Take A Bow, Harry

[BigDub]

My fellow Yids,

We have many reasons to be thankful for this wonderful season: Our players are performing well, the Yid Army is a fiery as ever, and even our chairman has been willing to spend the necessary $$ to help us get to where we are. But, for me, it has been too long since I read a thread praising and thanking the single biggest reason why, IMO, we are in such a great position: Henry James Redknapp. For this reason I give you this thread.

There are many ways in which Harry has improved the quality of our club.

1) Player Morale- I think it is safe to conclude that players that play for Harry, to put it simply, love him. As a players manager he is second to none. Players have praised him in the media for his abilities to get the most out of them, motivate in positive ways, and ensuring the morale of the team remains high. I'll use Gomes as a prime example of this. Harry could have easily given up on him after some of his earlier performances. However, instead of giving up on a player with so much promise, he made a coaching change and brought in Tony Parks. Since then I think we have all come to notice just how great our Gomes is. Thanks are also due to Harry for keeping faith in his player. Gomes would be the first one to give his appreciation, as media reports would indicate.

2) Player Transfers- Though he seems never to admit it, Harry must have a special place in his heart for the transfer market. His dealings in the Winter and Summer windows have added elements to our squad necessary to compete for a fourth place finish. Highlights include bringing back Jermain Defoe, Wilson Palacios, Seb Bassong, Niko Kranjcar, and Peter Crouch. Where would we be as a club without these players in on sqaud? Not in the top 4 methinks. Additionally, Harry has taken players already at our club and made them better. The recent form of guys like Gareth Bale, David Bentley, and most notably Benoit Assou-Ekotto, has been incredible. Credit to Harry for sticking with these guys and giving them a second chance (even if it was through injury).

3) Consistency- Harry is, by all accounts, a winner, especially since he has come to Spurs. In 81 games managed he has won 41, lost 20, and drawn 20. His win percentage is 4th in club history. Furthermore, it is hard to recall a period since Harry arrived where we have had a consistent bad run of form. Sure, Spurs have their rough patches here and there, but so do all other clubs. Under Harry's reign we have been, in comparison to many Spurs teams of the past, consistent. It is a trend that we all hope can continue, and Harry's track record indicates that it very well might.

4) Quality Coaching Staff- Harry surrounds himself with quality coaches. We have already seen what Parks has done for our goalkeeping situation. Additionally, Joe Jordan and Kevin Bond appear to be excellent assistants. Their intensity during matches sort of makes up for Harry's tendency to be a bit reserved. Now, obviously I don't see training or anything like that, but by all accounts, from what I have seen, these coaches have played a significant role in the success of this team.


I make this thread simply to remind everyone where we were at the start of last season. Following our first silverware in quite some time, expectations were high. Then Juande Ramos happened.

Not only was Harry able to come in and steer us out of relegation, he almost helped us qualify for Europe. That is some task considering where we were.

Now, Harry isn't perfect. He has his faults just as any manager does. But next time, when you are thinking of denouncing him or suggesting he be fired, just remember how far hes brought this club in only 2 partial seasons of coaching. The stage has been set for him to takes us even higher. Here's to hoping that happens.

COYS!

[RiverWire]

Cracking post mate, I know there are a couple of harry haters around us but ive got to say that anyone that can do spurs best ever prem season ( potentially 3rd or 4th ) then im with him 500%, Consistency has been good but i also think it could be better with beating the "clubs we should beat" .

Whether Harry will be the man to take us to the next level ? Im still undecided and i think it will all depend (IF) we make champions league then what players he brings in. I dont expect him to jump into the market, i think 2 or 3 discreet buys will be good enough if they of high standard.

But yeah , arry is the man ! I still believe Martin Jol would have got us this far if given the chance but he's the only one in spurs prem years which i think would have done the same as Harry.

[EasyRaider]

Good post mate, i agree 97%.
3% is Wolves away here even Sandra could of done better job I just hope we wount be 1-3 points short at the end of the season.

[HeroesComesandGoes]

BigDub - I agree with you.

In your opinion, why wasn't he able to replicate his successes with Southampton, Portsmouth or West Ham? That's what really confused me, how he's managed to turn a team close to relegation last season to close to CL place this season. What is it that Spurs have now that Southampton, Pompey or West Ham didn't have?

Harry's main critics are those who don't like the long balls to Crouchy...TBH, if it gets the three points, I don't really care how it's done.

So, agreed Big Dub, take a bow Mr Redknapp - you deserve it...

[BigDub]

BigDub - I agree with you.

In your opinion, why wasn't he able to replicate his successes with Southampton, Portsmouth or West Ham? That's what really confused me, how he's managed to turn a team close to relegation last season to close to CL place this season. What is it that Spurs have now that Southampton, Pompey or West Ham didn't have?

Harry's main critics are those who don't like the long balls to Crouchy...TBH, if it gets the three points, I don't really care how it's done.

So, agreed Big Dub, take a bow Mr Redknapp - you deserve it...

Great question, actually HCG. The FA cup with Portsmouth does represent some level of success. However, the question of Southampton is an interesting one. They were oh so close to staying up points-wise, if I remember correctly. I think they were only 2 or 3 points from being safe. Perhaps they just didn't have the players necessary that year? I don't really remember much about that side other than Jamie Redknapp and Crouch (who actually had a pretty good year i believe).

As far as West Ham, he did have one nice season (can't remember the year exactly) when they finished fifth...i think it was 1998 or 99 or something. 5th is a great finish at least by recent West Ham Standards. I feel like he could have taken them higher, but those disagreements with the higher ups really hindered his progress, it seems.

My main guess would be is that he is now at a club with resources that he has not previously had. I expect another couple significant signings in the summer which will further cement this view.

But great question...wish I could come up with something better.

[HeroesComesandGoes]

Great question, actually HCG. The FA cup with Portsmouth does represent some level of success. However, the question of Southampton is an interesting one. They were oh so close to staying up points-wise, if I remember correctly. I think they were only 2 or 3 points from being safe. Perhaps they just didn't have the players necessary that year? I don't really remember much about that side other than Jamie Redknapp and Crouch (who actually had a pretty good year i believe).

As far as West Ham, he did have one nice season (can't remember the year exactly) when they finished fifth...i think it was 1998 or 99 or something. 5th is a great finish at least by recent West Ham Standards. I feel like he could have taken them higher, but those disagreements with the higher ups really hindered his progress, it seems.

My main guess would be is that he is now at a club with resources that he has not previously had. I expect another couple significant signings in the summer which will further cement this view.

But great question...wish I could come up with something better.

Harry has been quoted that he gets along well with Levy and that he's happy where he is right now...it was during the time where rumours were circulated about his imminent departure. I would agree with that because if I wasn't happy with my seniors, I would definitely not put the effort in.

Pompey - he had the resources - buying in the likes of Diarra, Muntari etc, which is something he has now.

As with West Ham, lets not forget the Academy that has produced players like Rio ferdinand, Lampard, Joe Cole.

If Spurs are to reach the next level, we'll need to produce the next generation eg Mbola, Taarabt etc.

[HeroesComesandGoes]

Here's an interesting fact froma West Ham supporter, every club that Redknapp has managed had financial problems, Bournemouth, Southampton, Pompey and West Ham. Thank God with got a tight one, eh ;-) otherwise, how sustainable is paying a team with players on £90K a week?

[Javi]

Here here

Good post Dub ill admit I am still not to crazy about him still hes ok if anything I have a love hate relationship with him lol but hes done well at keeping us off the bottom.

[Tranquilize]

The only thing I hated about redknapp is when he plays crouch. But at the moment he's seemed to stop that.

[Tottenham-ManU]

first of all thanks for this wonderful post ithink we had a gr8 manger here ..n ur points proved it !! keep ot up harry

[THFC6061]

Here's an interesting fact froma West Ham supporter, every club that Redknapp has managed had financial problems, Bournemouth, Southampton, Pompey and West Ham. Thank God with got a tight one, eh ;-) otherwise, how sustainable is paying a team with players on £90K a week?

If a club gets itself into financial trouble, that's the fault of the Chairman and the bean counters, not the team manager.

Judge Harry on the performances of his sides on the pitch.

[HeroesComesandGoes]

But isn't all the buying and selling all decided by the manager? unlike Ramos & Camolli BTW

[SirBillyNick]

If a club gets itself into financial trouble, that's the fault of the Chairman and the bean counters, not the team manager.

Judge Harry on the performances of his sides on the pitch.

unless the manager is receiving 'payments' in to offshore accounts that don't go through the books

[BigDub]

Luckily Levy is a smart little bugger...

[ParkLaneMal]

Great thread. I will be proud to see Our Arry lead us out at the FA Cup Final 2010.