Redknapp wants more of same

Posted Saturday, October 24, 2009 by PA

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has reflected on his first year at White Hart Lane by demanding more of the same from his players to keep them in contention for a Champions League place.

Redknapp's first anniversary as Spurs boss is on Monday and he is hoping to celebrate this weekend with a Barclays Premier League victory over Stoke to add to his impressive points haul in the last 12 months.

Spurs won 65 points in Redknapp's first 38 games, which would have been enough to finish fifth if played throughout last season.

"A year goes too quick, but it's been an enjoyable year on the football front," Redknapp said. "I wouldn't have been here if they'd not had a bad start.

"Things have gone very well. We've played good football and got some good results, which is what I was paid to do.

"We had a great end of last season and we've carried it on. There's no reason why we can't continue, the confidence is there and there's all the ingredients to do well."

Spurs head into the weekend in third place and there is genuine hope of maintaining a challenge, particularly if the traditional heavyweights keep dropping points.

"We've got 19 points from nine games, if we can take 19 for the next nine I'll be very pleased," Redknapp said.

"As an outsider I always looked at Tottenham as a club that should be up there. They've had great teams over the year with a great history.

"We haven't achieved anything yet but it looks like it is possible."

Redknapp highlights the example of Tony Pulis' Stoke as a reason why it is tougher in the Premier League this season.

Spurs had two players sent off in their defeat to Stoke last season and that turned out to be Juande Ramos' last league match in charge before chairman Daniel Levy turned to Redknapp.

"Stoke are strong, they are a good side and Tony's done a great job for them," Redknapp said. "I can see them finishing in the top half having established themselves as a Premier League club, and they have a fanatical support.

"I know Ricardo Fuller well, I've bought him a couple of times. James Beattie and Fuller are a real handful. I'm expecting a real difficult game; nobody gets an easy game with Stoke."

Peter Crouch, one of the players photographed, is in the frame to deputise for suspended striker Jermain Defoe.

Glenn Whelan hopes his exploits with the Republic of Ireland can catapult him back into Stoke's starting XI.

The midfielder has had to make do with substitute appearances in the last two games for his club, despite starring for his country in their World Cup qualifiers.

But Whelan accepts competition for places in Stoke's engine room is hot after Dean Whitehead's arrival from Sunderland and a return to fitness for Salif Diao.

He said: "There are not too many players who will start every game for Stoke this season. The manager has done really well to bring some top players to the club and it's tough for all of us to hold down a place.

"It's disappointing for myself and a good few others not to start every week, but I just keep working hard to make sure I'm ready and raring to go when my chance comes back around."

That could well be tomorrow as Whelan, who scored a cracker against Italy to help the Republic of Ireland into a World Cup play-off against France, has been back in Stoke for more than a week.

A knock sustained on international duty did not help his bid to start last Saturday's win over West Ham, but a bright cameo as a substitute has put him in the frame.

Stoke were 3-0 down after 25 minutes at White Hart Lane last season and Whelan said: "We will be trying to do a lot better against them this time.

"Our away form became an issue last season, but we've done a lot better this season. When Stoke are in town, our opponents now know they are in for a tough game.

"We have tightened up on our travels and, with a little bit of luck, we could have won at Bolton and Everton in our last two away games. Our squad is stronger and consequently our team is stronger.

"Spurs are looking to break into the top four and they are a very good side, but we see everybody as beatable."

Stoke's other Republic of Ireland international, Liam Lawrence, is a doubt after being laid low by a virus.

"The players all had their flu jabs this week and Liam could have had a reaction to that," explained manager Tony Pulis.

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