I get the Sunday Sun every week and you get some decent local articles, not the Murdoch version of TNOTW. So for you folks with no access,,,,,,,,,,,,,read on How Peter Reid set mark for coach Alan Johnston .................................................................. http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/sport/no...-mark-for-coach-alan-johnston-79310-31052621/ ALAN JOHNSTON lost count of the number of times Peter Reid would walk towards him with his arms wide open during their time together at Sunderland. The trick was to work out whether his manager was coming in for a hug or about to strangle him. It was always one or the other. The Scouser wasnât someone who spent much time in a grey area during seven years in charge at Sunderland or, indeed, at any of his 30-odd years in football. Johnston loved this brutal honesty, even if it meant the odd bollocking, and now he at 37 has taken his first steps in football management, with Scottish Second Division side Queen of the South, he will be equally straight with the players who will call him boss from next season at least. Although the former Sunderland and Middlesbrough winger wonât be stripping the paint off the dressing room walls at Queen of the Southâs Palmerston like his former gaffer was prone to do. âWhen you were doing well, Reidy would pick you out, not just in the dressing room, but in the Press as well. âSome managers would go on about it being the whole team that did well and blah, blah, blah. Reidy would single you out if you were doing well, which was great with me. âI was a confidence player, I think we all are, and he would make you feel like a million dollars. When he praised you, he meant it. âWhen you did something wrong, take it from me, he didnât let you away with anything. You were told in no uncertain terms about what you did wrong. At least he was honest. You always knew where you stood with the guy.â Johnston, known as Magic since he broke into the Hearts first team as a teenager, played in France with Rennes and then Reid bought him for the Black Cats in 1997 and he want on to make over 100 appearances in three years. Much to the dismay of supporters, he moved back North of the border to Rangers, who he had supported as a boy, but he spent just 12 months in Glasgow before he was back in the North East, with Boro spending £600,000 on him. And at the Riverside Stadium, Steve McClaren was and remains a massive influence on the Scot. Johnston said: âSteve was years ahead of everyone else. That gets ignored if you ask me. âHe was really into sports science, psychology, video technology. Everyone is at it these days, but he led the way. I donât know why he doesnât get the respect he deserves. âThere arenât many other British coaches who have gone abroad and been successful, as Steve has done. âThe one thing that I will take from him is that he got good staff about him. That really made an impression on me. He got in guys, such as Steve Round, who is now at Everton, who he trusted and were great.â And now it is Johnstonâs turn to follow in the footsteps of his former managers. There are bigger names in football than Queen of the South, but few bigger challenges. The Dumfries club were relegated from the Scottish First Division, having finished bottom. Johnston said: âQueen of the South is not the same league as Sunderland or Boro, but that doesnât mean we canât be as professional as we can. The level is different, however, we can still play football the way I believe it should be played. âThe club is going to try to stay full-time, which wonât be easy. But if we could do that, then it would be a massive help. To be honest, I havenât had a minute to myself yet. I did have a family holiday booked, but that might have to be cancelled. I have three signed players at the moment, so there is plenty to do.â Heâs far too calm for that kind of behaviour â for the moment. Johnston said: âI see this as a great opportunity. Iâve been at Queen of the South for two years as a player so I know what a great club this is and can be. I have always looked at management or coaching as the natural progression for me. âI want to make this place as professional as it can be. Itâs going to be difficult. Iâm not stupid so I know there is a big job on my hands, but I have learned from some great guys such as Reidy. âIâm more laid-back than Reidy. A lot more laid-back, in fact. Iâm not a ranter or raver like he was. I donât really see the point in me pretending to be someone that Iâm not. âAlthough you never know. After a bad result I could turn into one of those guys who loses the plot. âWhat I would say about Reidy was that he had a superb eye for a player. Just look at the team he put together at Sunderland. He could see things in players that nobody else could. Thatâs one hell of a talent. âHe was also as good a man-manager I ever worked with.
As good as McClean seems to be at present, he has big boots to fill to become half the player magic was.
