Source: Daily_Mail
Harry's neat tap dance: Spurs boss Redknapp laughs off claims of stealing rival stars
Finders keepers: Redknapp yesterday boosted his goalkeeping options by signing Chelsea’s Carlo Cudicini
Times have changed and yesterday the Tottenham manager was on the front foot, sticking two fingers up at suggestions that he has been unsettling rival teams by tapping up their billboard names.
Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb kicked it off earlier this month, accusing Tottenham of encouraging Stewart Downing to hand in a transfer request and experience the bright lights of London.
Then it was the turn of Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia, selling Pascal Chimbonda back to Spurs one minute (for a loss of£4m) and turning on them over their public pursuit of Kenwyne Jones the next.
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'It's the methods Tottenham use which is the most disappointing thing,' claimed Sbragia. 'I could understand if it was a top four club, or an Everton or an Aston Villa, but I can't understand the Spurs thing.' Ouch.
That ruffled Redknapp's feathers yesterday, prompting another robust defence of Tottenham's tactics in the January transfer window.
Redknapp insists that he provides Daniel Levy with targets, leaving the Spurs chairman to carry out negotiations on behalf of the club. He is building his team, starting with a goalkeeper (Carlo Cudicini) and finishing with another forward (possibly Jones) before February 2.
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Good old days: Harry Redknapp as Bournemouth manager (third left) is pictured with Tony Pulis (second left), whom, he joked, he tapped up
Cudicini will make his debut against Pulis's side at White Hart Lane this evening, his first game since Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Southend in the FA Cup last month.
According to Redknapp, he turned down the riches at Manchester City to sign for Spurs. He has been signed ostensibly as cover for injured Heurelho Gomes, but there is little doubt he will soon be first choice if he lives up to his reputation as the world's best second-choice keeper.
Cudicini remained diplomatic. 'I met Heurelho and (second choice) Ben (Alnwick) so it will be fantastic to work with them and we'll try to push each other. I think it will be a fair competition and that is good for the team. I'm really happy with this choice (of Spurs). This was the time to find a new challenge.'
Redknapp insisted: 'Everybody should have two or three top keepers at this level. You get injuries and you need someone who can come in. Carlo has come to challenge for a place in the team. It's very difficult to find top goalkeepers.'
He believes Cudicini is one of them, but the rebuilding has only just begun. Chimbonda will not be eligible to play until Saturday after missing the deadline to be registered with the Barclays Premier League by 15 minutes.
Feelings will be mixed among Spurs fans for a player who demanded to leave at the end of last season.
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Fighting talk: Spurs chief Harry Redknapp hit back at Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia's claims he had unsettled players at at the Stadium of Light
'If he comes here and starts roaring down the line, crossing balls and scoring goals then is isn't going to be a problem,' said Redknapp. He is the club's fourth right back, jumping to the front of the queue for a place in the Tottenham team ahead of the injured Alan Hutton, the versatile Vedran Corluka and the inexperienced Chris Gunter.
Redknapp said: 'Charlie (Corluka) can play centre back and we are short of centre halves because of the situation with Ledley (King). I've got a young boy Gunter, who is a terrific prospect, but he needs to learn the game.
'I've got a left back in Benoit Assou-Ekotto, I've got Gareth Bale and no left-sided player to play in front of them because Jamie O'Hara is injured for a few weeks. Chimbonda gives us cover all over.'
Redknapp's team is beginning to take shape, but there will be more recruits before the window closes. He still intends to sign another striker, setting Darren Bent free to go, possibly to Everton or Sunderland.
'I'm just looking for someone who can gives us something a little bit different, a bit of presence to hold the ball. I thought when Jones became available and they wanted Darren a swap might be interesting.
'I wouldn't say we're in a mess because I took over a fantastic club. We just need to strengthen in one of two positions. We had a little bit of bad balance to it all, but hopefully we can put it right.'
Without a win in the League since December 8, he certainly needs to.
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