Managers routinely curry favour with the dressing-room by lauding one of their players to the skies, irrespective of whether or not they deserve it.
Alternatively, a player who has been signed by so-and-so says what a brilliant coach his boss has turned out to be. Probably days after the player concerned has been awarded a bumper contract. Funny that.
During the course of this wonderful job I must have spoken to well over 1,000 players and I have to say it is very seldom that any interviewee says a few words about someone else without a hidden agenda.
I had been quizzing Giles Barnes, at West Brom, a couple of years ago about getting his career back on track when he just went off on one about Roy Hodgson.
Barnes had been taken on loan by Hodgson while the latter was at Craven Cottage. Effectively, the formerEngland Under-21 international was saying that during his time working with the veteran boss he was given specific personal tuition on how to play and where to play.
Stalemate: West Brom drew with Fulham in their last Premier League match
Barnes went on to say how Hodgson would stop 11-a-side games in training, point out where players should and shouldn't be in an effort to teach them such basics as team shape.
I asked the midfielder why it was that he had offered up this insight into Hodgson and he said that it wasone of the few times he had been taken to one side and had his role within a side explained to him. And this was a former England Under-21 international, don't forget.
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So, we fast forward to 2011. Where Jeremy Peace and Dan Ashworth deserve credit is for taking the gamble and sacking Roberto di Matteo - recognising that the one thing the Baggies were crying out for was organisation.
The amiable Italian's attitude was to throw a ball onto the pitch and say: 'Let' s play.' It's great when confidence is high and you are beating Arsenal at the Emirates. Not so good when confidence is shot to pieces and you are conceding an average of two goals-per-game. You need to get back to basics. And that is exactly what Hodgson did.
He organised a team that had lost its way. Yes, some of the flair was sacrificed. But I've not met a player yet that didn't welcome direction or organisation.
Hodgson's attention to detail is meticulous. During the course of the week, he will set up coaching drills to counter how the opposition play. How he wants his own side to play and then there will be set pieces etc. etc. You may be surprised to learn that not every manager does this.
Some are happy with fitness work and five-a-sides. I am not joking, either. And while Hodgson comes across as everyone's favourite uncle, it is understood that he can mix it with the best of them.
There was a row in the dressing-room,for instance, after the defeat by Stoke City. Not a major bust-up, fisticuffs or anything like that. It was what we (in the trade!) might euphemistically term 'a full and frank exchange of views.' And the manager was in there, dishing out a few home truths of his own.
Wrong place, wrong time: Hodgson endured a tough time at Anfield
Of course, such an authoritarian stance can have its' downsides. I have often wondered whether trying to teach players at Liverpool's level contributed in Hodgson's downfall at Anfield. I suspect though it was more a case of: 'Wrong place, wrong time'.
Despite West Brom's indifferent startto the season, I firmly believe that it's just a matter of time before the Baggies begin to motor up the Barclays Premier League table. The key to it will be keeping his goalscorers fit.
Once he finds how to harness the respective talents of Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie - that first-half formation did not work against Fulham - I expect the Baggies will be fine.
I can't say this about every manager I've ever sat in front of but I think Hodgson really understands his job. Apparently, he has an incredible knowledge about players too, although I've not put that to the test.
I don't want to resort to clich?s. But I like Hodgson's work ethic, his preparation, his attention to detail and his knowledge. I trust him to get the Baggies moving. I really do.?
It's all Greek to Olof One of the benefits of being calledinto Champions League action at Arsenal on Wednesday night was the opportunity to see Olof Mellberg again, now playing for Greek side Olympiakos.
Most media folk who came into contact with the Swede had a lot of time for him. He would always stop for a chat, even in defeat. And his interview, prior to the derby against Birmingham City in December 2004, remains an absolute classic.
Back in England: Mellberg played in the Champions League defeat at Arsenal
'I don't like Birmingham City' he said. 'The fans tell me not to like them. I' ll never play for them.'
It was worth sitting there just to see the look on press officer Phil Mepham's face. He was stood behind Mellberg, shaking his head, well aware that a verbal hand grenade had just been set off. And the centre-half knew exactly what he was doing.
Cult status: Mellberg was a fans' favourite at Villa
He came in, needed no prompting (wearing a white jumper - important detail!) and just said his piece. Hethen got up and walked back into the dressing rooms at Bodymoor Heath.
Anyway, the man himself asked me tosend on my best wishes to the club and to say a big "Thank you" for thesending-off that Villa Park gave him prior to his move to Juventus.
Mellberg was 34 in September and is still in fantastic condition. He didn't play in the league game that preceded his run-out in north London, but said that he now knows how Peter Schmeichel felt as it is difficult to shake off niggling injuries.
I asked whether he would be prepared to come back, just for one final season and that there are still people walking around Villa Park now on matchdays with his shirts on - to which he laughed.
'I don't know,' he said. 'Now that Jean Makoun is at Olympiakos with me, I've managed to catch-up on the latest but I've always kept up with what's being going-on.
'I don't know whether I will be back to play in England but I would like to be remembered to the supporters. Ihave lots of great memories. It is a really good club.'
Happy to oblige, Olof. ?
Cheer up, Steve Finally, one of Steve McClaren's characteristics is that there are no half-measures.
Down in the dumps: McClaren's sombre demeanour needs addressing
When Nottingham Forest's boss is up, he's absolutely flying. When he's down, he' s very down. Even allowing for the fact that he was mightily brassed-off with the first-half display at Turf Moor the other night, pictures of him sitting in the dug-out at half-time - no doubt seething - don't look good.
He is another - like Hodgson - whose coaching is second-to-none. That's a fact acknowledged by everyone. At the moment, it's clearly not getting through. But he could do without moping while the game is on-going. It just doesn't send out the right signals, I'm afraid.
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail