Basic People Management Skills

[bluemoonmatt]

He did a full 2page intervew about his career. It was probably booked weeks ago. The Times profile one player every Sunday.

This is not some story where he's rung up a journalist and said "Listen, I'm pissed off with the manager"

I wish the interview was online but it isn't, or I cant find it.

He has said nothing negative whatsoeever about the club or manager.

It is me who saw the negatives in his simple answer to a question put to him. Much as you are trying to deflect, Shay Given is blameless in this.

Fair enough, without actually reading the piece its hard to fully understand the context in which the comments were made and if this interview has been (in youre words) booked weeks ago then this probably had the authorisation of the club. I feel however he could have chosen his words or deflected the question a lot better than a blunt “I thought I’d have played but I don’t know what the manager’s thinking because he hasn’t told me,”. He must have known that this comment particularly after some of Robinho's and Bellars comments of a similar nature, is open to a variety of interpretations. As an apparent 'model' pro well into his 30's and one who appears to have an above average intellect for a footballer, I feel he could have worded a reply better.

 

[AntonDonJuan]

Well this in an interesting thread :)

Given isn't happy he isn't playing, nobody who's been a number 1 for the last 15 years or so and playing every match would be and i understand that.

Maybe Mancini should have told him he wasn't playing, maybe he'll tell him in training, maybe he explained everything at the start of the season who knows.

Given wants to play, and will be trying to get a move in January. The more he complains about not playing etc, the more chance of that happening. Simple really.

On the flip side, Hart came out with similar stuff about wanting to play, and is still doing to some effect, but he's the best thing since sliced bread.

If i was Given, i'd keep quiet and move in January. As hard as it may be for him, that's the best way

 

[Anonymous]

As things currently stand I think Mancini's doing an excellent job of managing City. He's bought very very wisely, he's improved our defending no end, he's also improved individual players as well as our team play, which is surely the mark of an excellent manager.

I can't say I'm a huge fan of his more cautious tactical decisions, but I accept that results come first. I'm also, as this thread is an example of, dubious about just how good he is at managing his playing squad, and more importantly, whether he can put his ego aside for the greater good of the club...of that, time will tell. I hope that if nothing else, we can in the coming months stem the tide of disgruntled players going to the press. How that is achieved, I guess is up to the people behind the scenes at City...

Thats one of the few occasions i've actually enjoyed reading one of your post, and not because you plagerised my post on page 2/3.... Nobody is saying Bob is perfect, and yes he needs to evolve his management style, which incidently the top boyz always do, but he is 100 % effective and right for us at this time, and that foundation will stand us in good shape for the future...........

Dave i'm on to you mate, its all about the post count within your threads, though for an intelligent bloke you don't half talk some shite sometimes. (O:

I have to be honest mate, I don't even think there's been a few occasions when I've enjoyed reading something you've posted. You use far too much txt spk, and other 'hip' lingo which isn't really my cup of tea.

I much prefer the more prosaic use of the English language that your brother tends to employ.;- )

 

[Didsbury Dave]

He did a full 2page intervew about his career. It was probably booked weeks ago. The Times profile one player every Sunday.

This is not some story where he's rung up a journalist and said "Listen, I'm pissed off with the manager"

I wish the interview was online but it isn't, or I cant find it.

He has said nothing negative whatsoeever about the club or manager.

It is me who saw the negatives in his simple answer to a question put to him. Much as you are trying to deflect, Shay Given is blameless in this.

Fair enough, without actually reading the piece its hard to fully understand the context in which the comments were made and if this interview has been (in youre words) booked weeks ago then this probably had the authorisation of the club. I feel however he could have chosen his words or deflected the question a lot better than a blunt “I thought I’d have played but I don’t know what the manager’s thinking because he hasn’t told me,”. He must have known that this comment particularly after some of Robinho's and Bellars comments of a similar nature, is open to a variety of interpretations. As an apparent 'model' pro well into his 30's and one who appears to have an above average intellect for a footballer, I feel he could have worded a reply better.

I actually suspect he didn't say that. i suspect the intervewer asked him "What's the manager's thinking?" And he said "I don't Know" and the interview said "Has he told you?" And he said "No".

That's how press interviews work - it is accepted that the journalist paraphrases like that. Some press use this to their advantage but in this instance it appears to be just buried in the interview so you can't throw accusations at him (or her). If the headline was "The manager never talks to me - Given" as you might see in some newpapers then you can call it press sensationalism.

 

[Anonymous]

What life experience and my own job has taught me is that someones public persona is often no gauge of what they are like in private. Stuart Pearce is an excellent example of that. The model of humility and professionalism publicly, but privately a bully and a terrible manager...

But...but...he had a teddy!!

Nobody who has a teddy can be a horrible person!

Pah....his teddy ain't a patch on Mancini's scarf...;- )

 

[levets]

Well put Billy.

This stuff won't matter if we finish in the top 3 or 4.

So far, we're a work in progress but I do see evidence that it is coming together.

But I hate seeing this stuff. I just talked to a mate and this quote is from a Times interview where Given makes it clear that noone is talking to him at all about his role (or non-role) at the club.

Dave, I hate it too... I would prefer us to be the 'media darlings', but we're not. They look for any reason to bash us, like this 'Bobby isn't speaking to players' story...

So until we become the 'media darlings'(and we will), I'll settle for what is happening on the pitch.

That's the main(e) event!<br /><br />-- Mon Sep 20, 2010 2:40 pm --<br /><br />

You're right Nelly, we don't know 100%. But it is obvious to anyone that player relations are not high on his agenda, given the weight of evidence to the contrary.

I really thought and hoped that Platt had been hired to do that job. The manager can remain aloof and let his staff do the softly softly stuff, like Ferguson does.

-- Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:32 pm --

Righto, but I'll be taking my bat&ball with me... :)

I was responding to Billy saying he finds the cliched to-and-fro-ing tedious. I'm actually interested in what's going on behind the scenes but I agree that you get a stalemate where there's a shared gap in the knowledge and it's just kind of fruitless to keep labouring the point.

It's not that tedious - it's the busiest thread on here today by a mile (MASSIVE WINK ;-) )

like Ferguson does.
============
And Hughes did....

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

Thats one of the few occasions i've actually enjoyed reading one of your post, and not because you plagerised my post on page 2/3.... Nobody is saying Bob is perfect, and yes he needs to evolve his management style, which incidently the top boyz always do, but he is 100 % effective and right for us at this time, and that foundation will stand us in good shape for the future...........

Dave i'm on to you mate, its all about the post count within your threads, though for an intelligent bloke you don't half talk some shite sometimes. (O:

I have to be honest mate, I don't even think there's been a few occasions when I've enjoyed reading something you've posted. You use far too much txt spk, and other 'hip' lingo which isn't really my cup of tea.

I much prefer the more prosaic use of the English language that your brother tends to employ.;- )

Now I nearly took the bait William, though i will say the mobile phone has a lot to answer for in the modern world, it really is destroying our beautiful language. Incidently beauty is in the eye of the beholder William, attacking my 'original' style is poor form dear boy (O:

 

[KenTheLandlord]

Just when I was getting all warm and fluffy about how the team is coming together, I read this:

On Thursday Given was left out of a match in the Europa League although he had thought he would start: “I thought I’d have played but I don’t know what the manager’s thinking because he hasn’t told me,” he said.

I despair, I really do. That is basic and simple people management.

Talk to the fucking players, let them know where they fit in and keep them motivated. If they're not first choice, let them know that if they work they will get a chance.

It's not difficult. If you're too aloof to do it, get one of your staff to do it. There must be someone on our staff who's job it is to liase with the players.

I worry deeply about this message which we've heard time after time now.

I actually suspect he didn't say that. i suspect the intervewer asked him "What's the manager's thinking?" And he said "I don't Know" and the interview said "Has he told you?" And he said "No".

That's how press interviews work - it is accepted that the journalist paraphrases like that. Some press use this to their advantage but in this instance it appears to be just buried in the interview so you can't throw accusations at him (or her). If the headline was "The manager never talks to me - Given" as you might see in some newpapers then you can call it press sensationalism.

That is some leap in the space of one thread.

It seems

On Thursday Given was left out of a match in the Europa League although he had thought he would start: “I thought I’d have played but I don’t know what the manager’s thinking because he hasn’t told me,” he said.

I despair, I really do. That is basic and simple people management.


So the original point of your despair of Mancini's people management is based on a question that may not have related to that subject.

 

[levets]

Ego ??? the guy has come across for the most part as the model of humility to me.

What life experience and my own job has taught me is that someones public persona is often no gauge of what they are like in private. Stuart Pearce is an excellent example of that. The model of humility and professionalism publicly, but privately a bully and a terrible manager...

but privately a bully
======
Say's who? A model pro or a story teller?

 

[Anonymous]

I have to be honest mate, I don't even think there's been a few occasions when I've enjoyed reading something you've posted. You use far too much txt spk, and other 'hip' lingo which isn't really my cup of tea.

I much prefer the more prosaic use of the English language that your brother tends to employ.;- )

Now I nearly took the bait William, though i will say the mobile phone has a lot to answer for in the modern world, it really is destroying our beautiful language. Incidently beauty is in the eye of the beholder William, attacking my 'original' style is poor form dear boy (O:

I agree beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I also agree that one way to describe your writing style is 'original'....;- )