April 8, 2026 10:12 PM PDT
And so nearly a month has pa sed since Harry Redknapp took over the reigns of a struggling, disheartened Tottenham Hotspur side. Since his arrival, Tottenham have steadily rose up the table and, despite still languishing perilously close to the relegation places, the storm clouds seem to have been lifted from White Hart Lane.Juande Ramos left in a haze of desperation and false hope, Redknapp arrived with the air of a saviour, bundled into the managers dug-out before he had even the chance to change his suit. He made an impre sion instantly; the club recording their first win of the season in his first game in charge. It would be unfair to credit Redknapp with the tactical accolades after that particular game (Clive Allen was the man who picked the team), but he has proved his worth in the games that have followed. It seems that it has only taken Arry a few weeks to find the right Tottenham formulae.In this piece, I will try to identify the differences (tactical and mental) between Juande Ramos, the slick disciplinarian, and Harry Redknapp, the lovable Cockney geezer. The differences arent always obvious, but they certainly make an impactJUANDE RAMOS: THE MANSchooled in the art of management by his former Elche manger, Juan De La Cruz Ramos Cano, better known as Juande Ramos, quickly achieved a reputation as a hard taskmaster. He announced his arrival at Tottenham with an intensive double-training se sion and then promptly instructed all of the players to follow his strict diet. He reportedly complained to the board that the players were fat and overweight (perhaps they were sharing former manger Martin Jols diet?!) and ordered all of the players to eat le s and train more. Some voiced discontent, but most conferred and results quickly improved.Many commented on Ramos old fashioned English style of managing. Players had to endure lengthy conversations with the Spaniard on football philosophy, theory and tactics. Players were fed detailed bits of football information, subs shown complicated diagrams drawn on notepads before they came on. A psychologist was bought into the Tottenham set-up, vegetable smoothies drunk at half-timeContrary to popular believe, Ramos wasnt an overly complicated man. He has strong beliefs and a strict set of values but, as long as you followed them, you were fine. Ho sam Ghaly voiced his discontent at the new regime and was promptly sent to train with the reserves. Ramos wasnt used to people saying no to him.HARRY REDKNAPP: THE MANQuite simply, Arry Redknapp is the polar opposite of Juande Ramos. A football stalwart, Harry has made his name from taking over struggling clubs and leading them up the table. He joined Pompey when they were in (the then) Division One. When he left they were the F.A. Cup winners and an established top-flight club. He spent 7 years at West Ham, rapidly becoming a fans favourite but one thing still eluded him. He had never been in charge of a really big club, never managed a Man Utd or a Newcastle or, indeed, a Spurs.Despite Pompeys F.A. Cup triumph remaining his only piece of silver-ware, Redknapp is one of the most respected English managers in the game. Many believe that, if it hadnt have been for the BBC Bung accusations, Redknapp would have been appointed England manager, ahead of Steve McClaren. Harry is also a simple manager. He knows what he wants to do; stick it in the net. He has no interest in complicated diagrams and fancy diets, ala Juande.Redknapp is also a London boy- knowledgeable of history and traditional playing style of the club: I am a big follower of the history of the game and Tottenham have been a great club over the years. I followed Tottenham, I trained there as an 11-year-old, 12-year-old so I know the history of the club. It is a big, big, club.JUANDE RAMOS: TACTICSJuande Ramos was a great lover of the tactics board. He regally changed formations at Seville but found out quickly that the English players at Tottenham werent used to switching tactics every game. Therefore he adapted to the 4-4-2 formation but then found, at the start of this season, injuries permitted us from fielding players in their strongest positions. Just take a look at this line-up in Ramos last game- against Stoke:GomesHutton Woodgate Corluka ZokoraJenas ModricBentley Lennon BaleBentDespite a left back being on the field, Ramos decided to play Zokora at left back, opting for Bale in Attacking midfield. Lennon was forced to play in the middle, freeing up Bentley on the right, with Darren Bent up front alone. Meanwhile, our best attacking mid-fielder of the last two seasons: Jermaine Jenas, was played in defensive mid-field, alongside Luka Jake Arrieta Jersey Modric, a player who had spent all of his Dinamo Zagreb and Croatian international career playing in attacking mid-field! Ramos left new-signing Roman Pavlyuchenko on the bench, bringing him on only after Stoke had gone 2-1 up. Surely Ramos should have learnt after nearly a year managing him, that Bent simply cant play up-front on his own. Sure he has pace, but he doesnt have the accuracy to execute snap-shots (like Rooney). Nor does he have the cro sing ability to run into the corner and swing a cro s into Bentley or Lennon (like Gabby Agbonlahor for Villa).Corluka played at centre-back (with Dawson on the bench), perfectly highlighting Ramos biggest fault, in my opinion. Ramos didnt seem to ever want to play the younger, or reserve team players. Perfectly competent players like Steed Malbranque, Pascal Chimbonda and Jermain Defoe had been allowed to leave in the summer, leaving the Spurs squad woefully thin on the ground. It was almost as if Ramos had his favourite 15-odd players and didnt intend to play anyone else. Why couldnt Corluka have been left on the bench, Dawson his replacement, or why couldnt a mid-fielder have been sacrificed, like Bentley. Heres the squad I (and po sibly Harry) would have played that day:GomesHutton Woodgate Dawson BaleZokoraBentley JenasModricPavlyuchenko BentThe defence boasts players playing in their actual positions, Zokora would feel at home in the defensive midfield position and Modric would be more comfortable in attack. Bent would have a strike partner and the midfield could flex when in attack (as shown below):GomesHutton Woodgate Dawson BaleZokoraBentley Jenas ModricPavlyuchenko BentOf course, in this particular game Gareth Bales sending off made a difference, but I picked this game for two reasons. a.) It was Ramos last for the club and b.) The squad closely resembles over losing squads fielded by Ramos. Alas; compare Ramos team to HarrysHARRY REDKNAPP: TACTICSTake a look at Harry Redknapps squad that recently beat Blackburn, 1-0.GomesCorluka Woodgate King A sou-EkottoBentley Jenas Huddlestone LennonPavlyuchenko BentAs you can see, Harry fielded a straight forward 4-4-2. The only player out of position was Aaron Lennon, however you could argue he was in position, as he played left-wing for Leeds. Bent was partnered with Pavlyuchenko, a partnership that has blo somed under Harry. So much for Juande Ramos statement: Roman and Bent cannot play together effectively.Huddlestone played the holding midfielder, leaving Jenas free to join in the attacks whilst Benoit A sou-Ekotto was called up to play at left-back. OK, hes not one of Tottenhams best players but he is our strongest out and out left back. Playing him makes more sense than playing an out of position Zokora or Corluka.Harry has also simplified Tottenham. Gone are the days of mazy tactics board and complicated substitutes notes. There are no more diets and no more psychologists. Instead a new Arry regime has been installed. Players are weighed but allowed to eat what they want (Tom Huddlestone has been told to eat as many burgers as he likes), Aaron Lennon is told, before every game, to go and run his socks off. Theres a new tactic before every Spurs game- stick it in the net. No fancy manoeuvres- just football.TARGETSMuch has changed since Redknapps arrival. Harrys made the limited ammount of players work together and, finally, Tottenham are starting to look like a team. Since his arrival, Harrys been linked with a number of players and we know that, unlikely Ramos, Redknapp wont be afraid to sniff around and pick up some bargains. Here are some of the targets and how they could fit in:#1. FERNANDO CAVENAGHIThe bustling Argentine striker would provide ideal striking cover. He could either fill Pavlyuchenkos role as the teams target man or team up with Pavlyuchenko, which would probably make us the most dangerous team in the league from set plays. However he wouldnt come cheap, 12mil minimum.#2. STEWART DOWNING.The English left-winger has long been a target of Tottenham. Both Santini and Jol courted the winger, but Ramos didnt expre s any intrest in the Boro player. However Redknapp has long been a fan and, now at Spurs, could finally have the spending power to buy the player. Downing would give Spurs more width, and would provide fantastic deliverys for Pavlyuchenko and, po sibly, Cavenaghi.#3. Mathais Jorgensen.The young defender has already turned down an offer from Arsenal, and could be holding out for a move to either Valencia or Tottenham, as his agent has links at both clubs. If we did snatch him, he would probably be sent out on loan as hes still only a teenager. One for the future.COME JANUARY- OUR TEAM?GomesHutton Woodgate King BaleBentley Jenas Huddlestone DowningCavenaghi PavlyuchenkoROUND-UPThere is a visible difference between the Ramos ere and the Redknapp era. Ramos focused on the technical, scientific approach to football where as Harry is a straight forward gaffer. Of course, succe s will ultimately be determined on silverware and league position but I know what Id rather.Bugger the Carling Cup, give me the days of 5th place finishes every day Francisco Rodriguez Jersey
And so nearly a month has pa sed since Harry Redknapp took over the reigns of a struggling, disheartened Tottenham Hotspur side. Since his arrival, Tottenham have steadily rose up the table and, despite still languishing perilously close to the relegation places, the storm clouds seem to have been lifted from White Hart Lane.Juande Ramos left in a haze of desperation and false hope, Redknapp arrived with the air of a saviour, bundled into the managers dug-out before he had even the chance to change his suit. He made an impre sion instantly; the club recording their first win of the season in his first game in charge. It would be unfair to credit Redknapp with the tactical accolades after that particular game (Clive Allen was the man who picked the team), but he has proved his worth in the games that have followed. It seems that it has only taken Arry a few weeks to find the right Tottenham formulae.In this piece, I will try to identify the differences (tactical and mental) between Juande Ramos, the slick disciplinarian, and Harry Redknapp, the lovable Cockney geezer. The differences arent always obvious, but they certainly make an impactJUANDE RAMOS: THE MANSchooled in the art of management by his former Elche manger, Juan De La Cruz Ramos Cano, better known as Juande Ramos, quickly achieved a reputation as a hard taskmaster. He announced his arrival at Tottenham with an intensive double-training se sion and then promptly instructed all of the players to follow his strict diet. He reportedly complained to the board that the players were fat and overweight (perhaps they were sharing former manger Martin Jols diet?!) and ordered all of the players to eat le s and train more. Some voiced discontent, but most conferred and results quickly improved.Many commented on Ramos old fashioned English style of managing. Players had to endure lengthy conversations with the Spaniard on football philosophy, theory and tactics. Players were fed detailed bits of football information, subs shown complicated diagrams drawn on notepads before they came on. A psychologist was bought into the Tottenham set-up, vegetable smoothies drunk at half-timeContrary to popular believe, Ramos wasnt an overly complicated man. He has strong beliefs and a strict set of values but, as long as you followed them, you were fine. Ho sam Ghaly voiced his discontent at the new regime and was promptly sent to train with the reserves. Ramos wasnt used to people saying no to him.HARRY REDKNAPP: THE MANQuite simply, Arry Redknapp is the polar opposite of Juande Ramos. A football stalwart, Harry has made his name from taking over struggling clubs and leading them up the table. He joined Pompey when they were in (the then) Division One. When he left they were the F.A. Cup winners and an established top-flight club. He spent 7 years at West Ham, rapidly becoming a fans favourite but one thing still eluded him. He had never been in charge of a really big club, never managed a Man Utd or a Newcastle or, indeed, a Spurs.Despite Pompeys F.A. Cup triumph remaining his only piece of silver-ware, Redknapp is one of the most respected English managers in the game. Many believe that, if it hadnt have been for the BBC Bung accusations, Redknapp would have been appointed England manager, ahead of Steve McClaren. Harry is also a simple manager. He knows what he wants to do; stick it in the net. He has no interest in complicated diagrams and fancy diets, ala Juande.Redknapp is also a London boy- knowledgeable of history and traditional playing style of the club: I am a big follower of the history of the game and Tottenham have been a great club over the years. I followed Tottenham, I trained there as an 11-year-old, 12-year-old so I know the history of the club. It is a big, big, club.JUANDE RAMOS: TACTICSJuande Ramos was a great lover of the tactics board. He regally changed formations at Seville but found out quickly that the English players at Tottenham werent used to switching tactics every game. Therefore he adapted to the 4-4-2 formation but then found, at the start of this season, injuries permitted us from fielding players in their strongest positions. Just take a look at this line-up in Ramos last game- against Stoke:GomesHutton Woodgate Corluka ZokoraJenas ModricBentley Lennon BaleBentDespite a left back being on the field, Ramos decided to play Zokora at left back, opting for Bale in Attacking midfield. Lennon was forced to play in the middle, freeing up Bentley on the right, with Darren Bent up front alone. Meanwhile, our best attacking mid-fielder of the last two seasons: Jermaine Jenas, was played in defensive mid-field, alongside Luka Jake Arrieta Jersey Modric, a player who had spent all of his Dinamo Zagreb and Croatian international career playing in attacking mid-field! Ramos left new-signing Roman Pavlyuchenko on the bench, bringing him on only after Stoke had gone 2-1 up. Surely Ramos should have learnt after nearly a year managing him, that Bent simply cant play up-front on his own. Sure he has pace, but he doesnt have the accuracy to execute snap-shots (like Rooney). Nor does he have the cro sing ability to run into the corner and swing a cro s into Bentley or Lennon (like Gabby Agbonlahor for Villa).Corluka played at centre-back (with Dawson on the bench), perfectly highlighting Ramos biggest fault, in my opinion. Ramos didnt seem to ever want to play the younger, or reserve team players. Perfectly competent players like Steed Malbranque, Pascal Chimbonda and Jermain Defoe had been allowed to leave in the summer, leaving the Spurs squad woefully thin on the ground. It was almost as if Ramos had his favourite 15-odd players and didnt intend to play anyone else. Why couldnt Corluka have been left on the bench, Dawson his replacement, or why couldnt a mid-fielder have been sacrificed, like Bentley. Heres the squad I (and po sibly Harry) would have played that day:GomesHutton Woodgate Dawson BaleZokoraBentley JenasModricPavlyuchenko BentThe defence boasts players playing in their actual positions, Zokora would feel at home in the defensive midfield position and Modric would be more comfortable in attack. Bent would have a strike partner and the midfield could flex when in attack (as shown below):GomesHutton Woodgate Dawson BaleZokoraBentley Jenas ModricPavlyuchenko BentOf course, in this particular game Gareth Bales sending off made a difference, but I picked this game for two reasons. a.) It was Ramos last for the club and b.) The squad closely resembles over losing squads fielded by Ramos. Alas; compare Ramos team to HarrysHARRY REDKNAPP: TACTICSTake a look at Harry Redknapps squad that recently beat Blackburn, 1-0.GomesCorluka Woodgate King A sou-EkottoBentley Jenas Huddlestone LennonPavlyuchenko BentAs you can see, Harry fielded a straight forward 4-4-2. The only player out of position was Aaron Lennon, however you could argue he was in position, as he played left-wing for Leeds. Bent was partnered with Pavlyuchenko, a partnership that has blo somed under Harry. So much for Juande Ramos statement: Roman and Bent cannot play together effectively.Huddlestone played the holding midfielder, leaving Jenas free to join in the attacks whilst Benoit A sou-Ekotto was called up to play at left-back. OK, hes not one of Tottenhams best players but he is our strongest out and out left back. Playing him makes more sense than playing an out of position Zokora or Corluka.Harry has also simplified Tottenham. Gone are the days of mazy tactics board and complicated substitutes notes. There are no more diets and no more psychologists. Instead a new Arry regime has been installed. Players are weighed but allowed to eat what they want (Tom Huddlestone has been told to eat as many burgers as he likes), Aaron Lennon is told, before every game, to go and run his socks off. Theres a new tactic before every Spurs game- stick it in the net. No fancy manoeuvres- just football.TARGETSMuch has changed since Redknapps arrival. Harrys made the limited ammount of players work together and, finally, Tottenham are starting to look like a team. Since his arrival, Harrys been linked with a number of players and we know that, unlikely Ramos, Redknapp wont be afraid to sniff around and pick up some bargains. Here are some of the targets and how they could fit in:#1. FERNANDO CAVENAGHIThe bustling Argentine striker would provide ideal striking cover. He could either fill Pavlyuchenkos role as the teams target man or team up with Pavlyuchenko, which would probably make us the most dangerous team in the league from set plays. However he wouldnt come cheap, 12mil minimum.#2. STEWART DOWNING.The English left-winger has long been a target of Tottenham. Both Santini and Jol courted the winger, but Ramos didnt expre s any intrest in the Boro player. However Redknapp has long been a fan and, now at Spurs, could finally have the spending power to buy the player. Downing would give Spurs more width, and would provide fantastic deliverys for Pavlyuchenko and, po sibly, Cavenaghi.#3. Mathais Jorgensen.The young defender has already turned down an offer from Arsenal, and could be holding out for a move to either Valencia or Tottenham, as his agent has links at both clubs. If we did snatch him, he would probably be sent out on loan as hes still only a teenager. One for the future.COME JANUARY- OUR TEAM?GomesHutton Woodgate King BaleBentley Jenas Huddlestone DowningCavenaghi PavlyuchenkoROUND-UPThere is a visible difference between the Ramos ere and the Redknapp era. Ramos focused on the technical, scientific approach to football where as Harry is a straight forward gaffer. Of course, succe s will ultimately be determined on silverware and league position but I know what Id rather.Bugger the Carling Cup, give me the days of 5th place finishes every day Francisco Rodriguez Jersey