Premier League - Parker issues Ince warning

Eurosport - Fri, 08 Aug 09:13:00 2008

Former England defender Paul Parker has warned Paul Ince to adapt his approach to man management in order to avoid a horror show in his first season in charge of Blackburn.

FOOTBALL: Blackburn Rovers manager Paul Ince - 0

"My old mate Paul Ince has already been on the receiving end of some stick, even before his first season in charge at Blackburn has started. Apparently he's too egotistical and his training methods are out-dated for the Premier League.

Before leaving for Spurs, David Bentley reportedly walked out on one of Paul's training sessions because he was ordered to do 20 press-ups for crossing his arms.

I don't agree with Bentley's reaction, but Paul's been out of the Premier League for a long time and perhaps he has to realise that the top flight has changed a little since he was last there. Players have to be treated differently now - it's all about man management these days.

Top flight footballers are an altogether different breed now and they are certainly not as mentally strong as they used to be.

Like it or not, there is definitely a sentiment that elite players should not be treated in such a way and with players increasingly calling the shots in the modern game, more often than not a softly-softly approach has to be adopted when dealing with them.

Paul has clearly implemented his traditional methods to good effect in the lower leagues - first with Macclesfield and then with MK Dons - but having now reached the top flight, he cannot expect those same methods to continue working with established Premier League players.

Paul has to be careful, not least because he is so stubborn and single-minded. That was what made him such an unbelievable player, but as a manager he may have to adapt.

But such is his nature, he'll only change when he's good and ready - and not before.

I only hope he does not go the way of other managers who employed their rugged approach to management to great success in the lower divisions, only to find it tough when dealing with international players and bigger egos in the leagues above.

The name of Martin Allen springs to mind - he did extremely well at Barnet, Brentford and MK Dons but spectacularly failed to make the grade in the Championship with Leicester.

Paul has to make sure he talks to people and listen to their ideas - he cannot afford to be blinkered in his approach. As some stage, he may have to eat a slice of humble pie and admit his methods are not entirely appropriate for the Premier League.

But Paul is a big man, so I expect him to do just that.

Managers rarely get more than one crack of the whip in the top flight and Paul will have to put himself in a position where he can get the best out of his players if he is to succeed at Ewood Park.

If not, it could well turn out to be a brief return to the top flight for him."

Eurosport

Comment 3 - 22 of 22

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  1. its all about inexperince 4 paul,do u think bentley could do that 2 cappello

    From lovingkwasiowusu, on Fri 15 Aug 1:37PM
  2. In any walk of life, if you treat an employee with less than respect, you will soon realise that you don't get the best out of them, whether you are on a football training ground or on the shop floor. Times have changed, Corporal Ince!

    From KIMINNYLONS, on Sun 10 Aug 12:51PM
  3. I dont know of any Blackburn player apart from Ben MaCarthy(who won Champions League) has achieved what Paul Ince achieved as a football player even this average footballer who was asked to do 20 press ups. Anyway, what has Blackburn achieved in the last 5years in the history of UK Football? Do they have any world class player in their team?

    From dyson d, on Fri 8 Aug 10:24PM
  4. Ince probably does well to tell the players who's boss. If the players have the attitude that they are more important than the boss, you clearly don't want them in your team. Remember, we are talking about Blackburn here not Man United. How you treat Ronaldo, for example, is different to how you treat players from a mid-table team. You put up with more from world class players. At Blackburn you want a team that can fight.

    From James D, on Fri 8 Aug 7:10PM
  5. Hey Ince...
    You are a joke...
    Macc is Blackburn...
    Unless you stop being a moron, youll be sacked in no time...
    You actually think you can make Prem players do 20 push ups for folding their arms???
    Hahahahaaaaaaa...
    Go back to MK Dons and stop being a vvanker...

    ps...
    Im not a Blackburn,Macc Town or Dons fan...

    From Buzz, on Fri 8 Aug 12:29PM
  6. Ince? Once a judas, always a judas, an inflated opinion of himself, I mean who gives themselves the title of ' The Guvnor ' Stuart Pearce, Julian Dicks they were the proper guvnors of the Ince period. Unfortunately he didn't learn to much from Alex Ferguson's @ no one is bigger than the club. In Inces world, ' no one is bigger than Paul Ince ' no wonder the dressing room is lost already!

    From inkinjecteduk678, on Fri 8 Aug 11:44AM
  7. Well, not too bad for Parker to advice but a good old mate can do better by making a call across to an old dude than going to the press whose first job is to destroy. Mr Ince should first of all be commended for selling that big headed good for nothing Bentley for £15m (than God Arsenal has finally gotten their money after so many years). Good luck to Tottenham who seem to have won a jackpot, we are watching if they will come 7th in the premiership this year, but as for Bentley, since he couldnt succeed with Wenger who else can help? Ince should be very strong and disciplined, never give in to any players antics though human factor in management is very necessary. Good luck.

    From rawlings u, on Fri 8 Aug 11:21AM
  8. Not the right man for the job!
    I've got a lot of respect for Ince, but to replace a coach of Mark Hughes' status with a coach 2 leagues inferior is a no-brainer, regardless of his record at playing level.
    He's really gonna have to make a believer out of me.

    From Jay, on Fri 8 Aug 11:19AM
  9. Paul Parker. Remember he could not even make a go of Chelmsford City so what gives him the right to tell others how to conduct their business. He has little man syndrome has to spout a lot just in case he is not seen. Take no notice Incey and sink or swim on your own merits, and I for one hope you can cut some of the premadonas down to size.

    From tigertubs1, on Fri 8 Aug 10:57AM
  10. Go on Incey!! Kick their overpaid backsides!!!

    From adschoey, on Fri 8 Aug 10:52AM
  11. Did he have to do the press-ups with his arms still crossed? Now THAT would have been difficult!!!

    From Bob, on Fri 8 Aug 10:50AM
  12. trouble is players ie bently is a wimp maybe the 20 push ups was to much for this little weak man , discipline is part of a team , if i was paid as much as these little babies i be doing what ever i was told to do , hey its better than working for a living , ie beckham when he got hit by a boot from fergi , he had a little plaster and was like a girl , when i played football it was a mans game , soon the women will be beating these babies in football

    From Chris A, on Fri 8 Aug 10:46AM
  13. Ince will be out of Blackburn within 10 games!!!

    It was never going to be easy taking over from Mark Hughes, Big Sam has been clever to wait for somebody else to fail first!!!

    Big Sam will step in!

    From norjon33, on Fri 8 Aug 10:34AM
  14. it's about time some of these players that rule and are ruining the game were brought down a peg are two. Clubs and managers are to soft on them, they think their bigger than the club they play for. If i walked out at work id be sacked, but then Bentley is a spoil t little child. He walked out because he could only manage to do 6 press ups

    From grahamewalker, on Fri 8 Aug 10:28AM
  15. did you contact paul ince to get his side of the story mr parker? or are you just reacting to the drivel that is spouted in the daily mail.

    if he's 'your old mate' stop name dropping and give the guy a call.

    From andrew c, on Fri 8 Aug 10:16AM
  16. Paul Parker's comments of advice for Paul Ince in his first management at Blackburn is a good one. Incy should take note and learn quickly from simple advice like this, and not much later, when God forbid it might have been too late. Albert.

    From aapopey, on Fri 8 Aug 10:11AM
  17. Paul Parker is not in a position to tell anybody how they should be doing their job in Premier League management, because he has never been there himself. I don't see him as a sports journalist, more of an opinionated loudmouth hasbeen. Not a particularly bright one either.

    As for the softly softly approach with the prima donnas of the premier league, I can't believe that anybody earning tens of thousands of pounds a week should be offended by their boss telling them they have to earn their bloated salary. Roy Keane was managing Sunderland in the championship a couple of seasons back. Can you imagine any of his players walking out of a training session? Doubt it.

    From pr_davies, on Fri 8 Aug 10:03AM
  18. Well I think it is okay if Parker advices Ince. Cause no one person knows it all But for BENTLEY that dude is big headed and that will get him no where in life walking out on your boss. Well I dare him go out of the premier league and repeat that. Then he will be treated like no body and maybe fined some week wages. He is really retarded. Lets hope he does well with spurs.

    From Drewy, on Fri 8 Aug 9:59AM
  19. And what has Paul Parker ever done to be telling the Governor how to manage!!

    From steveatthelane1967, on Fri 8 Aug 9:45AM
  20. Again, what is the relevance of Paul Parker? Who cares what he thinks?

    From lordofjapes, on Fri 8 Aug 9:33AM
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