´Productive´ Van der Vaart delights Spurs´ manager

Harry Redknapp believes there is more to come from Rafael van der Vaart after the Dutchman scored both of Tottenham Hotspur’s goals in their 2-1 home victory over Aston Villa.

Van der Vaart has now scored four goals in his last four games and is already looking a bargain after his eight million pounds (13 million dollars) move from Spanish giants Real Madrid on transfer deadline day.

Against Villa, van der Vaart brought Spurs back into the game on the stroke of half time at White Hart Lane here on Saturday.

He then secured the points 16 minutes from time after being brought in from the right wing to operate in a more central role in the second half.

On both occasions, van der Vaart?s goals came following knock-downs by England striker Peter Crouch and Spurs manager Redknapp praised the Netherlands midfielder’s ability to switch roles effectively.

“Rafael was excellent again,” said Redknapp after a victory that left Spurs fifth in the table.

“I changed it at halftime. I thought in the first half we were very open with two up front and in the second half we changed it and stuck him in behind one striker. He’ll score goals.

“He gets on the ball, he always wants to receive the ball, he’s always looking to score. When the ball goes up to Crouchy he’s always around there looking for it, he’s got a real knack for scoring.”

Redknapp added of van der Vaart: “He’s started well. He’s going great, he’ll get fitter as it goes but he’s a good footballer.

“The fans always like a great player.”

Redknapp believes the ability to switch from the 4-4-2 formation he favoured last season was crucial to the final outcome.

“It’s not easy to play with two strikers, it’s almost impossible really,” the manager added.

“Two out-and-out-strikers is difficult, because Rafa doesn’t play wide right, he floats off the line and Luka Modric does almost the same, so that leaves you very open.

“You’re not going to keep two strikers on your team with Rafa and Gareth Bale. You have to change the whole shape of your team. It’s an attacking team that is very open to the counter-attack.

Villa manager Gerard Houllier tasted defeat for the first time in his third game for his new club and admitted he was frustrated at the outcome after seeing his side fail to build on Marc Albrighton’s 16th minute goal.

The Frenchman added Villa had enough chances to take control of the game and cited the loss of Emile Heskey in the 35th minute as crucial to the outcome.

“Emile had a bad dead leg,” said Houllier. “It happened when he made the goal. We missed him. Don’t get me wrong, I think John Carew did a good job when he came on but he’s not the same player.

“I’ve got mixed feelings because I’m proud of their performance but disappointed with the result.

“A more fair result would have been draw. The only thing we can blame ourselves for was not taking our chances. A couple of times we could have sealed the game.”

Houllier was angry van der Vaart had been allowed to equalise when the Villa manager reckoned the referee should have already blown the final whistle.

“I was not happy with the equaliser because it was quite a long time after the two minutes. I know it’s a minimum of two minutes, he decided three minutes.”

Former Liverpool manager Houllier added: “Funnily enough this is the best of my first three (Villa) games. I think we developed good entertaining football, building from the back and not skipping stations.”