HARRY REDKNAPP did not want to labour the point about Aaron Lennon’s lack of confidence but then again, when you consider one of the Tottenham Hotspur manager’s training-ground ruses to rebuild it, you get the picture that it has become a problem.
“Aaron is a quiet little lad but one game can turn it for him,” Redknapp said, hoping it could be tonight’s Champions League tie against FC Twente at White Hart Lane. “He needs to get a bit of confidence. And maybe in training you work with him and you stick somebody at left back who you’re confident that he can get by.”
The search is on for the crash test left back. Could it be Roman Pavlyuchenko’s interpreter? The Spurs Lodge tea lady? Gilberto?
On a more serious note, Redknapp feels Lennon, who has looked toothless so far this season and has also faded from the England reckoning since the collective World Cup disaster in South Africa, needs to reassess his game.
Although Redknapp balked at the notion the right-winger had to be considered one-dimensional, he did say he must learn to “mix his game up”.
“He has got to learn to come off the line and to pop up in little holes in between midfield, like [Luka] Modric does or [Rafael] van der Vaart can do,” Redknapp said. “He is an out-and-out flying little winger but, if he can come into those holes and get himself turned, he can drive in at people from there. He doesn’t always have to stay wide.
“He also might have to run 10 yards and check back 15 times in a game to find a yard of space. You might have to play the ball behind the full back early on, then the full back might drop off. If Aaron just accepts being marked, it’s going to be hard. But if he runs behind people, even if he doesn’t get them, at least the full back drops off and then you might get it to his feet.”
Redknapp has sympathy for the difficulties the modern winger faces. Indeed, it was interesting to hear him reiterate his view that Gareth Bale, who has looked so impressive at left-midfield this season, would find his feet at left-back, from where he can enjoy more space and build up greater steam when thrusting forward.
“Aaron is not playing like he did last year, that’s for sure,” Redknapp said. “Before he got the [groin] injury [in late December], he was absolutely flying but it’s getting more and more difficult now to play in that position.
“You watch the Matthews Cup final [of 1953], the left back used to cover 40 yards back. The ball comes out to Stan and he starts to jog off, then about 10 seconds later the left back comes into the picture and he’s going backwards.
“Now, the ball goes out to the winger and the left back is half a yard away from him and crash. They’re all quicker than wingers, anyway. Aaron has just been quiet in the games, people have marked him tightly. He’s found it hard to get in the game.”
Tom Huddlestone, the Tottenham midfielder, also noted teams are paying close attention to Lennon. “At the West Ham game at the weekend he had a left back against him and [Luis] Boa Morte - even though he played left-wing - didn’t really get forward that much. It was sort of a doubling act on Aaron.”
Lennon has not made it into either of Fabio Capello’s England squads so far this season, although he may have the chance of a recall for next month’s European Championship qualifier against Montenegro as the incumbent Theo Walcott is injured and James Milner suspended. Clearly, though, his form needs to pick up first. Lennon was pictured smoking a fat cigar after England’s World Cup exit. He has to ensure it was the only thing to go up in smoke.
“Aaron has got left out [by Capello] but he’s got to fight through that, he can’t give up,” Redknapp said. “He’s a young kid with great ability and he needs to find a way to get the best out of himself. And so have we. You’ve got to work with him, haven’t you? You have to get his confidence back, get him playing well again.
“Clever coaches will get the best out of players and improve them. If something is not happening, help them with their problem. You can’t just write them off.”
GuardianService
