The Tottenham manager admits Spurs were a soft touch when he took over with Premier League clubs looking forward to them visiting their grounds.

But he believes signings such as Wilson Palacios and Sebastien Bassong have added steel to the style which has brought them 14 goals in just four games so far this season.

Redknapp, whose side are confident of extending their 100% record this season when they take on Birmingham at White Hart Lane tomorrow, said: "I always felt you could bash Tottenham up. When they used to come to Portsmouth we used to feel 'Yeah, we can beat these today. We can get after these.' I don't feel that now.

"Palacios has been a major part in changing that. He has made a big difference to this club. He's what Tottenham haven't had.

"He closes down. He's aggressive. He's strong. The others see Palacios closing people down and it rubs off on them. He walks round like he's pleased to be here. He appreciates everything. He's not a big-time Charlie."

Redknapp can trace the moment it began to turn around to Tottenham's defeat last season at Wigan, Palacios' former club.

It was that loss which convinced Redknapp to shell out £14million for the Honduras midfielder and give his Tottenham team the mother of all tongue-lashings.

Redknapp recalled: "It's not all about saying 'Well done, you're lovely lads.' I caned them. The Wigan match was a poor performance.

"I went through them one by one in front of everybody and told them what I thought of them and where we were because of what they had done.

"I don't want to be doing that all the time. I'd much rather be talking about what they can do but there came a stage last year where I thought 'Let's sort it out.'

"They accepted it. They had to. From then we picked up and went on a good run. It was just giving them some home truths. It was a once-a-year job. In the main I have had no reason to be unhappy with them."

Which is why there is unlikely to be much transfer activity into White Hart Lane before next week's transfer window.

There will be a few through the exit door. German midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng is in his way to Portsmouth.

Jamie O'Hara is also joining Redknapp's former club on the south-coast in a loan deal until January. And Pascal Chimbonda has joined Blackburn for £3million.

Redknapp, however, insisted he wants to keep Roman Pavlyuchenko despite Spartak Moscow being linked with the Russian striker.

Redknapp said: "He (Pavlyuchenko) finds it difficult not playing and he wants to be part of the Russian team. I had a chat with him this week and he's happy here. He enjoys being here.

"I've started with Jermain (Defoe) and Robbie (Keane) up front and the results couldn't have been better so it's been hard for him and Peter Crouch.

"They are disappointed but it is difficult to change a team that is playing so well. If there's a big offer and the chairman feels we need to do it we'll decide from there. But I'd like to keep him."

On a darker note for Redknapp, winger David Bentley was banned from driving for a year and fined £600 for drink driving.

Bentley admitted the offence which happened when he crashed his Porsche in Potters Bar last month after drinking four pints and two shots of spirits.

Redknapp said: "He's very lucky to get away with only a year for drink driving."

On the severity of the fine Redknapp added: "Peanuts, isn't it, in terms of what the players earn. What he has to do now is learn his lesson and make sure he never does that again because he has been let off very lightly in my opinion."

Redknapp insisted the club would also hit Bentley in the pocket, likely to be to the tune of around £100,000.

"We'll fine him the maximum we can fine him," said Redknapp.