Breaking Lines

The Whistleblowers - Listener's Questions

Have you ever had a question that you'd like to ask the manager or head coach of your club? Or even one for a Head of Performance (less likely we know!!!)?

Ok... so outside of the normal 'why did you pick X player?' or 'What were you thinking in that game?' there's so many questions that we've answered over the years on a wide variety of topics - some really simple ones as well as more complex queries that we can't always answer - unless we want to get into trouble!!

So now is your chance to pitch us with those burning topics that you need answering! But rather than just simple answers we give a little more context and expand on the subject a little to give more insight and more related aspects!

We'll crowdsource the questions, select the best or most interesting ones and give you some answers! 

First episode of a new feature of BreakingLines where Gary and Dave field listener's questions on a variety of topics from 'How do we plan a double game week?' to 'How do clubs make bids for each other's players?  Enjoy the show!

Injury Crisis - What Crisis?

It seems to happen every year at every club. Sometimes its benign and there's no real effect; a few squad members who normally have limited game time that might effect the subs bench, but perhaps no real impact on the team. Or...

...its senior, important, vital cogs in the team machinery who are all struck down at the same time and the season goes from one of immense promise and potential to a tough season, possibly staring at disaster. An injury crisis can play hell with the best laid plans of everyone at the club!

So we need someone to blame done we - that's what it's about surely?!

Normally the medical department are the ones getting the brunt of the ire from all corners as some fans, coaches, executive and athletes seek the reason behind why the crisis is happening! But most of the time the medical department is just picking up the pieces from situations not of their making! 

The performance and coaching departments are far more influence in how the athletes are prepared and maintained. Is the training appropriate, is the preparation work adequate to keep the squad resilient, is the periodisation of the season appropriate? The coordination of performance and coaching has a huge bearing on wether the crisis is, really, a crisis!

And of course the athletes must take their share of the responsibility - they need to work hard, rest well, eat correctly and ensure their recovery time is used appropriately - not too much extra curricular activities!! 

So join us as we discuss how an injury crisis manifests and what we can do about it - if anything!!

War Games - Play the game or the occasion?

Every season the fixture calendar is sprinkled with those large occasion games that are very much a different take on your run-of-the-mill league games - derby games, playoff matches, relegation six-pointers or giant-killing cup fixtures whet the appetitive of players, coaches, clubs and fans as the season proceeds.

Yet for the manager or head coach they provide a different challenge beyond the electricity and excitement of the fixture. Navigating your way through a specific fixture is laden with both opportunity and jeopardy! Win and you are a hero; lose and your standing on the terraces and boardroom can be severely - or even terminally - undermined!

Join us as we take you through the whistle stop tour of how a management team may choose to approach such games and how they strategise to come out with the best possible result from the fixtures. 

Sporting Directors - A New Sheriff is in Town!

In days of yore a Sheriff had a wide range of duties - mostly on behalf of a king or other powerful figure or landowner - that they oversaw to ensure that things were done as they were supposed to and peace and order was maintained. 

The modern elite football club is a huge organisation where the front and back office staff (as well as the players) are operating in a wide variety of departments and roles that give the team the best chance of success. And where traditionally all of the football departments' management was with 'The Manager', contemporary football clubs have chosen to follow a new model, that of the Sporting or Technical Director!

This episode of the Breaking Lines Podcast explores the different types of Sporting or Technical Director roles and  the backgrounds and types of people who have taken on this exciting new position. From ex-players and managers, recruiters and administrators, they job sees people from a kaleidoscope of previous roles and careers.

Done well they can really benefit the Head Coach (the more modern title for the old 'manager' titles!) and those working in football departments - so much so in fact that the role itself may soon have its very own transfers! With Dan Ashworth having an alleged £20m price tag on his head to move from Manchester United from Newcastle United, are we now at a pivot point in the world of football administration? 

The Final Bend - A Unique Psychology

The long season is nearing its end across the land but there's still enough games to play - and that's when an interesting anomaly happens every single year. A Unique Psychology...

Teams seemingly cruising at the higher reaches of the league suddenly develop vertigo and begin to have patchy results. Meanwhile in the depths of the divisions there's a collective spark of life as teams seemingly realise it's now or never and try to get themselves out of trouble. Meanwhile in the middle of the leagues, teams hit the doldrums or worse. Sleepwalking their way into relegation trouble as results and motivation seemingly dry up or making a late surge for the top as results suddenly click!

The psychology of the situation is fascinating as pressure is manifested in a variety of ways - positive pressure at the top can also be overbearing, negative pressure at the bottom can paralyse decisions and actions. Each result and performance can increase the expectation or release the valve and bring more calmness!

But one thing is for sure. It's the time of the season where form is turned on its head and if you don't deal with it, the end of the season can lead to either devastation - or wild celebrations!

Analyse This, Analyse That! - Are we reaching 'Analysis Paralysis'?

Analyse This, Analyse That… each and every moment of every game is hyper analysed today. A player, coach and team cant do anything without it being dissected on the studio, on social media or elsewhere. Sure it gives great insights into the game and how it is being played - and education for those interested in the nuances of the tactical challenges, but it also can be used to build a narrative around a coach or players as their performances are dissected to within an inch of its life!

It's come s long way from a single video tape and a chat with the manager where essentially you (as a player) had to agree with them as a manager! As Brian Clough once quipped...

And as technology and data provider continue to become even more elaborate with their understanding of the game, have we lost the true essence of sport; Decisions are made, mistakes happen because humans play sport in the moment - yet the analysis takes place using supercomputers and slow motion replays and under zero pressure!

For the modern coach they need to decide what and who is relevant as they look to build a winning team

Thanks for listening and please subscribe to us on your podcast player or see the episode on our YouTube channel @BreakingLines!

Join us next time on breaking lines when we go behind the dressing room door once more!

Fall From Grace or Saving Face

"We would like to thank them for their endeavours and wish them well for the future"... Cut and paste to many a club website announcing the departure of the manager or head coach from their role - add in the now infamous corner flag photo and you've got yourself a Managerial Casualty.

Jurgen Klopp has managed his own imminent departure from Liverpool differently - he's chose the time, the place and the how of his future abdication of the Head Coach role. Only very few get afforded this; and normally because of the success, loyalty or connection that they have with a club. For everyone else, its a short message and the bus fare home dodging irate supporters who've been baying for blood for weeks, or even months!

This episode we explore some of the strategies that managers and clubs may use to ensure that the inevitable end is beneficial to all in so far as it's as fair as possible. It doesn't always work out for a manager, but ending a reign with mutual respect is probably best for all parties! 

Fade Away - When A Player's Time Is Up

It's never easy for a player to accept that they have possibly reached the end of their club career - not necessarily their whole career completely - but at a particular club or at a level of the game. Some are cognisant enough and know it's happening and begin to prepare; others stay in a state of denial. Their game awareness still works fantastically - but maybe the physical side of the game eventually retires you despite all the additional work, rest and individual attention received.

And it's also the same with iconic players. Scorers of important goals, fan favourites, etc - the fans also find it hard to let go too! Everyone wants to remember the player as they were, perhaps not as they are. 

Yet managing these situations is never easy for the manager. You're damned if you do, and damned if you don't! So what to do...

This episode explores how there are a number of ways to potentially come to an amicable end where player, coach, club and fans get to give each other the send off they all would prefer - but that also means everyone accepts the path that's about to be taken. And that doesn't always happen and that's when difficulties can occur.