Part 2 – English Premier League: 7th Weekend’s winners
Tottenham can also be considered one of the winners of the latest English league weekend after their comprehensive win over Aston Villa. Villa were under their new manager, Gerard Houllier but that didn’t stop the Hotspurs from
putting the Villains to sword at the White Hart Lane. It was a marvellous match, an end to end one, but a game that Tottenham deserved to win at the end.
The final two goals to one score line was a testament to the fact that Tottenham have come a very long way ever since Harry Redknapp took over at the club. Back then, Tottenham were languishing in the relegation zone but now they
are participating in the UEFA Champions League and along with that riding a mighty high tide in the English Premier League. In the summer transfer window that preceded the 2010-2011 English Premier League season, Tottenham were blasted in the English press
for their failure to sign a proper centre forward, such reports seemed justified at the time because they were targeting at the heart of the problem that Spurs were facing.
In Jermaine Defoe, Peter Crouch, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Robbie Keane, Hotspurs did have a formidable striking line up but not a spectacular one. One only name, Defoe is worthy of being termed as anything near “world class” quality
and thus his injury last month spelled doom for Harry’s side. Papers came out in full force against Tottenham’s transfer policy as Redknapp opted to sign Rafael Van Der Vaart for eight million pounds, rather than spend money on a striker.
This decision was appalling to say the least for everyone connected with the North London club but football managers do know a thing or two about footballers. Redknapp’s decision to put faith in the Dutch midfielder is now paying
off, his superb goal against Aston Villa on the weekend only further provided credibility to Redknapp’s trust in the former Hamburg midfielder. Van Der Vaart himself has had a strange decision; he made his move from Ajax to Hamburg a few years ago at a time,
when he was a very prized and sought after commodity in club football. This move hinted at a lack of ambition by the Dutch maestro who then moved onto Real Madrid after falling out with Hamburg.
At Madrid, Van Der Vaart was expected to make it to the big time but his lack of first team opportunities became the cause of his downfall as he did impress but in short periodic bursts. Such a career was not suited to a man of
his talents and therefore after Real Madrid signed Kaka and Ozil, Rafael agreed to a move away from the Bernabeau to England. The weather might not be as pleasant in London as it is in Madrid but Van Der Vaart has settled in well already. He has given Harry
Redknapp a tactical headache as well. Van Der Vaart is traditionally an attacking midfielder; with the 4-4-2 that Redknapp adopts it is difficult for the Dutchman to really influence the game in his conventional manner.
This has prompted Harry to hint towards a more accommodating system like a 3-5-2 that he used to play during his days as the manager of West Ham United. In a five man midfield, Rafael will be deployed behind the front two strikers.
However such a tactical outlook can only work in the English Premier League because in European football, a three man defence would be ripped to shreds by teams such as Inter Milan and Barcelona. Harry Redknapp and Tottenham are currently 5th in
the English Premier League table level on points with Arsenal. It will be interesting to see what formation Harry adopts when Tottenham take on Fulham at the Craven Cottage on the 16th of October, 2010.
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