Redknapp cocerned by lack of depth ahead of West Ham clash

Last updated : 08 December 2008 By Gareth Davies

Harry Redknapp has bemoaned the size of his squad ahead of his return to Upton Park this evening. The former Hammers boss hopes for a warm welcome from fans who sung his name for seven years , and says he will be looking to bring in one or two new players come the January transfer window.

Speaking of the club's cup success he said: "It's games galore. We're involved in too many competitions in all honesty. We've got the FA Cup to come too.

"You need a squad and I feel this squad is a little bit short. If we could get one or two loans for people who can play at this level to thicken the squad up then that would be ideal."

That Redknapp has said it is unlikely he will spend big during the transfer window will come as a surprise to many fans, given that the money from selling Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United has yet to be reinvested in the squad.

However, his cautionary approach may be for the best. There would be little point in announcing to the world that he had a substantial war chest with which to boost his squad, only to see other managers add a few extra million on to their asking prices as a consequence.

Regardless, Redknapp has the small matter of negotiating a difficult set of Christmas fixtures before getting his chequebook out, beginning with the clash against West Ham this evening.

He travels to Upton Park defending his own personal record against his former club and his new side's decent run of form against their London rivals. The 61 year old has won ever Premier League game at Upton Park as an opposing manager since leaving the Hammers, where he was in charge from August 1994 to May 2001.

Similarly, we are unbeaten against Gianfranco Zola's side since the infamous "lasagnegate" defeat in May 2006. The loss cost us a place in the Champions League and although the food poisoning is long gone, the several players will be forgiven for feeling queasy when they remember perhaps the most significant reverse in the club's recent history.

Michael Dawson, who played that day, prefers to focus on a sweeter memory, when revenge was ours in a truly extraordinary 4-3 victory in March 2007.

"Who could forget that one - it was an unbelievable game," he smiled.

"We looked out of it at 2-0 down and then again at 3-2 so late on and we all thought we had a point when we made it 3-3, not that we'd go on to win it."

Such comebacks have become common place since Redknapp took over from Juande Ramos but the former Pompey boss will hope that no such heroics will be required this evening.

Luka Modric, the attacking midfielder who looked to be enjoying the freedom allowed to him by his new boss before his recent injury may well feature at some point if he passes a late fitness test. The side has looked slightly devoid of ideas in his absence and Redknapp will hope to be able to at least name him on the bench.

Regardless of the shape of his side, Harry will know he faces a stern test this evening. After struggling for the first month or so, new boss Gianfranco Zola appears to be finding his feet, with West Ham now undefeated in three and, perhaps more tellingly, having not conceded in that period.

The problem for the Italian is that his side don't score that many goals either. Dean Ashton is either unfit, or as is the case now, injured and the same can be said for Craig Bellamy. Fit and on form they are a formidable pairing but that only happens for ten games a season.

As has been the case for the last few years, West Ham have an admirably decent - if unspectacular - squad. Robert Green is an underrated and - when it comes to Fabio Capello - overlooked goalkeeper who has been linked with a move to White Hart Lane should Gomes return to his comedic worst.

In front of him West Ham boast a solid back four who, though shorn of well known names, get the job done more often than not. As has been the concern in recent seasons, West Ham's biggest issue is that their best players - Ashton, Parker, Bellamy - all have serious fitness issues and until that changes they will continue to make up the numbers in the middle ground of the Premier League.

The brief period where Iceland's cash reserves allowed them to sign players for extortionate wages is over, and now Zola must offload in order to strengthen, which could be easier said than done. The papers constantly link Ashton with a big money moves elsewhere, but who in their right mind would pay £17m for a striker cannot stay fit.

I have to say, this evening's match doesn't have the makings of a classic. Both sides are going to be nervy and with each manager hoping a win will take them closer to the relative serenity of midtable mediocrity, the clash has draw written all over it. Pound for pound we have the stronger side but I'm yet to be convinced by the likes of Pavlyuchenko and David Bentley, who look decent in front of a packed White Hart Lane but lost at sea on their travels.

Perhaps the key player will be Aaron Lennon. The fleet-footed winger has enjoyed something of a renaissance under Harry Redknapp and is looking like the player he promised to be when he burst onto the scene under Martin Jol. Simply put, on his game there are few players like him in the Premier League and his ability to change the tempo and direction of even the most turgid football match should ensure he doesn't have to wait too much longer for an England call-up. What has Redknapp done to inspire his return to form? Simple - he's told him to do what he does best - run at people, commit defenders to challenges and get the ball in the box at every available opportunity.

Prediction:

West Ham 1 Tottenham 1: I can't see many goals in this one and, given West Ham's decent run of form, a point wouldn't be a bad return from a Monday evening trip to Upton Park. Yet if Lennon continues to impress there is every chance we could walk away with all three.