Planet Swans ArchivesThe Spurs manager was speaking to the Western Mail on Swansea City's chances of defying the bookies odds and surviving in the top flight after the promotion which was secured two weeks ago.
Redknapp said “It’s fantastic that a Welsh club has made it to the Premier League. I have been extremely impressed with Swansea this season and the way they go about their football
“Brendan Rogers has gone there this season and carried on the work and football style that Robert Martinez and Paulo Sousa previously adopted and it has worked wonders.
“Swansea played some great stuff, stuck with their belief that was the right approach and will carry on in that style next season in the Premiership. I believe they will do well as a result.
“Blackpool came in this season with a poor squad, no money and, while I know they went down, they gave it a go, collected 39 points and almost remained up.
“I think Swansea are good enough to remain in the Premiership, but they do need to ensure they have a good start.
“If they are getting a hiding in the first few games, you suddenly have players with no confidence… and that is hard to pick up again because the fixtures come thick and fast.
“Players begin to think at the start of games, ‘Here we go again, we have to try to keep the score down.’
“When I first came in as Spurs manager they had just two points from eight games. It was ridiculous, beyond belief, that a team with that talent was so low in the table. It was down to lack of confidence.
“So it’s vital Swansea start well. Okay Blackpool had a great start this year, but everybody knew they would fall at some stage.
“Swansea have some really good players, but they do need to bring in a couple who have Premiership experience under their belts.
“The men’s men of the team if you like, characters like Chelsea’s John Terry and Frank Lampard, or figures such as Nemanja Vidic or Rio Ferdinand at Manchester United.
“You need strong leaders like that because every side will have a dip at some point and you have to have the right men to help you get out of it.
“That will be the key for Swansea, but that’s also the gamble. Because if you throw money at it and still end up relegated, you suddenly have a massive debt hanging over you in the Championship.
“When I was at Portsmouth and we went up, everybody said we would be straight back down. But I got a couple of players with experience, Paul Merson and Steve Stone, and they did a great job for me.”
