Harry Redknapp sends important message to Ange Postecoglou after ‘very average’ Spurs season
Harry Redknapp expressed that Ange Postecoglou’s debut season at Tottenham can be characterized as fairly average. Despite losing star player Harry Kane to Bayern Munich just before the season began, Tottenham secured a fifth-place finish in the Premier League. This outcome represented an improvement compared to the preceding season in various aspects: more points earned, more goals scored, fewer goals conceded, and an evolved, more attacking style of play under Postecoglou.
However, Spurs’ hopes of clinching a top-four spot were dashed by a late-season stumble, along with early exits from domestic cup competitions, leading Redknapp to label the season as mediocre. Although he holds a positive view of Postecoglou personally, he couldn’t overlook the team’s shortcomings in achieving higher targets.
Redknapp’s assessment of the season stems from his initial expectations of Tottenham finishing within the top four, possibly even contending for a cup victory, given their squad strength. The disappointment of early cup exits and narrowly missing out on the top four contributed to his belief that it wasn’t a standout season for the club.
Despite some friction between Postecoglou and Spurs supporters, particularly regarding his comments about wanting the team to lose against Manchester City, Redknapp is optimistic that any tensions will fade with time. He acknowledges the modern trend where managers are either lauded as heroes or criticized harshly, without much middle ground, and stresses the need for patience and realistic expectations.
Looking ahead, Redknapp believes Tottenham’s main challenge in the upcoming summer will be filling the void left by Harry Kane’s departure. He sees this as a crucial task for the club’s continued success, especially in their ambition to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Regarding the broader Premier League landscape, Redknapp predicts that the top three clubs from the previous season – Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool – will maintain their dominance. He anticipates Arsenal to challenge Manchester City for the title in the next season, while also mentioning Chelsea and Manchester United needing significant improvements to compete effectively.
In summary, Redknapp’s analysis emphasizes the need for realistic expectations, patience with managers and teams during rough patches, and the critical task facing Tottenham in finding a suitable replacement for Harry Kane to sustain their competitiveness in the Premier League.
