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Plenty of journalists could be accused of being wise after the event following Tottenham Hotspur’s home defeat to Wigan last Saturday. The away win for the Latics was explained by Spurs’ hangover from the joy and excitement of qualifying for the Champions League group stages earlier that week. However with bookmakers taking bets on Wigan to win at 16/1 perhaps those worldly hacks were being cautiously surreptitious. Whether or not the players had their minds swayed by thoughts of away trips to the San Siro, the consensus is that the team looked tired, lethargic and generally uninspiring. In what will be a laborious and crucial season for Spurs, is it time Redknapp shuffled the pack more often and used all of his diverse squad?

Rotation has become something of a dirty word in the Premier League, afflicting the perceptions of foreign managers in particular. Claudio Ranieri was dubbed the ‘Tinkerman’ and made a big deal out of his unwanted nickname. During Rafael Benitez’s reign at Anfield he was customarily criticised for his renowned rotation policy. This became a contentious talking point due to the relative lack of depth in his Liverpool teams. World Cup winner Roger Hunt stated that Benitez had made far too many changes, gambling with the club’s future participation in the Champions League. Yet the most successful club manager in British history, Sir Alex Ferguson, tweaks and alters his starting line-up more than most. His changes virtually go unnoticed, which is a testament to the strength of his squads and his ability to make incremental adjustments without affecting the overall shape and rhythm of the team.

The confidence and luxury to rotate is desirable but inconceivable for many club sides. But Tottenham boast their strongest team in many years which incorporates a slew of experienced internationals. It is debatable as to whether Spurs’ defeat can be attributed to complacency or exhaustion but it is accurate to claim that clubs who eventually break the Champions League monopoly frequently struggle to repeat their domestic form the following season. A glance at clubs such as Villarreal convey that an excellent season is often followed by a poor one. Playing important games in midweek can be mentally and physically draining but intensity and focus is required when Saturday comes.

To mitigate against this and satisfy the demands of an expectant crowd Redknapp may seek to modify his team selections. The dilemma for the Spurs boss is that the likes of Gareth Bale have been consistently excellent while less frequent starters such as Giovani dos Santos have yet to show their full potential. Welshman Bale has either scored or assisted seven of Spurs’ last 10 PL goals. But other regular starters such as Peter Crouch, Aaron Lennon and Benoit Assou-Ekotto who had all appeared in mid-week seemed fatigued. A forgettable first half display was only remarkable by the left-back’s calamitous dribbling and the normally dependable Tom Huddlestone’s wayward passing. Evidently frustrated, Redknapp made a host of changes in the second half but would fans object to Niko Kranjcar, Roman Pavlyuchenko or even Robbie Keane being granted a rare starting berth? David Bentley reinvigorated his reputation while deputising for the injured Lennon last season and may have something to offer again. The occasional inclusion of Jamie O’Hara and Jermaine Jenas may ensure the team’s sharpness and desire does not flounder this season.

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Redknapp signed the likes of William Gallas, Sandro and most excitingly, Rafael van der Vaart this summer. Considerable options have therefore been reinforced. The wily, former Pompey boss is vastly experienced and an excellent man manager. Last season Pavlyuchenko felt victimised and isolated before being brought back in to great effect. Those decisions may be required again from Redknapp, as he goes from ‘wheeler dealer’ to ‘Tinkerman.’

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