Picture this - you’re a newly qualified journalist and you need to produce an interesting piece (with a spattering of humour) on someone who people would like to know more about. This was my assignment for FourFourTwo magazine.
Who could I interview? I didn’t want someone who would play it safe with the same tired clichés. I wanted someone who was not scared to speak his mind - a breath of fresh air.
Then, one day in training for my club Blackpool, it dawned on me that there, standing right in front of me, was the perfect interviewee. He speaks his mind, he entertains and most of all he is passionate about the game. Yes it’s Mr Holloway!
So, armed with my recently purchased dicta-phone, I tentatively knocked on the gaffer’s office door. When I explained my project I think he was just pleasantly surprised I wasn’t moaning about my absence from the team.
The boss was great to interview and for the most part I was a spectator as the gaffer passionately went over everything he has planned for Blackpool - and he even explained some of his philosophies on life.
I could probably have written ten pages, but here are some of the gems from one of the most quotable men in the game – my boss, Ian Holloway:
Have you come back a different manager since your year out?
Very different. When you get time to reflect, use it - it’s the best time of your life. Don’t make excuses! Look at everything you did and put it right next time. I didn’t realise my strengths and weaknesses until my year out.
After being tipped for relegation, has our form so far this season surprised you?
I’m pleased more than anything because in this division anyone can beat anyone. You need things to go your way to convince people to believe in what you’re saying. I’m not surprised when I look at the players I have got.
They are in fact technically better than I thought they were. They have always had a combative side, but when you see them day-to-day some of the ability is fantastic.
I’m delighted with the way the lads have responded to the meetings we have had, to the work on the training ground and the way they have gone out there and are encouraged to perform and try things. We have grown together.
I have learned things as well along the way as it’s a new system for me as well. That’s life, we all have to evolve. Maybe Darwin was right.
Did you identify early on that you needed to instill a winning mentality in to the squad as opposed to the ‘being happy to survive’ outlook?
It’s all about belief. I have always had that philosophy. Every player should have the opportunity to be told what he does well, what he could do better and what strengths he should play to.
We focus on self-esteem and getting it better and getting them better by giving them their own individual training programmes.
So what are your thoughts on your new home?
I love Blackpool. We’re very similar. We both look better in the dark!
Whether you’re a player or a journalist, when you spend time with Ian Holloway you can’t help but let his enthusiasm rub off on you. You get the sense that after an enforced year out of football, Holloway is on a high-speed train to success and as a player you just have to hope you can stay on board with him!
