Premier League - Redknapp: Spurs still way behind

Eurosport - Tue, 16 Dec 10:51:00 2008

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has warned his squad needs significant strengthening if they are going to push the Premier League's leading sides.

2008-2009 Tottenham Hotspur Harry Redknapp - 0

Spurs held their AGM on Monday where images were released of the club's proposed new stadium.

But the meeting also served as an opportunity for manager Redknapp, who took over from Juande Ramos earlier this season, to urge the White Hart Lane board to provide him with money to spend.

"It depends where you want to finish. If you are talking about getting into the top five or the top four, the squad is well, well short of that," he said in the London Evening Standard.

"There is a lot of work to be done to become a top team. I cannot tell lies. The squad is still well short of challenging for a place in the top four.

"We are not as good as Aston Villa or one or two other teams, so there is a lot of work to be done to get where we should be."

Chairman Daniel Levy suggested rebuilding will be done next summer, saying: "We do not envisage any major transactions in the January transfer window.

"Our challenge is to realise the full potential of our current squad and that's something Harry and his current squad have already started to deliver."

Levy also took the opportunity to unveil images of the club's planned 60,000-capacity arena which has been designed by leading firm KSS.

He said: "The brief I gave the architects was to design an iconic stadium that would be one of the best in Europe.

"My over-riding priority is to re-create the terrific atmosphere we have at the current stadium, within a world-class stadium that offers state-of-the-art facilities."

On the pitch, meanwhile, youngster Dean Parrett looks set for his senior debut this week in the UEFA Cup following the injury crisis which has hit the squad.

Redknapp has a host of injury concerns ahead of the clash against Spartak Moscow on Thursday at White Hart Lane, with Vedran Corluka and Roman Pavlyuchenko also ineligible.

Adel Taarabt, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Hossam Ghaly, Paul Stalteri and Ricardo Rocha would have been in contention but they were out of favour under former manager Juande Ramos and not registered for the competition.

It brings John Bostock, 16, and 17-year-old Parrett into Redknapp's selection plans.

"Thursday is a big headache for us," Redknapp said.

"I've got some kids out of the youth team because you have to have so many homegrown players in the squad, so it will give me a chance to see one or two of them play.

"We've got John Bostock and Dean Parrett, I'll throw them in and let's see what they can do."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. Downing is not good enough for spurs Bale will come­ good he just needs time Ramos was no friend to us as he­ was only interested in european compertion. Harry needs­ to have a good look at the players we have before­ diving in and buying a load of @#$%, we have plenty of­ good players and he should use his man management­ skills to get the best out of them. Tom Huddlestone has­ the ability and skills to be a very top player if Harry­ can install a bit of aggresion in him and Luka Modric­ will only get better. The new stadium looks fantastic­ and hopefully Mr Levy and the rest of the board can­ raise the finances to build it. A word on Mr Comoli,­ thanks for your efforts to bring players i think some­ of them will be a success,we must remember all clubs­ have had disappointing buys at some time or other.­ yours Bigun

    From trevor.curryer, on Wed 17 Dec 1:10AM

  2. All the BEST!! SPURS

    From ANWAR S, on Tue 16 Dec 9:52PM

  3. I'm glad I support Spurs, better that than support­ a highly successful club that is going places....

    From KCUFTHEU, on Tue 16 Dec 9:34PM

  4. comment 15- didn't realise spurs had good looking­ fan's. Maybe she should play up front instead of­ Bent. I'm sure she could score

    From dhodson677, on Tue 16 Dec 9:16PM

  5. must admit not a great fan of Bale, too lightwieght.­ But why are we after Downing??unless we are selling­ Bently!!

    From Wayne, on Tue 16 Dec 7:08PM

  6. do what you gotta do harry get us another cup or 3

    From Roxy, on Tue 16 Dec 7:04PM

  7. ah well here he goes we cant compete with the big boys­ we need more players and sell some , is it the same­ recording he uses all the time , said it always at­ pompey , spurs beware , looks good now but just wait it­ all change and he will then leave , ask southampton­ fans

    From Chris, on Tue 16 Dec 6:45PM

  8. WELL WELL WELL HOW LONG BEFORE WE GET THE­ "WE'RE DOWN TO THE BARE BONES " SPEECH?­ BET YOUR LIFE WHATEVER HAPPENS IT WON'T BE HIS­ FAULT THATS WHY HE'S BROUGHT IN SO MANY FALL GUYS.

    From KEN C, on Tue 16 Dec 6:28PM

  9. OMG if they give them 15m and bale for DOWNING!!! thats­ a freaken terrible deal. use the 15m to get babel hes­ way better and is another striking option

    From yep_so_ledley, on Tue 16 Dec 6:22PM

  10. you looking to get 5th, spend time with your players­ instead of putting their hard work down, spend little­ time on the wii and maybe you could get to 9th in the­ table by end of the league, oh yeah your going out of­ league cup, up the spurs, stadium looks alot like­ another one already in london.

    From steve m, on Tue 16 Dec 6:16PM

  11. Is it just me or does the new stadium plans look like a­ clone of the Emerites stadium

    From Richard C, on Tue 16 Dec 5:59PM

  12. Please dont swap Bale for Downing. Please Harry

    From Russell T, on Tue 16 Dec 5:33PM

  13. harry is just covering his butt. the squad has more­ than enough talent to match the likes of villa and­ everton. he needs to get off the negative talk because­ the players will start to believe it and levy will be­ showing mr redknapp the door.

    From Barry O, on Tue 16 Dec 5:18PM

  14. Harry boy save your breath, they got you there to­ survive this season. Bad luck if you dont.

    From elenavinogradovalowe, on Tue 16 Dec 4:58PM

  15. The miracle committed maintaining it is the test for­ this season.

    From Creeping rot, on Tue 16 Dec 4:42PM

  16. UP THE SPURS..

    From PAUL, on Tue 16 Dec 4:18PM

  17. The side does need improving in the january window, but­ I think there are players that can be sold to get some­ funds in too.

    From Wayne, on Tue 16 Dec 4:11PM

  18. Sort this "Invalid Comment out please".

    From Nathan, on Tue 16 Dec 4:05PM

  19. Redknapp your only gonna be in mid-table

    From Nathan, on Tue 16 Dec 4:04PM

  20. It` not like spurs are going to go 1st Redknapp. Just­ in mid-table.

    From Nathan, on Tue 16 Dec 4:03PM
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