Should Tottenham Hotspur lose at home to Blackburn today it really will be the lowest point of Redknapp’s reign, and even the end.
If football matches were played on paper, this would be a simple three points in the bag for Spurs, with a Champions League contender battling a relegation candidate.
It may be an easy Spurs rout, and how all Tottenham fans would love a simple straightforward afternoon after the travails of the previous three months.
Manager Harry Redknapp has put himself in a position where a loss today could threaten to end his reign. We can’t see any point in him carrying on if they do lose.
They have been thrown a lifeline in the race for Champions League places, by virtue of Arsenal dropping one point and Newcastle three.
Newcastle face Chelsea then Manchester City next and the chance of dropping points is high, so Tottenham must capitalise on it.
Fail- and this will go down as a major missed opportunity.
It will show Redknapp is no longer capable of getting the best out of this current squad.
Even a loss would not put Spurs completely out of the reckoning for third or fourth, given their rivals dropped points, but it would be a big setback.
How did they throw it away? The club were in an unassailable position in early February, but have contrived to embarrass in the face of success.
Poor signings, complacency, selling or loaning key squad players and fatigue have all played their part, but it is the links with the England job which drive Spurs supporters up the wall.
Confused as to whether to blame the FA or Redknapp for their lack of clarity and intention, most fans hold both responsible, and the more vocal supporters would happily see him leave when the season is over.
If Spurs lose what should be a home banker today against Steve Kean’s Blackburn, rooted in 19th, he may as well pack his bags and book his plane ticket to the Ukraine now.
It was one thing for Spurs to suffer defeats against Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton, but losing games to Norwich and QPR has been galling, and quite simply embarrassing.
If Tottenham win today, which quite frankly they should do, without being disrespectful to Blackburn – five defeats out of their last six – then it is not too late to put together a late charge at fourth.
Newcastle still have tough games to come, hosting Manchester City and traveling to Chelsea and losing yesterday, so Spurs are very much in the hunt for fourth place, even though they were three points below them coming into the weekend.
A loss today would see them in the same situation going into the midweek games, but would damage the players confidence immensely, and they may suddenly wake up if Redknapp leaves or is asked to.
It would allow the whole Harry for England charade to just ahead and play itself out sooner rather than later to save adding further insult to supporters, and let the team get on with what they need to do.
Win, and the Champions League race is very much on. Lose, and all options have to be considered.
Do you agree? Do you think Blackburn will be tough to beat?
image: © myeralan
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