Source: Northern_Echo
Gordon Strachan: The joys of being a manager
GORDON STRACHAN has taken Middlesbrough back to basics in his drive to transform Championship fortunes and claims there is still room for old-fashioned techniques even those used by Mike Bassett, England manager.[LNB] It is not that Strachan compares his style of coaching to that portrayed by Ricky Tomlinson as the England manager in the satirical comedy film, more so the Boro boss feels there are poignant' moments which highlight what football management can be like.[LNB] During the 53-year-old's first five months as Middlesbrough boss he has made it clear his belief is that positive results and performances are more down to players' attitudes rather than tactics.[LNB] And in his attempts to outline that the former Celtic boss suggested scenes from Mike Bassett were actually a tongue-in-cheek way to highlight just what management can be like.[LNB] I loved Mike Bassett. It's quite poignant when you see him sitting in his room on his own, thinking about things,[LNB] said Strachan. People might think it's funny but there have been loads of managers in that position.[LNB] His kids go home crying because they think he is rubbish.[LNB] It's actually funny but true and quite poignant at times. Even the stuff with the balls, where there were no balls to play with; Barry Fry had that at Birmingham, no balls.[LNB] I trained with Ron Atkinson one week with no balls, we had diving headers and everything without any balls. We had to imagine there was a ball. Incredible.[LNB] We had no bibs one day, Big Ron asked how did you get on at school You'd have had no bibs at school would you' It was true. You'd just get on with it. It was very poignant a great film.[LNB] Strachan's comments were from the heart and offered an insight into the style he has introduced to the training ground since Gareth Southgate departed in October.[LNB] It might have taken the players time to understand, but they are slowly coming round to his way of thinking, particularly after the arrival of seven of his own signings last month.[LNB] He is happy to listen to ideas and instruct orders, but also expects his players to accept their responsibility to unite as a team to put on a display to earn a result.[LNB] I keep going back to Ireland's game v France. It was like when Mike Bassett said FOUR-FOUR-TWO' against a France team that night which had some cosmic formation. I know who should have gone through though.[LNB] I'm not saying it should be 4-4-2 all the time.[LNB] What I am saying is that it is down to players, how they pass, how they run, how they jump. It's not all about tactics, it's more about players.[LNB] There are all sorts of theories these days, the Emperor's new clothes. There's been plenty of that going on.[LNB] I like Man United now, with Rooney up front and two playing wide, but they have the players who can do that.[LNB] You need a special player to play with one up front, an Adebayor, Torres or a Rooney.[LNB] There's not many who have got that, and you need two wingers. When it goes well it's the tactics; when it doesn't it's the players.[LNB] Whatever approach Strachan has been using, it is beginning to work.[LNB] Middlesbrough are now just two points off the playoffs after a five-match unbeaten run, including a second win over Barnsley on Tuesday.[LNB] It was the manner of the performance at the Riverside, where they have struggled, which surprised many, having shown a resilience to stay in front after going two-up.[LNB] Strachan, however, will not be getting too carried away.[LNB] Everything wrong has not been cured in one performance, but there are signs we are getting harder to beat,[LNB] he said.[LNB] Now we have to set standards of winning matches regularly, that's what we have to get closer and closer to. It's an ongoing thing. It might take years to perfect.[LNB] Having strikers at his disposal has certainly helped.[LNB] Chris Killen is struggling with a hamstring problem after scoring his first goal for the club on Tuesday, but Strachan has alternatives.[LNB] Sir Alex Ferguson always believed that the strikers were the ones who finished the moves off for you, he said.[LNB] They are also the players who are the first ones to stop the opposition from attacking against you.[LNB] If they don't hold the ball up then the midfield will never get the ball back. All of those things make the strikers very important in his world, I'd agree.[LNB] What we have now is four or five strikers. Forest have the strikers, Neil Warnock, when he has had success, has had strikers.[LNB] Look at the clubs in this league who have been successful and they always have good strikers.[LNB]
