Redknapp rues bent barb

[costa_9_2]

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp admits he was wrong to embarrass Darren Bent earlier in the season when the striker missed a sitter against Portsmouth.
Redknapp has changed Spurs' fortunes since arriving at White Hart Lane but they had not won in four Premier League games when Bent headed wide against Pompey in January, despite having the whole of the goal to aim for.
The Spurs manager famously said at the time that "my missus could have scored it".
"I must admit myself I think I made a mistake after one game, I did cane them a bit," he said. "I didn't get a response from that, and someone I respect told me that wasn't my style.
"I criticised a few of the players and it really doesn't work for me, it's not really the way I manage.
"I get more out of the players by telling them what they can do rather than what they can't do. That has always been my way. They responded (but) I felt that was a mistake on my part. I felt I rectified that and lifted them and we've gone on from there."
Bent has scored 17 goals this season but he has still been linked with a move away from Spurs in the summer, with Redknapp said to be looking at Kenwyne Jones and Roque Santa Cruz.
Former Charlton striker Bent is among the players that are not automatically guaranteed a starting place - but Redknapp feels competition is healthy and his club is the place to be for those outside the top four.
"I think this is the club to play at, there are only the top four, other than that they couldn't do any better than Tottenham," he added on Setanta.
"I'd stay, I'd stay and fight for my place. It's a club going places and we could have a great season next year. It's a squad capable of pushing the top four.
"We need a few new additions in a couple of areas. They are the areas I want to improve."
Deportivo de La Coruna midfielder Julian de Guzman claims Spurs are monitoring him.
"I know they have been watching me in games, but I haven't spoken with anyone," he said.


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[slimboydim]

Good Afternoon, this has been on all the Rags sites, if Bent is
moving on as everyone expects, the timing is surprising.
Thought at the time it was a ridiculous thing for Harry to say.
No point in criticising his own players in public, best to keep
it in house as Fergie, Wenger etc do. Good managers deflect
it from the players.
Does make me wonder if Harry is now looking to hold on to Darren...

[P UNIT 1980]

Yeah but he only said what we was all thinking.

This is defo a move to build the lad up to get him banging in a few more to bump his price.

I can see the boy moving out of North London sooner rather than later on the back of this story and statement from Arry.

Read between the lines and the script is clearly there.

[GMAN]

I'm glas he said it...IF IT WAS A PARK GAME ON A SUNDAY WITH YOUR MATES..NO PROBLEM...

iF YOU GETIN PAID SILLY MONEY TO ACTUALLY PUT THE BALL IN THE NET ...WITH PEOPLE SPENDING HARD ERANED MONEY DURING A RECESSION..THEN PUT THE FCUKING BALL AWAY..

This is of course a man-management tactic that should be used very very sparingly - there is a time n place where you have to just say it...n if I remember correctly that time / place was when every waking moment for a spurs supporter was filled with the most ridiculous question ...r we gona get relegated?...

[yidno1]

I doubt Harry would be back tracking on his words if we were in Newcaatles place, what he said at the time was bang on, he missed a sitter that could have cost dear!
If hes now talking him up toget a max transfer fee then thats fine with me.

[loyal thfc belfast]

transfer market conditions and money will determine wether or not bent stays, with the new stadium on the way in the next few seasons our purse strings are gonna be tightened, so if harry was not offered good money for bent he aint gonna let him go because there aint the free flowing of money going be afforded to harry that has been dished out in the last few seasons. thfc4life.

[paul turner]

i think harry has every right say what he wants about bent or any player my nephew would have scored that his only 10 .

[stroud_jm]

you give your players a lashing behind closed doors and stand up for them in public. that's how its done. criticizing players in the media is amateurish. although the missus crack was funny, and, unfortunately for Bent, memorable.