Should be taken with a pinch of salt i think. As mentioned, Neil tempers his criticisms with compliments. I don't think he meant "absolute disgrace" in the seething way it comes across when written down. Hopefully it was more of an encouraging "you're a good player who's important to the side and we now won't have you Vs Fulham"..? Everything he does is to get the best out of players in the future!
Grifter's right, harsh words in a powder puff... Sure he's angry... in a cheerful kind of way. Drawing from the immortal wisdom of Forest Gump, Warnock's like a box of chocolates, some yer like, some yer don't so much - but overall you get what it shows on the cover. From avoiding the drop to League 1 to 9th in the prem in 18 months, I'll take the rough with the smooth anytime. All I know is he knows how to get the best out of certain players and as often as not he's a winner. Traore's an enthusiast so focused on action, you'd have to do something to get his attention before he can be developed further. That's what I reckon Sir Neil was doing. Called him thick and naive too - probably as much for leaving us without a wing back as for the unnecessary tackle that caused it. Carry on doing it your way Sir Neil... for as long as it's getting us somewhere good, I'll just sit here and clap!
Sorry guys i know this will go against popular opinion, but again i think NW was the disgrace. Thats twice in a month he has shown his inexperience in front of the media. I love NW as much as anybody (except his wife hopefully) but for me he could learn a lot from Ferguson. Never criticise your own player in public. Thats a basic requirement of a good leader. IMO thats how an experienced manager and leader should act. NW can be a motor mouth at times. His comments about the league cup were disgraceful. If he wanted us out of the competition fine, but dont tell the world and bring our club into the media spotlight. For me, he speaks first and thinks later. Thats a very dangerous trait. I know there are people who think its refreshing to hear a manager speak so openly, but for me NW should know better. I am sure that Traore feels bad enough without his manager telling the world he is a "disgrace". I would also be sure that some of the more experienced players in the team will not like the way that NW has dealt with this in public. Just my thoughts.
I agree with nuts on this one. Colin has been fantastic in turning the team around but something has to be said about airing dirty washing in public. Surely he could just say he'll be having a strong word with the lad. I agree with everything he said but don't say it to the press, just the player, thats enough. I want us to be in the press for our football and not bartons tweeting or Colins public outbursts.
Newcastle fan in peace. I saw this in the media the other day, and honestly while I despise Warnock naturally I think that publicly taking down a young and vulnerable player like Traore in the media (who has performed quite well recently considering the step up from Arsenal reserve to Prem player) was an incredibly bad move. The lad must be feeling bad enough without having this said about him - not good management.
I think the most annoying thing about the sending off was it was totally unnecessary, the 'tackle' was in the middle of Villa's half and Traore, at best, should just have 'pressed' his opponent without totally committing himself. You could understand a challenge like that at our end of the pitch if we were threatened, better defenders than Traore have been red carded for less. I wasn't pleased with Warnock's criticism which should have been behind closed doors but that's the way he is...
I agree with you. I have a high opinion of NW's management style generally, but I think he got it wrong here. Criticise Traore fine, but not to that extreme, and to tack on a bit at the end about Traore being a fine player didn't make it right. NW was p*ssed off that we'd lose him for the Fulham match and he let his mouth run away with him - a word or a hair-dryer after the match would have be enough. How often do you see Ferguson give ManU players a dressing down in public - it's kept behind closed doors so that Fergie keeps the "us against the world" mentality
He's forgotten more about man-management than we'll ever know, and it wasn't in the heat of the moment. IWIT
Indeed, his words were much too harsh on a very good young player who never intended to harm the team. All the missed chances he might have called a disgrace though.
IWIT sure, Northolt, but I think one of the bits of man-management Neil must have forgotten was - don't humiliate your best players in public.
I think it's Neil's frustrations about a suspension and a load of crap refereeing decisions spilling over. Can't call Traore anything more than naive - he was on the end of a shocker of a penalty call, the game was getting late and was drifting away from us. He felt responsible and was guilty of trying too hard. I won't lose sleep over any of it. Ironically, I doubt we'd have got anything had he stayed on the pitch.
The proof of this particular pudding will be in what happens when Traore returns. If he comes back wiser and plays well then NW vindicated. If he comes back and sulks until Jan then off to wherever, then NW misjudged it. My money on the former. I think pro footballers and managers understand that some things are said in the heat of the adrenaline / testosterone / high tension that, in the cold light of day, might have been said differently or not at all. It goes with the territory. The media prolong the issue because it is 'news' whilst those involved move on more rapidly. Time will tell.
Sky's contract insists they stick a microphone up the manager's nose as soon as the game is over and that's part of the problem, the instant quotes are often said in the heat of the moment, particularly if it's a contentious decision. Warnock has always been great value in these situations but he was clearly still fuming over the penalty calls, not the best platform for a measured, reasoned response. The laughable thing is the FA demand managers speak to the press immediately after matches, when feelings are running high, and then fine/ban them when they tell it like it is, I expect Warnock will be on a charge for criticism of the 'blind one'!
he didnt need to tell the whole world, yes have a word in his ear but for one mistake to slaughter the lad live on tv was uncalled for,he was having a good game up to that point and after some of the tackles on SWP that were much worse the ref could not wait to get the card out
Warnock is a ****. The sooner he's back in the Championship the better. I know some believe in inner beauty but the guy oozes ugliness 100%.