Source: Daily_Mail
Bryan Robson on following Peter Reid: Aggro? I'm just addicted to it!
Bryan Robson has been appointed coach of the Thailand national team, taking over from his pal Peter Reid, now assistant manager at Stoke City. Sportsmail’s
Simon Jones brought them together to discuss what the former England captain can expect now he’s back in the international spotlight...
Peter Reid and Bryan Robson
Good luck: Peter Reid (right) says farewell to Bryan Robson who's set to follow in his pal's footsteps
Life seems comfortable for you, Bryan, in your role as Manchester United ambassador, so why take on the Thailand job?
Peter Reid: He needs the money!
Bryan Robson: I really enjoy the role at United but one thing I miss is the involvement of preparing a team and that time you get on the training ground. The life of an international manager is the perfect role as it allows me time to continue with United who have seven major sponsors based in Asia. I need that competition in my life, a carrot, and if I win the Asia Cup and qualify for the World Cup with Thailand I’ll see that as another major achievement in my career. Pete’s already taken them through two games and we’ve got two massive games against Singapore next month.
Why take on the aggravation and scrutiny?
BR: I’m used to it. I like the aggravation that comes with any challenge. As a player I loved nothing more. The scrutiny I’ve got used to. It’s part and parcel of the profile I had as a player. People are going to scrutinise Thailand’s results and performances and bring up what has happened at West Brom and Sheffield United. We both had relative success at Middlesbrough and Sunderland and we were given time there. For me, I didn’t get that at West Brom or Sheffield United. The chairman’s ideas on finances made it difficult at West Brom and the fans at Sheffield United meant it was never going to work. I remember we lost at home for the first time, and the fans were chanting ‘Robson Out!’ Brian Kidd turned to me and said: ‘What’s that all about?’
PR: You can look at both of our records but I think we’ve done OK. I made the mistake at Coventry of talking up what I would do but it was never geared for that.
Reid shakes hands withThai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
Reid shakes hands withThai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
Have you spoken to each other much about Thailand?
PR: I’ve told him which karaoke bars to avoid because he’s no good at Frank Sinatra. Not as good as me.
BR: There’s no chance of that. This is the third time we’ve spoken about it. Pete put a word in for me with the Thai FA when he knew he was leaving and his assistant Steve Darby, who used to play for Sheffield Wednesday, will stay on because he knows the players, the language and Bangkok.
PR: Don’t say that! They’ll get the wrong idea! There’s a thing called ‘Face’ out there where you can’t tell players off in front of people because it’s a huge sign of disrespect. So Bryan has to be wary of things like that at half-time. And he’ll learn the language. He’ll be doing a lot of ‘beeping’, as ‘beep’ means ‘squeeze’.
BR: There’s an interpreter too. People say, are you worried if it gets translated incorrectly but it will probably do me a favour! I’ve seen plenty of DVDs on them too and I know a fair bit about the culture.
Graeme Souness says money has ruined players today, that too many of them have an opinion. Does he have a point?
BR: There’s a certain truth in that but there’s still a lot of great pros like John Terry, Steven Gerrard and the lads at United who are paid well and their opinion is encouraged. I think Graeme is referring to when, as a manager, you get up at 6.30am for training and are met by players who moan about wanting a day off and will then go and moan behind your back. And you’re thinking: ‘These people don’t know how lucky they are. How can they not want to train if you are a professional footballer?’. But it tends to happen at lower levels or with lesser players and that’s why they’ll always be lesser players.
PR: Ian Greaves at Bolton used to say he’d rather have it out in dressing room than whinge in the cafe over the road. I’d often prefer for it all to blow up in the dressing room because you can tell a few home truths. It’s too easy for average players to get rich and they are often the problem. The ones that don’t care.There’s a lot for making young players clean boots because it gives you respect for the job.
It’s often levelled at top England internationals that they don’t make good managers. What’s your view?
PR: It started off with Bobby Charlton, Nobby Stiles and Bobby Moore then Bryan Robson and Ray Wilkins. The expectations are higher because of the playing career but it depends on the job.
BR: There are people who have bucked the trend. Glenn Hoddle has a decent record. It’s too easy to bracket top internationals as poor managers when you don’t understand what has gone on behind the scenes sometimes.
Ukraine v England
How do you rate Capello and the job he has done? Are you convinced England can win the World Cup?
BR: He’s done a terrific job, getting good balance and discipline but I still believe the biggest factor behind why they qualified is because the pain of missing out on the European Championship was still raw.
PR: Players now know who is the boss. What he’s said about the wives is spot on as it’s a job. We are going to work. There was too much extra-football activity beforehand.
BR: If we steer clear of injuries to Gerrard and Rooney we have a great chance. We also have a lot of pace with Walcott and Lennon.
PR: We can win it. I’ve been impressed by the improvements of Carlton Cole and Jermain Defoe.
What pressure comes with playing in major tournaments for England?
BR: Everyone is under the same pressure. There are no excuses. If you are a top player you want to prove yourself against the best.
PR: We think our press is bad but it’s worse in Italy, Spain and South America. At least our players don’t get shot! It’s too easy to blame pressure. Top players relish the challenge.
What were your highs and lows as England players?
BR: My lowest was the dislocated shoulder and when I snapped my achilles which ruined two World Cups.
PR: My highest was getting a game after he did his shoulder!
BR: Typical! I would have got closer to Maradona, mind.
PR: All those players trying to stop Maradona was nothing to do with me. I still don’t consider that a low because I had that many years out of football with injury I was grateful for the opportunity to play for my country.
BR: Scoring two goals against France in 1982 was a brilliant feeling.
Who will win the Premier League and which players have impressed you?
BR: Vermaelen at Arsenal. Where did he come from? He’s been fantastic. Patrice Evra has been impressive too. I see United having the edge over Chelsea because of the African Nations Cup and the January transfer ban.
PR: I was more impressed with United than I was Chelsea when they played us but I believe Chelsea will be too strong. United miss Ronaldo and Tevez. Drogba again has impressed me. He falls over too much but whenever the ball was played to him against us he had us worried. Otherwise Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes - they make it look effortless.
Are referees fit enough? Was Sir Alex Ferguson right to criticise?
PR: That female one we had last year was lovely! No, they are fit enough. The criticism went too far. It should have taken place behind closed doors.
BR: No comment! I can’t believe Alan Wiley’s stats. In the Daily Mail it said only seven players had run more than him which is shocking really. It must be a fix!
