Liverpool add Mel Johnson to their scouting desk

[King Binny]

Sorry for the long and boring posts. Just wanted to share what I've come across.

Liverpool have strengthened their scouting department ahead of a critical summer transfer window by employing the man responsible for bringing Gareth Bale to Tottenham Hotspur.

Mel Johnson has been placed in charge of southern England scouting in a revamped Anfield recruitment system devised by Damien Comolli, the club's director of football strategy. Johnson previously worked under Comolli at Tottenham, where he highlighted Bale's performances as a teenage reserve at Southampton ahead of an eventual £7 million transfer.

Johnson, who has more than 25 years experience in football, was compensated for unfair dismissal after Harry Redknapp decided to replace him as chief scout with Ian Broomfield in 2009. He then worked for Newcastle United on a freelance basis.

View from QPR fan:

Former Rangers scout, Mel Johnson, who left us to become Chief Scout at Spurs, has now joined Liverpool

Mel was been instrumental in the signings of numerous Rangers players, such as Steve Palmer, Martin Rowlands, Marc Bircham, Dan Shittu, Lee Cook and Gareth Ainsworth. He also spotted a young 17 year old Moroccan when he was working at Spurs.....I'm sure you can guess who that was!

They loved him so much they started a petition and fb grp to bring him back after Spurs released/sack him

http://qprreport.blogspot.com/2009/09/petition-to-bring-former-scout-mel.html

Bring Mel Johnson Back to QPR

Background (Preamble):
- Mel Johnson achieved great success at Queens Park Rangers as Chief Scout. He recommended excellent players to Ian Holloway that not only delivered on the field, but later produced revenue that helped to keep the club afloat as the club fought the possibility of extinction.

- Mel was responsible for recommending current captain Martin Rowlands, who has been a superb servant to the club, as well as the likes of Danny Shittu and Lee Cook - two massive favourites among the fans. He also helped to bring in players such as Stephen Kelly and Lee Camp at crucial times in the club's climb back to the Championship.

- Mel had a great time at QPR and only left because Spurs recognized his capabilities and made him an offer he could not turn down. Spurs have now released him, essentially throwing away four-and-a-half years of worldwide scouting experience he has gained while working there. That is an astonishing bank of knowledge that QPR could now tap into.

- Indeed, Mel's effect is being felt at Loftus Road even now - he spotted Adel Taraabt while playing Under 17 football and recommended him to Spurs. He describes Adel as a classic QPR player - a footballer in the Marsh/Bowles tradition who QPR fans really appreciate.

- We know that Mel has done brilliantly for us in the past and he is now available with a wealth of knowledge and experience that could really help QPR's quest for Premier League football. He won't be on the market long. Let's get him now before someone else steps in.

Old news relating to him:

After four seasons at QPR, Mel is to become Head Scout in the UK for Tottenham Hotspur.

During his time in west London, Mel has been instrumental in the signings of numerous Rangers players, such as Steve Palmer, Martin Rowlands, Marc Bircham, Dan Shittu, Lee Cook and Gareth Ainsworth.

Now Mel will be in charge of talent spotting for the north London side and although he is looking forward to his new role, he leaves Loftus Road with a heavy heart.

He said: "I'm going to miss working at QPR terribly. I've had four great seasons here. When I first joined in 2001 we had eight players turn up for pre-season training and we built today's squad from that.

"I'm very proud of all the players that I've helped bring in during my time here and I've had some great times. The pinnacle was winning promotion at Hillsborough and it made all of those motorway journeys worthwhile.

"I can't tell you how much I'm going to miss working here, but the Premiership came calling and it was time to move on.

"Everyone here has been fantastic and I've had loads of messages wishing me good luck. Everyone here has made my job so enjoyable."

Rangers manager Ian Holloway admits that he is sorry to see Mel leave but wishes him nothing but good fortune for his career at Tottenham.

"He was one of our best ever signings," Ollie said. "A hard worker, a great personality and he will be sorely missed.

"If there are good players out there, he knows them and we will have to work our socks off to replicate what he has brought to the club.

"But he goes with our blessing and I can't thank him enough for all his efforts."

Beleaguered Spurs director of football Damien Comolli has axed four experienced scouts - Tony Book, Bryan King, Alan Hill and Eddie Presland - for being too old. Yet he has replaced Presland as chief scout with Mel Johnson, an ex-greetings card salesman who failed to make the first team at QPR or Reading. A club spokesperson defended the appointment, citing Steve Rowley, Arsenal's chief scout, as not having been a professional.

Comolli, the man Spurs fans have pointed the finger of blame at for their poor start to the season, is said to have axed Tony Book, Bryan King, Alan Hill and Eddie Presland for being too old, according to the Mail .

Former greetings card salesman Mel Johnson, who joined the club from QPR two years ago, is expected to replace outgoing Presland as chief scout.

The decision to promote Johnson may well be questioned in some quarters by already perplexed Tottenham fans as Johnson failed to make the grade as a professional footballer at QPR and Reading.

Comolli is already under pressure at Spurs for his failure to bring in a big-name signing to fill Dimitar Berbatov's void, following his transfer deadline day move to Manchester United.

Spurs assistant Gus Poyet further highlighted the club's attacking frailties earlier this week with his striking admission that Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko are incompatible.

 

[redhorizon2]

i'm sick of hearing about gareth bale. He does not playfor lfc. his stats don't look great on paper. and he was one fucking signing for another club don't fucking care, he is not messi (not even in the same league).