Championship column April 03 2008
I wonder if Tony Pulis or Gary Johnson dared to dream after watching Manchester United smash Aston Villa at Old Trafford. "Will I be setting a team up to try and tame the Mighty Reds next season? Could I eliminate the threat from Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney with my players?"
If they continue to stick to their beliefs, trust the players and think logically, they just might. Both have been brilliant this season, and few would have predicted, as we turn onto the home straight, that Stoke City and Bristol City would be looking down on the rest of the Championship.
If you ask any manager what they require to survive in the top flight they'll say 'money and time', but too many are too quick to forget what got them there.
I feel one of the biggest reasons Championship teams depart the Premier League after one season is changing too much too soon.
The clamour from fans to buy big when in fact the big players don't really want to join a newly-promoted clubs.
And fans usually end up with a foreigner or two looking distinctly average or past their best.
A few defeats and these guys are already thinking about the quickest exit route. I would like to see managers believing in themselves, and what got them into the top-flight a bit more.
Be true to yourself and your players. If you like to get the ball forward early - then do it properly - do not be half-hearted.
There should be no disgrace in playing direct football when in the Premier League.
If you're good at it, do it, as it will unsettle teams. Direct football can be as devastating as anything - look at Drogba and the effect he has when Chelsea feel the need to get it forward rapidly.
By contrast, if you WANT your team to play from the back through the middle of the park, then that's fine too, but don't change after two early defeats and start to bypass the midfield. All this does is tell the players the manager doesn't really know what he wants from the players and is panicking already. Players lose belief as quick as a flash.
Managers can't expect a team just promoted to take on the best there is overnight, but I often see promoted teams trying to play like a Premier League side before they know how to.
How have Barnsley beaten Liverpool and Chelsea in the FA Cup this season? Simon Davey asked the team to play with belief and not change if they concede. Do what they're good at. Just keep doing what WE are good at: get it in the box, make something happen. How many times have you been beaten by a team that did just that? Plenty I'm sure. I know I have!
Managers too often adopt a different mindset after promotion. We now have 38 games, no need to panic. We need to change this and that, more quality, more money. Wrong! Your season will be shaped by the first ten games.
A manager's strength is his ability to drag the best out of his players week in week out. Knowing what makes them tick, knowing what makes them believe and most of all knowing what you are good at.
Think of Big Sam Allardyce at Bolton and you'll know what I mean. You can survive after promotion. Of course it's tough, and it can only work if you really believe in what you do.
Johnson and Pulis have excelled at this so far and I wish them luck during the run-on. If you do make it lads, don't leave that in the Championship, because you won't have a prayer without it.
Andy Townsend