Happy Harry driven 'mad' during window

08 September 2010 17:37
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has revealed he was "driven mad" by the transfer window and expressed his relief it is finally closed.[LNB] Spurs made just three additions during the summer but failed in moves for several more, were linked with more on top of that, and saw a number of their squad touted for moves away.[LNB]And Redknapp claims he was driven to distraction by the non-stop phonecalls from those either offering him players or wanting to buy his stars.[LNB]"I'm glad it's over," he told his club's official website.[LNB]"To be honest, it drives you mad with the phone ringing all day![LNB]"But I'm certainly happy with where we are at the end of it, we've lots of good players and it will make picking the team difficult at times, but that's a good problem for me to have."[LNB]Redknapp left it to the final two weeks of the transfer window before snapping up his first recruit, controversially offering a contract to William Gallas after the defender left Arsenal.[LNB]The Spurs boss finally completed a season-long loan move for long-time target Stipe Pletikosa on transfer deadline day, hours before pulling off the last-gasp £8million capture of Rafael van der Vaart.[LNB]Last month also saw the long-awaited arrival at White Hart Lane of Brazilian midfielder Sandro, who signed in March but was not allowed to move until the end of Internacional's Copa Libertadores campaign.[LNB]Redknapp declared himself satisfied with his summer business, saying: "Rafael was a late one, on deadline day, but the chairman said we had a chance to take him and it's a great signing for us.[LNB]"He's a good footballer who will settle in here and play well with the likes of Luka Modric, Tom Huddlestone and the players we've got at the club.[LNB]"Sandro's big, strong and a player with a big future. He's in the Brazilian squad now and hopefully he'll be a good player for us.[LNB]"I'm delighted to have William, he's a top, top player and he's done everything there is to be done in the game.[LNB]"His experience will be invaluable to us and so important now that Michael Dawson has picked up that unfortunate injury.[LNB]"For me, it was a key area and it's a great signing for us, I've absolutely no doubts about that.[LNB]"He's a great professional and I've been really impressed with him. He'll be good for us.[LNB]"I thought Stipe was a great loan for us, we couldn't go wrong on that one.[LNB]"We're looking to loan Ben Alnwick out and we needed cover.[LNB]"Carlo Cudicini has just come back from a serious injury and Gomes is also injured at the moment. It was important to get another goalkeeper in.[LNB]"Stipe's a top goalkeeper; you don't get all those caps for Croatia otherwise.[LNB]"He's also a great character and I'm sure he'll do well for us."[LNB]Redknapp has received a boost over Jermain Defoe's fitness after the striker declared he expected to be available for Saturday's Premier League game at West Brom despite being stretched off during England's 3-1 European Championship qualifying win in Switzerland last night.[LNB]There was also a boost for Tottenham ahead of Tuesday night's opening Champions League group match at Werder Bremen following news their opponents' key defender Per Mertesacker is set to miss the clash after breaking an eye socket in Germany's 6-1 win over Azerbaijan yesterday.

Source: Team_Talk