What Gary Megson could learn from Rafa Benitez and Martin O’Neill
Tuesday January 13th, 2009
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The Bolton Wanderers manager needs to start playing a few mind games
Whether it’s Middlesbrough’s impressive youth set up or Liverpool’s title credentials, Gary Megson has made a habit of lavishing praise on the Wanderers’ opponents this season.
In contrast, his proclamations about his own players are almost always downbeat. Take his post match comments about Chris Basham on Saturday. Instead of praising the youngster for an impressive performance against quality opponents, he referred to him as ‘a right back who couldn’t get a game on loan at Rochdale’ on Match of the Day.
Compare this to Martin O’Neill, who was filmed running on to the pitch shouting ‘genius’ to Ashley Young after one of his matchwinning performances earlier this season.
Megson could also learn a trick or two from Rafa Benitez. Of course, what Benitez said about Alex Ferguson was tremendously hypocritical. His main gripe appeared to be that Ferguson has bad-mouthed Liverpool in the press, but Benitez has been just as happy to bad-mouth Bolton in the past: see here and here.
But that’s not the point… they’re all at it. Benitez is just protecting his patch and it’s about time Megson started doing the same. Some may see it as mere pantomime. Some may say that manager’s like Steve Bruce get away without slagging off their opponents.
But when you play in the way Bolton do – i.e. in a way that attracts a lot of criticism from opposition fans, players and managers – then you need someone at the helm who’ll stand up for you like Sam Allardyce did, otherwise the big four will just walk all over you, as they pretty much have with Bolton ever since Allardyce left.
What do you think? Have your say in the comment box below…
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3 Comments to What Gary Megson could learn from Rafa Benitez and Martin O’Neill
Don’t agree with this.
Under Allardyce it became increasingly hard, as a Bolton fan, not to be embarrased by some of hs outbursts. In comparison, Gary Megson comes across in interview as someone who is thoughtful and honest about the game.
Well done, Gary.
Chris DearyJanuary 13, 2009
I understand where you’re coming from, but being a total bar steward is part of the job description when it comes to being a Premier League manager. In fact the vast majority of successful sports people are total c***s because single mindedness is what marks them out from us mere mortals.
Got to agree with you Chris, nice guys finish last and all that. I was listening to Fighting Talk on Five Live a couple months ago, and one of the questions was “Whick one person has had the biggest influence on modern sport?”, or something like that. I’ve forgotten what other panelists said/argued, but Will Buckley said that it was Freud, and I have to agree. So much of sport is played before a ball is kicked, or a dart thrown, or a tennis ball whacked etc… Half of sport is now played out in the media through mind games. Being nice might mean you can look yourself in the mirror at the end of the day, but with mind games you can just about look yourself in the mirror – with a smirk.
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January 13, 2009