DON’T LET THEM NEAR PLAYERS!

I’VE worked with lane 4, i recommend them and it is excellent Sam Allardyce is looking into what they do. But i offer this advice: it’s Sam and the sports psychologists who need to sit down to discuss everything. Do NOT involve the players.

it is always the head coach who must deliver the message and ethos to his team. He must always be the man who sets the tone and pulls the strings. Never let anyone deliver this kind of message on your behalf.

The coach will have his own particular language and way of delivery which the players will get used to and understand. it is the coach who needs to take all the information he has gathered — from his backroom staff and perhaps the psychologists he has spoken with — and deliver that directly to his players in his language.

i would never be in favour of a sports psychologist sitting down for one-on-one chats with individuals or the team. As a manager that is my job, nobody else’s.

i have always believed an important part of good coaching is man-management — the instinctive understanding by the boss of his players and how they react to certain challenges and situations.

There is a big ‘psychological’ element to that and it says a lot about a head coach who is always making sure he is up to speed with all the latest thinking in this area — and this is where lane 4 can really help Sam. it is up to Sam then to decipher what is relevant and what is hot air, and deliver this in his language.

Another factor here is time. Sam has very limited time with the players, he must avoid over- complicating things and getting too many individuals involved.

There is no need or opportunity to have a psychologist working with the team. The man with time is Sam Allardyce.