Source: Daily_Mail
Harry Redknapp: Replacing Tottenham boss will not be easy
A Tottenham fan said to me recently that if Harry Redknapp left Spurs for England next summer the club could just get Carlo Ancelotti in to replace him.[LNB]Others might fancy Mark Hughes and the club could be sure of strong interest from a host of ambitious managers wanting to continue the progress being made.[LNB]But the feeling that Redknapp would be easy to replace and Spurs' upward trajectory would continue unchecked is frighteningly complacent.[LNB] Hard to replace: Redknapp has transformed Tottenham since his arrival[LNB] More from Leo Spall... Leo's London: To be Frank, competition for places is good... unless my place is under threat14/12/11 Leo's London: You're not safe yet AVB, you still have to face Manchester City07/12/11 Leo's London: Silence the Twitter haters and let targeted stars move on30/11/11 Leo's London: Spurs aiming to be kings of the capital - but it could be a short reign23/11/11 Leo's London: Chelsea's arrogance could be their downfall09/11/11 Leo's London: FA and police must deliver swift verdicts on Suarez and Terry02/11/11 Leo's London: Wise up, Terry! Fans are watching your every move26/10/11 Leo's London: Don't encourage Barton to guide us through football's moral maze19/10/11 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE Sure, Ancelotti is an excellent manager and the club have a good squad but a better fit than Redknapp and Tottenham you could hardly find.[LNB]The former West Ham boss is the right man in the right place at the right time. He is at the peak of his powers after a lifetime of experience in the English game and there are few with the knowledge that he has.[LNB]Redknapp is not perfect, far from it, but he knows the Barclays Premier League inside out and is a canny operator in the transfer market.[LNB]He appears to have curbed his enthusiasm for flair players, too, marrying his attacking instincts to more pragmatic ones.[LNB]So, where once Tottenham's home was known as Three Point Lane to Chelsea fans, tomorrow they will head to north London without that sense of superiority.[LNB]Redknapp may not have ended Chelsea's long run of success at Spurs (they went 17 league matches unbeaten at White Hart Lane before defeat in 2005) but he has made sure his team are now favourites against their rivals.[LNB]He has also put Tottenham in a favourable position in the race for the title despite a significantly smaller wage bill.[LNB]Anyone associated with the club taking the job he is doing at Tottenham for granted could be in for a nasty shock down the line.[LNB]Apart from the possibility of England calling for him next summer, new contract negotiations could turn sour while other personal issues may put the manager's future at White Hart Lane in doubt, too.[LNB]The potential for Redknapp leaving is real and Spurs only have to look at the problems tomorrow night's opponents have had in their quest for the perfect boss to realise that finding the right man is harder than it looks.[LNB]No middle ground for AVBAndre Villas-Boas looks like he is either going to prove himself to be a genius or a fool as manager of Chelsea. There simply seems to be no middle ground.[LNB]His recent claims of 'persecution' and tales of a club TV pundit being removed for criticism of the manager point to an insecurity which is unlikely to serve him well.[LNB] Sink or swim: The Chelsea boss must make his choices and stick to them[LNB]The Portuguese could certainly learn how to show his love for the game from Harry Redknapp, even if his fascination is likely to come across in a more bookish fashion.[LNB]But if overhauling the Chelsea squad is the goal, Villas-Boas has made a reasonable start and, at least, we can rest assured that life with him will not be boring.[LNB]Sturridge's Euro 2012 chargeDaniel Sturridge must surely have forced himself right to the top of Fabio Capello's thinking for next summer's Euro 2012 squad.[LNB]The Chelsea striker's goal against Wigan last weekend was exquisite and showed how far he has come in the last two seasons.[LNB]There are those who fear Andre Villas-Boas' liking for playing Sturridge out wide will wreck him as a traditional centre forward.[LNB]But the experience he has gained there has made him a better player and a formidable prospect in that position.[LNB] Net result: Sturridge's fine form has forced him into England contention[LNB]Witness the torrid time he gave Gael Clichy at left-back when Manchester City were beaten at Stamford Bridge.[LNB]Take note of the eight Premier League goals he has scored this season to make him Chelsea's top scorer.[LNB]Sturridge would certainly be a more potent prospect than Theo Walcott or Aaron Lennon on England's right next summer and the idea of having him there and Ashley Young on the other side is very appealing. [LNB]Jol needs Zam rethink Fulham manager Martin Jol really cannot afford to be falling out with a player as good as Bobby Zamora.[LNB]A clash or personalities or egos should not result in a valuable striker, the sort who is hard to come by and expensive to buy, being shunned and sold.[LNB]Of course, the boss has to exert his authority and Fulham are anything but a one-man team.[LNB]But the sort of battle that seems to be being played out appears one that a talented manager such as Jol should be able to resolve to the team's advantage.[LNB] [LNB] Share this article: FacebookTwitterGoogle+MessengerLinkedInDigg itNewsvineFarkNowpublicRedditPrint articleEmail article Add your commentsComments (0)No comments have so far been submitted. 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French claim Beckham's PSG switch has been approved City boss Mancini hits out players who take money over games MOST READ IN DETAIL My Top 50 StoriesClick on the icon below an article to save to your favourite stories file[LNB]Open Close Remove Check box to remove Close Remove Check box to remove Back to topHomeNewsU.S.SportTV&ShowbizFemailHealthScienceMoneyRightMindsCoffee BreakTravelColumnistsSitemapNewslettersRSSArchiveText-based siteReader PrintsTop of pageDaily MailMail onSundayWidgetsThis is NetworkThis is LondonThis is MoneyMetroLootJobsiteDatingFind a propertyMotorsPrime locationVilla RentersPublished by Associated Newspapers Ltd[LNB]Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group[LNB]© Associated Newspapers LtdContact usTermsPrivacy policy & cookiesAdvertise with us
