Harry Redknapp backs out of controversial substitution
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was forced to scrap a planned substitution in Friday night’s FA Cup win against Wigan amid fears the swap would disrupt his side’s momentum. Hossam Ghaly has not played for the club since throwing a tantrum (and his shirt) when substituted by Martin Jol in a match against Blackburn in May 2007.
s Sol Campbell will testify, the White Hart Lane faithful are not the most forgiving folks, and last night they showed Ghaly that he was still in their bad books. Ordered by Redknapp to strip off his tracksuit for a 10-minute comeback appearance, Ghaly faced a barrage of boos as he waited to join the action. This prompted Redknapp to tell the Egyptian to put his tracksuit back on and return to the bench. Read more »
What Harry says and what Harry does
Earlier this week, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp came out in defence of under-fire keeper Heurelho Gomes. Redknapp said: “He’s our number one so he’s got to do the job - we’re relying on him heavily. I believe in him and we have to believe in him.”
Rough translation: our reserve keeper (Cesar Sanchez) is even worse so it looks like I will have to keep picking him until January.
Redknapp has now recalled young keeper Ben Alnwick from his loan spell at Carlisle United. So to clarify, the Tottenham boss - who has no intention of dropping ‘Safehands’ Gomes - has cut short some guaranteed first-team football for a 21-year-old keeper to make him third-choice at White Hart Lane. That makes sense.
No, not Gomes himself - the other man behind his mistakes
Yesterday, our friends at The Spoiler were mulling over the Premier League’s top scapegoats. As if by way of response (perhaps they were unhappy at no longer being the butt of quite so many jokes) Tottenham today ‘parted company’ with goalkeeping coach Hans Leitert. Read more »
Harry Redknapp is one of the least ‘Arsenal’ football managers in the game. Arsenal and Harry Redknapp are like polar opposites, which is probably one reason why he is making such a good Tottenham manager thus far. Redknapp, while more than holding his own in the modern game, is essentially a throwback to a bygone era. Arsene Wenger is (usually) far to composed to give anywhere near as much away as the new Spurs boss.
Think Wenger and you think loyal lawyer - studious, happy to have a war of words but unlikely to take it to blows, fiercely defensive of his players and mysteriously blind when he knows they have pushed it too far. This approach has had its benefits over the course of Wenger’s hugely successful stint in England, but this season has shown some drawbacks to the method. Read more »
Croatian comes up with excuse not to shave
Superstitious Spurs full-back Vedran Corluka has vowed not to shave as long as his side remain unbeaten under Harry Redknapp. The Croatian - who wouldn’t have found it too difficult to keep clean-shaven under Juande Ramos - has been letting his beard grow since Redknapp’s first game in charge.
Corluka said: “When the new manager arrived I told him I wouldn’t shave if we didn’t lose. After we beat Bolton. our first win this season. I didn’t shave. Then I said I’d do the same if we didn’t lose to Arsenal. Now I’ve almost got a beard.”
His former club, Manchester City, have the opportunity to inflict the old Gillette on his tomorrow.
How do you rewind after a hard day at the office as saviour of Tottenham Hotspur? Call round to your son’s house for a quick game on the Wii, of course. If you can get the daughter-in-law involved, even better.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp yesterday became a freeman of Portsmouth. The ex-Pompey boss picked up the accolade just days after walking out on Pompey. Redknapp gave an understandably downbeat speech during which he was booed (but also cheered).
Harry Redknapp to be honoured in Portsmouth
With the sort of comic timing that you just can’t make up, Harry Redknapp will today receive the freedom of the city of Portsmouth. The ex-Pompey boss walked out on the club to join Tottenham just three days ago.
The new Spurs manager is keen to receive the accolade though. He said: “If they would like me to be there then I will. I think I’m getting it for what I’ve done, I’d like to go.” Read more »
