Thinking has a future at Bristol City says head coach Sean O'Driscoll
Bristol City boss Sean O’Driscoll is urging his players to think for themselves.
Since his appointment as head coach in mid-January, the former Nottingham Forest and Doncaster manager has sought to convey his own personal philosophy in a bid to improve the team’s fortunes.
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Sean O'Driscoll is encouraging his players to think for themselves and understand why they do what they do.
And the players have responded in positive fashion, producing the kind of performances that suggest they might yet retain their Championship status this season.
A deep thinker and a student of the game, O’Driscoll has encouraged his charges to take responsibility on the field of play. And he insists they can only do that if they understand what it is they are being asked to do.
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“You want people to think for themselves,” explained the 55-year-old Midlander.
“When I played, thinking for yourself got you out of the team, because you were told to do this, that and the other.
“I played the game for a long time and never understood why I did things.
“People were always telling me do things and I was always asking them why I was doing them.
“It was not that I did not want to do them, it was just I wanted to understand why. That was me.
“I always try and tell the players why they are doing certain things. I either tell them or show them and give examples of what I mean.
“That means we are all singing from the same song sheet and shows them that there is a reason for doing things. You need to have that if a team is to evolve and improve.
“Thinking for yourself means understanding why you have to be organised. There is no point in the players saying ‘I have to be organised because the manager tells me to be’. They have to understand why they are doing it.”
Communication is the key to O’Driscoll’s success and his willingness to share information and challenge conventional wisdom has encouraged City’s players to think in a different way.
He told The Post: “Football is full of rhetoric. For example, they say ‘keep it tight for 20 minutes and then play’.
“Why do that? What happens after 20 minutes? If you can play and there is a an opportunity to do so, why not do it from the first whistle? Why must you wait 20 minutes?
“I can understand why people say it, but what does it mean? If you can do something, do it. It doesn’t matter what time in the game it is.”
O’Driscoll insists the needs of the team are more important than any individual and he has shown he is not afraid to drop big-name players to the bench or leave them out altogether.
But those not currently in the side are aware of the reasons why, while those appearing regularly understand the importance of doing a job for the team. To a man, the players have clearly bought into the head coach’s ethos.
O’Driscoll explained: “I can make players technically better if they are eight or nine. If they are 21 or over, I cannot make them technically any better. What I can do, is make them understand what they do really well and what they don’t do really well.
“Players cannot always play to their strengths because of the needs of the team.”
3 Comments
by piledriver
Thursday, March 14 2013, 6:59PM
“All the games are big games.All nine.
Last week's two v BHA & Boro were massive games and so was Coventry & Forest last season.
SOD's right just play each game as it comes.Win enough and we'll survive.”
by clevedonred
Thursday, March 14 2013, 4:31PM
“Agree with 'oldbristolian' that the wolves game is the biggest since the play off final. However am suprised at the number of comments on the OTIB forum who say they would be pleased NOT TO LOSE THE GAME.Surely the team adopted this attitude at Baadiff and Palace and looked what happened. Lets give it a go at Wolves their obviously down there for a reason. I realize that away from home you are going to have to soak up periods of pressure but to sit back and give them too much respect would be asking for trouble. lets bring our form players into the game as much as possible ie Davies Stead Baldock and show more self belief.SOD should keep playing the squad the DVD of some of the passages of play v Barnsley when some of our slick passing was just like watching Brazil.”
by oldbristolian
Thursday, March 14 2013, 10:21AM
“Unless this article has taken the comments of Mr O`Driscoll out of context,
professional footballers need to express themselves and push the boundaries but when the pressure is on there is nowhere to hide. That is when you need natural born leaders on the pitch and in the mix leading by example. Saturday is probably the biggest game we have played since the play offs. It will not be the end of our season if we fail but it will definitely be a turning point if we succeed.
Games like these are when you know who your core professionals are (if you didn't already) it also gives the ones who have been overlooked their time to prove their worth. By all means express yourself and think for yourself but remember we are all in this together so take the highs with the lows. Give it your best and better and we the fans will play our part in helping carry Bristol City to survival.
Its times like these when the whole club comes together as one. We will all sing from the same hymn sheet but remember our place in the choir.
Come on City
Come on you redzzz”