Newcastle United: Harry Redknapp Would Be Stupid to Join the Toon

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp has been made the bookies' favourite to succeed the departed Sam Allardyce this week and has not distanced himself from the vacant position.

Newcastle is an attractive job offer, no doubt about it, but  Redknapp is manager of one of a select few clubs in England, he is in charge of a team that is moving forward, progressing if you will. Maybe that is why the Newcastle board see Redknapp as the next man in their hot seat, because he is capable of taking a team forward.

Portsmouth have grown since Redknapp trudged back from Southampton with his tail between his legs. He has established Portsmouth as a top half team, and this season they have been nothing short of brilliant at times. The only criticism you can have of them under Redknapp is their form at Fratton Park. On the road however they have been fantastic, with their first away defeat coming 6 months into the season at Anfield, no shame in that after all. Shrewd signings have also been a major part of Harry's success at Pompey, Glen Johnson is enjoying a new lease of life after his disappointing Chelsea spell, Benjani has enjoyed a fantastic first half to the season and players like Sulley Muntari and John Utaka have proved inspired arrivals.

Newcastle meanwhile have enjoyed, rather endured, a torrid 10 years. Six managers have been and gone in that time and none have proved particularly influential. Keegan took the Toon Army close to the Premier League title but his unique brand of attacking football hasn't been mirrored since. Gullit promised 'sexy football' and failed. Robson earned more time than some of his predecessors and rightfully so, he had Newcastle winning more games than they were losing. Dalglish, Souness, Roeder and now Allardyce have walked as well.

The harsh truth is that Newcastle are not as big as some of the fans in the North East think that they are. They enjoy the benefits of having a big stadium and filling most weeks, as well as a chairman that will throw cash at prospective transfer targets, they always have. The Toon Army is a large following of passionate supporters, passionate supporters that are disillusioned. They forced Allardyce out of a job, a manager who (with time and backing) was more than capable of turning Newcastle into what they deserve to be, a top half team. They deserve no more and no less.

Redknapp is a good manager, better than Allardyce in my opinion, but he is not the manager that Newcastle want. Up on Tyneside they want good football, attacking football. There is an old saying that goes "Newcastle fans would rather lose 5-4 than scrape a 1-0 win." Redknapp is not that sort of manager. That's not to say that Portsmouth don't play good football but Redknapp isn't famed for his attacking style. Pompey's and Redknapp's style is all about getting the results, play your football if you can, but the priority is to get the result, even if it means grind and fight.

Pompey fans will want to keep Redknapp, and rightfully so. Portsmouth are enjoying their glory years at the moment and with a prospective new stadium on the way and a young and talented squad, Redknapp is building a good football club. Newcastle have all the makings of a good football but have wasted the chance to make things happen.

Redknapp MUST stay put.