by Reading West »
12 Dec 2012 09:34
Unfortunately the writing was on the wall when Guthrie tweeted about McD wanting him to change his style of play when he was initially dropped, indicating we had a player who most probably won't tow the line. I have been told that the first sign of madness is doing something the same way and expecting something different to happen, which seems to be McD attitude to the team especially in CM which seems to be the epicentre of our problems is which needs changing but he's seems to be hoping that Legs is going to wakeup from his seemingly nightmare, and start to string two passes together, perservering with him and leaving Guthrie on the bench. Gooding said on Radio Berkshire on Sat after McD did his usual in the 70th odd minute in taking off Tabb and moving MacNuff in CM, that after that took place Guthrie must've been thinking to himself "I'm not wanted here" .
Even though I do sympathise with Guthrie, as it seems that McD may still have an issue with him on past issues, it is inexcusable not to want to travel with the team, no player has a God given right to play in the team, no matter how badly the team is playing, he is an professional player and should act as one, a prospective club who may want to buy him in Jan may think twice due to his actions thinking if they are taking on a "problem player".
I am suprised also that all this is seemingly playing out in the open, and I must question McD man management skills here, McD always says Guthrie has a part to play this season, I sometimes wonder if a simple chat between the two in the early stages (say both of them going for a drink after training)of this could've taken place with McD putting an arm around him saying he knows how eager he is to get on and he will soon could have the chance could have sorted the issue out.
Different players take being dropped in different ways and it is up to the manager to deal with that player appropriately many times you can't deal with all the players the same way due to different personalities. It maybe too late for Guthrie at Reading but both himself and McD must learn from this experience especially McD or this may not be the last time such an incident may happen