da premier bet： Harry Redknapp and Daniel Levy’s relationship has been described as that of the ‘odd couple’ on more than one occasion. The two hardly seem to have an awful lot in common, bar maybe the odd financial trip to Monaco; you couldn’t really imagine them knocking a few back in the Bricklayers together.
da realsbet： But regardless of what supporters think about the pair individually, collectively, they need more than a touch of marriage counseling. As Redknapp pulled his first punch in the protracted contract situation yesterday, there can be no doubt that the longer uncertainty lingers around, the more damage that is done to all parties- both Redknapp, Levy but most concerningly, Tottenham Hotspur.
For better or worse, Tottenham Hotspur have some huge issues to address this summer. They currently possess a frontline that consists of one, recognized out-and-out striker in Jermain Defoe- and even he is considering departing. With Louis Saha being released and Emmanuel Adebayor returning back to Manchester City, Tottenham simply have to bring attacking reinforcements in.
Likewise, the futures of several first-team players must be resolved. Players like Dos Santos, Kranjcar and indeed Jermain Defoe all need to be considered- let alone the Bentley’s and Jenas’ of this world. Decisions will need to be taken on the futures of younger players like Harry Kane and Tom Carroll, about whether they are to be sent on loan or kept in the squad. And the looming issue of Gareth Bale but more prominently Luka Modric must be addressed. If the latter, for example, chooses to throw his toys out the pram and demand a move, a decision will need to be taken on a player that may no longer want to play for the club. The decision to sell and the reinvestment of such money will have to be taken.
As I’m sure many of you may have figured already, there is a pattern emerging here. All these decisions have to be carefully considered and swiftly implemented. History shows quite prominently, the pain that Spurs have inflicted on themselves by dithering in the transfer market. Both the Dimitar Berbatov debacle and the failure to bring in Adebayor and Parker till deadline day, emphasize the need to find your targets and bring them in early. Tottenham cannot afford to hesitate whilst their first-choice transfer targets are snapped up by other teams or play another off-season game of risk with Luka Modric.
But events in the boardroom are delaying the conclusion of any of these decisions and harming all parties involved. No one can say for sure what is currently flowing through the mind of Daniel Levy, but you can’t help but sense he has at least mulled over the thought of making some serious changes at White Hart Lane.
Whether you are pro-Redknapp or anti-Redknapp, it cannot be denied that he is currently a divisive figure amongst supporters and perhaps in the higher echelons of North London, too. On one hand, he offers both stability and consistency all wrapped up in a superb brand of football. No one can take for granted his record in the league, finishing fourth, fifth and fourth again in the last three seasons. The aesthetics on display at White Hart Lane are a whole world away from what supporters were witnessing four years before and it’s important to remember that. Managerial shuffles at Anfield and down the road at Chelsea offer more than a touch of the ghost of Christmas future. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side; the players enjoy playing for him and if the squad stays intact, fans can expect to be well up there in the race for fourth again next season.
But there is of course, a far more negative perception of the former Portsmouth boss. For all Spurs’ style they have so often lacked substance and for a team that were sitting in third on a ten point cushion in late February, finishing fourth has gone down, understandably, like a lead balloon. Tottenham should not have finished beneath Arsenal this past season and there are many who feel that Redknapp was unable to stop the rot when the chips went down or change a game tactically.
But perhaps the most toxic sticking point and maybe one of the real catalysts of the current uncertainty, was the fate of Redknapp’s team once the England job cropped up. Again, it is so difficult to indulge in speculation, although Redknapp was widely reported to have had a lucrative, four-year deal on the table back in March. If he wasn’t prepared to commit then, it rings hollow for him to moan about running into the last year of his contract, now. His comments to Sky Sports yesterday were cheap and unprofessional; regardless of what happens now, it is difficult to imagine Levy was particularly enamored with Redknapp discussing contractual issues in public.
The main sticking point appears to be the length of the contract on offer, with reports suggesting that Levy has only offered a one-year rolling contract after the end of next season. And why not? It’s good enough for Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola, who only sign 12-month deals. With respect, both Manchester United and Barcelona are in stronger positions to do that, but you can see why Levy has gone down that road- Redknapp is 65 and his chance for a lucrative deal has supposedly been and gone. He isn’t likely to be rewarded for his loyalty now.
However, the one-year rolling deal is rendered academic if Levy won’t back him. When you’re Manchester United, it’s easy to invest heavily with Ferguson on a rolling deal, as in all likelihood, the team is always likely to challenge for honors. If massive investment is needed at the end of next season, for example, will Levy want to give Harry a huge war chest if he may theoretically only be there for one more year? Likewise, would players be spooked by the lack of security at the club? Daniel Levy has more than a slight dilemma.
Ultimately, somewhere along the line a compromise might have to be reached. Because whoever the manager is at Spurs, be it Harry Redknapp or anyone else, they must be backed and backed quickly. Levy is the man who holds all the cards, but his next move could be one of the most important he ever makes.
What would you do if you were Daniel Levy? Stick to your guns or cave to ‘Arry? Tell us what you think at follow me on Twitter for all things Tottenham @samuel_antrobus
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