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.
"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."
Comment 3 - 22 of 22
its all about inexperince 4 paul,do u think bentley could do that 2 cappello
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!
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?
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.
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...
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!
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.
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.
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.
Go on Incey!! Kick their overpaid backsides!!!
Did he have to do the press-ups with his arms still crossed? Now THAT would have been difficult!!!
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
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
And what has Paul Parker ever done to be telling the Governor how to manage!!
Again, what is the relevance of Paul Parker? Who cares what he thinks?
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