Latest Football News 23-10-11

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REDKNAPP: I'D TAKE TEVEZ TOMORROW

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has revealed he would not hesitate to sign Manchester City's wantaway striker Carlos Tevez.
Tevez has repeatedly insisted he is keen to leave Manchester citing family reasons, and appears frozen out of City boss Roberto Mancini's plans due to his conduct on the substitute's bench during last month's Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich.
With an investigation ongoing into his alleged misdemeanour, Tevez is unlikely to see any first-team action at City anytime soon, and Redknapp would not hesitate to bring the Argentinian to White Hart Lane on a loan deal.
"I would take him if he were available for sure, warts and all. Who wouldn't?" Redknapp told a number of national newspapers.
"If Manchester City want to let me have him on loan and massively subsidise it, I'll take him tomorrow.
"Say what you like, but he's a world-class player and you can't say he doesn't work his socks off when he plays.
"When he gets on the field he's a right handful.
"It's all right people refusing to condone his behaviour but, to be honest, I'm only interested in what he does when he plays.
"And world-class players are in short supply."

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REDKNAPP: GIVE KEAN A CHANCE

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has told Blackburn fans to lay off Steve Kean and instead focus on backing their manager in Sunday afternoon's clash between the two sides at Ewood Park.
Kean was a surprise appointment as Sam Allardyce's replacement last season following the takeover of the club by Indian group Venky's.
The Scot, who was Allardyce's first-team coach, only just managed to keep his side in the Premier League last year.
And the club have begun this season poorly, sinking to the bottom of the table with five points from their opening eight games.
Some Blackburn fans have been publicly calling for Kean's head for some time now, and Sunday's game at Ewood Park will be beset by protests before and after the match.
Redknapp, who takes his team to the north-west on the back of a five-match unbeaten run, thinks barracking his opposite number is a counter-productive move, however.
"It's always a shame when that (protests) happens to anyone," Redknapp said.
"They need to get behind their team at the moment. That's more important.
"He is working hard and the fans need to stick with their team.
"It's their club and you have to keep supporting your team."
Despite their poor form, the Lancashire club's only victory this season came against Arsenal - something which Redknapp treats as a warning sign his team should use to guard against complacency.
He added: "You don't go to Blackburn and get too many easy games. They beat Arsenal there this year so we have to make sure we don't underestimate the opposition."
Spurs' form against the lesser lights in the division cost them a place in the Champions League last season, but they have rectified that this year by beating Wolves and Wigan on the road.
"If we are going to be a team that is going to be up there this year, we have to go and win these sort of games," Redknapp said.
"We did it at Wigan and Wolves, and we could have won at Newcastle had we not conceded with a couple of minutes to go."
Redknapp's team have lost just once - to Stoke on penalties in the Carling Cup - since they were hammered 5-1 by Manchester City on August 28.
The City defeat followed another big loss to champions Manchester United, and came amid claims from the manager that the Luka Modric transfer saga was disrupting the harmony of the squad.
With new signings Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor having quickly adapted to the team, Redknapp is glad to have seen his side turn the corner and move up to sixth in the table.
He insists he never doubted his side's ability to turn things round.
"The bad start didn't bother me," Redknapp said.
"I didn't want to get beat, but I looked at the team against City and I knew it was going to be difficult.
"I had Niko Kranjcar playing in central midfield. He is a fantastic player playing wide, but he had never played in there before.
"It wasn't too easy that day but we are a better team now. Sandro is back, Scott Parker has made a massive difference to us and we want to keep our run of form up now.
"We have a good spirit and we are in good form. We are playing very well. I like us when we play. It's a pleasure to watch us most of the time."
The Spurs boss will recall the likes of Rafael van der Vaart, Parker and Gareth Bale after they were rested for Thursday's 1-0 win over Rubin Kazan.
Aaron Lennon and Sandro came through 70 minutes of the game as they stepped up their recovery from their respective groin and calf injuries, and should be available.
Redknapp is not blessed with options in defence, however, with injuries to Ledley King, Vedran Corluka, Michael Dawson and William Gallas meaning Sebastien Bassong and Younes Kaboul are the club's only fit centre-backs.

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