Redknapp on the ropes... What Euros?

With the future of Harry Redknapp looking as uncertain as a Greek back four, knocking England off the back pages, an assessment of his reign and likely successor is in order. Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy seems reluctant to extend Redknapp's contract beyond the one year remaining and this has led to vast speculation. In a BBC interview with Redknapp at the Euro's he denied the rumours, but with fresh uncertainty this morning, in the press at least, it seems his future is sealed.


Harry has had a fantastically successful tenure at Spurs, taking over from a disastrous Juande Ramos, he guided Spurs to safety and has not been out of the top five since. Spurs qualified for their first ever Champions League campaign in 2010, which saw them defeat holders Inter Milan en route to the quarter finals. With nearly a 50% win rate at the helm of Spurs, why would Levy let him go? Indeed it seems as though their relationship has become increasingly strained. It is rumoured that Levy was very disappointed with the end of season slump, with just four wins in their final thirteen games and the gut wrenching 5-2 loss to rivals Arsenal on February 26th, Spurs missed out on third spot and as it turned out, Champions League football.  Levy is undoubtedly ruthless, axing Martin Jol after Spurs reached the dizzy heights of fifth, and Ramos, less than six months after a big money move. Would the relieving of Redknapp be that much of a surprise in this modern game.We understand Levy feels it may be time for a change and David Moyes is evens favourite to get the job.


After ten years at Everton, Moyes has hinted his time may of come to an end. With the probable sale of star full-back Leighton Baines, Moyes has become increasingly frustrated with Everton's lack of investment and status as a 'selling club'. Moyes, who has been LMA Manager of the Year a record three times, could be a shrewd replacement. Putting together a very solid squad, one which cost Man United the title, on a shoestring, a good transfer budget at Spurs could perhaps see the unforgiving Glaswegian achieve greatness. In addition the possibility of bringing with him some of Everton's stars makes his signature very lucrative.

Spurs' fans have all too often been frustrated with Redknapp's lack of tactical nous. When Tottenham start a match with confidence and sharp flow they have an excellent game and at times look unbeatable. However, as was evident during the end of last years campaign, when Redknapp found his side not firing he seemed powerless to turn round a sinking ship. Relentlessly sticking with the same personnel and formation and making inept substitutions too late into games, Spurs could not buy a win. Redknapp is of course an excellent motivator, his character, charisma and personality make him the sort of manager that player's want to play for. But, for Levy at least, this does not seem to be enough.

In the transfer market it would be fair to say Redknapp has adopted a limited approach. Much of Spurs' excellent squad was compiled pre-Redknapp, and the players he has brought in have been predominantly from the Premier League. With very few foreign bargains (to the likes of Papa Cisse, Nikica Jelavic or Gylfi Sigurdsson) acquired, perhaps Moyes would provide Tottenham with an edge in the foreign market.

Talks between Levy and Redknapp have been scheduled for today and it is not improbable that Redknapp will stay, especially after Harry's heavy denial on ESPN. Redknapp has been a revelation at Spurs, but is the future Moyes?

JLloyd

Coaching to Management: The Good, the Bad and Les Reed

With Chris Hughton looking set to become Norwich's newest manager I take a look at the levels of success of that magic transition from coach to gaffer.

Hughton had ten years as assistant manager at Tottenham Hotspur working under as many as six managers. It would seem that this would be the perfect scholarship to becoming a successful manager and for Hughton this seems true. His spell at Newcastle saw him achieve promotion and secure mid table status in the top division only to be controversially relieved of his duties. Being promoted to manager appears to be a poisoned chalice, similarly to Martin Jol at Spurs, Hughton was afforded less time than you would expect and an unrealistic level of consistency was required to keep his job. Jol achieved back to back fifth placed finishes (after being promoted following Jacques Santini's premature departure), at the time, the best in Tottenham's Premier League history. Poor form in the proceeding season saw all that forgotten as he was axed quicker than Cardiff's home colours. Hughton has since gone on to have an excellent season at Birmingham. With a squad in transition, Hughton relied heavily on youth, as many of his big names left. Starlet Nathan Redmond shone and loan signing Andros Townsend saw the Brummies playing some of the best football in the league. Hughton guided Birmingham to fourth place in a very competitive division littered with former Premier League teams. He also had an FA Cup run which saw them lose a fifth round replay to eventual winners Chelsea and a unique situation in the Championship, of being in Europe. After qualifying for the Europa League group stage, Birmingham held their own and only missed out on qualification for the knockout stages by one point in a very tight group. Forever being linked with new jobs, the future looks bright for Hughton and I wish him all the best at Norwich, however not everyone can make this transition from the backroom to the touchline as smoothly and successfully as Norwich's new boss or Fulham's Jol.

Over the years there have been those who have found being promoted to manager nigh on impossible. None more famous than Steve McClaren. Accused of being 'too matey' with the squad, Schteve lacked the authority to stamp his mark on the squad. Having been involved in the national set up since 2000, it was difficult for McClaren to demonstrate to the squad that he was in charge and they should do it his way. This is certainly a factor when coaches make that step up, they must have the mental rigidity to establish their own regime and not try to do things as their predecessor had, as tempting as it may be. This does not mean that you should not learn from your experience as assistant, but it is the method of application of this learning which appears to be the key to successful management. The media smear campaign was not conducive to success it must be noted, brandishing McClaren 'Second Choice Steve' and the 'Wally With The Brolly', his failure to qualify for EURO 2008 saw the end of a miserable tenure. McClaren's skill as a club manager cannot be denied, he had guided Middlesborough to the League Cup and a UEFA Cup Final and subsequently won the Dutch league with FC Twente. Perhaps the same cannot be said for other would be managers, not everyone has the raw ability to become top dog.

Phil Brown, Chris Hutchins, Sammy Lee and Les Reed. You won't find these guys in the Managerial Hall of Fame. All excellent and successful coaches in their own right, they seemed to lack the skills required of a top level manager. Les Reed even being named worst manager of all time in an unofficial online poll. Phil Brown's infamous on pitch team talk demonstrated a lack of tact and managerial nous you would never see amongst the likes of Wenger, Redknapp and Moyes. It was akin to the training ground, a place Brown was surely more accustomed to. When Bolton appointed Sammy Lee in 2007, aside from having a ridiculous touchline headset, which would have needed a direct line to the man upstairs for Lee to have success, his bewildering tactical decisions led Bolton to one win in eleven. 'Little Sam' fell well short of his larger predecessor.

The move from No.2 is clearly one which poses many difficulties and is not for everyone. In today's modern game it seems that managers can often be thrown in at the deep end, Alan Shearer and Paul Ince for example, took on jobs that were too big for them. Perhaps they would have benefited from an understudy tenure, however there seems a pattern where if one is in the backroom too long, the step up to No.1 is a bridge too far. There are certainly more cases of failure than success and it seems Chris Hughton is an exception to the norm.

JLloyd

Transfer Mill: Rumour and Assessment

Update and short analysis of this Summer's movements


Alan Dzagoev - £20m+ - Linked with Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea

After his stellar performance against the Czech Republic it is clear Russia's hopes are down to the potent partnership of  Dzagoev and Arshavin. Sitting pretty in my Fantasy Football team, Dzagoev's performance will certainly have caught the eye up of some of Europe's elite clubs. Having racked up 153 games and 37 goals at CSKA Moscow along with 21 Russia caps and 6 goals at just 21, Dzagoev is indeed hot property. With the ability to find killer passes and run with the ball from midfield, Dzagoev stretched the Czech back four into submission. The babyfaced assassin, Dzagoev has been strongly linked with the Premier League and playing in the tough Russian Premier League should certainly be an excellent apprenticeship. Although other Russian stars have failed to make a strong impact in England, Arshavin, Zhirkov and Pavlyuchenko for example, I believe Dzagoev has the appetite and determination to succeed. As the Euro 2012 competition continues I'm sure we will see his asking price rocket.


Dorlan Pabón -  £5m-£8m - Strongly linked with Galatasaray, also Roma, Rubin Kazan and Tottenham Hotspur

This 24 year old Colombian who plays for his native Atletico Nacional is on the wishlist of many European clubs this Summer. It seems as if Glatasaray have taken the lead for his signature but nothing definitive as yet. Pabón is an attacking central midfielder, both robust and skilful, with more than an eye for goal. He is currently the second highest scorer in the Copa Libertadores with 7 goals. He made a name for himself with a 40 yard free kick against rivals Penarol (right). Pabón can operate both behind the strikers and in a more traditional central midfield role. He certainly has the attributes for European football and hopefully we will see him in the Premier League soon.

Leandro Damião - £15m approx. -Linked with various clubs.

Leandro Damião is a player in high demand. With Tottenham having bids of around £14m rejected and interest from Spain and Italy, it seems it will not be long before Damião graces our European shores. At 22 he is not a raw and unadulterated talent nor is he the finished article, but he is a natural born goalscorer. At nearly 6 ft 2 in Damião possesses strength and pace and would not come unstuck in the physical Premier League. His typically brilliant Brazilian touch and composure has led to an incredible 68 goals in 111 career games. In winning the Copa Libertadores in his debut season with Brazilian club Internacional,with a goal in the two legged final, Damião has become a household name on the flair continent. With comparisons to Edinson Cavani, Damião would be a cheaper option for clubs looking to bolster their attacks. He also has international experience with 8 caps for a nation with a wealth of goal scoring talent, in addition to his maiden Brazil goal which he happened to score at Craven Cottage against Ghana and a mesmerising performance against the old foe Argentina. Damião looks set to move and is certainly a man to look out for.
e


Shinji Kagawa - Manchester United - £12m approx.


United's first ever Japanese player looks set to arrive from German champions Dortmund. The cynical view would be that of a long term replacement for Park Ji Sung, with an eye on Asian shirt sales over impact on the first team. However such cynicism would be naive, Kagawa has filled the boots of the often injured and highly lauded Mario Gotze. With back to back titles and a stellar performance in the German cup final thrashing of Bayern, Kagawa will bolster United's aging midfield. At the tender age of 23 he already has 30 caps for his country and nearly 100 career goals from advanced midfield and wide positions, 29 in his last 2 seasons on the continent along with 15 assists is an accomplished return. Much like Hernandez, Fergie will know how to get the best out of the Japanese wonderkid and he will have to work hard to garner a first team position, patience is a must and taking his chances in the first half of the season will be crucial to establishing himself in a competitive, if not star studded, Manchester squad. Overall he seems a good purchase and will have a part to play in the upcoming season.