A new autobiography by ex-Sunderland defender Danny Higginbotham has an interesting anecdote about a bizarre team-talk by then-manager Roy Keane.
During a match against Aston Villa in the 2007-08 season, the current Ireland assistant told his players: "Basically you're s***. Try and enjoy the game. You're probably going to get beat. But just enjoy being s***".
Although Higginbotham saw that motivational technique as a positive thing, John Giles did not agree as he told Off The Ball tonight when the quotes were put to him.
"[That's] very odd and very, very incorrect," said John. "You got the players in the club. You're responsible for the team, you're responsible for having those players at the club, so ultimately you're the one that's crap. If they're all crap as he said, then your judgement has to be wrong. I've never heard of that before. What's he going to say in the team-talk for the next match? How can you improve on that as a team-talk to get the best out of players?"
James McCarthy ©INPHO/Donall Farmer
John also reiterated his point that James McCarthy does not impose himself enough on games at club or international level, as he gave his take on Ireland's draw against Poland.
"He lets the game pass him by so all the ability he has is not being used. He does that at club level as well," he said.
But he also feels that modern players are too hung up about what their statistics like pass completion will be after matches, rather than trying progressive passes.
"I think a lot of the players now are very aware of the stats, keeping possession of the ball. If you get the ball and give it to the full-back, that's a pass completed on the stats, whereas if you hit a through ball or a chancey ball, you go down as a misplaced pass and I think that has a lot to do with the modern, young midfield players of today."
Turning to the Premier League, John feels Raheem Sterling was "misguided" to speak to the media about his future, but also believes Liverpool have put pressure on the young winger and thinks Brendan Rodgers has not been fair.
"If I was advising him, I'd say 'you've got two years to run on your contract, don't sign your contract. See the two-years out ad you're a free agent.'"
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