But he did make a difference. It could have been significant if Harry and all the other 'football coach know-it-alls' had allowed them to contribute further. I still can't believe this 'we know better than everybody else' attitude that football has. It is changing thankfully, but slowly.
There's certainly a side to both arguments here. I agree that Woodward was, in those circumstances, an unfortunately misguided effort, but then I also strongly suspect that if Jesus Christ had walked through the door, 'Arry would have dismissed him as 'not a football man' which would be an example of football's undoubted blinkers when it comes to outsiders. As you say, it is changing with the input of nutritionists/sports psychologists/Eileen etc, and mainly for the better. I think it could absolutely be more encompassing - if you're telling me that athletics coaches etc couldn't add anything to a footballer, I'd disagree, and there's certainly something to be said for managers learning 'off' the job and taking from other disciplines too. The more progressive coaches such as AVB and, dare I say it, MP would likely be more open to that kind of thing than the likes of 'Arry. Michael Johnson has actually been helping the Williams F1 pit crew devise 'short burst' training sessions to improve their pit-work. Shame the car's crap.....
what a load of pony. Sir Clive and clifford has about as much right to be involved in top class football as pinky and perky. Only a prize plum like Rupert would employ them. Are you seriously trying to say that if Nicola appointed a rugby coach as technical director mp would be happy about it? Do me a favour.
People seem to be forgetting that Sir Skive was here for 2 seasons. Wilde kept him on whilst Burley was here because it would have cost a fortune to have ended his contract early. I was told they came to a "mutual agreement" for him to resign, possibly before Saints threatened him with dismissal for failure to fullfil the duties he was getting paid a lot of money for.
Of course he wouldn't be happy. But I hope he would have the sense to sit down and ask questions and see what he could learn. When Harry was asked about Woodward all he used to do was shrug and twitch and say, "I dunno" a lot. If you look at how fit footballers are now compared to even 10 years ago, the differences are amazing. If we had applied todays training and conditioning to the team back then it would have made a huge difference. I have a friend who is one of the UKs most knowledgeable athletics coaches and together we devised a training schedule that would have put any team of footballers way ahead of their rivals. This was back when Ball was manager. We sent it to him and he wasn't interested. The reason he wasn't interested was because we were not ex-professionals so how could we possibly understand what was required.
Must admit I feel the Woodward appointment could have been something of a 'right man, wrong time' appointment. He clearly knew his stuff with regards to getting the most out of people (whether it be footballers or Egg-chasers), however he was appointed at a time, on a large salary, when we didn't collectively have a penny to scratch our Arses with!
Agreed to some extent. Although I still think he should probably have had more of a consultancy role, met with the coaching staff and discussed training methods etc rather than coming in full time. However, Redknapp doesn't seem the type to want to do anything like that.
Spot on. Wasn't that the reason he left the Skates first time around? Too much involvement from above him?
Genuine question Ducky, not being snide, are you a fan of Redknapp? He seems to be someone who fits in to your football/world perception as 'the right sort' to me?
If Woodward is such a genius, how come nearly all of the athletes he "took under his wing" ahead of the Olympics either failed to make the final selection or flopped at the games? He was given a budget of MILLIONS (of your money) and they couldn't wait to get shot of him for similar reasons to why he left Saints. Also, when Woodward approached Brailsford and the British Cycling team, they gave him short shrift as well (and that's putting it politely).
I think woodward had something to contribute but not as much as he thinks himself. The odd thing as well is that clifford's report painted the man as a coward.
I think Woodward's problem was (and is) his substantial ego. He thought he could just swan in and make a difference to the football 'simpletons' with his more developed working on the English rugby team. Unfortunately, it proved somewhat more complicated than that. A clash of his ego with the blinkered and clique ridden approach of football. There was some credence to the idea, but it was the wrong man at the wrong time. I do absolutely stand by the assertion that football can of course learn from other athletes and sportspeople in elite competition, and their coaches though. It's barmy to suppose otherwise. Just not Woodward and not in such a spectacularly arrogant way.
I think Woodward's problem was (and is) his substantial ego. He thought he could just swan in and make a difference to the football 'simpletons' with his more developed working on the English rugby team. Unfortunately, it proved somewhat more complicated than that. A clash of his ego with the blinkered and clique ridden approach of football. There was some credence to the idea, but it was the wrong man at the wrong time. I do absolutely stand by the assertion that football can of course learn from other athletes and sportspeople in elite competition, and their coaches though. It's barmy to suppose otherwise. Just not Woodward and not in such a spectacularly arrogant way.
Basically if both sides had been able to drop the ego there may have been some tangible benefit. With Woodward and Redknapp involved, that was never going to happen.
Sportsmen across the gamut have been known to do ballet to improve their physical abilities, haven't they? You wouldn't make Darcey Bussell DOF, but laugh all the methods out of the club?
Giggs took up yoga of his own accord. Seems to have served him pretty well, though I've no doubt he was called a '****' for it.....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/3489097.stm Found this a very interesting read. Hindsight is a wonderful thing...
