'Arry or Keegan???

Both Portsmouth Manager Harry Redknapp and Newcastle Keeper Steve Harper have spoken ahead of todays clash at Fratton Park. As Keegan takes his revived team to Harrys turf, Harry insists he made the right decision in turning down Newcastle's advances for him after former manager Sam Allardyce left the club.

Keegan however is constantly being praised by his players and today is no exception as Steve Harper admits Keegan can get that extra 20% from every player.

Harry said:

"I made the decision I was happy with and there is nothing to regret. I have built a good team here and I did not want to walk away from it.

People were telling me I had to take the challenge on, that Newcastle is a massive club and they were right, it really is.

But I enjoy my life here and I did not want to change. I am happy and comfortable at Portsmouth."

Whilst keeper Steve Harper said:

"They all - all 27 of them - have their particular strengths but the thing about Kevin is his motivational qualities. He just seems to walk into a room and gets 20% more out of players.

There is not a great deal different but the training is probably more intense and high tempo. Players are enjoying training and working hard now.

I can remember the days at Maiden Castle when there were four or five thousand circling the pitch and it was real high tempo.

The Barry Venisons and Paul Bracewells were getting stuck in and it is like that again. The training is competitive and there is an edge to it - not a nasty edge but a real intensity which has been missing for a while. Those days will never be repeated. I remember the first day I trained with John Burridge, I thought I was going to die we worked so hard.

Kevin Keegan is a very good communicator with players. He is always walking around speaking to players. Some managers can be quite distant whereas Kevin very much communicates with his players whether they are in the team, out of the team or injured. It makes them feel part of it and that helps him get the best out of his players."