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From The Times. Good luck tmw, Neil!!!!!!
Shaun Derry
2011 Queens Park Rangers
Up from second tier
Neil signed Clint Hill and me within a week in pre-season and he said, “Take this the right way — we aren’t going to announce it because they don’t look like big signings. Would you mind if we waited until we get some bigger names in?” I knew him well so didn’t take it personally. He tipped me off QPR were about to bring in Adel Taarabt a few days before the season started. Neil said, “The reason we have left it so late is because we wanted to build everyone’s team spirt before he arrived.” I asked what was he like? Neil replied, “An absolute nightmare, selfish.” I asked why we were signing him. Neil replied: “Because if you want to play in the Premier League he is your only hope, son.”
We played away to Hull City and Adel was kicked. He took off his gloves by the pitch and threw them into the crowd and sat down on the other side of the line. I shouted at him to sort himself out and yelled at Keith Curle, the coach. I wanted to rip off Adel’s head at half-time. The gaffer was in the middle of his team-talk and shouted, “You, f***ing you . . .” I thought, “Here we go, he is going to have a right go at Adel.” He pointed at me and continued, “If you don’t start passing to Adel Taarabt you are f***ing coming off.”
Adel did not travel to Barnsley in an important game late in the season and Neil told us that was the last place we would want him. Neil took us to a local park that was littered with needles to practise a day before. You can imagine the moaning. I had a wry smile as I knew what he was up to. He changed the environment in one instant and took the edge off the pressure. Adel arrived on the day of the game and scored the winner inside one minute.
Neil’s man-management with people he trusted was second to none. He wanted certain players to deliver his message as he recognised that constantly using his voice lost impact. He had a great sense of when to dip in and out. He wasn’t the dinosaur that some think.
We went to Cornwall for pre-season and he drove from his nearby home in an MG with the roof down to take us to training. It was a pitch with 10in grass, a steep gradient and no facilities. It was about bonding. That week we played golf and his wife Sharon cooked a barbecue for us.
We lost 4-0 to Bolton Wanderers at home in the first game after promotion. Neil walked into the dressing room, clapped his hands and wore a massive smile and said, “Lads I’d much rather lose 4-0 in the Premier League than win 4-0 in the Championship. Monday off, see you Tuesday.” He knew how to manage a situation.
Shaun Derry
2011 Queens Park Rangers
Up from second tier
Neil signed Clint Hill and me within a week in pre-season and he said, “Take this the right way — we aren’t going to announce it because they don’t look like big signings. Would you mind if we waited until we get some bigger names in?” I knew him well so didn’t take it personally. He tipped me off QPR were about to bring in Adel Taarabt a few days before the season started. Neil said, “The reason we have left it so late is because we wanted to build everyone’s team spirt before he arrived.” I asked what was he like? Neil replied, “An absolute nightmare, selfish.” I asked why we were signing him. Neil replied: “Because if you want to play in the Premier League he is your only hope, son.”
We played away to Hull City and Adel was kicked. He took off his gloves by the pitch and threw them into the crowd and sat down on the other side of the line. I shouted at him to sort himself out and yelled at Keith Curle, the coach. I wanted to rip off Adel’s head at half-time. The gaffer was in the middle of his team-talk and shouted, “You, f***ing you . . .” I thought, “Here we go, he is going to have a right go at Adel.” He pointed at me and continued, “If you don’t start passing to Adel Taarabt you are f***ing coming off.”
Adel did not travel to Barnsley in an important game late in the season and Neil told us that was the last place we would want him. Neil took us to a local park that was littered with needles to practise a day before. You can imagine the moaning. I had a wry smile as I knew what he was up to. He changed the environment in one instant and took the edge off the pressure. Adel arrived on the day of the game and scored the winner inside one minute.
Neil’s man-management with people he trusted was second to none. He wanted certain players to deliver his message as he recognised that constantly using his voice lost impact. He had a great sense of when to dip in and out. He wasn’t the dinosaur that some think.
We went to Cornwall for pre-season and he drove from his nearby home in an MG with the roof down to take us to training. It was a pitch with 10in grass, a steep gradient and no facilities. It was about bonding. That week we played golf and his wife Sharon cooked a barbecue for us.
We lost 4-0 to Bolton Wanderers at home in the first game after promotion. Neil walked into the dressing room, clapped his hands and wore a massive smile and said, “Lads I’d much rather lose 4-0 in the Premier League than win 4-0 in the Championship. Monday off, see you Tuesday.” He knew how to manage a situation.
He wasn`t fancy enough for me, I guess.
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