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Harry Redknapp must solve his defensive nightmare
Andrew Fifield27 Jul 2009
Harry Redknapp has been around long enough to know the pitfalls of pre-season prophecies. "Last year, I remember Tottenham beat Roma 5-0 the week before the season," Redknapp recalled. "I met people who were saying: 'Tottenham are fantastic - wait till you see Tottenham.' Then the season began . . ."
He did not have to finish his sentence. Spurs started the campaign at a stagger and sacked Juande Ramos after just eight games, with Redknapp being parachuted in from Portsmouth to save their skins.
The heady predictions that sprang from that breezy dismantling of Roma merely underlines that warm-ups are just that. It is why Redknapp will not be panicking at seeing his side dispatched with ease by Celtic at a largely deserted Wembley yesterday.
And yet, for all that, the Tottenham manager clearly has serious issues to address. Up front, Spurs look lightweight, with Robbie Keane still struggling for sharpness and Jermain Defoe pining for a muscular foil to complement his quicksilver style, although the imminent arrival of Peter Crouch from Portsmouth should solve that particular problem.
More irksome is the tattered state of Tottenham's defence, with the season's opener against Liverpool less than three weeks away.
Michael Dawson has already been ruled out for a month with an Achilles injury, Jonathan Woodgate is still in America receiving treatment on a groin problem and Ledley King, with grim predictability, has failed to kick a ball all summer.
In their absence, Redknapp fielded Pascal Chimbonda and Dorian Dervite at the heart of his back four at Wembley and was duly treated to the sort of displays more suited to Hackney Marshes than the Venue of Legends.
Mistakes were served up like pick 'n' mix: a complete absence of markers for Chris Killen's opening headed goal, a chronic lack of pace as Georgios Samaras sprinted clear to score the second and, early in the second half, some comically inept attempts to tackle Paddy McCourt as he slalomed into the area only to slice wide.
It was enough to have the few thousand Spurs fans in attendance watching through their fingers and Redknapp did not attempt to sugar-coat his analysis.
"Everyone can see that we're short in defence," he said. "No disrespect to Pascal and Dorian but they're not going to start the season together. It was hard for us - a young lad playing with a full-back alongside him.
"But it's difficult when you look around and we're really struggling in that position. We're nowhere near signing any defenders." Such statements should always be taken with a barrow-load of salt where Redknapp is concerned: he insisted Tottenham's move for Crouch had fallen through last Friday, only for Portsmouth to confirm it was virtually a done deal 48 hours later.
Tottenham depart for another pre-season tournament in China today but do not be surprised if Redknapp spends the flight drawing up a wish-list of centre-halves. On Sunday's evidence, he simply cannot afford not to.
Reader views (10)
Don't panic, Mr Manwairing.....(?) Harry is a fantastic manager and - even though our lads (reserves) played very well down at Wembley to win the diddy trophy - your guys will be all the better for such a mediocre start. It's time the Spurs were back where they belong - at the top end of the league. Good luck for a hopefully great season.
- Scotcelt, Sheffield, UK, 29/07/2009 16:53
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Welcome back Tottenham fans, where have you been?
- Reality, Not up in the clouds, 28/07/2009 14:09
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I agree, we definitely reliable and consistent central defenders. I am sure Redknapp is experienced enough to know this and will be working behind the scenes to make it happen. I have noticed some disappointing remarks over Crouch, who I believe will be a very good addition. Wherever he has played he has scored and when he's not scoring he is real handful for defenders and brings other strikes in to the game. He may look awkward and unorthodox, that doesn't mean he isn't effective. Portsmouth finished 7th with Crouch and Defoe upfront and won the FACup, which I think most Spurs fans would take given the two stop-start seasons we've had. I think the fans should get behind the current staff rather than criticising. At least we have stability and not another season of wholesale changes. That is an improvement already!
- Russell, East London, 28/07/2009 10:28
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And here was I thinking it was the gooners that had the hump over the late August departure of Fabregas.
Come on, get a grip you Tottenham fainhearts!
- Ted, London, 27/07/2009 13:46
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Shame, Harry should of seen this last season, too many coaches not doing their jobs...
Come on we needed a defender, to midfielder,left sided midfield player and a top forward...
Out of those, he wants to spend 9 million on crouch, how does that make sense??
- Adrian, london, 27/07/2009 13:02
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Perhaps you'll get John Terry.
- Stu, Beckton, 27/07/2009 12:36
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Cannot believe King and Woodgate have injury problems - who would have seen that coming? Maybe Harry will buy some more strikers in the meantime
- Ewen, Felixstowe, UK, 27/07/2009 12:31
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its basic.....without the woodgate ,king,etc any team would feel weakened, their excellent performance last year highlights the issue at tottenham ,resting those players helps but in the longterm we need to replace with like.....
spurs will be strong but the sharpness has to be in place
- Harry Schnapfest, london, 27/07/2009 10:50
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very worrying, wants to sell Hutton and Bale, wants mediocre crouch, wants to annoy everyone with Viera, puts chimbonda and someone else whos name i have not heard of in midfield, plays bent knowing he was leaving. Still ineffectual up front and at the back. Is he looking to commit suicide and get the hell out with excuses??Have the spurs board settled for mid table??
- Luke, uk london, 27/07/2009 10:47
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Shocking! Although Ledley will be wheeled out, to play alongside Corluka, as soon as the season starts. My reservations are the full-backs. Assou-Ektto was woeful, despite a surprisingly good second half to the season. Hutton was poor & Chimbonda not the player he was before he departed. Maybe we should through Naughton & Bale in?
- Rob Hotspurs, South London, 27/07/2009 09:55
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