I posted the following in the transfers thread, but changed it to here and deleted it over there since this is the more appropriate place for it. It is a response to what WCMilan posted in the transfers thread.
Posted by WCmilan - "I agree for the most part, especially about his system.. It seemed the most exciting over our past 3 coaches, especially considering I'm not a huge fan of the football Mihajlovic seems to want to play. One thing though, as far as Balotelli goes, I think Seedorf realized that being tough on the guy doesn't work, how many other coaches did that and he just did worse things, like set off fireworks in the locker rooms? I think what Seedorf tried to do with Balotelli was good, and that was to actually have a relationship with him so he wouldn't act foolish out of respect more than anything else. Besides that, Seedorf absolutely needed Balotelli to be playing well, because we didn't have Bacca back then remember? Who would play, Pazzini? Balotelli, attitude or not, was still our (if not only) best striker option."
Well yes, and it's a good plan...but for a while. After that, it becomes suicide!
You can not come to a club, state your philosophy that everyone will have to press the ball and defend...and than 4-5 games into your tenure look the other way and give thumbs up to some players that simply won't follow your philosophy (Mario).
I may be wrong, but part of the locker room division was precisely because of this. I've been on teams where certain players were treated differently....and the rest of the group quickly loses respect for that coach. And these are 20yr olds I'm talking about....let alone millionaire professionals.
I can say with certainty (even though no proof obviously) that plenty of players on the field were pissed as hell that they are asked to work hard and press the ball, and than Mario gets to walk around but still gets the thumbs up from the coach.
Than obviously, Seedorf's biggest fall was saying that 75% of the squad is sh!t. Not that he was wrong....but it was a really bad idea to come and say that in the open. It was basically like begging for your players to turn against you. Of course....he thought that the management will side with him and leave him there for years. Instead, they turned their back on him too. Mainly the same guy that brought him over from Brazil.
Regardless, without digging into this much more.....my whole point was that I have no confidence in this management anymore. I guess I could've just said that without writing books!
Posted by WCmilan - "I agree for the most part, especially about his system.. It seemed the most exciting over our past 3 coaches, especially considering I'm not a huge fan of the football Mihajlovic seems to want to play. One thing though, as far as Balotelli goes, I think Seedorf realized that being tough on the guy doesn't work, how many other coaches did that and he just did worse things, like set off fireworks in the locker rooms? I think what Seedorf tried to do with Balotelli was good, and that was to actually have a relationship with him so he wouldn't act foolish out of respect more than anything else. Besides that, Seedorf absolutely needed Balotelli to be playing well, because we didn't have Bacca back then remember? Who would play, Pazzini? Balotelli, attitude or not, was still our (if not only) best striker option."
Well yes, and it's a good plan...but for a while. After that, it becomes suicide!
You can not come to a club, state your philosophy that everyone will have to press the ball and defend...and than 4-5 games into your tenure look the other way and give thumbs up to some players that simply won't follow your philosophy (Mario).
I may be wrong, but part of the locker room division was precisely because of this. I've been on teams where certain players were treated differently....and the rest of the group quickly loses respect for that coach. And these are 20yr olds I'm talking about....let alone millionaire professionals.
I can say with certainty (even though no proof obviously) that plenty of players on the field were pissed as hell that they are asked to work hard and press the ball, and than Mario gets to walk around but still gets the thumbs up from the coach.
Than obviously, Seedorf's biggest fall was saying that 75% of the squad is sh!t. Not that he was wrong....but it was a really bad idea to come and say that in the open. It was basically like begging for your players to turn against you. Of course....he thought that the management will side with him and leave him there for years. Instead, they turned their back on him too. Mainly the same guy that brought him over from Brazil.
Regardless, without digging into this much more.....my whole point was that I have no confidence in this management anymore. I guess I could've just said that without writing books!