Time for Torres & Carroll?

They cost 85 million pounds between them, but Andy Carroll and Fernando Torres have failed to live up to their huge price tags after deadline day moves last January to Liverpool and Chelsea respectively. However between the two they have managed 7 Premier League goals in 11 months for their new clubs, a shadow of what they had done before becoming the most expensive english footballer ever (Carroll) and the most expensive premier league signing of all time (Torres). But after a year of dismay, has the suspension to Luis Suarez and the African Cup of Nations for Didier Drogba, given the two of them the platform, in the shape of consecutive starts, to finally live up to expectations for their new clubs?

Many say Fernando Torres has never been the same striker since his winner in the 2008 European Championships for Spain. Although the Spaniard kept getting goals for his club, he was clearly unhappy and handed in a transfer request towards the end of the January transfer window when a mega offer from Chelsea came in. Seen as a perfect replacement for the aging Didier Drogba, the former Atletico Madrid man has disappointed scoring just 3 league goals all year and 7 in all competitions. He has scored more goals for Liverpool (4) in one month in 2011 than he has for Chelsea in 11. He looks like a shadow of himself now, refusing to run at players or take too many shots and prefers to pass the ball even when he is in a position in which the old Torres would have scored. A couple of poor misses, none greater than the open goal against Manchester United, haven’t done any good for his confidence either. After being given his chances by both Carlo Ancelotti and Andre Villas Boas, he has fallen out of favor with the Portuguese preferring Drogba in the middle with Struddige and Mata on the flanks.

Andy Carroll was seen as one of the most promising strikers in English football. Wearing Alan Shearer’s number 9 at Newcastle United, the 21 year old scored 11 goals in the Premier League in just half a season for the Magpies. Already a regular in the England team, with Fabio Capello seeing him as the future of the national side alongside Wayne Rooney, he was a man with a large following from various premier league teams. Failed bids from Tottenham during the winter transfer window, it looked like Newcastle didn’t want to sell. But with Torres on his way out, Liverpool made an offer they could not refuse. Although he arrived injured (and on probation where he was forced to live with former captain Kevin Nolan), Carroll finally got his first (and second) Liverpool goals in a 3-0 win over Manchester City. However they were to be his only goals that season. Started the new campaign alongside Luis Suarez, but a return of just 2 goals in 16 Premier League appearances have not been enough for him to cement his place in the side, and just like his the man he replaced, he has fallen being in the picking order.

However due to recent events, both these high profile and expensive signings could get another burst of life, exactly a year after they signed for their teams. Didier Drogba is going the spend time away in the new year at the African Cup of Nations. Nicolas Anelka is off to China on new year’s day. And Romeau Lukaku still isn’t mature enough to lead the front line yet. With Daniel Struddige doing wonderfully on the right, there have been suggestions that he could be moved to the centre. But this could be the perfect time for Fernando Torres to be given a chance to prove his worth again. A run of a few consecutive games where he knows that he cannot be dropped could do wonders for a striker’s confidence. And that seems to be the big barrier between the immensely skilled forward and him displaying his true form. If he even has half the self belief that Nicolas Bentnar does, Torres could be said in the same breath as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi once again.

The dream move for Andy Carroll hasn’t quite worked out as well as he would have hoped. Although he no longer has to live with Kevin Nolan anymore, he has lost his place in the England squad due to his drinking and fitness problems (according to manager Fabio Capello). Not a regular for his club anymore either, he looks like a shadow of the player he was when at Newcastle. But Liverpool have been hit by the news that striker Luis Suarez could be banned for 8 games (subject to appeal) for his racist comments on Patrice Evra. This huge blow for the Anfield club could be a blessing for the young Englishman. While neither Dirk Kyut nor Craig Bellamy are a big man centre forward, Kenny Daglish is going to have to play his 35 million pound man up front. Similar to Torres, a good run of games could be what he needs to get back to his best too. And with Steven Gerrard returning to fitness, it could be a tempting bet to put money on Carroll finally getting some goals.

Sensational Spurs

It feels strange to be writing an article praising Tottenham Hotspurs while I’m on flight from London to Mumbai just after having visited my beloved Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium. But its inevitable - every time I have watched Spurs play this season, and agreed its mostly been highlights, I’m just amazed at how brilliant they are. Tactically astute, patient build up play, smooth transition from defense to midfield to attack, and the best part, players who gel. In a season where admittedly Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are shadows of what they have been in the past, this team from White Heart Lane is probably one of the brightest sparks of an otherwise under par Premier League season. Here’s a tribute to this fantastic Tottenham side, and the man who has made them what they are - Harry Redknapp.

Had it not been for that 5-0 thumping by Manchester City right at the start of the season I would have probably gone on to say they were the best team in the Premier League right now. And who would have thoughts, 3 games into the season, Spurs bottom of the table (despite having had their first match cancelled and hence played a game less), having conceded 9 and scored just 1. Champions League was seeming like a far cry even that early in the season. But today you listen to their players talk about challenging for the title and the Europa League being a “nuisance”. When Redknapp took over from Juande Ramos in 2009, they had lost 8 of their opening 9 that season. Three years on, they went on a club record 11 game unbeaten run in the league, winning 10 of those. Even when it came to an end, it’s fair to say the referee had a howler, and they probably deserved a draw away at Stoke City.

Lining up with a 4-4-1-1 (or sometimes a 4-4-2), Redknapp has got the perfect mix of it all at the club. Pace on the wings in the form of Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon, precession from Luka Modric and Scott Parker, Adebayor and / or Defoe with the classy finishing and van der Vaart as the perfect link up man between that midfield and attack (although usually one of him and Defoe). Not to forget a 40 year old Brad Frediel guarding a strong back line.

But apart from the obvious tactical genius that makes this side look like they flow like water, you can’t take away credit from Harry Redknapp’s most amazing skill - his prediction of the future and his superb man management. Just think back to all these players mentioned in the paragraph above. Gareth Bale went from being an up and coming youngster to PFA player of the year and one of the best left wingers today virtually overnight. Modric and Lennon came to the club and young ages and were developed through and through. Van der Vaart had roughly four good games in his two seasons at Real Madrid prior to his move to the Premier League. William Gallas seemed like a finished man at 32 at his arch rivals Arsenal. Jermain Defoe, who after a sparking start in his first spell at the club, lost that midas touch and it was Redknapp who took him to Portsmouth and helped him rediscover his form before bringing him back. And did I mention their keeper is 40 years old. Oh yes I did!

It’s not just the development of players that Redknapp has been astute at, it’s also the timing to sell them. Peter Crouch, Jermaine Jenas, Wilson Palacios and Robbie Keane were all let go just at the right time despite having being hugely important members of the team at some point or the other. How about the discipline he has organized in the side. An example being sending Keane off on loan to Celtic just 6 months after signing him back as the club’s 2nd most expensive transfer at the time. Or not letting Luka Modric join Chelsea in the summer, and still getting the best out of him, at a time when he said out loud he wants out. Probably his only poor decision in terms of departures has been Darren Bent, but you can be sure Harry had his reasons when he did that. It can be easy to forget the tight wage budget he runs at the club, but that has been essential in ensuring that they are financially stable and have the means to chase every striker in Europe when the transfer window opens.

Underrated might not seem appropriate to describe a man who is been touted as the next England manager by just about everybody other than Spurs fans. But with his achievements over his career, and specially the way he has turned Tottenham from a mid table side to a Champions League team and one that can realistically challenge for the title. Genius at man management, astute in the transfer market, tactically brilliant and a strict disciplinarian, Harry Redknapp is one of the finest managers in the game today. It would certainly not surprise anybody to see this Tottenham side finish 2nd or 3rd (or even win it if City have a landslide) and certainly end as the top London team for the first time since the 1960s.