Robbie keane hinted in a press release that some players are favoured and protected while others are not at Anfield. It’s a safe bet to suggest that Keane was not in favor. Rafa Benitez claims that Keane was not up to their standard at Anfield. Please Benitez, the less you say the better. You are skating on very thin ice my friend and if the cabinet is not filled with at least the Premiership or the Champions League your time at Anfield is up.

Rumours circulating Anfield suggest that Keane was used as a pawn in the power struggle between Benitez and the owners of Liverpool. Benitez has insisted he wants full control over transfers and has continually declined suggestions that their is a problem between himself and the owners. How many players did you buy in the January transfer window Mr Benitez? How much money did you have allocated for transfers Mr Benitez?

Personally I think Benitez coaching journey at Liverpool has run its course. If he doesn’t produce silverware this year at least his succeeded at running the club at a loss in the tune of 8 million pounds. If Torres gets injured, who are you going to replace him with Mr Benitez? Steven Gerrard? Steven will be missing up to 8 weeks with a torn hamstring. Surely Robbie could’ve added depth to a squad that looks quite thin and lacking depth.

For me it’s sad to see Keane go. Robbie grew up supporting Liverpool and it was very clear that he loved the club and it’s supporters. How can Benitez justify benching him when he scored 3 goals in 2 games, one of them a cracker against Arsenal to salvage a point? Was there a hidden agenda? Benitez are you trying to prove a point? Let me remind you that the Liverpool club is bigger than any one individual. Robbie is captain of Ireland, scored more goals than you’ve had hamburgers with the lot. Never forget that.

Robbie played his first game for Tottenham on the weekend and was immediately given the captains arm band. Gee I wonder why! Could it be that he’s actually a great player.

What can we learn from this scenario? Have you as a player been treated unfairly by a coach? How would you deal with this type of scenario?

All coaches will deny this, but it’s a fact that they have their favourite players. What happens when you are not in your coaches plans? Do you pack your bags and leave for another club? Or do you stay and fight for your position?

If the coach picks the team based on performance and training, then by all means stay and fight. If you believe in your own ability and if the coach is any good, you will be given opportunities to establish yourself.

Let’s be honest for a minute here, when you play in a team sport like soccer, every player knows the pecking order. If the players in your team suggest you should be playing and you’re not, then maybe the problem can be attributed to something else other than your playing abilities. If this is the case, you may need to confront the coach about his selection criteria of the team. How would you approach the coach?

Ask direct questions

Question the coach about his selection of the team and the reason why you have been omitted from the team. When discussing this with the coach try and remain calm and be very cautious with your questions. Never compare yourself to any other player in your team. At the end of the day, the conversation is about you. Don’t turn it into an argument, but a discussion about you, as a player. If the reasons are not valid, then maybe it’s the coach that’s not good enough.

Ask for Constructive Criticism

The coach should be able to express his concerns about your playing ability. Whether it’s your lack of fitness or your lack of form, he needs to give you a specific criticism. Don’t hesitate to ask. If you feel like you should be playing and you’re completely honest with yourself, then guess what, you should be playing. Never lose faith in your own ability and never let anyone dictate your own immediate playing future.

Train Harder

Treat every training session as a show case with you being the star. Show the coach and your fellow team mates that you should be playing. Always remember, Head Up, Shoulders Back and Chest Out. If anybody stands in your way or tries to deceive or manipulate you, put them in the stand. The next fifty-fifty ball you compete for go in hard and make them feel your presence. Do this fairly, but do it with strength and vigor. Your physical presence at training will guarantee you the respect you deserve and will also keep you in the coach’s radar. Think about it, you have 2 choices.

1. Drop the head and remain on the bench or in the stands for the rest of the season or
2. Pick up yor balls with one hand and pull out the sword with the other and defend your position.

Decision Time

• IF you honestly believe you are good enough.
• IF your team mates assure you that you should be playing.
• If you have trained your arse off to get back in the team.

But the coach still doesn’t play you, then you might be a victim of soccer politics. In this case, your best option is not to quit, but to leave. There is a big difference. Quitting would be to bend over and be subjected to the coach’s abuse while simultaneously losing your confidence and self-esteem. Leaving would raise the eyebrows of your team mates and confirm that the coach has hidden agendas. Leaving in this situation is not considered quiting or failing, lets make that very clear.

Keane leaving Liverpool reminds me of a time when I was literally forced to leave a club that I loved and played over 20 years for because of a coach. The only positive that came out of that transfer is that I won my first premiership with my new club. My old club got relegated, the coach got sacked and fast forward 2 years later I returned back to the club I loved and was given the captains arm band.

One last thought before I go,

Coaches these days seem to have a false sense of worth. They believe the tag “coach” gives them some sort of magic power or authority. Let me assure you of one thing, all coaches are human beings. They make errors, bad judgements and tend to be blinded by their own ego. Never let a coach dictate your soccer future. Always remember that your soccer future is always in your hands.

Back in the days, when tactics were simpler and players had limited roles, most coaches were not great thinkers of the game and some had argued that they weren’t required. Coaches in the past were less tacticians and more man-managers, mainly concerned with motivating their team. Through each generation the game has progressed and the importance of the coach has increased significantly. Those who adopted survived and those who couldn’t were found out.

The modern coach must have an analytical mind and be able to dissect play and zero in on the key problem areas. Only then can he win his players respect and help them develop the ability to make decisions on the field.

• The modern coach is tactically astute, innovative and always looking to find that extra edge in training and games.
• The modern coach is well organised, making sure that practices are well planned, with attention to detail and that all players are involved.
• He can converse intelligently with specialists in all sports sciences, from psychology to physiology to nutrition and coaching methodology.

Today, with so much money and prestige at stake, coaches must come to grips with a double edged sword. Given a greater role and ample rewards, they must also carry the burden of greater expectations from fans and team owners. Coaches are now as famous as the players and the successful ones have become a hot commodity. Anyone here heard of Sir Alex Ferguson?

Great coaches never stop learning. An insatiable thirst for knowledge and a natural curiosity are traits associated with the very best. Soccer today is truly a global game. By travelling both domestically and abroad, coaches can discover new ideas and acquire new perspectives. When was the last time you were pushed outside of your comfort levels as a coach?

The skills required by the modern coach (tactically) are

• An understanding of the Principles of Play. He can demonstrate the relationship between the principles of play and team shape.
• An understanding of Coaching Methodology. This simply means the coach knows how to teach.
• An ability to visualise the Ideal performance. This provides the coach with a clear vision and a goal.
• The ability to coach in the game. The ability to read the game and make the required changes.
• and most importantly, Player Management Skills. The ability to deal with players, gain respect, convince them to follow the collective game plan and inspire them to achieve their potential.

The first 2 qualities can generally be taught. Coaches can learn by attending soccer coaching courses and reading books. The 3rd quality comes from immersing oneself in the game and becoming a keen student of the game. The last 2 qualities are not easily taught and in many cases take years of experience to fully develop. It’s a safe bet that coaches who are successful at the highest level over a long period of time, with every team they manage, likely possess all five qualities mentioned above.