Thursday’s game between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea is just as intriguing off the pitch as it is on – the Champions of 2010 and this runners up appear well short of that standard this season under Andre Villas-Boas, while in keeping hold of his big names despite failing to qualify for the Champions League last season, Harry Redknapp has assembled a team that finally appear to have rid themselves of the inconsistency issues that plagued their last two seasons.
That’s how it appears to be on the face of it. Villas-Boas argues that this season was always going to be transitional, while he moulds the Blues into his own shape – an underwhelming campaign was given a timely boost by qualification to the latter stages of the Champions League (something that should not be taken for granted, as English football’s “premier city” at the moment will remind you) but they were given a sobering dose of reality in the dying stages of the game at Wigan – a result which was disappointing but in keeping with the season so far.
And on consistency; though Spurs appear to have overcome that psychological hurdle, this is a season of bizarre results where inconsistency appears to be the norm outside of Manchester. It would be harsh to suggest that Tottenham have merely been the best of the rest, but despite a definite improvement and a midfield that is arguably better than that of the current Champions, there remains the doubt that they could seriously challenge for the title. Thursday’s clash will be the latest chapter in the story of the capital city’s shift in power, and the long term future of the men in the dugout is an inevitable topic of discussion.
Transition and regeneration are not buzz words known to endear themselves to the tolerant side of Roman Abramovich – despite an investment in youth that cannot be ignored, the Russian has a conflicting demand for instant and constant success that Villas-Boas is now hoping has relented if he is to even see the season out at Stamford Bridge. Defeat on Thursday may even make his chances of concluding 2011 in the hot seat slim – and compared to him, Harry Redknapp is the master of his own destiny, even taking into account his day in court over tax evasion allegations on January 23.
Master he may be, yet Redknapp is surely set to face a difficult decision as the summer approaches. He is the most natural candidate to replace Fabio Capello in the England hot-seat and at 64 it is unlikely he will ever get another chance to take charge of the national team. Concerns that the FA may be dissuaded by the controversy over his legal concerns seem unfounded when considering the Association’s unwavering support of John Terry – and with Redknapp’s track record for motivating unfancied sides, it seems illogical that anyone else is even considered as a possible candidate.
Despite that patriotic ambition, it remains a difficult decision. Redknapp is experienced enough to know what a poisoned chalice the England job is and how, at times, it looks like a thankless job. His position at Tottenham is as safe as it possibly could be – Daniel Levy is one of the best chairmen in the league, if not the best, and understands the climate and obstacles for success at this moment in time. Qualification for the Champions League in 2010 did not instigate an instant demand for success, and this has been to Spurs’ (and Redknapp’s) huge benefit.
A win at White Hart Lane on Thursday would be a huge shot in the arm to their chances of finishing as the top London club in the league – Rafael van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor have already spoken of their belief that they already are, and if they can back that up with an end of season league table position, Redknapp may (as he has tended to do in the past) decide that is as good as it gets, and the perfect time to bow out. Levy will try to convince him that this is just the start of good things for Spurs; Redknapp would do well to listen.