Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Harry Redknapp The Only Man To Unite Saints & Pompey
Harry Redknapp The Only Man To Unite Saints & Pompey
Friday, 22nd Jun 2012 12:52

When Saints and Pompey fans meet up there is no love lost between them, but there is one topic which they agree on and collectively spit on the floor.

Its fair to say Saints and Pompey fans dont agree on much, but the majority do concur on one thing and that is the fact that they beleive that Harry Redknapp is not likeable "Arry" the darling of the London based media, but an individual who cares about only one thing and that is himself, whatever the ramifications to the club who employs him.

As manager of AFC Bournemouth Redkapp enjoyed a good reputation, however for some strange reason job offers in a higher division were not that forthcoming indeed his reputation was tainted in 1990 when the Cherries were relegated back to division three, sadly for Harry that was the start of a bad summer as he was involved in serious car crash whilst in Italy for the World Cup.

He spent a further two seasons at Bournemouth before joining his beloved West Ham and his cheeky chappy image would soon be in shreds, he joined the Hammers as assistant to Billy Bonds and within two seasons Bonds was ousted in favour of Redknapp, certainly Sir Trevor Brooking saw it as treachery at the time and so much so 18 years later it was still brought up as the main reason Brooking alledgedly vetoed Redknapps surely cast iron confirmation as England manager.

After being sacked at West Ham in May 2001, Harry was looking for a job, strangely he spent a lot of time at St Mary's despite being newly appointed director of football at Fratton Park with even then Chairman Rupert Lowe commenting that Harry was looking for the Saints job if and when Stuart Gray was sacked.

Of course we all know what happened next and although initially edknapp was the new messiah at the East end of the M27, when he left, promising the crying Pompey fans on the doorsteps of Fratton that he would "Never go to that lot up the road" he was about to reveal his true colours to them, it wasnt blue and white, but it wasnt red & white either come to that.

Of course his tenure at St Mary's was disastrous, he will of course cite a lack of money, but the fact was that he still spent a lot in the transfer window that January including a near club record fee on Nigel Quashie plus some catastrophic loan deals, and we mustnt forget the players he had at his disposal who were already there, Niemi, Crouch, Delap, Higginbotham, Jones, Baird & Phillips would all go on to become Premier regulars afterwards and thats not to mention the likes of Le Saux, Lundekvam, Ormerod, Oakley, Anders Svensson, Leon Best & even James Beattie all of whom were available to him, forget his excuses he had the quality to keep Saints up and should have done.

But his heart wasnt in it, the only reason Rupert Lowe had to appoint Redknapp was there mutual thing in common, they both hated Milan Mandaric, it suited them both to put one over on the Pompey Chairman, Lowe abandoned his princibles and his usual criteria for a manager, partly in panic at Saints position and partly because he could stick two fingers up to Mandaric, Redknapp for his part joined Saints for one reason only, he wasnt interested in the job or team, but it stuck one over Mandaric, Pompey or their fans never came into it, he cared about only one thing and that was himself.

History shows what happens next, many Pompey fans could never truly forgive him for what he had done and many were alienated, of course the cup win for them pasted over a few cracks and the JCL's came out of the cracks in the pavement, but even at their greatest hours for half a century or more, Fratton didnt seem to completely sell out and as has been shown the hard core of support had gone, once the rot set in the JCL's went very quickly and for the last season in the premier there were a lot of empty seats, (not a dig at Pompey here, just illustrating how if you dont cultivate your hardcore if they go then things go downhill quickly without them)

Harry of course didnt care and was soon off to White Hart Lane leaving a raft of highly paid players behind him, which would financially bring the club down, of course he would defend himself and say that he didnt realise that the money wasnt there, but given that he was desperate to get away, almost going to Newcastle at one stage, it perhaps evidenced the fact that he knew the writing was on the wall.

In February of this year as he stood on the steps of the Crown ourt at Southwark, ouwardly smiling and saying the result was never in doubt, Saints and Pompey fans probably never had so much in common, a hatred of this man for what he stood for and what he had done to their clubs, aints fans perhaps having a little more to gripe about, a few days later Capello was gone and with purs seemingly set to finish at least in the top three and perhaps even sneak a Premier League Title at a pinch, Rednapp was surely still on the ascent in his managerial career.

However a little more than three months later and Redknapp looks to be a spent force in football, of course he will manage again in the Premier League, but the fact is that he will never manage England, Brooking will see to that, and he will never find a club as big as Spurs, who in the top six would employ him ? he does not fit the bill at any of the other top sides, only perhaps Chelsea.

Redknapps success's are based on spending money, at bournemouth he had to wheel and deal with little of it, but in the 20 years or so since he left, its spend spend spend, at West Ham he almost got relegated after spending a fortune and never really took them anywhere for all the cash, in his first spell at Pompey it was all about buying big for the Championship and bringing in players on big salaries, at Saints he got some money but in truth he shouldnt have needed it, the first time he has really had to manage in two decades and he is found wanting.

We all know the story of his second spell at Pompey as do two sets of insolvency judges and the nation, a further explanation might be construed as gloating.

So hopefully the bubble has burst on Goodold Arry"  I have said nothing libellous here and im not going to nor need to, Im sure people will wonder why I havent been harsher on the allegations that he faced in court, but that was for a jury not me, so ill leave you to draw your own conclusions.

But when Saints and Pompey fans meet up, watch your shoes because they might get covered in spit, we dont agree on much but we all agree that if there is a footballing version of Hell, then sitting on the throne will be good old Arry, man of the people, who lives on the richest mile of real estate in Europe, being the most fincially astute man in the EU, affording that on the wages of a division 3 manager at Bournemouth or an assistant at West Ham, all this despite being unable to barely read or write, perhaps we Skates and Scummers are just bitter after all, he is one of us !                             

Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



HambleSaint added 14:07 - Jun 22
I quite like him. Its all a means to an end. Relegation lead to administration and ultimately a new owner. Look where we are now ! And as the song goes ' Who's laughing now' !
0

HambleSaint added 14:08 - Jun 22
I quite like him. Its all a means to an end. Relegation lead to administration and ultimately a new owner. Look where we are now ! And as the song goes ' Who's laughing now' !
0

Fordy added 14:50 - Jun 22
I'm no Redknapp apologist by any means but I don't think you can write about Redknapp's failure without mentioning Clive Woodward.

It got the whole thing off to a really bad start. There was Woodward and Clifford wanting to take the club in one direction and Redknapp trying to ignore they were even there.

Obviously, Lowe was responsible for that cock-up, and Redknapp was hopeless but I wonder if his heart may have been more in it if Woodward hadn't been meddling in things.
0

SaintNick added 15:42 - Jun 22
Woodward was there before Redknapp, the situation and the way forward for the club was spelled out to him before he joined, if he didnt like it he should have turned the job down
0

ThereIn76 added 15:53 - Jun 22
Are you sure about that Nick? I remember that Woodward was being talked about when Sturrock was sacked which would have been autumn 2004, Redknapp came in November 04 and I think Woodward's appointment as Technical Director was confirmed the following summer (after relegation).
0

ExiledSupporter added 18:44 - Jun 22
Good for Brooking, I say.

How could any club let alone a national side employ a man whose (incredibly) successful defence against the charges was that he was the most stupid, ignorant and illiterate person. On the other hand to persuade the jury that this defence amounted to sufficient reason to acquit him, suggests some level of previously unsuspected cunning. But why would so many supporters apparently be persuaded that he was the right man for the job...beyond me!
0

1teeminants added 17:03 - Jun 23
Thats your view Nick.

Im no Redkanpp lover but come on, he put the skates on the map. They were nothing before he came along they won the cup ,got in europe and had a great run. Yes he spent a lot of money there but no one can deny he has a great eye for a player and its not his fault he was allowed to spend so much money was it ?

he also did very well at Spurs. Any die hard spurs fan will tell you what great things hes done for them over the years ,they were about to be relegated before he came along ffs.

I Repeat...... i dont like the bloke but i think he's a good manager along with millions of others who wanted him to be the next England manager.Yes he's dodgy as fook but he wins football mathes thats all that matters as far as im concerned.
0

simmo400 added 18:13 - Jun 23
Personally I think Alan Ball is the only person to cross the divide in this case. Much respect in both camps Nick.
0

bigsaint added 22:56 - Jun 23
I've spoken to 3 saints players who were in the squad and all said the similar things. Hes approach was irractic, he was good with the bigger name players but had no respect for the others. One player had not made the bench for four months since he had become manger. Then just 2 hours before a game he was shocked and not prepared when told he was starting.
0

1teeminants added 05:47 - Jun 24
Whilst i appreciate there are many saints and pompey fans that cant stand arry i also know many ponpey fans and some saints fans that think hes a very good manager so this article doesnt really stack up. Many pompey fans appreciate what he did for them winning the championship, winning the FA CUP, getting into Europe i know this because I take the time to visit their site and read the posts so i think this article is very one sided.I would say most of the hatred from the skates is purely because he joined us. No other reason.

Also i dont blame him for our relegation as we were already stuffed before he came along . You cannot argue with his record at pompey and spurs, yes he likes to spend but so does ferguson and most top mangers etc. if the moneys there to spend its not his fault is it ?

Also why did most fans of neutral clubs want him to be England Boss ? Doesnt that tell you something ? Hodgson is doing a good job for England but i wanted Redknapp in for sure and so did millions of others because he wins football matches ffs. I dont give a monkeys about his personality .

I think ths is very one sided

sorry Nick.
0

Whatsforpud added 13:24 - Jun 24
I can't believe that all Pompey fans would have such a negative view of him. Perhaps we might get some response from them here.

I don't know where he will pop up next, but wouldn't be surprised if next time Bournemouth are in financial difficulties, he would put his money there. Be handy, living in Sandbanks, Bournemouth Chairman.
0

brianletiss added 14:23 - Jun 24
Don't know what other teams supporters he mismanaged think of him but he was a disaster for Saints. He played Calum Davenport, who was responsible for a host of goals we conceded, instead of Danny Higginbottom and Kevin Phillips was never given a fair chance.

I was appalled when we lost to Man Utd at home and were relegated. A win that day could have kept us up and there was no spirit in the side whatsoever. After all the previous years when players like Benali and Letiss played their hearts out.

Perhaps he has finally got his come uppance - but I wouldn't bet against him bouncing back somewhere.
0


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 31 bloggers

Knees-up Mother Brown #22 by wessex_exile
Knees-up Mother Brown #18 by wessex_exile

Portsmouth Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© FansNetwork 2024