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Rafael van der Vaart, Luka Modric & Gareth Bale: Many midfield options for Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham, but which is the best?
Signing the Dutch star gives Spurs boss a selection headache...
2 Sep 2010 07:45:00
DEBATE
By Richard Parry
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp trumped the Premier League on Wednesday afternoon when the club, somehow, managed to complete the signing of Netherlands star Rafael van der Vaart.
Finalising the deal was not without its obstacles, such was the lateness of Spurs’ swoop. Goal.com UK revealed on Tuesday evening that Real Madrid had pulled the plug with no less than five minutes to go before the summer transfer window closed.
MORE...
But this would not deter chairman Daniel Levy; a Tottenham fan and shrewd businessman. Levy responded with firm offer for the midfielder — having previously been set to bag the Dutchman on a season-long loan deal — in the type of return Rafael Nadal would be proud of. And the Premier League would require Hawk-Eye like analysis before the deal could be ratified.
But, much like Spurs’ recent Champions League tussles with Young Boys, they managed to triumph in the end; completing one of the most spectacular deadline day captures to date.
Redknapp has always had a fondness for flair players, especially in the middle of the park. During his tenure at West Ham United, he enjoyed the success of nurtured talents Joe Cole and Frank Lampard alongside Eyal Berkovic, before re-signing the Israeli for Portsmouth. And it was at the Fratton Park outfit where he introduced Croatian Niko Kranjcar to English football, after capturing Liverpool’s Patrick Berger, and before that, Arsenal hero Paul Merson.
Van der Vaart’s arrival is the final piece of Redknapp’s creative jigsaw at White Hart Lane, having already added Portsmouth favourite Niko Kranjcar to pre-existing talents such as Luka Modric and Aaron Lennon, while transforming Gareth Bale, a player seemingly lost at Premier League level, into one of the best left-sided players in England’s topflight.
So many options will surely keep the Spurs boss awake at night, but Redknapp will be too excited to complain.
Goal.com UK takes a look at how Tottenham’s midfield could line-up with Van der Vaart...
Whichever forces Redknapp's hand - Bale's versatility or one too many suspect performances from Benoit Assou-Ekotto - the Spurs gaffer could see the standard 4-4-2 as a productive means of incorporating his star signing into the Spurs midfield. With Palacios anchoring the midfield, Van der Vaart would be given license to surge forward, and with Modric cutting in from the left flank, Redknapp would have an extremely fluid midfield.
Again, with Bale operating from the left full-back role, Redknapp could field this contingent behind a lone striker, especially in the Champions League and trickier Premier League fixtures. The system would see the Dutchman lining up in an advanced midfield role, and alongside Modric and Lennon, with the pin-point passing of Tom Huddlestone in support, would certainly see the White Hart Lane outfit produce some mouth-watering football, while remaining resolute enough at the back to cover Bale's marauding runs.
Echoes of Ossie Ardiles' 'famous five', this gung-ho line-up has seen the Argentine's ideal reduced on one attack-minded player, in order to add some much needed resilience to the midfield, performed by either Palacios, or Spurs' newly acquired Brazilian, Sandro.
Clearly, this formation relies heavily on Modric and Van der Vaart tracking back to support their defence. A formation which might see Redknapp eradicated from Michael Dawson's and Ledley King's Christmas card list.
Perhaps the least likely option available to Redknapp is to incorporate his three most effective attacking central midfielders in the same line-up, with Kranjcar entering the side.
The composition would allow for the Spurs boss to field two strikers, while maintaining a solid back four. The craft and guile of the midfield trio would certainly be eye-catching, and the likes of Jermain Defoe would thrive on their creative sparks.
What do you think? Cast your vote and leave your comments and views below...
By Richard Parry
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp trumped the Premier League on Wednesday afternoon when the club, somehow, managed to complete the signing of Netherlands star Rafael van der Vaart.
Finalising the deal was not without its obstacles, such was the lateness of Spurs’ swoop. Goal.com UK revealed on Tuesday evening that Real Madrid had pulled the plug with no less than five minutes to go before the summer transfer window closed.
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MORE...
- Five reasons why Van der Vaart's signing is just Spurs' consolation after a disappointing transfer window
- Revealed: How the Van der Vaart deal almost fell through
- Worldview: Van der Vaart's path to the Premier League, via Germany and Spain
But this would not deter chairman Daniel Levy; a Tottenham fan and shrewd businessman. Levy responded with firm offer for the midfielder — having previously been set to bag the Dutchman on a season-long loan deal — in the type of return Rafael Nadal would be proud of. And the Premier League would require Hawk-Eye like analysis before the deal could be ratified.
But, much like Spurs’ recent Champions League tussles with Young Boys, they managed to triumph in the end; completing one of the most spectacular deadline day captures to date.
But how will Harry shuffle his pack?
Redknapp has always had a fondness for flair players, especially in the middle of the park. During his tenure at West Ham United, he enjoyed the success of nurtured talents Joe Cole and Frank Lampard alongside Eyal Berkovic, before re-signing the Israeli for Portsmouth. And it was at the Fratton Park outfit where he introduced Croatian Niko Kranjcar to English football, after capturing Liverpool’s Patrick Berger, and before that, Arsenal hero Paul Merson.Van der Vaart’s arrival is the final piece of Redknapp’s creative jigsaw at White Hart Lane, having already added Portsmouth favourite Niko Kranjcar to pre-existing talents such as Luka Modric and Aaron Lennon, while transforming Gareth Bale, a player seemingly lost at Premier League level, into one of the best left-sided players in England’s topflight.
So many options will surely keep the Spurs boss awake at night, but Redknapp will be too excited to complain.
Goal.com UK takes a look at how Tottenham’s midfield could line-up with Van der Vaart...
Bale Denied
| RIGHT MIDFIELD |
CENTRE MIDFIELD |
CENTRE MIDFIELD |
LEFT MIDFIELD |
 Lennon |
 Palacios |
 Van der Vaart |
 Modric |
Whichever forces Redknapp's hand - Bale's versatility or one too many suspect performances from Benoit Assou-Ekotto - the Spurs gaffer could see the standard 4-4-2 as a productive means of incorporating his star signing into the Spurs midfield. With Palacios anchoring the midfield, Van der Vaart would be given license to surge forward, and with Modric cutting in from the left flank, Redknapp would have an extremely fluid midfield.
Euro Vision
| CENTRE MIDFIELD |
CENTRE MIDFIELD |
Palacios |
 Huddlestone |
| RIGHT WING |
ATTACKING MIDFIELD |
LEFT WING |
Lennon |
Van der Vaart |
Modric |
Again, with Bale operating from the left full-back role, Redknapp could field this contingent behind a lone striker, especially in the Champions League and trickier Premier League fixtures. The system would see the Dutchman lining up in an advanced midfield role, and alongside Modric and Lennon, with the pin-point passing of Tom Huddlestone in support, would certainly see the White Hart Lane outfit produce some mouth-watering football, while remaining resolute enough at the back to cover Bale's marauding runs.
Dutch Courage
| RIGHT MIDFIELD |
CENTRE MIDFIELD |
CENTRE MIDFIELD |
LEFT MIDFIELD |
Aaron Lennon |
Huddlestone |
Modric |
 Bale |
ATTACKING MIDFIELD
Van der Vaart
Ossie's Dream
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD
Palacios
(or Sandro)
Palacios
(or Sandro)
| RIGHT MIDFIELD |
CENTRE MIDFIELD |
CENTRE MIDFIELD |
LEFT MIDFIELD |
 Aaron Lennon |
Van der Vaart |
Modric |
Bale |
Echoes of Ossie Ardiles' 'famous five', this gung-ho line-up has seen the Argentine's ideal reduced on one attack-minded player, in order to add some much needed resilience to the midfield, performed by either Palacios, or Spurs' newly acquired Brazilian, Sandro.
Clearly, this formation relies heavily on Modric and Van der Vaart tracking back to support their defence. A formation which might see Redknapp eradicated from Michael Dawson's and Ledley King's Christmas card list.
Narrow Minded
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD
Palacios
| CENTRE MIDFIELD |
ATTACKING MIDFIELD |
CENTRE MIDFIELD |
 Kranjcar |
Van der Vaart |
Modric |
Perhaps the least likely option available to Redknapp is to incorporate his three most effective attacking central midfielders in the same line-up, with Kranjcar entering the side.
The composition would allow for the Spurs boss to field two strikers, while maintaining a solid back four. The craft and guile of the midfield trio would certainly be eye-catching, and the likes of Jermain Defoe would thrive on their creative sparks.
Have your say
What do you think? Cast your vote and leave your comments and views below...
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
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Goal.com Poll
Poll runs from 1 Sep 2010 to 3 Sep 2010
Poll runs from 1 Sep 2010 to 3 Sep 2010
In which system should Harry Redknapp incorporate new signing Rafael Van der Vaart?
Dutch Courage
35.33%
Euro Vision
31.47%
Ossie's Dream
17.07%
Defence Bale
6.93%
Narrow Minded
5.07%
None of the above
4.13%
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