Source: Team_Talk
Redknapp shrugs off VDV claims
Harry Redknapp insists he has no problem with Rafael van der Vaart after the Dutchman rubbished claims he had criticised the Tottenham manager.[LNB] Van der Vaart scored the opener in Spurs' 2-1 win over Arsenal two weeks ago, but was unhappy at being made to play on the right wing in the absence of Aaron Lennon.[LNB]The strong partnership that Jermain Defoe and new signing Emmanuel Adebayor have developed this season has meant that Van der Vaart has regularly been deployed in wide positions - a role he does not see as his best.[LNB]The former Real Madrid forward, who prefers to play behind a main striker, was quoted in the Dutch press last week saying he had been left "irritated" by the situation, but Redknapp revealed today that the 28-year-old had approached him to say the comments had been misunderstood.[LNB]"Rafa came to see me and said to me he didn't know where all that rubbish came from," Redknapp said. "Rafa is a great lad. I've not got a problem with him. He is a bright, well-mannered, fantastic footballer.[LNB]"He played there (on the wing) last year for us, probably seven or eight games and we had some great results. Some of our best results came that way."[LNB]Van der Vaart may get a chance to play up front in Sunday afternoon's trip to Newcastle as Adebayor is a major doubt due to a hamstring injury.[LNB]Redknapp takes his team to the north east on the back of a four-match winning streak that has included the prize scalps of Liverpool and Arsenal.[LNB]The team's form is a far cry from the two hammerings they endured at the start of a season and the bad atmosphere within the squad due to the transfer saga involving Luka Modric.[LNB]With the squad now settled, Redknapp is keen to play down any talk of new arrivals coming to the club in January.[LNB]David Beckham, who trained with Spurs last winter during the MLS close season, has been linked with a return to White Hart Lane when his contract expires with the Los Angeles Galaxy this winter, but Redknapp admits he will struggle to give the former England captain the first-team football he craves.[LNB]"It's a difficult one with David," Redknapp said. "You'd love him around your football club, but he wants to play so it would be difficult.[LNB]"I have a lot of players here in those sort of positions so it wouldn't be easy. I haven't thought about David Beckham coming here to be honest.[LNB]"You don't want to give yourself too many headaches in football. I've got Aaron Lennon who plays there. At the moment Gareth Bale plays there for Wales and he is doing very well."
