Harry Redknapp's managerial ability has been underrated, Joe Jordan told Goals on Sunday.

Redknapp was sacked this summer following Spurs' failure to secure Champions League football. That came just months after the former Portsmouth boss was overlooked for the England job.

Those two blows led some to question whether Redknapp has what it takes to succeed in modern football - a suggestion branded as 'rubbish' by his former right-hand man, Joe Jordan.

"Players enjoy working for Harry," said Jordan. "You can see that coming across in the way his teams play. His sides always play a brand of football where they're free to express themselves.

"He's a manager who has old values and he keeps to them. He takes on board the advantages of modern football - the fitness developments and the advantages that has to offer - but he wants his players to enjoy the training, express themselves on the pitch and enjoy their profession.

"I read one or two things saying he isn't up to modern football. Well, I've never heard so much rubbish in all my life. He's got a fantastic memory on players, on events and on the way he's played an opposition before.

"He doesn't underestimate the opposition, he looks at them very carefully, but he concerns himself about his XI and how they can play against that opposition and get the best out of them.

"I think he's a very brave manager. I remember going to Man City for the penultimate game of the season a couple of years ago and we had to win. He took the bull by the horns and he played a very exciting, forward-looking team. We won and we got Champions League football."

Vital goals

However, Spurs fell just short of Champions League football last term, finishing fourth but denied by Chelsea's final win over Bayern Munich.

Jordan refused to criticise the performances of his side during a lean spell in the second half of the season, insisting his former outfit simply failed to find the net at crucial times.

"During the period we weren't getting results I thought we were playing ok, we just couldn't get that first goal," he said.

"We went on a great run but then teams were coming to White Hart Lane and making it difficult for us. We couldn't get that first goal during that time and ended up drawing or losing. You need to get the goals.

"When you are doing so well - we were third in the league - you get a new pressure in the dressing room. Other teams like United and Arsenal have done it before but it was new to us. Unfortunately we didn't succeed in getting into the Champions League or win the Premier League, although we did get fourth."

Challenge

However, Jordan says new Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas has all the tools at his disposal to win the title this time around.

"He has set his stall out and said he thinks they can challenge for the Premier League," said Jordan.

"There was a spell last year when Harry said to the players he expected them to challenge for the title. He had the belief they could do it and - considering the one or two changes that I expect will be made before the end of the transfer window - I think they are capable of challenging for it this year, too."