Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has hit back at claims his side rely on Peter Crouch's height and has branded accusations of long-ball football as "rubbish".
Stoke players commented on Spurs going route one when they won at White Hart Lane earlier in the season and at the weekend Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel responded to terrace chants of his team being boring by highlighting the use of long balls to Crouch.
Redknapp insists Crouch is simply one of his options as he looks for the wins they need to get back into the Barclays Premier League top four, starting with this week's trip to Wolves, who defeated them earlier in the campaign.
The Spurs boss, responding to suggestions his side favour long balls, said: "That's rubbish. Absolute nonsense. We pass the ball to death and hit Crouchy in the right areas.
"They got labelled a long-ball team by Arsenal, maybe a couple of their players wanted to pass the buck to us but I wouldn't know what a long-ball team was.
"If you can hit a 50-yard pass, it's better than a 10-yard pass or a backwards one. It's about creating strikes on goals, if it's 50 yards then it's a great ball. It's about quality."
Crouch is Redknapp's preferred partner for Jermain Defoe and has played in 10 of Spurs' last 12 games, with a lack of opportunities for Robbie Keane leading to the Republic of Ireland skipper moving on loan to Celtic.
"Every time we hit Crouchy against Villa he knocked the ball down and we had chances to score," Redknapp said. "If you are going to have Peter Crouch in your team you have to use him, you can't expect him to run up channels or to come short. That's not his game.
"He is an option when teams fill up the midfield and you can't pass through them. We have that great option to miss out the midfield, hit him and pick things up around the box.
"That is what makes us a much better team - we have options and don't have to keep passing.
"You can pass all day. We've seen that recently from teams. People say they are playing fantastic football but they are not winning games.
"We are playing fantastic football but also have an option with Crouchy as well, which is good."
Spurs dropped out of the Champions League places when they drew with Villa on Saturday but Redknapp feels his team are playing well enough to sustain a challenge for a top-four place, even if he considers Liverpool favourites.
Redknapp said: "We're still right there. It's not easy to win games, Manchester City showed that against Hull at the weekend.
"We've only had one defeat in 12 games and everyone is in the peak of their form. We've got a big chance still.
"We know it will be difficult, Liverpool are back where people thought they would be at the start of the season. It will be hard to finish above them to start with but it's good we have a chance.
"Liverpool are are probably favourites. Man City, ourselves and Villa are pushing. It's going to be tight."
Your Comments
markofaspur
"Glenspur, no offence mate but out of his depth? Have you seen where we are in the table? Yes we've had some very frustrating results of late but if results go our way tonight (can't beleive I want the Ar*e to win.....ok draw) we will be back in 4, we've kept more clean sheets than any time I can remember (without our first choice CB pairing as well), have let in less goals than the Ar*e and the mickey mousers and have a goal difference of +20. When have we ever had a goal difference of +20.
Yes I know its frustration and yes I know some fans will never take to him because if his connections to the Canning Town bingo club down the road. But 'Arry is the best manager we've had in a very long time, his points per game stats back that up too.
As for Crouchinio, agree we sometimes rely on this a bit to much but then again, what else can you do against teams who have no intention of getting out of their own half? Should take it as a compliment I suppose..."
Stokie_Rich
"magicrhodes - you are spot on there, to read some of the rubbish posted on here, and in most of the press, recently anyone would think that 'long balls' were only invented last season. Of course now its all about entertaining the tv viewers all over the world who would rather see football played the 'right way' (copyright Tony Mowbray / Arsene Wenger) than see teams trying to win games. It always has been and always will be a part of the game"
teddyjurgen79
"As much as I'd love to defend Spurs, of late we have been playing a fair few long balls. Not Crouch's fault, more Dawson thinking he's the new Hoddle! Daws has been brilliant this season, but I'm sure Capello would be far more interested if he played a shorter game. Still it isn't all the time, and we're not half as boring as Villa. Billy Mitchell shows more ambition!"
scotto
"well i`m gobsmacked by the comments thus far.First of all tottenham have a higher pass completion rate than many of the top six......look it up if that truth needs justifying. We have a higher goal difference than anyone below the top three and we are experiencing a " blip" in our season. Watch the april fixture list when the true contenders will shine...all i have to say for now it is"
Glenspur
"Typical Redknapp. Not very good at receiving criticism is he?
While I agree that 'Crouchy' is an option, I'd rather not see that option played from the beginning.
Let's at least try to play football first before we resort to the beanpole journey man that forces us to play football which is as ugly as he is.
No offence and all that, he's 'a lovely bloke', but clearly, like Redknapp, out of his depth.
Redknapp's done a great job by rescuing the club from the drop and by getting us quickly back up to the business end of the table, but let's not kid ourselves that 'arry has the tactical know how to mix it with the big boys. It's been proven, time and time again this season, that Redknapp lacks the ability to change a game from the side line, either by motivation, tactics or subs.
At least two or three draws should have been victories and it's his inability to change games or objectively pick a side that will cost us a place in the CL, and eventually his job. Those that disbelieve this need only look at the trigger happy history of Daniel Levy. Here is a man quite willing to be ruthless if he feels results don't match expenditure.
Get results or get going. I'm fed up with excuses and second rate tactics."
BillyWhizz
"We do mix it up well but I feel the Crouch option is overused at times, yeah he wins a lot of the headers but they are rarely accurate and teams just know to get tight on Defoe for the 2nd ball, its not working. Its not just Spurs though Liverpool tended to use Crouch like this too and so do England, they just can't help it!
Spurs have a quality midfield and should use it more once Lennon is back, he can carry the ball as far as our defenders can whack it long so that should cut some of this out."
magicrhodes
"One could muse that being a long ball manager/ team is tantamount to being called a paedophile...."
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