Redknapp Questions Big Names

DFL

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is curious to see how the big managerial names in The Premiership would get on in the league without their cheque book to rely on.
The former West Ham boss has the utmost respect for the likes of Arsene Wenger, Claudio Ranieri and Gerard Houllier, but questions whether they would succeed without big name signings.

Redknapp has been known for his excellent wheeling and dealing in the transfer market, and wonders how the trio would survive on their ability to bring in players on the cheap.

Arsenal boss Wenger and Liverpool manager Houllier have brought success to their respective club, but have spent big ensuring they have massive squads with world class talent.

"I still believe the true test of a manager's ability is how well he gets on without the cheque book," explained Redknapp.

"Don't get me wrong, I mean no disrespect to Arsene Wenger. He has done fantastic at Arsenal. He has turned them into such a super team.

"But I do wonder how he and people like Claudio Ranieri with all that Russian money at Chelsea, and Gerard Houllier who has spent more than £100 million at Liverpool, would cope taking over at Portsmouth or, say Wolves or Leicester.

"It would be interesting. We've never had a foreign coach come in and take over a struggling club. They have always come into a massive club where money is no object.

"It just reminds me a little bit when as a young coach I went to Oxford City in the non-league with my old pal Bobby Moore.

"We had been famous players but we didn't know any players in the non-league system whereas Billy Smith, a manager up the road, had played in it for 20 years and we couldn't live with him, couldn't handle it.

"You have to wonder how even the big names like Wenger, Houllier and the rest would get on if you put them in lower clubs."