Redknapp Can't Rescue English Expectations

On Wednesday night England conceded three goals at Wembley for the first time since 2007, heaping more misery on the national team’s build-up to Euro 2012. Still void of a manager and with the tournament only 14 weeks away, the outlook for the England football team is grim at best.

Robben goes Double-Dutch

Stuart Peace was employed in a caretaker role as England’s lack of class was once again highlighted by a Dutch side who never really hit fifth gear. Cruise control was enough to steer past an England side whose late double was unable to derail the World Cup finalists.

As the FA continue deliberating over the appointment of a new boss for Euro 2012, the vast majority of English fans only have one suggestion.

That man is Harry Redknapp.

Whilst it is hard to disagree that he holds the best credentials for the job, it would be a huge mistake for both the FA and Redknapp to appoint him.

Fan's favourite

It seems the expectations are for Redknapp to waltz into the camp and totally transform the English team’s fortunes. He has admitted an interest in taking on the role, but the timing is surely so wrong for all parties involved.

Yes, Redknapp’s Tottenham have played the best football in the Premier League this season, but this would not necessarily transfer to the national side and he would not want to jeopardise all the progress he has made at White Hart Lane.

As for the FA, the pressure remains to recruit successfully and although these are desperate times, patience could be the virtue they require. If England fail to perform at Euro 2012, appointing Redknapp now before the disappointment would further tarnish their reputation.

However, appointing Redknapp after Euro 2012, whether successful or not, would bring great energy to the build up to the World Cup in 2014. The current youthful England squad has a lot of potential stars and by 2014 it will undoubtedly be a greater force than at present.

Capello fell from grace

Let us not forget that a popular Fabio Capello was named BBC’s Sports Coach of the Year for England’s successful qualifying campaign prior to the World Cup in 2010, praised for his disciplinary skills and rewarded with a contract extension.

Such is the cut-throat nature of modern management, that just several weeks later, due to a pathetic display by the English players in South Africa, the fans were calling for his head.

I have no doubts Redknapp will manage England one day but now is not the right time. He surely does not want to risk people doubting his ability before he has had a chance to prove himself.

There has been so much controversy surrounding an England side lacking an abundance of raw talent, that their chances of success at Euro 2012 are slim.

So,does it really matter who is in charge?

True, Harry Redknapp is the only fit contender for this post but even he is not a miracle worker. It will take time to reinstall the relevant mindset and beliefs that are required for success with England's national team.

Familiar disappointment for English fans

Just as important as the manager is the quality of the players, which in England’s case is somewhat lacking. A midfield of Gerrard, Parker, Barry and Johnson is non-comparable to Spain’s Xavi, Iniesta, Silva and Fabregas.

The biggest fear for English football fans should not be who will manage the team at Euro 2012, but how they will manage their own expectations. 

Supporting your country wholeheartedly is what these tournaments are all about, but English fans must learn to be realistic. Whether Harry Redknapp leads England to Euro 2012 or not, they must not expect to win.

Written by Dom Wallace

Red-Hot Spurs on Fire for Happy Harry

On a chilly winter evening in the capital, Tottenham reignited their title ambitions with another classy performance, which left a struggling Wigan side out in the cold at the foot of the table.

Gareth Bale continued to shine for Spurs with a neat chest and athletic volley into the Wigan net following an exquisite cross-field through ball from Luka Modric.

The nimble Croatian doubled the lead for the home side with an instinctive, turning half-volley from outside the box.

Bale celebrates first goal

The second half failed to wow the crowd, until Bale struck an individual effort into the far corner, before James McArthur squeezed in a deflected consolation for the visitors.

Wigan could and should have made the finish less comfortable for Spurs with Conor Sammon unable to convert a Ronnie Stam cross from six yards in the closing minutes.

Despite a few carless moments, Tottenham exhibited enough quality and belief to pick up their first victory in three league outings and showcase why they deserve to be a mere five points off the pace.

The opening half hour was, as expected, dictated by Harry Redknapp’s side, although two headed attempts by centre-back Younes Kaboul were all they had to show for their dominating of possession.

Wigan had glimpses of hope with Ronnie Stam delivering dangerously into the box and Victor Moses penetrating the nucleus of the Spurs backline, but an obvious lack of execution was all too evident.

As was always on the cards, Tottenham eventually broke the deadlock with a fantastic display of skill.

Modric eliminated The Latics’ defence with a pinpoint pass to Bale, who lost his man in the process of chesting the ball down to volley passed Al Habsi. The effortless finish complementing the preciseness of the assist.

A devastating duo

The sought-after Modric then demonstrated his own goal-scoring abilities, instinctively propelling a ricochet into the bottom corner with apparent ease.

Following an irresistible first half performance from Spurs, the Wigan contingent trundled off for half time refreshments with a sense of doom for the impending second half.

Despite a near miss shortly after the interval, courtesy of the head of Emmanuel Adebayor, the N17 faithful became impatient with Tottenham appearing content to sit on their lead.

However, Bale once again produced something from nothing whilst appearing to have his sight to goal obscured; he shifted onto his left in a flash and with minimal backlift, fired a rasping nail into the far corner of Wigan’s coffin.

With Roman Pavlyuchenko signing for Lokomotiv Moscow and Jermaine Defoe already sidelined, Cameron Lancaster was handed his Spurs debut after Adebayor joined Rafael Van der Vaart and Kyle Walker in limping off.

Probert misses lunge

Redknapp will therefore be especially thankful his free transfer of Louis Saha was successful. He said of the 33-year-old Frenchman, "I like Louis. He is bright, sharp, got good movement and I think he'll do well for us."

The only controversial incident involved Benoit Assou-Ekotto who floored Franco Di Santo with a reckless lunge, catching the forward high up the shin, yet the incident went apparently unnoticed by referee Lee Probert, who took no action against the defender.

Roberto Martinez was incensed, "I think it was a definite red card and we are very fortunate he's only got a minor injury. A red card would have given us more momentum.”

Wigan got a deserved consolation for their efforts after Moses freed McArthur whose deflected chip looped over Brad Friedel.

They should have added a second moments from time, with Stam causing problems down Tottenham’s left flank and must take heart from their second half performance if they are to drag themselves up, out of the drop zone.

Martinez admitted, "I do think we deserved a lot more but in the next fifteen games we need to perform in the manner we did in the second half."

This was a welcome victory for Spurs and Redknapp who has been in court on charges of tax evasion recently. He joked, "I've been sitting down all week. I kept dancing around like a two-year-old! It was nice to get on my feet again. The fans were great, I appreciated it.”

Redknapp in high spirits

In a positively jovial mood, the so-called wheeler dealer of the football world reminded all Arsenal fans, “We're thirteen points ahead of Arsenal now, it's a nice lead.”

The Tottenham manager was quick to pour praise on Gareth Bale who had another dazzling performance. Luka Modric was also outstanding and Redknapp will know just how crucial that pairing will be for the success of the club, not only this campaign, but for seasons to come.

Bale and Modric form part of what is currently considered the best midfield in the English Premier League, but in a strange irony, many believe that how well they perform and therefore how much success they bring themselves at Tottenham, may dictate their desires to remain at the club.

Sitting third, just five points behind Manchester City and still in the FA Cup, Spurs fans need not panic just yet, but the summer is a long way off.

Written by Dom Wallace