Harry’s winning game

Wednesday, 18/05/2011

by James Willis, Shoot’s Tottenham blogger

After Tottenham's recent run of poor form - one win in 13 games before this week’s victory over Liverpool - there had been calls by supporters suggesting Harry Redknapp was perhaps past his best and no longer had a place at Spurs.

The former Portsmouth boss responded to these disgruntled fans with an outburst of his own. He stated that some of the club's supporters had become spoilt by their Champions League exploits, and perhaps need to be bought back down a level.

It's hard to pick sides in any upset like this, but ultimately many Tottenham fans have become rather spoilt by their recent development under the guidance of Redknapp.

When the 64-year-old took over the club had earned just two points from their opening eight games of the season and sat at rock bottom in the table.

Since then, Redknapp took Spurs from their poor start to just outside a Europa League (then UEFA Cup) qualification position in the same season.

The next year Tottenham qualified for their debut campaign in the Champions League by finishing in fourth in the Premier League.

This season Tottenham sit in fifth position with one game left, and despite having slipped as low as sixth recently, the season would have been classed as a huge success by any of the standards set before Redknapp arrived.

For the club to regain a Champions League qualification spot while playing already also in Europe's premier competition would have been a miracle. While Redknapp has been known as a miracle worker in the sport, it's unfair for that to become the expected norm from anyone.

Many fans had doubted the manager’s and the players’ commitment after their poor run of form, but a 2-0 win over a Liverpool side that had won their last six matches and were on arguably the best form in the league proved any doubters wrong.

The win took Tottenham back above Liverpool into fifth and one of only two Europa League qualification places left available. The other qualification position given to England via the fair play league could go to Fulham.

Blackpool sit just behind Fulham in the fair play stakes, leaving the two clubs as the favourites to take that Europa League place. Tottenham sit in third.

While the Europa League may not be as highly thought of as the Champions League, it would give Tottenham more of a chance to learn about balancing European competitions with the Premier League, not to mention a chance for some of the youngsters to shine.

It wouldn't be a surprise to see Danny Rose become a regular in the tournament next season, with possible appearances from promising youngsters such as Harry Kane, Steven Caulker and John Bostock.
However this season ends, Tottenham have given it a good run and with some rebuilding over the summer, there's no reason that the team can't look to challenge for fourth again next season.

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