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Wenger should consider defensive coach - Redknapp

Harry Redknapp would appreciate greater coaching resources © Getty Images

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Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes his Arsenal contemporary Arsene Wenger is wrong not to consider employing a specialised defensive coach to help his side's current troubles.

With Arsenal undergoing a poor start to the season, due in large part to some horrific defensive displays, Wenger refused to respond this week when asked whether he should consider a former player like Martin Keown or Tony Adams to improve matters at the back.

Redknapp, however, believes specialised coaches for each position on the pitch could only have a positive effect - just as they do in American football, where training of players is "years ahead".

"Arsene is entitled to his own opinion but I think it won't be long before we go down the American football route and have specialised coaches for every position in the team," Redknapp told The Sun.

"I played out in America and got hooked on the NFL while there. They are years ahead of us in terms of coaching. They have quarterback coaches, wide receiver coaches, a coach for almost every conceivable aspect of the game.

"I see nothing wrong with it. It will only improve the players and, as a result, improve the end product which is designed to entertain the fans."

Redknapp admits he would welcome greater coaching resources if they were offered to him by his chairman, Daniel Levy. Although he believes football coaching has progressed significantly since his time at West Ham when he didn't even have a goalkeeping coach on staff, Redknapp remains concerned that training sessions don't do as much as they could to improve a squad.

"Sometimes you have a group of about 20 players and you end up trying to do something that caters for them all and you come away afterwards and wonder what you have actually achieved," he noted. "What we must do is reassess what we mean by 'coaching'.

"I'm all for drilling the lads for what they will be required to do every Saturday. If my chairman rings me today and says 'Harry, we want to bring in some more specialised coaches for you' I'd be delighted.

"After all, we have expert dieticians, expert medics and expert fitness guys. Why not expert trainers to get the best out of your players?"

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