I have seen both sides of the fence, as I have turned my hand to managing since I can no longer actively coach. I’ve worked for a grassroots side during my recovery from surgery and latterly the reserve side for a Step 5 club.
I have to say that for every 20 players that like you, there is 1 that thinks you’re a total knob! The old saying that you can’t please everybody all the time certainly rings true for football managers!
I can’t speak for every Manager in the game, but I certainly never did anything out of personal reasons – if you were dropped from my team then you were dropped for football reasons only. Sadly, players do not see it that way and they all think that you don’t like them – even after you’ve sat down and had a chat with them!
All players want to play. I haven’t ever met one that was happy to sit on the bench and pick up their wages, so you must try to understand that if you are dropped then, I would hope, that it is purely for football/tactical reasons.
The best advice I can give is to always be honest with the manager – if you have any questions then seek him out and ask! Do not let things simmer and fester away, as I can promise you that will only make the resentment far worse!
I had one lad who couldn’t train because of working shifts. He knew that those who attended training would take priority for the games, but made no effort to attend – instead choosing to moan at being on the bench every week! He posted on Facebook that he was on 2 weeks holiday from work (big mistake) and when I told him Training details he replied with “I’m working, sorry”.
Long story short, he moaned at me for being sub again after the 2nd week of his holiday (again his Facebook status was updated on training evenings with “Watching Shrek” or “Playing COD”). I explained I knew about his holiday and updates etc, to which he the apologised and left the Club – suitably embarrassed I assume.
I wouldn’t mind, but he then told people I’d asked him to leave the Club as he was no longer welcome! (I said no such thing, he was a good lad to have around on a match day!) People tend to find it’s easier to blame me than accept responsibility themselves, as I will always give a straight answer to a question – and sometimes people just don’t like the answer they hear!
Being a manager is pretty much a full-time gig, even at grass roots levels! Often they simply do not have the time to address every single member of their squad and explain their reasoning’s, as they are extremely busy running around performing the million and one other tasks that need to be performed so that you can have a game on Saturday!
You have to trust your manager, whether you agree with him or not, it is not your decision ultimately. Certainly as Manager, I encouraged challenges and also asked the Players to find answers to the problems that I was setting but I would still expect the full support of the Players to whatever system we were working. If you do question the tactics, then have a reason for the questioning as following up with “Because it’s rubbish” will not get you, nor the team anywhere!
Remember the Manager is human, and is highly unlikely that he wants to lose the game, so he will be doing what he sees best for the circumstances. By all means, question things in private, but lend him your full support in public and be the Player that your Manager needs – whether on the pitch or sitting next to him in the dug-out!
No comments:
Post a Comment