It seems revolutionary, but I can't help go back to the approach of the likes of Clough and Busby, who actually were more about the players and their well being than tactics and coaching. I'm not saying this wasn't important, but they had Jimmy Murphy and Peter Taylor to do that. Clough would excuse Tony Woodcock from training so they could play squash together (Brian was a superb player apparently), Busby again like Potter with an impressive record of getting the best out of young players. .
Surprising, but also good to hear about Clough. I'd always assumed the cuff round the ear, 'man up, lad' approach was his.
When Swansea played Manchester City in the FA Cup last season, Potter asked his players in the pre-match meeting: “How do you want to die?”
It seems revolutionary, but I can't help go back to the approach of the likes of Clough and Busby, who actually were more about the players and their well being than tactics and coaching. I'm not saying this wasn't important, but they had Jimmy Murphy and Peter Taylor to do that. Clough would excuse Tony Woodcock from training so they could play squash together (Brian was a superb player apparently), Busby again like Potter with an impressive record of getting the best out of young players.
It seems a departure from an obsession with statistics, marginal gains, etc. etc. and just good old fashioned understanding someone to get the best out of them.
The things he's said about the previous manager, complimenting him on the foundations laid, praising the work previously done all points to the fact we have another real gent in charge of the first team.
I'm increasingly confident that he has something about him that will trigger the best out of the players, whether their best is good enough will of course remain to be seen.
Blimey, he is a tree hugging Grauniad reader!
Perfect for our right on football club!
Teaching our players how to knit yoghurt.
Surprising, but also good to hear about Clough. I'd always assumed the cuff round the ear, 'man up, lad' approach was his.
Sounds like he'll have all our players sat cross-legged round a campfire smoking hippy crack, chanting Kum Ba Yah and weaving daisychains into each others hair, before heading off to a crocheting workshop to make some vegan yoga mats.
I'm IN.
Some brilliant stories about Clough from his players in their books. Frank Clark got a bollocking once because the players had been given a day off to relax and rest, and Clough found out he'd gone out for a run!
I’ll never forget getting a hair tousle and a “hello young man” from Clough when I was a 10 yr old playing for Birkenhead Boys at Forests training ground.
I think he ****ed off to the bar straight after mind.
Some brilliant stories about Clough from his players in their books. Frank Clark got a bollocking once because the players had been given a day off to relax and rest, and Clough found out he'd gone out for a run!