With Harry Redknapp gone, the question which Tottenham Hotspur fans, and may be even Daniel Levy will be asking is “who is next”?
It is fair to say that Tottenham have improved with Harry at the helm. He has brought in some good players, strengthened most areas and managed to keep hold of the core of his squad.
He has always liked to have a big squad, and big squads cost a lot of money. Redknapp really wanted Tevez and Cahill in the last winter transfer window players who Redknapp believed would push Spurs to the next level, but Levy could not sanction moves on that scale and they got Saha and Nelson instead.
Now, with Redknapp gone, Levy will want to reshape his squad back within the strict budget limitations he has set.
It is safe to say that Adebayor will not be returning to the Lane next season. They just can not afford his wages, and with transfer talk about Modric, Bale, Van der Vaart, Pienaar and even Defoe there is plenty of scope for the new manager to shape a squad to suit, and plenty of prospective money to come in. A very different looking Tottenham side could be kicking off the season in August.
In Modric, Bale and Van der Vaart with Scott Parker along side them, Spurs had one of the most effective midfield units in the Premier League, and when it fired on all cylinders, Tottenham looked the real deal.
Sadly for the fans, and ultimately for Harry they couldn’t keep it up and the mid season slump which they suffered showed that while the starting line up was as strong as any, the depth which Redknapp loves in a squad still was not there.
Are the likes of Sandro, Livermore and Townsend good enough and ready enough to step up if any of the big names leave? At the moment, it is doubtful.
Sandro showed some potential last season, and he will be hoping to get more game time this year but Livermore and particularly Townsend are still learning and to replace full internationals at the top of their game will be a big ask.
Losing a manager is always a difficult time as stability is what is needed at any club for long term goals to be reached. The players will see this as an opportunity to get to clubs in the Champions League, to fulfil ambitions which they thought could be achieved at Spurs but was again a step too far for a club which has for so long looked the most likely to be a Champions League club for a sustained period.
No one can deny that Chelsea’s victory in the Champions League final was a kick in the teeth for everyone associated with Spurs. The laws are unfair, and need looking at, but at the same time, the champions have to be able to defend their trophy.
The irony is that Chelsea can offer a player such as Modric, who they have openly coveted the opportunity if they so decide to, to play Champions league football and if they did come back for him, it would be now much harder for Spurs to resist.
The issue now for Tottenham is to come out of the close season with a stronger squad than they went into it with, and with a stronger managerial set up.
Big clubs will be looking at their players, and some of them could play for any team they wanted to. Spurs will be will recompensed, but to what end? Money in the bank does not win trophies, and does not qualify you for the big tournaments.
Levy now has to, more than ever balance his successful business model with successful football management. Spurs are ripe for the taking and as their custodian he needs to do what is best for his club.
As the transfer window progresses, we will see if this means selling off his prize possessions or rolling the dice one more time and making another play for the big prizes.
image: © wonker
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