Source: Daily_Mail
Harry Redknapp leaves Damien Comolli facing White Hot Tottenham return
Harry Redknapp left Damien Comolli facing an acrimonious return to White Hart Lane on Sunday after accusing him of 'nicking' one of Tottenham's most highly regarded scouts. [LNB]Liverpool's recently appointed director of football strategy has wasted no time making his mark at Anfield after poaching France-based talent-spotter Steve Hitchen, who is credited with taking Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Younes Kaboul to Tottenham. [LNB]Hitchen's imminent addition to Anfield's scouting network was welcomed by Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson. [LNB] White Hot Lane: New Liverpool Director of Strategy Comolli faces a heated reception upon his return to Tottenham[LNB]But Redknapp, reflecting sarcastically on Comolli's director of football role at Tottenham and the relegation battle the manager inherited after succeeding the sacked Juande Ramos, said: 'I think he (Comolli) should take all the credit, for sure. They were all doing well when I arrived, you know? They were all great. There have been a few, again, that weren't so great! [LNB]'There were some quality players here. He brought an awful lot of players in, but now we've just lost our French scout, who is excellent. He's just gone to Liverpool. So he (Comolli) has nicked him off us. [LNB]'He's gone to Liverpool. But he was very good. We liked him a lot. He would have been our main scout abroad. He was employed full time. But what can you do? It's his life, and he's obviously got a better deal and decided he was going to move on.' [LNB]End product: Kaboul was one of Comoli's original signings at Spurs[LNB]Despite once being director of football at Portsmouth, Redknapp said he could not work under one himself. [LNB]'I'm not a fan,' he said. 'I want to make my own decisions, and if they're wrong, then it's down to me.' [LNB]Redknapp, who has installed William Gallas as captain on a permanent basis, could come up against it-again Joe Cole for the first time since missing out on him in the summer. [LNB]Cole chose Liverpool after failing to agree a new deal at Chelsea, and Redknapp said: 'I don't know if Joe has any regrets about that. Maybe he felt he needed a change. Liverpool are a great club. Tottenham are a great club, but Liverpool have been up there for years. [LNB]'It was a move where the easy option was to stay in London, but he went for it and headed north. I said then I wished him all the best. I signed Joe when he was 11 years old. I've seen him grow up, and I've got all the time in the world for him.' [LNB]Redknapp revealed that signing Cole would have been at the expense of Rafael Van der Vaart, who has made a huge impact since being snapped up from Real Madrid. [LNB]'Joe could have come here and been fantastic for us, you never know,' he said. [LNB]'But, no, we wouldn't have taken Rafa had we taken Joe and, let's be fair, Rafa has done great [LNB]'It's early days for Joe at Anfield. Roy had a difficult start and now he's settling in. They'll turn the club around. They've got a new owner, who looks like he's got fortunes. The future should be good.' [LNB]Hodgson will make a late decision on Cole's involvement following hamstring trouble but is mindful of the likely reception awaiting him. [LNB] Here's what we could have had: Tottenham fans could see Cole play for the first time since he snubbed them in favour of a move to Liverpool[LNB]'I know Tottenham tried to sign him, but there are always a lot of players associated with them,' he said. [LNB]Pepe Reina fears Liverpool risk losing the likes of Fernando Torres unless the second half of their season is significantly better than the first. [LNB]'We have to finish in a better position than we are and make sure we build for the next years,' said the Liverpool goalkeeper, who could push for a move himself next summer if the club again miss out on the Champions League. 'If not, it's going to be difficult to keep these kind of players. [LNB]'We're not probably as strong as Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham can be, so that's why we have to build a better squad.'[LNB] Danish specialist to decide if Spurs skipper King needs groin surgeryPepe Reina: Make Liverpool great or face losing Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard (and me)This Spurs side could be one of the best in club's history, insists Lineker TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC
