Source: Telegraph
Tottenham can sustain top four charge believes Harry Redknapp
The Spurs manager, speaking in the wake of the 2-1 away victory over West Ham United, which lifted his side back to the top of the table after three matches, with a third victory, said: “It could be open this year. Man City will certainly be pushing to be a top four team, and there's no reason we can't push and be up there having a go at it.
“We've got good players. We only lost one home game last season since I went there (in October 2008) – to Everton – including all the cup games. We've won two away games already this year. If our home form stands up, we'll be right up there.
“It's just nice to get a good start. It gives you that confidence. If you have a bad start, you never seem to move from where you are in the table. We had a terrific run last year, but we were still stuck in the relegation zone after Christmas because of the start they'd had. Now the players must be looking at it wondering: 'Who knows what we can achieve?' I'm not saying we'll finish in the top four, but we have good quality and we'll give it a go.”
Now that he has also had an opportunity to re-shape his squad, Redknapp said the atmosphere in the Spurs team has been transformed. “The mood is different all together to last year,” he said. “The boys were low, short on confidence last year. They did great, only missing out on Europe by one point.”
With those three wins – at home to Liverpool and away to Hull City and now West Ham – Spurs have made their best start to a league season since 1960-61, when they went on to win the title and the FA Cup under Bill Nicholson. Spurs have not won the title since and understandably Redknapp blanched at comparisons between then and now.
He said he will only look to add to his squad if the right opportunity arises – and he will probably have to move players on to do so, not for monetary reasons but to reduce the numbers.
Aston Villa are undoubtedly interested in Jermaine Jenas while David Bentley can leave if Spurs receive the right offer. Last week Redknapp watched the Celtic pair of Scott Brown and Aiden McGeady but is believed to regard both as over-priced. He will love to add Joe Cole to his team but Chelsea will not sell.
