Redknapp wanted to sign Hazard, Vertonghen was basically a done deal, Remy was a target for years but we never pulled the trigger and he also wanted Cahill. I can take the point that he went mainly for experience, but the results on the pitch backed up his signings. We also signed Palacios, Walker, Naughton and Pienaar, a good mix of potential and experience.
I have no doubt we would have continued to sign young players as well as players in their prime.
Commoli (or whoever at the club) wanted to sign Bale, Modric and Berbatov - and being a DoF whose job it is to work on transfer activity he could afford the time to go out and get these players to want to sign for us ahead of the other clubs interested. It's all well and good saying Redknapp wanted XY and Z but the fact is we never got them in - maybe having someone at the club who could prioritize such things would have seen a few of those wishlist names on the actual signed list...