The dust has barely settled around Luka Modric at Tottenham before they have a new problem in Rafael Van der Vaart. The Dutchman was last season’s top scorer for Spurs, with a lot of their games planned around his movement and style of play. His abilities as a finisher have never been in doubt. The price Spurs might have paid last season was less play-time for their strikers and, in the end, an acute lack of goals from them (Defoe, Pavlyuchenko and Crouch).
Van der Vaart’s influence has sometimes shown to be a bit of a double-edged sword. When things haven’t gone his way he has not held back his frustrations, earning himself bookings and being sent off – indeed he has even substituted himself off and walked straight to the changing rooms. When manager Harry Redknapp has substituted a visibly tired VDV, it has sometimes almost translated to disgust from the Dutchman. His nibbling injury problems, notably with a weak hamstring, has often been a problem. The injury problems was the reason Redknapp decided to omit Van der Vaart from Tottenham’s squad for the group stages of the Europa League. Van der Vaart spoke out in the media against that decision.

When Tottenham beat Arsenal last Sunday VDV was substituted in the 63rd minute. In the 1st half he had put his team ahead with a brilliant goal but displayed his short-comings in tracking back and helping the team to defend. To facilitate both Jermain Defoe and newly arrived loanee Emmanuel Adebayor as strikers, Redknapp had deployed VDV on the right side of the midfield. Van der Vaart has expressed before how he doesn’t prefer to play in that position. After the match Van der Vaart again decided to come out in the media and criticised Redknapp for playing him in that position and for substituting him.

Harry Redknapp has responded to the media by saying,
“Yes, it does seem to be a problem. Rafa can’t run back and chase the full-back. Against the better teams it is a problem.
“Rafa’s best position is in the middle, playing just behind the front man. The only problem is that Jermain Defoe plays there too and Jermain is playing very, very well at the moment.
“So, I guess I have got a decision to make, haven’t I? I suppose it’s now between Rafa and Jermain over who plays in the team.
“Rafa is a terrific footballer. He has great skill. But if you’re in the team and asked to do a job, really, you should just do it.”

Tottenham supporters are left to wonder why this discussion goes through the media, and where is the relationship between manager and player heading next time Van der Vaart is unhappy with a Redknapp decision.