Redknapp delighted with Tottenham progress

Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp is delighted with the progress his team have made pre-season, singling out their positive attitude and ability to retain the ball.

The affable Redknapp has a knack of getting the best out of his players and he is looking to steer the club into the top six next season.

They got a good workout here Wednesday in a 1-0 victory over London rivals West Ham in the Barclays Asia Trophy, with England international Jermain Defoe scoring the only goal of the game.

Spurs now play Hull City in the final on Friday after Phil Brown’s team beat local side Beijing Gouan 5-4 on penalties after the match ended 1-1.

“We played some fantastic stuff. We kept the ball superbly and created plenty of chances,” said Redknapp.

“It’s about keeping the ball in these conditions. If you give it away, it’s a hard job to get it back because it’s hot and very tiring out there.

“We had so many chances that you start wondering if one’s going to go in for you but we kept the ball well and that was the key. We made them chase the ball.”

Redknapp was particularly happy with Jamie O’Hara and Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

“I thought the midfield was excellent. Jamie is great young player. He really wants to be a football player and I was very impressed by him,” he said, also singling out Defoe.

“The lads showed a great attitude and Jermain looked so sharp that it was only a matter of time before he took a chance.”

Spurs have an impressive frontline this season with new signing Peter Crouch joining Defoe, Robbie Keane and Roman Pavlyuchenko.

They may also still have Darren Bent to call on, with no developments in his potential move to Sunderland.

“I haven’t spoken to the chairman for two days so I don’t know where we are with that deal with Sunderland,” Redknapp told the Asia Trophy website.