Where does the fault lie when a team under performs?

Upon leaving Leeds Clough would go on to have enormous success at Nottingham Forest, twice winning the European Cup and once the league title amongst other honours. Clearly Clough was an enormously talented manager, yet in the same manner as Hodgson, the players were not performing, or not willing to perform at their best. Without that, any manager is doomed.

Player power at football clubs is fascinating. Avram Grant, Jose Mourinho’s successor at Chelsea came within inches of managing Chelsea to the Champions League. Yet, stories have long been abound that in reality the clubs senior players such as John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba were as much involved in the decision making that season.

The most recent story surrounding the relationship between player and manger is at Manchester City. The Carlos Tevez and Roberto Mancini fallout is a debacle that continues to rumble on. The relationship between the former captain and the authoritarian boss is at an all time low, following the forwards alleged refusal to come off the substitute’s bench in last month’s match against Bayern Munich.

Tevez’s seemingly had no future at the club, yet there are now hints that he may be offered a lifeline by Mancini and City, only time will tell.

The truth is, a manager is only as good as the sum of his parts. If players are motivated, willing and ready to take a manger’s ideas on board then success will follow. The best manager’s have proven that time and time again. However, looking at the above examples, we should not forget even the manager’s at the very top can fail if players are more concerned with their bottom line than putting everything in on the pitch week in week out.

The article was written by Cameron Humphries for FootballFancast.com. Make sure to check out the latest news, blogs and podcasts at FFC – ed.

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