The following are google searches and results on various Harry Redknapp related themes.
"Harry+Redknapp+top+manager" produces 1230 hits
"Harry+Redknapp+good+manager" produces 896 hits
"Harry+Redknapp+good+manager" produces 896 hits
"Harry+Redknapp+elite+manager" produces 3 hits...
"Harry+Redknapp+Wheeler+Dealer" produces 1580 hits
"Harry+Redknapp+Cockney" produces 5160 hits
"Harry+Redknapp+Dodgy" produces 6590 hits
"Harry+Redknapp+Dodgy+Deals" produces 1220 hits
"Harry+Redknapp+Shifty" produces 2810 hits
"Harry+Redknapp+geezer" produces 1030 hits
"'Arry+Redknapp" produces 2580 hits...
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It has always seemed to me that, moreso than any other other figure in the game, Redknapp carries with him a certain image in the media which he has found it almost impossible to shake, namely, that of the Cockney wideboy made good, the wheeler dealer, the slightly dodgy second hand car salesman that you might think twice about buying that Cortina from. While at West Ham, his activity in the transfer market was legendary for its excess; however, I think there is a fair case to be made that in his time at Portsmouth he undertook something of a metamorphosis from the old school football man to a more than competent progressive and forward looking manager.
He made Portsmouth into an established Premiership force, taking them into the UEFA cup and winning the F.A. cup in 2008. He did this not based on huff and puff, but on playing good football and through smart scouting of foreign (and especially African based) players. Portsmouth never quite achieved the heights which many predicted for them and remained quite inconsistent in league form. For his part, Redknapp was somewhat dogged by questions over his integrity, but these remain unsubstantiated. That said, I think that he has at least earned the right to a reassessment of his managerial nous. The Tottenham gig will provide that.
I'm very curious to see how he fares. Is it time to acknowledge that Harry Redknapp is more than Dave Bassett or Ron Atkinson redux? Or is he cut from the same cloth as the Grand Old Duke of York - a manager who, in Danny Baker's words, will 'march his troops to the top of the hill, then march them back down again'? This will surely be his final chance to address those clichés.
1 comment:
I'm a big fan of Harry Redknapp and in full agreement that he has been a victim over the years of lazy journalism.
I greatly admire how he dealt with the Clive Woodward affair. Woodward was convinced that he was going to turn football on its head in a data-based revolution. He had the credentials to convince many people - including, embarrassingly, myself - but not Harry Redknapp. He said that he knew a good footballer when he saw one. He does.
He is a wheeler-dealer. Of course he is. That's the essence of good management at a smaller club. With a bigger budget, I think he's going to do some serious damage. It's only a pity it's taken this long.
Oh, and eh, watch that Spurs share price this week...
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