Manchester City's David Platt says he has got the 'taste' for coaching again
English football is supposed to be in the grip of a coaching crisis. After the World Cup failure there was much spoken and written about the deficiencies of English coaching and the lack of credible coaches bringing future talent through.
It is certainly true that, compared to Germany and Spain, there are too few English men and women coaching future footballers. At the very elite level, though, the English coach – if not manager – is doing rather well.
Mike Phelan takes much of the day-to-day training-ground responsibility at Manchester United, Ray Wilkins assists Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea, Sammy Lee worked with Rafael Benítez at Liverpool and is now helping Roy Hodgson while Pat Rice, who is Northern Irish, works closely with Arsène Wenger.
The human cost of businesses entering administration is highThen there is Manchester City. Roberto Mancini inherited the excellent Brian Kidd when he arrived but realised he needed more support on the training field.
With City's wealth he could have gone for pretty much any coach in world football. It is telling that Mancini went English, tempting David Platt back to the training field after a six-year hiatus.
"People definitely underestimate English coaches," says Platt, fresh from a morning session with the most expensively-assembled team in England.
"You don't realise the work that is going on behind the scenes at clubs. People see that there are no English managers at the top and immediately assume there are no English coaches.
"That's not true: there are plenty of coaches at our best clubs doing some excellent work. There is a mystique or charisma about foreign managers but I don't see that we are any further behind on technical or tactical issues."
What with the signing of six players in multimillion-pound deals, the arrival of Platt at Eastlands might have gone under the radar yet for Mancini it was the first deal he got done as he started to execute his ambitious plans for the new season.
"I have known Robbie for a long time," Platt said. "I had dinner with him a few times since he joined City in December but then in May he called me and asked to join.
"I first came across Robbie when I'd just moved to Bari in 1991. There was a sniff of me going to Sampdoria, probably at his behest. Even when he was playing – at 25 or 26 – he was doing all the jobs at Sampdoria, coaching, speaking to the president, looking at the transfers.
"Six months into my contract at Bari I get a phone call from him. He said come and play for us and I got a call every week from him pestering me to join him. Then Luca Vialli calls trying to get me to move to Juventus so I ended up going there.
"It was a difficult year at Juventus and they wanted to sell me back to England. I wanted to go to Sampdoria, though, and it was probably Robbie that convinced their president to go and get me. We roomed together at Sampdoria and stayed in touch for the next 16 years.
"The one thing that came over, even when he was a player was how much of a winner he was. If you had those similar traits, that desire to win, you were always going to get on with Roberto Mancini."
The partnership has been renewed but Platt conceded it took some adjusting to taking on the role of an assistant.
"It's interesting for me having to take that step back as a No 2 rather than a No 1," he said. "I'm used to being the one that makes decisions. But we have a very good rapport. He does not always insist he is right."
Platt always saw himself becoming a coach. He played under Dario Gradi at Crewe, Graham Taylor at Aston Villa, Bobby Robson with England, Giovanni Trapattoni at Juventus, Sven-Goran Eriksson at Sampdoria and Arsène Wenger at Arsenal and he says he "took something from all of them" but that it was Terry Venables' time as England coach that had the biggest influence on him.
"It was 1994 when Venables came in with England, so I was 28. At that age you think you know it all. He came out with things on the training pitch which made you think 'how stupid am I not to have thought of that?'.
"It was easy, simple things that he pieced together. He was exceptional as a coach. I had two years with him and he'd mesmerise you on a football pitch."
By his own admission, Platt did not always find management as straightforward. After a short spell as coach of Sampdoria he managed Nottingham Forest where he says he "made some big mistakes" and, after taking charge of the England Under 21s between 2001 and 2004, he took a year out and began to ask himself whether the "snakes and ladders board" was for him.
He turned down a good job with a lower league club two years ago and realised that if he was to come back into the game at the level he wanted, it would have to be as a coach.
"When Robbie came along with this offer it just ticked all the boxes," he said. "I even live just 20 minutes from the training ground."
Platt speaks with great enthusiasm of the "project" at City and he has been impressed with the quality of City's acquisitions. Mario Balotelli has "an explosion of natural talent", David Silva has "unbelievable ability" while Yaya Touré "gives you a sense of security when he's on the ball".
He thinks the arrivals have pushed the players already at the club to an even higher level, singling out Vincent Kompany as "magnificent" in the opening games of the season. Now it is up to the coaching staff to instil the "ruthless" mentality in the players that Mancini wants to become second nature.
Platt's enthusiasm for the challenge is clear. "I get a high when I've had a good day on the training pitch, when I've put something on for the players that has produced a good session.
"With the older players it's about directing and guiding. The young players you can teach. All of a sudden I've got the taste for it again." Telegraph
Manchester City star Patrick Vieira insists he's Mario Balotelli's minder
When he arrived at Arsenal at the tender age of 20, Patrick Vieira settled quickly into English football with the help of old salts Tony Adams, Lee Dixon and Dennis Bergkamp.
Now, 14 years later, it is an important part of his job with Manchester City to teach younger colleagues, most notably the talented but temperamental Mario Balotelli, ‘right from wrong’.
Vieira may not have cost City a transfer fee but nobody in Roberto Mancini’s £300million squad has a better knowledge of what it takes to win.
Growing pains: Mario Balotelli made plenty of enemies in Italy with his injudicious comments
Under Arsene Wenger, he won the Double twice at Arsenal and was a member of the famous Invincibles side that went through the 2003-04 season unbeaten. He also has three Serie A titles with Inter Milan and a World Cup winners’ medal with France in his collection.
Crucially for City, he formed a close relationship at the San Siro with 20-year-old Balotelli and nobody is better suited to steering him in the right direction.
The £24m striker is more famous for his fights than his football so far; missing the Champions League Final after an argument with Jose Mourinho, insulting Italy legend Francesco Totti with the words ‘You’re finished, Grandad’, wearing the shirt of Inter’s hated rivals AC Milan on TV and even accusing his biological parents of being ‘glory-hunters’.
So Vieira has taken it upon himself to calm Balotelli down as City aim to continue their unbeaten start to the season at Sunderland, although the youngster may have to wait for his Premier League debut because of a knee injury.
Vieira recalled: ‘I had people to look up to at Arsenal as a young player. I couldn’t believe how determined the famous back four (Dixon, Adams, Steve Bould and Nigel Winterburn) were every single day. They trained the same way they played on a Saturday.
Minder: Patrick Vieira in action for City against Timisoara in the Europa League
'I was a good listener then, and I learned. Now the players at City might ask me questions and want to learn. Those who think they know everything right away will find it is not the case.
‘Micah Richards wants to learn and I believe he is good enough to play for England.
Balotelli is not a bad guy either. He just has to keep his head down and work harder than he did at Inter if he wants to improve and be one of the best.
‘Many players have talent but there is a big difference between having a good season and making a career for 15 years. You have to keep your head for that.’
Balotelli is the most explosive of the five summer signings made by Mancini,
who knew him at Inter. Vieira believes if the striker can get his head right, Premier League defenders will not know what has hit them.
‘Balotelli is a good striker. If he has 10 shots, he will hit the target nine times and score seven,’ said Vieira.
‘He is young and made mistakes, but he will learn. In Italy, not enough people told him if he had done something wrong. I will tell him if he has done the right thing or the wrong thing. We have played together for a few years and know each other well.
‘He is a lovely lad. I will do my best to help him because this club need his talent. Coming to England will make him grow up. He will find out as he gets older there is a line not to cross.’
Shay Given set to end his Manchester City hell by joining up with Mark Hughes again at Fulham
Shay Given will end his Manchester City frustration by joining up with former manager Mark Hughes at Fulham, which will allow their No 1 Mark Schwarzer to sign for Arsenal.
City are reluctantly prepared to let the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper leave before deadline day on Tuesday even though they have made it clear they would like him to stay and provide competition for Joe Hart.
Given, disappointed to lose the jersey to Hart, has made it clear he wants regular first-team football.
Hughes said after Fulham’s 2-2 draw against Blackpool: ‘Mark Schwarzer has made it clear that he would like to go to Arsenal so we are trying to look at other options. I’m always interested in quality players and Shay Given is a quality player. Make of that what you will. ‘But I have said that if we can’t get anyone else in, Schwarzer will have to stay.’
Given’s arrival at Craven Cottage will also delight Wenger, who regards Schwarzer as a solution to his long standing goalkeeping problem. Mail
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini does not want to keep unhappy players at the club and has already let Craig Bellamy, Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha leave. City will also listen to authentic offers for Roque Santa Cruz and Robinho.
Emmanuel Adebayor will also go if a club match the £25million which City spent to bring him from Arsenal.
If all the departures happen, Mancini will struggle to find enough senior players to fill his 25-man squad for the Premier League and there could be reprisals for outcasts Jo and Felipe Caceido.
City play Sunderland on Sunday but £24m striker Mario Balotelli is unlikely to have recovered from a knee injury in time to make his Premier League debut.
David Stockdale, who played in goal for Fulham at Blackpool, is set to be called into the England squad by Fabio Capello. Mail
CRAIG BELLAMY will sign for Cardiff permanently if they win promotion.
The on-loan Manchester City striker made a goalscoring debut for the Bluebirds last week after walking out of Eastlands just days earlier.
The Wales international, 31, has signed a deal which will keep him at his home town club until the end of the current campaign.
But Cardiff were given first option on a longer-term arrangement when Bellamy made the move to the Championship two weeks ago.
And if last year's play-off finalists go one better this time and gain promotion next May, they will try to keep him there for the rest of his career.
It means Bellamy will be unable to cut short his time at the Cardiff City Stadium and make a quick return to the Premier League in January.
Tottenham, Aston Villa and Everton were all interested in taking the striker and would all be keen to revisit a deal in the January transfer window. News of the World
Manchester City's new £24m striker Mario Balotelli emerged unhurt from a collision between his Audi sports car and another vehicle on his way to the club's Carrington training ground on Friday. News of the World
WAG OF THE DAY
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TRANSFER BOLLOX
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson will make a last-ditch attempt to sign West Ham striker Carlton Cole. Hodgson is also close to sealing deals for Fulham defender Paul Konchesky, but may drop his interest in PSV Eindhoven forward Ola Toivonen because of the Dutch club's £13m asking price.News of the World
Hodgson is also attempting to arrange a loan deal to bring Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez to Anfield. Sunday Express
Manchester United are ready to test Everton's resolve to hang on to midfielder Jack Rodwell with a £20m bid. Sunday People
Scott Parker could leave West Ham to bring in some much-needed funds to Upton Park. Tottenham are in pole position to sign the £8m-rated midfielder. Mail on Sunday
Tottenham will turn their attentions to Villarreal's former Manchester United frontman Giuseppe Rossi if their loan move for AC Milan's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar fails to materialise. News of the World
Tottenham have had an enquiry into the availability of Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand rebuffed by the Old Trafford hierarchy. News of the World
Charles N'Zogbia's proposed move to Birmingham from Wigan has collapsed over the versatile Frenchman's wage demands. News of the World
Tottenham striker Robbie Keane is set for yet another move as Aston Villa and Newcastle look to snap up the Republic of Ireland international before the transfer window shuts. Mail on Sunday
Wigan have agreed a £2m deal to take Chelsea forward Franco di Santo to the DW Stadium. Sunday People
Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg will rebuff any approach from Arsenal in favour of staying with the Amsterdam club. Sunday Express
Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici is being lined up by Fulham as a replacement for Arsenal-bound Mark Schwarzer. Sunday Mirror
Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas will stay at White Hart Lane after deals to Aston Villa and Inter Milan fell through. Sunday Mirror
West Ham have made a £1.5m move for Hamburg defender Guy Demel and are competing with Stoke for the signature of Portsmouth defender Marc Wilson. (Sunday Telegraph)
The Hammers are also poised to sign AFC Valenciennes left-back Siaka Tiene. IMScouting
Former Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires could make a surprise return to the Premier League after the 36-year-old turned down a move to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua. West Ham, Wigan and Bolton are all monitoring the player, who is a free agent after leaving Villarreal. (Sunday Express)
AC Milan have reached an agreement to take striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic on loan from Barcelona for the rest of the season. The Rossoneri will then have the option to buy the Sweden forward for £19.7m. (Various)
OTHER BOLLOX
Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has set his heart on a coaching role with boyhood club Oldham Athletic after his playing career ends. News of the World
West Ham manager Avram Grant has accused Scholes, who has repeatedly snubbed Fabio Capello's attempt to lure him out of international retirement, of letting down his country. Daily Star
England boss Fabio Capello has performed an astonishing U-turn after telling David Beckham he will consider the LA Galaxy midfielder for selection if he is fully fit. "First Beckham has to be playing again but the door is always open," said Capello, who earlier this month had called time on the former Manchester United man's international career. News of the World
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that he could one day coach Real Madrid. The Italian, who was managed by Fabio Capello in his final season as a player at AC Milan, has described the England coach as a "grouch" in the latest extracts from his book. News of the World
Former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier could return to English football if Aston Villa decide not to appoint caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald on a permanent basis. Sunday People
Alternatively former Germany and Bayern Munich manager Jurgen Klinsmann is top of Aston Villa's wish list. Sunday Mirror
A trio of Australian investors have joined the running to take control of Blackburn Rovers after lodging a bid of £25m for the Ewood Park club. News of the World
Defender Steven Taylor could be excluded from Newcastle's 25-man Premier League squad as his dispute with the club over a new contract continues. News of the World
New Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano has denied that he went on strike to force through his move from Liverpool. Sunday People
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has donated £25,000 from his testimonial to Everton to give to a charity of their choice. Carragher, who supported the Toffees as a boy, will play in a game between a Liverpool XI and Everton XI on Saturday. Sunday Express
A photographic timeline running round the outside of Everton's Goodison Park has provoked anger amongst some of the club's fans. Nick Barmby, the midfielder who controversially quit the club for local rivals Liverpool, features alongside legends such as striker Dixie Dean. Independent on Sunday
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