Is Redknapp the right man for Tottenham?

Is Redknapp a Portsmouth hero or villain?

Harry Redknapp talked about being inspired by Bill Nicholson, but Tottenham Hotspur have suffered several false dawns since the legendary manager clinched the double in 1961.

Redknapp recalled telling Nicholson that he was a right winger who did not score goals when he came for a trial at Tottenham at the age of 11. Nicholson replied that Stanley Matthews was similar, but that Redknapp probably did not have the same ability. “I said ‘I don’t think so’ – and he was right,” Redknapp said. “He was one of the all-time great managers.”

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• Is Redknapp the right man for Tottenham?

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• Is Redknapp the right man for Tottenham?

• Is Redknapp a Portsmouth hero or villain?

Redknapp is the latest to try to return Tottenham to their glory days of winning with style, a task that has dented many a reputation since Nicholson. Keith Burkinshaw approached it, lifting two FA Cups and the Uefa Cup in 1984, since when consecutive managers have been buried by the weight of expectation. Glenn Hoddle, once a playing idol, came, but failed to conquer.

So to Redknapp, who also proved himself to be an amateur historian by lacing his comments with references to the club’s glorious past. “Tottenham is a big club,” he said. “I thought, ‘let’s just give the job a go before it is too late’.”

Redknapp had pinpointed his new team’s “soft centre” as one of the reasons for their disastrous start to the season, but said that it was not evident during the opening period of the 2-0 victory against Bolton Wanderers yesterday. “The way they were fizzing the ball I was thinking ‘how can this lot be bottom of the league?’ ” He compared Tottenham to the Portsmouth side he returned to as manager when they were in a similar position two years ago, steering them away from relegation. “I wondered how I was going to keep Portsmouth up,” Redknapp said. “We are in trouble. Anything else [other than staying up] is a bonus.”

During a talk at the team hotel before the match yesterday, Redknapp told the Tottenham players that confidence was the key to their bid to avoid relegation. He allowed Clive Allen, the development coach, to pick the side, but he sat on the bench and offered advice on substitutions and tactics.

Redknapp said that he was motivated by criticism for turning down the job as Newcastle United manager in January. This time, Peter Storrie, the Portsmouth chief executive, advised him to take the job. “People said I didn’t want to take on the challenge of a bigger club,” he said. “I took Portsmouth where I took them. But the club’s finances are a bit tight. The owner has been fantastic, but they need a new stadium, a new training ground. They needed to sell one more player in the summer – and in the end that sale was me.”

Ledley King, who played consecutive matches for the first time since August, welcomed Redknapp’s arrival. “The appointment is brilliant,” he said. “The win feels good. The players seem to have a weight off their shoulders.” He paid tribute to Juande Ramos, who led the club to a Carling Cup triumph last season, and said that the players were surprised that he was dismissed. “We would like to thank him for the work he’s done – and to wish him all the best,” he said.