Source: Northern_Echo
Strachan approves of Keane’s methods
STRAIGHT-TALKING Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan sees no reason why Roy Keane's direct managerial style cannot thrive in the modern game.[LNB] Since taking over from Gareth Southgate at the Riverside Stadium, Strachan has been honest with the players he has inherited in a similar way to that which led to Keane's demise at Sunderland.[LNB] Keane walked out on the Black Cats at the nadir of a difficult period in which the Irishman had lost many players in the dressing room during a poor run of results.[LNB] Strachan has encountered difficulties in his first few months in charge, as he made his own judgements on the members of his squad upsetting some and encouraging others.[LNB] Now, after enduring hard times at the start of their terms in charge of Middlesbrough and Ipswich, Strachan and Keane are starting to enjoy improved fortunes ahead of their meeting at Portman Road today.[LNB] I spoke to Roy about four weeks ago, said Strachan.[LNB] He is a good student of the game. It's not so much tactics, it's about getting the best out of groups.[LNB] He was at Manchester United and tried to get the best out of a group of players around him as captain.[LNB] There's so much rubbish talked about tactics, when in reality it's more about getting the best out of a group.[LNB] Fergie (Sir Alex Ferguson) is the very same, there's still room for such a strong style.[LNB] Some kids are easily upset these days because they have never been upset at school.[LNB] Nobody says no' to them at school, nobody says no' to them on the streets, so when they come to a football club and they are told no' some will get upset.[LNB] It's not that football has gone soft. But if you take two of my new players Barry Robson got a free from Rangers when he was younger, Scott McDonald a free from Southampton but they have bounced back. They are not soft and there are plenty out there like that. But some kids now cannot be told no'. You can't berate a kid at school now.[LNB] It was Strachan that signed Keane for Celtic in December 2005, after the Irishman had ended his days at Manchester United on a sour note after criticising his team-mates.[LNB] But while many have found Keane difficult to work with, Strachan only has positive things to say about him.[LNB] He was terrific to work with. He was low-maintenance, a great player, said Strachan, who had him at Celtic Park for six months.[LNB] He was great with the young men, the kids loved him. He had that drive to bring the best out of the people around him.[LNB] That's what you have got to do as a manager, it's not about being a great manager, just trying to get the best out of people. To get the best out of people can be a bit rough at times. I'm not saying Roy does that, but you have to be a bit like that to get what you want sometimes.[LNB] It is such steely determination which Strachan has been looking to instil into his Middlesbrough squad during the last month. He has made seven new signings and is introducing a new approach and a new mentality.[LNB] The most high profile of those was the deadline day swoop for Scott McDonald for £3.5m.[LNB] But Strachan thinks it would be unfair to put the weight of expectation purely on his shoulders and pointed to his other January recruits as men capable of bringing the best out of those already at the club.[LNB] I'm pleased Scott is here.[LNB] After the Gary Caldwell incident I feared it might not happen,[LNB] said Strachan. You can't score at any higher level than the Champions League, and he scored against AC Milan, Manchester United.[LNB] Stephen McManus, Willo Flood and Barry Robson have been here less than three weeks and they have all got homes for their families. The others are moving in next week. We have had some players at this club and it's taken them six weeks to even get out of the hotel. It's called responsibility and being able to look after yourself.[LNB] And while Middlesbrough fans might still be angry at the departure of Johnson to Manchester City, Strachan offered his explanation.[LNB] I would have liked to have built a more rounded team around him, said the Middlesbrough boss. If you look at the stats this year, when we win we win because of his assists or goals.[LNB] This week he has been training with Tevez, Adebayor and Bellamy. The chairman Steve Gibson, Keith Lamb both thought it was common sense. We had to understand that. It would not have been right to stop him from going to play with these great lads.[LNB] I wouldn't have thought we'd have bought Scott Mc- Donald if we hadn't sold Adam Johnson, unless Keith had found some money under his bed.[LNB]
