The Redknapp Revolution

When Juande Ramos was sacked I felt really worried for Tottenham – even though I am an Arsenal fan. I felt sorry for all those fans out there who would now wonder whether there was a chance that they might do the unthinkable – get relegated. But when it was announced that Harry Redknapp would be the next manager at the jaded Tottenham manager’s seat, I immediately knew that Tottenham would be all right.

So first question – why did he leave his Portsmouth job, when he was well paid, well looked after, and was so popular that, after leaving for Tottenham, he was given the freedom of City?

The answer is that he had taken Portsmouth as far as he could take them. Although he would never admit to it, last season with Portsmouth – winning the FA Cup and finishing 8th in the Premier League – was as far as he could take them. And deep down, he must of known, that, unless an Abramovich-like figure came into Portsmouth, he couldn’t take them any further.

So when the job offer from Tottenham came through he jumped at the chance – because Tottehamhave the one thing that Portsmouth didn’t have. Money - and lots of it - for the last few seasons they have been second in spending power only to Chelsea.

But Redknapp must also have considered the other stats – such as Tottenham, the team he was taking over, being rock bottom of the Premier League, and they had not recorded a win in the league since be season began. But Tottenham’s ambition to break into the top four is achievable – whereas Portsmouth’s dream to be able to break into the top four – if they ever had it – is foolish and unachievable, at least for the moment.

Redknapp must of thought that his manager’s record at Portsmouth was very good – and before it was mared by mishap or drops down the league he would leave.

But the team he came to, Tottenham, would hardly been thought of as a manger’s pardise. The club was a total mess, and having had their worst ever start to the Premier League season was not going to help. The last manager, Juande Ramos, had only had one year (he was sacked one day off a year in charge), having only taken over from Jol – who was himself ignominiously sacked after a successful period – in October 2007.

But Redknapp must of figured that there was only one way the team could go – and that was up.

So, when Redknapp took over, the whole world waited with bated breath, to see what would happen.

And what did happen was amazing – and sent shock-waves through the footballing world.

On the day he took over Tottenham beat Bolton 2-0 – quite why this was is a mystery, but possibly the chance to impress the new coach fired up the Tottenham players.

And then the Redknapp magic began working.

In the next match, against Arsenal in the derby, Redknapp drew 4-4, but it msut of felt like a win to him, because Tottenham came from 2-4 down to draw 4-4.

And then Tottenham beat Liverpool away. More was to come. Tottenham beat Dinamo Zagreb 4-0 with their best display of football all season, and then beat Manchester City in the league, to round off the amazing revolution.

So with the exactly the same resources players and backroom staff, Redknapp had won 4 matches and drawn 1, and had done more than Ramos had done in 12 matches in the new season.

Only time will tell whether he can keep it up.

Preview of England v Kazakhstan, 2010 World Cup Qualifier

On Saturday England will line up at Wembley against that extremely famous football team… er that’s not-so famous footballing nation of Kazakhstan. This 2010 World Cup Qualifier against the mid-asian country shouldn’t be too much of a struggle for England. But, 7 years ago, England beat Germany 5-1. They then preceded to lose their way and struggle for the next seven years. A couple of months ago Capello watched England beat a very strong Croatian side, who had never lost at home in the 16 years they had been a nation, 4-1. Hopefully we won’t have another seven years like the years after beating Germany 5-1.

Personally I don’t think England will struggle against Kazakhstan – it should be a stroll in the park, and a comfortable win for them.

Prediction: England win.

And here’s how succesfull I was last week with my last set of predictions:

Sunderland v Arsenal

Prediction: Arsenal win Result: Draw

West Brom v Fulham

Prediction: West Brom win Result: West Brom win

Wigan Athletic v Middlesbrough

Prediction: Wigan win Result: Middlesbrough win

Blackburn v Manchester United

Prediction: Manchester United win Result: Manchester United win

West Ham v Bolton

Prediction: West Ham win Result: Bolton win

Tottenham v Hull

Prediction: Hull win Result: Hull win

Portsmouth v Stoke

Prediction: Portsmouth win Result: Portsmouth win

Manchester City v Liverpool

Prediction: Manchester City win Result: Liverpool win

Chelsea v Aston Villa

Prediction: Chelsea win Result: Chelsea win

Everton v Newcastle

Prediction: Everton win Result: Draw

Overall score: 5 out of 10

 

Preview of the Weekend’s Premier League football matches

It is Friday, and here is my preview (and predictions) of the Premier League matches this weekend.

Sunderland v Arsenal (15:00, Saturday, 4th October)

My team, Arsenal, bounced back from their dreadful performance at Hull last week (where they lost) and beat Porto FC 4-0 with a dazzling display of football.  Meanwhile Sunderland, who last week lost to Aston Villa, have done well so far this season, currently lying 13th in the league. However, I think that Arsenal will prove too much for them.

Prediction: Arsenal win

West Brom v Fulham (15:00, Saturday, 4th October)

This is a very interesting match. West Brom, one of the newly promoted sides, were my favourites out of the three who came up to escape the drop. So far they have done well, currently positioned 12th in the league. Fulham, who did the great escape the last season, are struggling again, positoned 15th. I think that West Brom, with Home Advantage, and the encourangement of beating Middlesbrough and West Ham recently, will win this one.

Prediction: West Brom win

Wigan Athletic v Middlesbrough (15:00, Saturday, 4th October)

Wigan and Middlesbrough. Two non-glorious, non-glamorous clubs. Both of them have been in the Premier League for quite a few years now, and neither has made a lot of progress in recent years. Wigan currently lie 12th, doing quite well so far, while Middlesbrough,down in 16th,have lost their last four matches and are struggling. I think that, with Home Advantage, Wigan will grind out another result.

Prediction: Wigan win

Blackburn v Manchester United (17:30, Saturday, 4th October)

Alex Ferguson, with one of his ex-players turned managers, Paul Ince. The two face each other on Saturday.

Yet another of Ferguson’s ex-players turned managers, Paul Ince, has just come into the job at Blackburn, after Mark Hughes (also one of Ferguson’s ex-players) went to Manchester City, so this should be interesting. Blackburn have done well this season so far, currently in 7th, actually ahead of Manchester United. Manchester United have had an awful start to the season, but with the foward line up of Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov and Tevez (who can stand against that?) will climb the table. This will be the end of the honeymoon for Ince, and Manchester United will win comfortably.

Prediction: Manchester United win

West Ham v Bolton (13:30, Sunday, 5th October)
West Ham have had a very strong start to the season, currently in 5thplace, and have played some really good football. As long as they stay injury-free, West Ham have will have a good go at getting a UEFA Cup spot. Bolton, in 17th in the league, are not doing brilliantly, and are struggling for goals, having no good strikers. West Ham will be much, much too strong for them.

Prediction: West Ham win

Tottenham v Hull (15:00, Sunday, 5th October)
This is a tasty fixture! Hull, offically in dream-land after beating Arsenal last week, will do one of two things: 1) Play really well and beat Tottenham or 2) have a hangover from beating Arsenal last week. Tottenhamare in disarray and are struggling for form, goals or anything.

Prediction: Hull win

Portsmouth v Stoke (15:00, Sunday, 5th October)
I thought that Stoke would struggle this season, and they have. 18th in the league, they have not won for four games. Portsmouth, after their very dramatic outing in Europe, will be tired. Will they have enough in them to win the match? I think so (maybe, I’m not really sure!)

Prediction: Portsmouth win

Manchester City v Liverpool (15:00, Sunday, 5th October)
Manchester City, with their new billionare owners (or was that too-rich for their own good owners?) are climbing the table rapidly, and have dreams of breaking into the top four. Liverpool have started the season really well, (finally they have started a season well!) and along with Chelsea and Arsenal are vying for top spot of the premier league. Liverpool’s skill should carry them through, but I have a sneaky feeling that City have a chance.

Prediction: Manchester City win

Chelsea v Aston Villa (15:00, Sunday, 5th October)
Chelsea have started this season strong, but struggled in Europe, drawing 0-0 with Cluj in Transylvania. Aston Villa have had a wonderful start, and are occupying 4th in the Premier League, with the absence of Man United in the top four. However, Chelsea, with their wonderful home record should win this one.

Prediction: Chelsea win

Everton v Newcastle (16:00, Sunday, 5th October)
Poor Newcastle are in turmoil. Nobody knows what is happening, and some South African group want to buy the club. Everton have struggled for from this season, but this game at least will be a win for them

Prediction: Everton win

Should Juande Ramos be sacked?

Juande Ramos, under-fire Tottenham manager

The Tottenham Hotspur F.C. manager, Juande Ramos, is under pressure from the supporters, who are calling for him to be sacked.

But what has he done to earn this? Why are Tottenham doing so badly? And should he really be sacked?

Right, first I will answer the question why he is under pressure at the moment.

Just seven months ago, Ramos won Tottenham Hotspur the League Cup, their first silverware for nearly 10 years. So, you’d think after that the fans would love him wouldn’t you? Well, you’d be wrong. So far this season (08-09) Tottenham have not won a match and are bottom of the league after six games. Last season (07-08) after winning the League Cup in February the team were hopeless up until the end of the season, seeming to decide that would have their summer holidays early. Of the 18 Premier League games since Tottenham have won just three. So, that amounts to about about seven months of failure. Not good.

As to why Tottenham are doing so badly, there are many reasons. Firstly, they had four strikers at the club last season in Dimitar Berbatov, Darren Bent, Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe. Of those strikers Berbatov and Keane scored 44 out of 66 goals in 07-08. They were both sold during the summer transfer window, and were not properly replaced, even though the combined cash for the two players was £51 million. Defoe was also sold, so they currently have just one quality striker left. There is instability at the club. During the summer transfer window Ramos sold 10 players and bought 5, a lot of players moving. So far this season he has failed to name the same starting XI for two consecutive games, and has used six central midfielders. So no wonder the players are not playing well, considering they don’t know whether they’re going to be in the team most weeks, and they could quite easily be sold soon anyway. Tottenham’s main centre-back, Ledley King, is still injured (and has been for ages) and there defence has been awful so far this season, letting in 13 goals in just six games, at a rate of about 2 goals a game. That, coupled with the fact that they have only one decent striker at the club, makes for unhappy fans.

But my personal opinion is that he should be given more time. Remember, this is a manger who managed to win the UEFA Cup with Sevilla, two seasons in a row. But, if results don’t improve, he will get sacked, so he needs to improve results now.