Tottenham assistant manager Kevin Bond believes the club’s new signings will play a big part in their Premier League title chase.
Everton’s Louis Saha and Blackburn’s New Zealand defender Ryan Nelsen were both late additions to the White Hart Lane outfit in the January transfer market, while striker Roman Pavlyuchenko and Steven Pienaar were let go.
“Harry (Redknapp) decided to let the two players go, he thought they needed some football and he felt he could perhaps do without them for the run in as long as he got a couple of players in,” Bond said.
“So from our point of view, we’re pleased, it’s freshened it up slightly which I think is always helpful and with a bit of luck it (the signings) might give us a lift for the remaining games.”
With 64-year-old Redknapp on trial at Southwark Crown Court accused of tax evasion, Bond has taken on a more central role and he praised the squad for their performances during the ongoing saga.
“Training is pretty much the same as it is when Harry’s here except he’s not stood there and present while it’s taking place but pretty much the coaching staff take care of training for most of the week,” he said.
“Harry might come in a do a bit of work leading up to the game but I think the group and the team know pretty much what’s expected from them, we don’t deviate too much from how we play and so Harry just comes back in, he comes back in the day of the game and gave his team talk and picked the side.”
Frenchman Saha will compliment Spurs’ attacking stocks and Bond believes his versatility will come in handy.
“We know exactly what he’s capable of,” Bond said.
“(He) can play up front, can play off of one side, (he’s) a really quality striker and he’ll be a real big addition for us.”
“(He’s) another top-line striker, in addition to Jermaine Defoe, (Emmanuel) Adebayor and Rafa (Van der Vaart), who just plays off them, so it remains to be seen but hopefully he could be really key for us.”
Van der Vaart has a lingering calf complaint and Bond is unsure whether he will be fit to face Liverpool on Monday.
“Rafa went off with a calf strain and again it’s a bit early to say what his prospects are going to be like for Monday to be honest,” he said.
