Redknapp rubbishes long-ball critics

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has rejected criticisms of his side as a “long ball” team as “rubbish”.

With Peter Crouch up front, Spurs have often been accused of going ‘route one’ in a bid to find the head of their tall England striker, for all their history as a passing team.

But Redknapp insisted on Tuesday there was a difference between aimless long balls and precise long passes.

“We pass the ball to death and hit Crouchy in the right areas.

“If you can hit a 50-yard pass, it’s better than a 10-yard pass or a backwards one. It’s about creating strikes on goals, if it’s 50 yards then it’s a great ball. It’s about quality.”

Saturday’s goalless draw against Champions League place rivals Aston Villa saw Spurs drop out of the top four and left them fifth in the table, a point behind a resurgent Liverpool.

However, Redknapp said the lack of goals had nothing to do with Tottenham’s use of Crouch.

“Every time we hit Crouchy against Villa he knocked the ball down and we had chances to score,” Redknapp said. “If you are going to have Peter Crouch in your team you have to use him, you can’t expect him to run up channels or to come short. That’s not his game.

“He is an option when teams fill up the midfield and you can’t pass through them. We have that great option to miss out the midfield, hit him and pick things up around the box.

“That is what makes us a much better team – we have options and don’t have to keep passing.

“You can pass all day. We’ve seen that recently from teams. People say they are playing fantastic football but they are not winning games.

“We are playing fantastic football but also have an option with Crouchy as well, which is good.”

Tottenham are away to relegation-threatened Wolves on Wednesday and Redknapp said: “We’re still right there. We’ve only had one defeat in 12 games and everyone is in the peak of their form. We’ve got a big chance still.

“We know it will be difficult, Liverpool are back where people thought they would be at the start of the season. It will be hard to finish above them to start with but it’s good we have a chance.

“Liverpool are probably favourites. Man City, ourselves and Villa are pushing. It’s going to be tight.”