Source: Team_Talk
Bond backs Harry for England
Harry Redknapp's ability to get the best out of players makes him the perfect man to be the next England manager, says Kevin Bond.[LNB] Long-time disciple and Spurs assistant Bond reckons Redknapp could easily step into Fabio Capello's shoes when the Italian quits the national team job in two years' time.[LNB]Redknapp, who is the bookmakers' favourite to do just that, is on the record as saying he could not turn down the chance to manage his country.[LNB]And Bond was unequivocal today over whether his mentor was up to the challenge.[LNB]"I definitely think that he can do it," said the 53-year-old.[LNB]Few in football have a better understanding of what makes Redknapp tick than Bond, who has known the man 10 years his senior since playing under him at Bournemouth more than 20 years ago.[LNB]The pair, who went on to forge a coaching relationship at Portsmouth which has since been cemented at White Hart Lane, now share a car from the south coast to Spurs' training ground.[LNB]Redknapp leaves Bournemouth to pick up Southampton-based Bond at 6am, and during the 90-minute drive to Chigwell, they talk almost nothing but football.[LNB]"Harry is a winner," said Bond, who revealed he used to beat Redknapp at golf, but no longer.[LNB]"He can be difficult when things aren't going well. He doesn't like getting beaten and when we are not getting results.[LNB]"We sit in the car for hours and if we talk about something other than football, within five minutes, we will be back to it. He absolutely lives for it.[LNB]"He is all-consumed by the game - his wife will tell you that - and he won't change."[LNB]Bond insisted he and Redknapp do not speak about the England job but is in no doubt of the qualities the latter would bring to the role.[LNB]He said: "The qualities that he has brought here: played players in their best positions, where possible, gets the best out of them."[LNB]Redknapp's stock has never been higher, with last week's Champions League win over Inter Milan making him an even bigger favourite to succeed Capello.[LNB]But an injury crisis that could leave Spurs without an entire team for Saturday's Premier League clash with Blackburn is threatening to undermine all his good work this season.[LNB]They have taken just two points from the last four matches and go into the weekend five points adrift of the crucial final Champions League qualifying spot.[LNB]With a run of six domestic and European matches against the likes of Arsenal, Werder Bremen, Liverpool, FC Twente and Chelsea coming up, it could be a decisive period in the campaign.[LNB]But Bond said: "What will shape our season is where we finish at the end of the season after the 38 games that we play.[LNB]"Don't get me wrong: every game is vitally important, and it is a difficult run of matches.[LNB]"But we can only get on with Blackburn, do the best we can, hopefully get a positive result against Blackburn, and then we'll put our thoughts towards Arsenal next week."[LNB]Tottenham proved last season they could bounce back from disappointment when they beat Arsenal and Chelsea back to back after losing the FA Cup semi-final to Portsmouth.[LNB]Helping Redknapp mastermind those victories during those long drives to and from training was the highlight of Bond's two years at Spurs.[LNB]"We were all bitterly disappointed when we lost at Wembley against Portsmouth in the FA Cup semi-final," he said.[LNB]"We wanted badly to get through to the final, we didn't and then we were faced with Arsenal and Chelsea after that, two almighty games that could have shaped our season."[LNB]Bond and Redknapp's car-sharing journeys have not prevented the odd blazing row between the pair.[LNB]Bond said: "It would be no good if he said that we should play this way and we all said, 'You're right Harry'.[LNB]"I don't know what that is going to get you.[LNB]"Everyone has an opinion, not just me.[LNB]"We lose our heads and then it is all right again."
