good enough,get real.

100 % per cent behind you shear, this is fcking crazy !
Bet the goons are laughing their heads off.

Heard enough sh*t come out of that twatts mouth the past 4 years to last me a life time, hes been sacked , thank f*ck, now lets move on , please no more redtwatt threads

I think the nursery rhyme goes "The King is in his counting house, counting out his money"

Hopefully HMRC will maintain a steady eye on him this time

i really cant be bothered to read all this stuff, look at harrys record and it says it all, yes he should have retained third place last year, and he was distracted by the england job, but i blame those in charge of england (like brooking ) who should have come out straight away and said harry wasnt being considered so he could have got on with the spurs job.
I couldnt really give a sh*t what harry was reported to have said, as long as he was keeping spurs in the top part of the premiership, and in case no one has noticed, none of the other twats could do that for spurs and look how many managers and coaches we have had since the advent of the premiership.
Bad day as far as i am concerned, and i bet others are laughing their heads off at levys descision.

And in 4 years time bring in the next one.

As an Arsenal supporter, and at the end of a season in which the St Totteringham's Day celebrations fell very late in the season, I have to confess to a slight shake of the head Lew

anicoll5 wrote:As an Arsenal supporter, and at the end of a season in which the St Totteringham's Day celebrations fell very late in the season, I have to confess to a slight shake of the head Lew

Yeah can well imagine it nic ! lol

Sometimes, some people dont know what they have....until they lose it.

There's an old saying "be careful what you wish for it just might come true"

Well for many of us it has. 90% of me is pleased he has gone but the other 10% is a little scared on what the next step will be.

I believe he had to go because of all the things that have been documented here enough times, the 13 points dropped to the gooners, his tactics or lack of, his big gob in the media and his so obviuos self promoting of how good he is and telling us we have never had it so good.

When he joined us I was not convinced he was the right man for the long haul his record of one cup win in 40 years was hardly impressive. But what he did was pick up a demoralised team by putting his arm around them and give them their confidnce back.However that's not going to last forever,a top manager has to have a lot more and I'm afraid Harry didn't have it and I believe the FA saw that aswell and I always said that they would never give him the job.

This year with the team we had and the follow on from last seasons exploits even Mr Bean could have got us 4th.....some may say he did.

I am a little scared of what is round the corner and who might might get in, but I'm convinced Harry had to go.

So I say thank you Harry for the ride and a ride was all it was ever going to be as you were never going to be able to complete the whole journey.

Mikey M

Mr Plums. wrote:

anicoll5 wrote:As an Arsenal supporter, and at the end of a season in which the St Totteringham's Day celebrations fell very late in the season, I have to confess to a slight shake of the head Lew

Yeah can well imagine it nic ! lol

Sometimes, some people dont know what they have....until they lose it.

I can see both sides Lew, I applaud Harry for what he has achieved, but like Lought said, he was working with probably the best squad we have had at this club that you and I have seen in many years, but of course Lought goes way over the top with calling him a clown, he is a very good manager, but tactically he was found wanting at times, Villa away when we all knew that Cheatski had a real chance of fluking the final and we really needed to beat a very average Villa team, he takes off VDV for Scott Parker when Defoe was available and Villa couldnt/didnt want to come out of their half. Like I said earlier if the rumours are true and he was offered a 3 year deal in Feb, but was waiting on England, its no good bleating about it now, you pays your money, you take your choice.
I like you still believe that England derailed our 3rd spot, dont care what anyone says, the results speak for themselves.
Harry is no Fergie and is 65 now, maybe this is the time for change and if players leave because of the manager, then they are players Spurs dont want.

Dave, with respect, its easy to say those are players spurs don't want but truth is we do want them.

Has whoever comes in will have my support, I just think we've made a big mistake, as we were discussing it

I think Harry has only himself to blame.

I'm pretty sure he would've been told more than once, that he's not the employer but an employee.

Mr Plums. wrote:i really cant be bothered to read all this stuff, look at harrys record and it says it all, yes he should have retained third place last year, and he was distracted by the england job, but i blame those in charge of england (like brooking ) who should have come out straight away and said harry wasnt being considered so he could have got on with the spurs job.
I couldnt really give a sh*t what harry was reported to have said, as long as he was keeping spurs in the top part of the premiership, and in case no one has noticed, none of the other twats could do that for spurs and look how many managers and coaches we have had since the advent of the premiership.
Bad day as far as i am concerned, and i bet others are laughing their heads off at levys descision.

Yea but

If chelski have had thought like that and stuck with there manager they wouldnt be winning f*ck all, they see a problem they fix it, our problem is we have never had a really world class manager since venables , Im glad arry has gone, he was taking the P*ss out this club , and we all laughed at chelski and there many managers , but i tell you this matey old chum, its f*cking worked for them, old flower

shearspur wrote:Dave, with respect, its easy to say those are players spurs don't want but truth is we do want them.

Of course we want to keep Modric and Bale, but if they use Harrys departure as an excuse, what can we do?

Harry is is own worst enemy with his constant sound bites to the media and 65 he keeps forgetting what he has said previously!!

How long could he have gone on 4? like i said earlier, he is no Fergie
and what would he be like in 2/3 years time?

This is a good article and sums things up nicely

http://www.thedaisycutter.co.uk/2012/06/redknapp-only-has-himself-to-blame/

I still don't understand why, given where we are today with Arry sacked, he was offered a three year contract in February after Fabio resigned ?

If Levy thought he was worth another three years then, and as far as both sides are saying was content to allow him to spend another season at WHL in charge while his contract ran out, what changed in the interim ?

So what is the story ? Did a run of poor results sink him - albeit he finished a decent fourth ? Was the Feb job offer a real one or just a dodge to screw the FA for compo ? Would he still be in he job if had said "OK Daniel, I'll take the 12 months"

All this "he brought it on himself" seems to be missing the point.

Hope we can move on from all this i gave him a lot of abuse here but i thank him for all the great moments in the last 4 years i thought he said this would be his last job ,but i read hes all ready for a new challenge good luck with that HR and hopefully we make the right choice for the future as long as its not martinez

If Levy thought he was worth another three years then, and as far as both sides are saying was content to allow him to spend another season at WHL in charge while his contract ran out, what changed in the interim ?


Perhaps him refusing to sign then and now asking why his contract has run down, cant have it both ways Nic.

LOBO wrote:

Mr Plums. wrote:i really cant be bothered to read all this stuff, look at harrys record and it says it all, yes he should have retained third place last year, and he was distracted by the england job, but i blame those in charge of england (like brooking ) who should have come out straight away and said harry wasnt being considered so he could have got on with the spurs job.
I couldnt really give a sh*t what harry was reported to have said, as long as he was keeping spurs in the top part of the premiership, and in case no one has noticed, none of the other twats could do that for spurs and look how many managers and coaches we have had since the advent of the premiership.
Bad day as far as i am concerned, and i bet others are laughing their heads off at levys descision.

Yea but

If chelski have had thought like that and stuck with there manager they wouldnt be winning f*ck all, they see a problem they fix it, our problem is we have never had a really world class manager since venables , Im glad arry has gone, he was taking the P*ss out this club , and we all laughed at chelski and there many managers , but i tell you this matey old chum, its f*cking worked for them, old flower

Making a statement like that lobo just proves you and many more are out of touch with what is really happening to spurs and dont realise what a major blow this is to the club.
I,m glad harry has gone for starters, why ? because he says things you dont like ? surely his record in the 3 years stands as evidence that he is the best we have had since burkinshaw.
The truth is lobo, that we arent a big club, we have the potential to be one, but we arent at the moment.
Those clubs above us have been there for years, only man city and ourselves under harry have gatecrashed the top 4, and now you are happy the bloke that got us there is gone, lol.
City got there by money, we dont have that money and maybe never will, but harry did the best he could, and dont be surprised if no one ever matches what he did for us.
Memories are short, and to tell the truth, i cant believe what levy has done.
He is fcking mad !

i think our club was piggy in the middle of two pig headed egos who both tried to outdo each other over contract wrangling to the detriment of us all.levy knew harry was the best we,ve had in ages and harry knew he was on a good screw here thats why he wanted longer. no one backs down so levy gets shot of the problem, but whats his plan B. we all used to moan about h not having one so whats levys. weeks of rumours and supposition of who it will be. no wonder the media love spurs, never a no news day here is there.crazy decision imo, just as we were getting somewhere, dont know why im suprised though.