Spurs boss Harry Redknapp believes club should always be challenging at top of table

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has insisted the club's rich history means it should always be battling at the top end of the Premier League. Redknapp celebrates his first anniversary as manager on Monday, and will hope for the perfect present when Spurs entertain Stoke on Saturday. After taking 65 points from his 38 games in charge, Redknapp said: 'As an outsider I always looked at Tottenham as a club that should be up there. They've had great teams over the year with a great history. Good year: Harry Redknapp has turned round Tottenham's fortunes 'We've got 19 points from nine games, if we can take 19 for the next nine I'll be very pleased. 'We haven't achieved anything yet but it looks like it is possible.' Tottenham were rock bottom of the Premier League when Redknapp replaced Juande Ramos a year ago, but he has superbly rescued their fortunes and now the Londoners are in third place. 'A year goes too quick, but it's been an enjoyable year on the football front,,' Redknapp added. 'I wouldn't have been here if they'd not had a bad start. 'Things have gone very well. We've played good football and got some good results, which is what I was paid to do. 'We had a great end of last season and we've carried it on. There's no reason why we can't continue, the confidence is there and there's all the ingredients to do well.' Spurs had two players sent off in their defeat to Stoke last season and that turned out to be Juande Ramos' last league match in charge before chairman Daniel Levy turned to Redknapp. 'Stoke are strong, they are a good side and Tony's done a great jobfor them,' Redknapp said. 'I can see them finishing in the top halfhaving established themselves as a Premier League club, and they have afanatical support. 'I know Ricardo Fuller well, I've bought him acouple of times. James Beattie and Fuller are a real handful. I'mexpecting a real difficult game; nobody gets an easy game with Stoke.' Redknapp has spoken to players who were pictured on a night out celebrating last weekend's win at Portsmouth. 'It'svery difficult to stop players going out on a Saturday night with theirwives. There's always somebody out there with a camera,' he said. 'If they do go out they have to make sure they behave and keep as low a profile as they can. At the end of the day they've done nothing wrong. I've spoken to them and hopefully it won't happen again.' Peter Crouch, one of the players photographed, is in the frame to deputise for suspended striker Jermain Defoe.

Source: Daily_Mail