Isn't a good coach one who does exactly what the manager tells him to do, rather than what he thinks should be done?
Nope. That would be a 'yes' man. That said 'managing' is different from 'coaching'. That may be why Blackwell hasn't performed as well as we'd hoped, or with other sides. He was acknowledged as being a decent coach under Warnock, but seems to be lacking a great deal as a manager.
SEB said:
How many here would still have a job if they constantly told the boss he was shit and didn't know what he was doing?
To be picky, that would depend somewhat on the managerial set-up, but when I first started managing a team (not in football!), the two things which were drilled into me were,
"Listen to those you manage as they work, but pretend you're not listening.", and
"Now you're managing, let them above and them below what your thoughts are."
The first meaning the obvious "keep 'em peeled" sort of thing, to nip any hassle in the bud, and the second (and to me more important) meaning "You're managing on someone else's premise. If you think you're leading a team in the wrong way, you'd best say something."
Now granted the world of sport is too full of egos for that to be entirely useful (I suspect), but the principle remains the same. If you don't approach management with problems, they can't be solved. If there is a problem.
SEB said:
Mmmm, time to get real on the Speed issue. He bides his time, keeps his thoughts and ideas to himself, and waits until he's given the opportunity to try them out. Just like all the rest of us would. Anyone else prepared to give up their ideas and thoughts to keep the boss in a job and themselves out of it?
Here's the rub. Speed can afford to say what the hell he wants. Most of we plebs can't. All the time. I'll bet that Speed could get a side which is more attractive on a CV right away. I'll bet he has had more than enough input, but again, as a coach. Not a manager.