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Harry Redknapp reveals a pre-season crisis at Tottenham
Ian Winrow23 Jul 2009
Harry Redknapp has been forced to rethink his spending plans after losing centre-backs Jonathan Woodgate, Ledley King and Michael Dawson for the start of the new campaign.
And in a further blow to his pre- season preparations, the Spurs boss fears he could be priced out of a move for his top two targets - Peter Crouch and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
Redknapp, whose team face Barcelona in the Wembley Cup tomorrow night, admits he had no plans to bring in a front-line defender before Woodgate, King and Dawson were crocked.
He said: "We've had a bad week. Michael Dawson has picked up an Achilles injury that will keep him out of the start of the season.
"Jonathan Woodgate has gone to the US to see a specialist about a groin problem and Ledley King hasn't kicked a ball in pre-season.
"So all three centre-backs could be out from the start.
"That position wasn't a problem for us in the past so we don't have anyone on the radar. But suddenly it has become more of a priority for us."
Redknapp's No1 priority had been for a new striker - but the manager concedes a move for his former Portsmouth forward Crouch or Real Madrid hit-man Huntelaar now lies in the hands of chairman Daniel Levy. With Pompey slapping a £12m price-tag on 28-year-old Crouch, the Spurs boss fears he will miss out on the player.
He added: "I've spoken to the chairman about it and he thought it looked a bit expensive for a 28 or 29 year old when there wouldn't be much of a return on the transfer fee.
"Having said I would like him here. So it's up to Daniel. If he thinks the deal stacks up and it's financially okay then I would be interested.
"It's obvious Portsmouth are trying to sell him and Fulham and Sunderland are interested.
"But his salary would be high and overall it would be an expensive deal."
Of his other striker targets, Redknapp added: "We have been interested in Huntelaar. The chairman has spoken to Real Madrid but I think it's an expensive deal that may be beyond us."
Huntelaar, also a target for Arsenal and Stuttgart, will not be moving to the German club after they pulled out of the race to sign the Dutch striker.
The move hit the rocks after an agreed deadline for the deal to be done came and went without a final answer as the player could not agree a package with the Spanish club for his contract to be terminated.
Reader views (14)
same old same old, here we go again, this time the season has not even started, i said that harry redknapp was out of his depth in this job and the first 4/6 games will prove this.he will be gone by september / october and it will be a desperate case of trying to find a top class manager to take over. sorry to say this but as a lifelong passionate supporter, this once great club is now in terminal decline.
- Tony Elsden, edmonton , london, 24/07/2009 09:19
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Do I detect the stench of fear and defeatism among many of the comments on this "story".
We are Spurs; we thrive on crisis; we pull together; we despise our enemies - yes, guys, it's time (again) to get out the tin helmets, fix bayonets and give Liverpool a traditional WHL welcome!
Are YOU up for it?
- Ted, London, 24/07/2009 08:39
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@In The Know: Tom Huddlestone would be the best in the league not playing in that position and comparable to Rio Ferdinand if could actually tackle. I'd be all for it if he had shown he could get stuck in which he hasn't. He is unbelievable on the ball, but off it is his downfall. To be a centre-back in the Premiership you have to be quick, agile, and good in the air and Hundrestone has yet to show any of these qualities. I'll have Tom right where he is right now and have him improve on his shortcomings instead of shifting him to the back. I have a feeling you'll see Chimbonda or Naughton at right-back with Corluka moved to the centre and Dervite partnering him if we can't get a solid defender in by the beginning of the season. I truly hope we do not go after Richard Dunne as I rate him lower that Dawson and over the past two season has gotten slower and the judgment has worsened. Distin would be a good stop gap but at a reasonable price.
- Enorme Nuez, Long Beach, CA, 23/07/2009 22:56
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God in the know, how can you say Huddlestone is a centre half, my friend, he is not a defender, has played there for Derby, but definately not.. Play Dorian, now its the time to play the youngsters. Daniel's right why spend alot of a 29/29 year old, rather than Huntelaar, who is much younger.. It seems like Manager's don't like coaching new players.. Forget Crouch...not needed...
Now a defender Harry, mate..
- Adrian, london, 23/07/2009 16:54
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At least Dervite may get a chance and that is what he is there for! To step up if needed. Corluka is a solid defender so I don't think we should be overly worried. The only thing that bugs me is that Ledders is still first choice when fint and that doesn't give anyone else a chance to form a partnership in our Hokey Cokey defence (in out, in out etc). We love Ledders but he shoild only be called upon as backup to prolong his career. COYS!
- Yidfield General, Slough, 23/07/2009 16:48
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Its seems odd that Ledley King & Jonathan Woodgate managed to play regularly once Harry arrived, with only the occasional league match missed, yet both are unfit for the start of the season, despite having a break. The Dawson injury is unfortunate, but not entirely unexpected due to his gung ho style. If Ledley's knee is as bad as reported then its really time he retired, rather than facing the consequences later in life. Thus, we should stop thinking of signing forwards & buy a couple of top centre-backs, funded by possibly selling the likes of Hutton, Jenas, Huddlestone, Chimbonda, Bentley, etc. I have a horrible feeling that Harry is lining up the excuses for failure in the forthcoming season.
- Rob Hotspurs, South London, 23/07/2009 16:43
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"Spent millions" on players his "manager didn't want" i do think Levy has had bad press, Spurs have spent zillions on some dross over the past few years and i beleive the managers have been the real architects of some of these crass signings. WE DON'T WANT THAT CART HORSE from Pompey.
- David, London, 23/07/2009 16:29
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Uhm..........? Corluka, Hutton, Chimbonda, BAE, Bale, the two new boys, we will make do for a week or 2!
- Fozz, London, England, 23/07/2009 16:27
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I think going into a crucial new season with makeshift centre backs ie corluka and chimbonda does not bode well for tottenham's season.King is obviously not going to be up to the rigours of a full season so realistically harry cant even rely on him to provide cover,never mind play.i think its imperitive to bring in a solid injury free centre back,perhaps more important than two new right backs from sheff united.
- James Small, dundee,scotland, 23/07/2009 16:19
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Am I the only Sours fan that seems to think that TOM HUDDLESTONE is the best centre back in the league not playing in that position!!!!????
He has all the skill, guile and graft to play the position as long as he has a ball winner around him and after a season or two would look just as good as or better than Rio Ferdinand.
Harry should try a combo of Corluka and Huddlestone and Chimbonda and Huddlestone, but then again what do I know....
- In The Know, London, England, 23/07/2009 16:18
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He really is deluded. How can centre-back not be a problem position when King and Woodgate are as injury-prone as it gets? What was he thinking - rely on Dawson all season and hope for the best? Come on Harry....say it. You know you're dying to. "Bare bones".
- Rob, London, 23/07/2009 16:18
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If this is true, then what we doing messing about buying strikers we don't need? We needed some cover at centre-back anyway, so bring someone decent in there, maybe Hangeland from Fulham or Upson, not likely the Hammers will let him go, but you never know.
- Paxton Pat, London, 23/07/2009 15:58
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Yet ago, weeks before the season and a defender, ordefenders in this case are injured. Centreback pairing for the first game will be Chimbonda and Corluka then, with Mr Versitile (Zokora) gone we already begin to struggle.
Woodgate was a injured purchase, the physio room has been renamed the Ledley Suite. It doesn't or shouldn't take a genius to realise we need cover, in all areas....
Four top flight strikers yet we want more.....Enough midfielders to fill 2 teams. defence and Goalkeeping were always an isue......
I thought the idea was to start at the back and work your way forward......
Either we have real problems, or the excuses are starting if we have a poor start to the season......
- Andy, St Albans England, 23/07/2009 15:27
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This is bad news. Ledley King looks finished and I only wish they would build with that in mind. Damien Commoli spent millions on players his manager didn't want and who are either gone elswhere or fringe players.
Now Levy is doing the deals it will go to the eleventh hour on deadline day, when he will be bidding for the dross who couldn't find a club during the close season.
Different Season - Same Old Story.
- Kevin, London, 23/07/2009 15:24
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