The CableGuy
Well-Known Member
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/used-seeing-coventry-manager-steven-3057340#.UuJk_rSnzDc
In FA Cup week, especially when lower league sides are involved, sports reporters often arrange to interview some new faces.
This week I met someone who I believe will be a regular on Match Of The Day interviews in the future - Steven Pressley.
The Scot, 40, takes his Coventry side to Arsenal this evening in a fourth round tie live on TV.
I am not advising fans lump on the unfashionable under-dogs .
Arsenal beat Coventry 6-1 in the League Cup last season so a home win is expected despite Pressley subsequently arriving in March 2013.
But I do expect to see some signs of Pressley's meticulous preparation, detailed game-plan and admirable football philosophy.
Because you don't get a cash-strapped club like Coventry competing for the League One play-offs after a 10-point deduction without being a really fine managerial prospect.
Pressley spoke with passion and intelligence and I can see why Coventry's players have responded extremely well to his methods.
It also did not escape my attention players had to sign in and out by hand at the training ground which is an indication of his disciplined regime.
But Pressley is no tyrant - you cannot be in modern management in the age of player power.
His philosophy, he explained, is based on a German/Spanish model which involves the possession based game Pep Guardiola espoused and high pressing to regain possession but with the added twist the Germans have pioneered of very quick 'transition' play from defence to attack.
It is working in League One where free-scoring Coventry have notched 55 goals in 26 League games.
Pressley has completely revamped the club utilising a lot of homegrown academy graduates who have embraced his ideas.
He explained he shipped out 19 players last summer and brought in three as he prefers to have a small, happy squad with a good spirit.
Any players not capable of adapting to his system and principles were bombed out.
He said he regularly likes to set new challenges and records to attain before matches to keep his side motivated.
Ahead of the Arsenal game he has told his players to aim to get "the club's finest ever result" - including bettering winning the Cup in 1987!
He's banned his side from collecting souvenirs or taking photographs before the game after demanding they focus on getting a result.
And Pressley did genuinely seem hopeful that by drilling his side since Monday on a game-plan to face Arsenal, that the visitors could pull it off.
Pressley is not arrogant but he is clearly not a manager lacking in confidence in his ability.
Given Coventry's problems were well known to him before he took the post, Pressley is not afraid of a challenge.
But I thought Pressley explained it admirably when he said: "I am one that believes in controlling the controllables. You can talk about all the negative aspects of the football club but that doesn't mean we can't be the fittest team in the league, that doesn't mean we can't be the best organised team in the league, that doesn't mean we can't have the best unity, the best mentality in the league."
He explained his fitness regime was based on a rolling six-week programme whereby players get fitter through the season - which is in contrast to conventional football logic which says you do your pre-season and then just maintain it during the season, largely through matches.
Pressley also discussed how his previous spells up in Scotland really helped shape him and make him look for solutions.
...As Pressley kept the press pack captivated using his communications skills - and maintaining good eye contact - I did not doubt this was a future top manager in the making. He will probably be given a reality check tonight by Arsene Wenger's side.
But Pressley, an avid reader of coaching books and biographies, was keen to stress he will be picking Wenger's brains after the game regardless of the result.
And perhaps in the near future they will be regularly doing battle at least twice a season in the top-flight.
In FA Cup week, especially when lower league sides are involved, sports reporters often arrange to interview some new faces.
This week I met someone who I believe will be a regular on Match Of The Day interviews in the future - Steven Pressley.
The Scot, 40, takes his Coventry side to Arsenal this evening in a fourth round tie live on TV.
I am not advising fans lump on the unfashionable under-dogs .
Arsenal beat Coventry 6-1 in the League Cup last season so a home win is expected despite Pressley subsequently arriving in March 2013.
But I do expect to see some signs of Pressley's meticulous preparation, detailed game-plan and admirable football philosophy.
Because you don't get a cash-strapped club like Coventry competing for the League One play-offs after a 10-point deduction without being a really fine managerial prospect.
Pressley spoke with passion and intelligence and I can see why Coventry's players have responded extremely well to his methods.
It also did not escape my attention players had to sign in and out by hand at the training ground which is an indication of his disciplined regime.
But Pressley is no tyrant - you cannot be in modern management in the age of player power.
His philosophy, he explained, is based on a German/Spanish model which involves the possession based game Pep Guardiola espoused and high pressing to regain possession but with the added twist the Germans have pioneered of very quick 'transition' play from defence to attack.
It is working in League One where free-scoring Coventry have notched 55 goals in 26 League games.
Pressley has completely revamped the club utilising a lot of homegrown academy graduates who have embraced his ideas.
He explained he shipped out 19 players last summer and brought in three as he prefers to have a small, happy squad with a good spirit.
Any players not capable of adapting to his system and principles were bombed out.
He said he regularly likes to set new challenges and records to attain before matches to keep his side motivated.
Ahead of the Arsenal game he has told his players to aim to get "the club's finest ever result" - including bettering winning the Cup in 1987!
He's banned his side from collecting souvenirs or taking photographs before the game after demanding they focus on getting a result.
And Pressley did genuinely seem hopeful that by drilling his side since Monday on a game-plan to face Arsenal, that the visitors could pull it off.
Pressley is not arrogant but he is clearly not a manager lacking in confidence in his ability.
Given Coventry's problems were well known to him before he took the post, Pressley is not afraid of a challenge.
But I thought Pressley explained it admirably when he said: "I am one that believes in controlling the controllables. You can talk about all the negative aspects of the football club but that doesn't mean we can't be the fittest team in the league, that doesn't mean we can't be the best organised team in the league, that doesn't mean we can't have the best unity, the best mentality in the league."
He explained his fitness regime was based on a rolling six-week programme whereby players get fitter through the season - which is in contrast to conventional football logic which says you do your pre-season and then just maintain it during the season, largely through matches.
Pressley also discussed how his previous spells up in Scotland really helped shape him and make him look for solutions.
...As Pressley kept the press pack captivated using his communications skills - and maintaining good eye contact - I did not doubt this was a future top manager in the making. He will probably be given a reality check tonight by Arsene Wenger's side.
But Pressley, an avid reader of coaching books and biographies, was keen to stress he will be picking Wenger's brains after the game regardless of the result.
And perhaps in the near future they will be regularly doing battle at least twice a season in the top-flight.