The Wisdom of Gaffers

We lost because we weren't good enough - all 14 of us. And, if you want to include me in that, all 15 of us, because I picked the side.

Micky Adams, Port Vale, November 2013.

We weren't given the opportunity to reflect our capabilities. That's not the players' fault or to their detriment. We haven't been thrashed at home - we've been denied an opportunity.

Keith Hill, Rochdale, November 2013.

We need better game management. The players must learn to dip a toe in and work things out.

Colin Cooper, Hartlepool United, November 2013.

They've got the injuries on behalf of the crusade we're on and it does become upsetting, both from a purely selfish point of view and when you empathise with them and their plights.

Aidy Boothroyd, Northampton Town, November 2013.

Thanks to this thread I sometimes find myself skim reading interviews just looking for classic gaffer wisdom.

that aidy one really is something

There have been disappointments along the way, and you're going to get them in football whether I'm there or I'm not.

Paul Ince, Blackpool, November 2013.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25171704

RIP ;_;

knew this would happen when I saw the h/t score. peace god, the dream is dead

Everyone wants me to be happier than I am, but maybe my standards are high.

Gary Johnson, Yeovil Town, December 2013.

'David is a dedicated individual who will not accept anything but the best for Bury Football Club,' said chairman Stewart Day.

yessssss

He had received offers from other clubs at a higher level, but he has bought into what we are trying to achieve at this club and has committed his future to take us back to where we belong, the Championship.

Feel like "bought into what we are trying to achieve" has shot up the cliché charts in recent years.

the other day i was chatting with some random bloke at work and he was like "yer no sahnds like a good project at qpr" and reader let me tell u the intrusion of that word into the general phatic vernacular was like a icy dagger to my heart

i might start trying to introduce "we are in a good moment" into my meetings. tho we're in a shit moment for months with lay-offs and redundancies so maybe it's more a 2014 plan.

solid q1 reducer will put right to that

We all know that the goal factor is the problem for us

Sam Allardyce, West Ham United, December 2013.

I cannot just think about the result because if I do I kill myself

Gus Poyet, Sunderland, December 2013.

clearly a classic

After two minutes the ball ends up in our net on the rebound and that is a bit disappointing because we had the ball for the first minute and 50 seconds.

Steve Cotterill, Bristol City, December 2013.

One of the officials said to me 'we're well aware of what's going on'. And I beg the question, what does that mean?

Graham Westley, Stevenage, December 2013.

As a coach, I've got to make sure we're getting players in the right areas and try to infiltrate what they are doing with the precision and movement I'm trying to bring to the club.

David Flitcroft, Bury, December 2013.

Two big players injured and a suspension. But this is football and I love my job.

Gareth Ainsworth, Wycombe Wanderers, December 2013.

I've got to look at the bigger picture - 10 points out of 12 in the last four games, three away games out of four; the only disappointment today for me was the officials.

I suppose the other disappointing thing is that we've not managed to finish them off.

Russ Wilcox, Scunthorpe United, December 2013.

The three goals we conceded were, I wouldn't even say schoolboy - probably Under-12s.

Steve Lomas, Millwall, December 2013.

It's not a mafia as such, but there's this network that other people have. They've played in Scotland

They've taken the mantle of a team from the Highlands and they've used a lot of motivational tools to help them.

They're not conceding goals, they're scoring goals. Isn't that what you want? That's utopia.

I've had plenty of time to step outside my own body to have a look at myself

Kenny Shiels, unattached, December 2013.

(Kenny has since been appointed gaffer at Greenock Morton)

I’m a humble lad with good morals from my parents. Work hard. If you have to clean the floor, make it the cleanest floor ever.

I read ‘The Horse Whisperer’. If that can apply to a horse, with all due respect to a horse, it must apply to humans.

My nirvana wouldn’t be buying a Bentley. My nirvana would be building a sports centre where I live, and not even having my name on it.

I made it clear to the players here: ‘Whatever your key motivation is, I have no problem with it. If it’s money, go for it. If it’s winning, go for it. My drug was winning. Glory? Fame? Nice lady? Big car? Go for it. That’s all fuel that can drive you. If you understand the fuel, and use it for the betterment of yourself and others, I’m happy.'

I’m not a fashion item.

There are lots of managers out there, branding themselves up to the eyeballs, coming out with fancy words, new sayings. I’m sick of hearing about ‘philosophy’. It’s a posh word for game-plan. Everyone now says: ‘if you haven’t got a philosophy you haven’t got a brain’. I find that bizarre.

Sean Dyche, Burnley, December 2013.

(I think I love him)

he must Premiership

the anti-Holloway

in times of darkness i come to this thread and it never fucking fails. WBS for goddam President.

We are blessed here at this football club by a really forward-thinking board that shares a vision of going places

I want to get into every avenue of this football club.

we have a great aspiration to win a lot of football matches this season, next season and after that.

Your timing has got to be right, your punctuality, your respect, your discipline, your honesty and enthusiasm, your injury prevention, your post match analysis, your recovery work – all that has got to be absolutely synchronised for the top clubs to give you players.

David Flitcroft, Bury, December 2013.

feel like the last three WBS posts are the grand declarations of our gods and their works

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO A HORSE!!!!!!!!

It's just magnificent.

saying a horse rather than horses would seem to suggest he is being deferential towards an equine interviewer

the last three are just incredible.

I want to get into every avenue of this football club.

slightly seedy vibe.

Really, aggressive edge of nastiness to it

What they don't want to see is people who give the ball away and then sulk and get their bottom lip out.

Ronnie Moore, Tranmere Rovers, December 2013.

No one on this planet is good enough to not compete in a game of football.

Graham Alexander, Fleetwood Town, December 2013.

Let's get a few wins under our belt and start climbing the table and then we can cross that bridge.

Richie Barker, Portsmouth, December 2013.

If you're in a dogfight you have to fight first

Alan Knill, Torquay United, December 2013.

Two years of doing the wrong things are not going to be fixed in two games.

David Flitcroft, Bury, December 2013.

We've got two guys who think they're footballers. They're centre-backs and their living is to head it and kick it.

Ronnie Moore, Tranmere Rovers, December 2013.

ahahaha

this is thread of the year by such a wide margin

Adebayor has not been playing, so he did not require much motivating. You put him back in because of what he has done in history.

Tim Sherwood, Tottenham Hotspur (caretaker), December 2013.

It is important to find different ways of winning and then deliver them.

Sean Dyche, Burnley, December 2013.

Jordan is a top lad, his manners are unbelievable

Gary Bowyer, Blackburn Rovers, December 2013.

It's my focus that's front and centre.

Malky Mackay, Cardiff City, December 2013.